















,0^ 





















a, ^ ty" 






:v %.^^ 










L-l°<. 



/ -o^-^^'/ \.'^^\/ "°.'^^*,0' ^ 














-^o. 



"^^ 0°"" 






'^'o V* 






^^^^ 













^ o..* G o . ..,- A 

\ V^' ^;;^:S'- V/^ ■ 



*-. 









34th Congress, ) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. C Report 
1st Session. \ { No. 200. 

REPORT 



THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE 



APPOINTED TO 



INVESTIGATE THE TROUBLES IN KANSAS; 



THE YIEWS OF THE MmOEITY 

V AW 



SAID COMMITTEE. 



A>*S. ZV^ "'•^i,- \''- 'i**^. H.w-^, . 



WASHINGTON: 

CORNELIUS WENDELL, PRINTER. 

1856. 



In the House of Kepresentattves, July 2, 1856. 
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Elections, and printed ; and that leave 
be given to the minority of said committee to submit a report at any time within ten days, 
and to take additional testimony ; and when submitted, that the same be referred to the 
Committee of Elections, and printed. 

In the House of Representatives, July 23, 1856. 
Resolved, That twenty thousand copies extra of the reports of the majority and minority 
of the Kansas Investigating Committee, together with the journal of said committee, and 
evidence taken by them, be printed for the use of the members of the House. 

Resolved, That one hundred thousand copies extra, each, of the majority and minority 
reports of said committee (without the journal and evidence) be printed for the use of the 
members of the House. 

Attest: WM. CULLOM, Cteri. 



V_-' 



^ 



TABLE or CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Majority report. 1 

Minority report 68 

Minutes of committee 110 

TESTIMONY. 

ElooUm of November 29, 1854, fvr Dde- 
gate to Congress. 

FiEST District. 

Lyon, "William 3 

Secoxd District. 

Burson, Harrison. 2 

Dunn, James M 4 

"Wakefield. John A- " 1 

"Wattles, Augustus 3 

Third District. 

Mitchel, M. J 4 

Fourth District. 

Bassinger, Peter 6 

Fuller, Perry 8 

Hackett, Eeuben 7 

Hopkins, Thomas 5 

Javens, John F 8 

Moore. William 9 

Weetfall, Dr. B. C 10 

Fitth District. 

Willsoo, James W ._ IQ 

Sixth District. 

Prince, John C n 

Setzxth District. 

Johnstone, W. F 12 

Read, Matthias A 11 

Ndtth District. 

Lowe, H. A 35 

Mobley, C. R 35 

•Reborn, W. J 1131 

Pieynolds, Thomas 33 



FOCRTEEXTH DISTRICT. 



Foreman, John "^ . 

Harding, Benj 

Jamieson, A. A 

Landis, John. 

Larzelere, Alfred.. 

Scott, John 

Watterson, T. W.. 



FiFTEEXTH District. 



Gale, H. B 

Green, J. B 

House, J. W 

Logan, Campbell , 
Logan, James W. . 

Potter, F. M 

Potter, Joseph . . . 
WUliams, Wiley. 



Y 



Sixteenth District. 



Eastin, Lucian J.. 

Few, Samuel F. 

Keller, George H 

Lindsev, John A 

Matthias, W. G 

Moore, H. Miles 

Noble, Dr. James. 

Pattie, Adam T 

Rively. M. P 

Poll- lists of election of November, 

1854 

Table of iohabitants and qualified 

voters 

Governor's precept to takers of census 
Names of qualified voters accordiag 

to census returns ._ 

Eledion of March 30, 1855. 

Proclamation of governor 

Boundaries of districts 

Precincts, places for polls, and names 

of the judges of election j 

Instructions to judges 

Qualifications of voters 

Contested elections 

Apportionment of members, council 

districts 

Representative districts. 

Table of election returns 



Page. 



17 
15 
16 

347 
13 

931 
16 



21 

17 
19 
22 

1131 
19 

1132 
376 



30^ 
25 
27> 
23 
38 
36 
24 
32 
1133 

39 

72 
72 



101 
101 

104 
107 
lOS 
109 

109 
110 
111 



IV 



CONTENTS. 



rage. 
113 



112 



Proclamation of governor creating 
new election district . 

Proclamation of governor coi>cerning 
judicial districts 

TESTIMONY. 

First Disthict. 



Abbott, J. P.. 154 

Ackley, Ira W 156 

Allen, Lyman -- 137 

Allen, Norman 123 

Babcock, C. W 123,133 

Banks, John M 161 

Blanton, N. B 148 

Buckley, H. W 167 

Chapman, Edward- 143 

Churchill, George - - - 145 

Cummins, R. A. 145 

Davidson, John C. -- 158 

Davidson, Jordan 157 

Deitzler, Geo. W - 132 

Doy, Dr. John 158 

Elliott, R. G - 147 

Hopkins, Thomas 150 

Hornsby, Wm. B 128 

Jenkins, Gains - - 131 

Ladd, E. D 114 

Lyon, William 154 

Owens, Horatio 167 

Pratt, Calebs 123,149 

Kobinson, Dr. Charles 830 

Vaughau, F. P 130 

Wade, A. B 159 

Whitlock, James.- - 165 

Wood, Samuel N 140 

"Yates, William 127 

Second District. 

Burson, Harrison 168 

Dunn, James M 172 

Dunn, J. C 176 

Jessee, William 184 

Jones, Samuel 186 

Lahjs F. E - 181 

Mace, J. N 174 

Macey, Dr. E. G 179 

Muzzy, H. C - 182 

Kamsay, Nathaniel 170 

Umberger, G. W. 183 

Wakefield, John A 187 

Ward, George W 190 

White, Andrew 177 

Third District. 

Berry, Geo. H 216 

Boggs, Wm R 209 

Burgess, llav. H. B 192 

Hickey, James 205 

Holmes, George 213 

Home, D. H 206 



Jordan, Charles - 1^9 

Long, John 202 

Merriam, J. F 208 

Mitchell, M. J.. 201 

Sublette, W. A.. , 212 

Vaughan, W. A. M. 210 

Wilmarth, L. C 205 

Fourth District. 

Bassinger, Peter 218 

Fuller^ Perry 217 

Hackett, R 1133 

Javens, JohnF 220 

Johnson, Andrew S 222 

Kezer, B. S 1 224 

Mockbee, Thomas 221 

Moore, William 219 

Fifth District. 

Arthur, James M.. 232 

Bouton, S. W 233 

Chesnut, William 229 

Gearhart, Joseph M 228 

Westfall, Dr. B. C 225 

Wilson, J. W. 227 

Sixth Dlstrict. 

Anderson, Jos. C 241 

Arnett, T. B 245 

Barbce, William.. 243 

Cook, Emery B . 238 

Hamilton, John ..234,241 

Williams, Samuel A 247 

Seventh District. 

Hoover, Absalom 261 

Johnson, Andrew,.,. ._ 259 

Johnson, Wm. F.. 256 

Linkenanger, C. A = 257 

Rice, Hallom «. 255 

Rose, Marcus H,..^ 249,254 

Stewart, James R 250, 255 

Titus, J. B 248 

Ninth District. 

Lowe, H. A 278 

McCo'nnell, Andrew 263 

Mobley, C. R 274 

Reynolds, Thomas 272 

Wilson, Robert 264 

Tenth District. 

Cantrell, John A 271 

Garrett, M. A 266- 

Hascall, Isaac S L 268 

Osborne, W. J 267 

Stewart, Joseph 267 



CONTENTS. 



Twelfth District. 



Page. 



Baker, Augustus 269 

jyAvis, John E. 269 

Thlrteenth District. 

Chandler, Richard. 286 

Dyer, G. M 291 

Godwin, W. H 282 

Hardh, Charles 289 

Minard, Thos. A 287 

Noble, Dr. James 283 

Ross, J. B - 279 

Sharp, A. B 293 

Tebbs, 0. B 292 

Tebbs, Wm. H 29.') 

Thorp, Thomas 113i 

Fourteenth District. 

Addoms, Henry 356 

Blair, Joel P 339 

Brock, Benj. H. 325 

Carter, John R 314 

Oeal, Henry S .- 330 

Cutler, Dr. G. A. 357 

Dickerson, Luther 349 

Dillon, Luther 307 

Duncan, Benj 326 

Fizer, David 351 

Forman, James F 286,348 

Forman, John W- - 369 

Gillespie, G. W 331 

Hall, Willard P 321 

Hamilton, Eli 346 

Harding, Benj ..^ _. 308 

Heed, Albert.. 337 

Hulan, Osborn 317 

Jamieson, A. A 299 

Kirk, R. L 353 

Landis, John. 361 

Larzelere, A 318 

Lynch, James 351 

Miller, A. M.. 329 

Mitchell, A. M 329 

Pattee, J. W 350 

Richardson, W. P 303 

Scott, John 894 

Smith, John W.. 317 

Stewart, C. W 328 

Stringfellow, Dr. J. H. 353 

Tuck, Richard .343 

Wattcrson, T. W .' 335 

Whitjhead, C. B 832 

Whitehead, J. H 311, .340 

Fifteenth District. 

Bailey, M. T 373 

Bourne. Edward 379 

Brewster, 0. H 382 

Crane, J. B. 366 

Hodges, Thomas 372 



Page. 

Holliday, D 1135 

King, Austin A. 1138 

Martin, John W 383 

Potter, F. M. 1137 

Potter, Joseph 369 

Rively, M. P.. - 384 

Rixey, Samuel 424 

Shotwell, J. W. 1139 

Thompson, T. J 377 

Turnell, S. W -- 376 

Williams, Wiley 375 

Zimmerman, E. R - 363 

Sixteenth District. 

Adams, H. J 409 

Brown, David -- - 386 

Day. J. H - 406 

Eastin, L. J..... 402 

Fisher, Adam 405 

France, Matt 408 

Hart, F. A 389 

Johnson, D. J 407 

Kyle, A. T. -- 403 

McAuley, A - 411 

Matthias, Wm. G.. 424 

Minard, T. A --- 392 

Moore, H. Miles 419 

Orr, Patrick R 401 

Pattie, A.T 415 

Rees, Amos 927 

Rees, Richard R 396 

Russell, Alex 400 

Warren, Geo. F - 39-5 

Seventeenth District. 

Chouteau Cyprian 429 

Haldeman, J. A - 430 

Joluison, Thomas - 427 

Eighteenth District. 

Baker, D. H 432 

Bclew, John - - 433 

Cutter, Dr. G. A. 357 

Grooms, Arnett - 435 

Poll-lists of March election. 437 

Extracts from executive minutes con- 

cerniug March election, &c 507 

EUction of May 22, 1855. 

Adams, Wm. H 526 

Day, J. H. 525 

Eastin, L. J 531 

Fisher, Adam 528 

France, Matt 524 

Hart, F. A - 1140 

Keller, Geo. H.. - 527 

Moore, H. Miles - 563 

Rees, Amos - 530 

Poll-lists of May election i* 32 



VI 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 
Election of Odoher 1, 1855, for Ddegate 
to Congress. 

Cook, Emery B 659 

Cox, Lewis M 549 

Ci-eal, H S 561 

Field, D. W 561 

Hamilton, John 562 

Holladay, D 1142 

Jenkins, Gains - 549 

Landis, John — 559 

Lvnch, James 562 

Moore, H. Miles 563 

Morrow, Robert 547 

Prather, L. A 550 

Eeed, James 556 

Richardson, W. P 558 

Stephens, John W 1 653 

Warren, Geo. F 558 

Weibling, H. G - 1143 

Westfall, Dr. B. C... 557 

White, Andrew 647 

AVolverton, T 648 

Poll-lists of election of Oct. 1, 1855. 664 

State movemat, including diction of A. 11. 
Bceder, dekgatts to coiistitiitional conven- 
tion, adoption of constUvfion, state offi- 
oea-s, &fc. 

Blakely, Charles 604 

Davis, James 605 

Deitzler, Geo. W 606 

Green, J. C 990 

Langhlin, Fat 603 

Lowrey, G, P 657 

Parrott, M. J 603 

Pvoberts, W. Y-- 606 

Wood, Di-. J. N. O. P 658 

Call for constitutional convention 607 

Proceedings of Topeka convention.. 608 
Proclamation for delegates to consti- 
tutional convention . 612 

Constitution of State of Kansas 617 

Proclamation for election to adopt 

constitution 641 

Proclamation for election of State 

officers, &c 645 

Memorial to the Congress of the 

United States 652 

Poll-lists of election of October 9, 

1856 - 661 

Poll-lists of election of December 15, 

1866 - - 713 

Poll-lists of election of January 16, 

1856 - 757 

Emigrant Aid Society. 

Cliarter of the New England Emigrant 

Aid Company 874 

Address of the executive committee. 875 

List of officers of the corporation 882 

Names of parties in spring of 1855.. 887 



TESTIMONY. 



Page. 



Adams, Nathan 840 

Blossom, Henry M 838 

Bottom, T. E 865 

Chick, W. H 835 

Donaldson, E. W 854 

Donaldson, W. T.. 851 

Evans, J. B 846 

Gilham, Alex 848 

Hunt, F. A 834, 872 

Ingalls, J. E 841 

Kearney, C. E 862 

Kerr, Leander . 869 

Lawrence, Amos A 873 

Mace, Daniel 829 

Mahan, F. M 867 

McCartney, E. C 865 

Miller, Wm. H 862 

Nicholson, B. F 1144 

Payne, M. J 837, 847 

Redmon, J. B 864 

Reed, J. T 863 ' 

Riddlesberger, J 844 

Ridge, Isaac M 863 

Robinson, Dr. Charles 830, 899 

Smith, Samuel C 831 

Slater, Benj. 832,871 

Spalding, C. C. 856 

Stone, Anson J 886 

Summers, W. H 860 

Thayer, Eli. 883 

AValker, M. R 8S7 

Webb, Tlios. W., (letter) 1143 

Whitlock, James 857 

Secrd Socidies. 

Conway, M. F. 923 

Davidson, Jordan 902 

Francis, A J 910 

Laughlin, Pat. _ 905 

Lowrey, G. P 921 

Prince, J. C 9^2 

Reeder, A, H 947 

Richardson, W. P 901 . 

Scott, John 894 X 

Stringfellow, Dr. J. H 925 

Tebbs, Wm. H 930 

Squatter associations. 

Constitution of Delaware Association . 951 

Salt Creek resolutions. 953 

Stock bridge resolutions 954 

Leavenworth resolutions 955 

Proceedings of meeting at White- 
head, K.T 956 

TESTIMONY. 

Mitchell, A.M.. 956 

Wakefield, J. A 950 



CONTENTS. 



VII 



Page. 
Lynching of Wm. Phillips. 

Johnson, D. J 1026 

Payne. A - 965 

Eees, k E.. 970 

Warren, Geo. F 963 

Miscellaneous. ■ 

Abell, Peter .T 1024.1037 

Breeze, Thomas 104S 

Brock, B. H 1021 

Butler, Rev.P 960 

Harding, Benj 1021 

Harris, James - - 1146 

Hascall, Isaac S 1035 

Lynch, John.. 974 

Lyon, A.B 975 

Matthias, W.G 1147 

McKinney, Wm 1049 

Oakley, Edward 960 

Smith, Samuel - 958 

Zimmerman, E. K 1023 

Taking of ballot-box at Leavenworth City, 
December 15, 1855. 

Burgess, Wm 978 

HoUis, G. W 980 

Hook, H. W -. 980 

Johnston, H. H. - 973 

Keller, G. W 980 

Wetherell, Geo 979- 

Murder of R. P. Brown. 

Adams, Henry J 985 

Bird, Joseph H... 981 

Brown, David 996 

Davis, Dr. James 1004 

EUiott, Josiah 1147 

Few, Dr. Saml. F. 1005 

Green, J. C 990 

Kookogey, S, J 1016 

Martin, Captain J. W 1026 

Motter, E. S 1007 

Park, Dr. J. G 1004 

Rivelv, M. P. 999 

Smith, Nick. 1006 

Sparks, Mrs. E 1019 

Sparks, Stephen 1011 

Taylor, Geo. A 1002 



Page. 

Wilfley, John 1015 

Williams, Wiley 1030 

Murder of C. IV. Dow. 

Banks, John M 1056 

Branson, Jacob 1060 

Breeze, Tliomas -- 1044 

Coleman, F. M - 1052 

Davidson, J. C 1047 

Gleason, Salem - 1042 

Jones, Mrs. A 1050 

Jones, Daniel T 1050 

McKinney, N.. — 1045 

McKinney, Wilday. 1049 

McKinney, Wm. 1040 

Owens, Samuel 1051 

Murder of Thomas Barber. 

Barber, Eobt. F 1121 

Colburn, Mrs. J. W 1125 

Nichols, Harrison 1126 

Pierson, T. M. 1124 

Phillips, Wm 1127 

Prentiss, Dr. S. P 1128 

Simpson, Henry M 1128 

Simpson, S. N. 1127 

Siege of Lau-reiux. 

Allen, Asaph 1114 

Brewster, James 1129 

Brewster, 0. H. 382 

Branson, A.B 1094 

Connelly, Thomas 1101 

Cutler, Dr. G. A 1110 

Heyes, Homme 1093 

Jessee, William 1117 

Legate, JamesF... 1094 

Leonard, Captain L 1129 

Lowrey, G. P 1074 

Phillips, Wm 1112 

Prather, L. A 1065 

Robinson, Dr. Charles. 1069 

Shannon, Gov. Wilson 1102 

Warren, Geo. F 1097 

Winchell, J. M 1086 

Woodson, Daniel 1096 

Ex Parte Testimony. 

Appendix to minority report _ 1150 



34th Congress, ) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. C Report 
1st Session. ^ ^ No. 200. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Mr. Howard, from the Select Committee, made the following 
REPORT. 

[Mr. Mordecai Oliver submitted the views of the minority, herewith 

printed.] 

TAe Special Committee appointed to investigate the troubles in the Ter- 
ritory of Kansas, having performed the duties required hii the House 
beg leave to submit the following report: ' 

A journal of proceedings, including sundry communications made 
suhmi'tted^ committee, was kept; a copy of which is herewith 

. A copy of the testimony has been made and arranged ; not accord- 
ing to the order m which it was taken, but so as to present as clearly 
as possible a consecutive history of events in the Territory from its 
organization to tlic 19th day of March, A. D 1856 

This copy and the original, with copies of the census rolls and the 
poll-books of all the elections, are herewith submitted 

Your committee dc3m it their duty to state, as brieflv as possible, 
the principal facts proven before them. When the act to" organize the 
ierritory of Kansas was passed on the 30th of May, 1854, the greater 
poition of Its eastei-n border was included in Indian reservations not 
open for settlements, and there were but few white settlers in any 
portion of the Territory. Its Indian population was rapidly decreas- 
ing,_ while many emigrants from different parts of our country were 
anxiously waiting the extinction of the Indian title, and the establish- 
^r«?.,-l %y^"'^^«^,^^i government, to seek new homes on its fertile 
prairies It cannot be doubted that if its condition as a free Terri- 
TJA ^'"^.^^^^^ undisturbed by Congress, its settlement would 
\ulZ^'' rapid peaceful and prosperous. Its climate, its soil, and 
Its easy access to the older settlements, would have made it the 
Wed course for the tide of emigration constantly flowin- to the 
West and by this time it would liave been admitted into the Union 
as a free otate witliout the least sectional excitement. If so organ- 
ized none but the kindest feelings could have existed between its 
Citizens and those of the adjoining State. Their mutual interests and 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



. X J f oc -nnw pndanc^erina; tlie harmoT]y of the 
intercourse mstead o ; - -- -dan,^^ ^^ ,,otherhood. 

Union, would ha^e stren^ proposition to repeal the 

The testimony clearly s^^^fXd need into Con-ress, the people of 

gress, the aspect ot f f^'J T^',',^\,oversy .vhich conservative men m 
agitated hy the reopening ^^J ^^^^^^tled in every State and Terri- 
difterent -c^ons belie^^^^ had b^^^^^^^ ^^ J ^^ , 

tory b^ some la^^ ^'^^•■'^\''.\ ... .if^cussion of the slavery question 
which has always ^^^^^^ f ^ J Hfr^^^^^ hand, of extending 

was greatly ^^'^'^''^^'ll^^'^-t had been excluded by law; and, 
slavery into a region f^'-^^^.f^ '' f done by what was regarded as a 
on the other, by a sense « J/ ^^^^f ^^ "^^'eitement was naturally trans 
dishonor of a national c<^^P^^^*- .V '""^^^^^^^^ the Territorv, as set 

ferred into the border ^^^g.^^:^:^ into it. A new diffi- 
tlers favoring tree 01 ^^^^"^^.^.tructions were put upon the 
culty soon o^^^[' ^ \,Xnd ,1 bv the one party that the right to hold 
organic law. ^^ If^^^^^^^^^^^ that neither the people nor the 

slaves m the ^euito J 'x^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^,^^ that power was 

Territorial legislatuie couiQ pit authorized to torm a 

alone possessed by ^^- P^^^ e d d'lSt thrremoval of the restric- 

State S^^^'^^^:;^^^!.f . .-^ ,eT sSverv in the Territory. This c aim was 
tion virtually ^^^tabli.hed sla^ e ^ ^xissouri, who actively en- 

urged by n^^-^>7^^^^7;\^ ?^;Xy Everv movement, of whatever 
SS^;^:"S;dei t: S^blis^ free institutions, was regarded as 

an interference with ^^^^J //^^^'V^^^c law passed, and as soon as its 
AYithin a few days '^^^^^^^^ ^J,^;-^^^^^^^^^^ leading citizens of Missouri 

this Territory." ^ ;„otitntion of slavery as already existing 



tute th 
of citizens 



quenceeveiT officer mfteTai. to , ,!,,;,■ positions to non- 

except those appoint A by fee i-^ ^^^^^^^.^ . ^„^, „ 

ro— rtave 'e:rnu:uetrflad that /ny poUtical po.er .hat- 



as early as possible." various parts of the Territory, 

Similar "soUitunis wei^ |^assed m a or« P ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ 

l^lnC/rsi^gle^ f^rthe-felSe action of Congress ac- 



KANSAS AFF-URS. 3 

ever, however unimportant, has been exercised by the people of the 
Territory. 

In October, A. D. 1S54. Gov. A. H. Eeeder, and the other oificers 
appointed by the President, arrived in the Territory. Settlers from 
all parts of the country were moving in in great numbers, makin* 
their claims and building their cabins. About the same time, and 
before any election was or could be held in the Territory, a secret po- 
litical society was formed in the State of Missouri. H) ItVas known by 
ditTerent names, such as •• Social Band," '• Friends" Society," ••'Blue 
Lodge," •• The Sous of the South." Its members were bound together 
by secret oaths, and they had pass-words, signs, and grips, by which 
they were known to each other ; penalties wereimposed for violating the 
rules and secrets of the order ; written minutes were kept of the proceed- 
ings of the lodges ; and the ditlerent lodges were connected together by 
an eftective organization. It embraced g'reat numbers of the citizens of 
Missouri, and was extended into other slave States and into the Terri- 
tory. Its avowed purpose was not only to extend slavery into Kansas, 
but also into other territories of tlie United States, and to form a union 
of all the friends, of that institution. Its plan of operating was to or- 
ganize and send men to vote at the elections in the Territorv, to col- 
lect money to pay their expenses, and, if necessary, to protect then* 
in voting. It also proposed to induce pro-slavery men to emigrate 
into the Territory, to aid and sustain them while there, and to'elect 
none to office but those friendly to their views. This dangerous society 
was controlled by men who avowed their purpose to extend slavery 
into the Territory at all hazards, and was altogether the most eftect- 
ive instrument in organizing the subsequent ai^med invasions and fo- 
rays.^ In its lodges in Missouri the aliairs of Kansas were discussed. 
The force necessary to control the election was divided into bands and 
leaders selected. Means were collected, and signs and badges were 
agreed upon. ^Yhile the great body of the actmil settlers of the Ter- 
ritory were relying upon the rights* secured to them by the organic 
law, and had formed no organization or combination whatever, even 
of a party character, this conspiracy against their rights was gather- 
ing strength in a neighboring State, and would have been su^icient 
at their tirst election to have overpowered them, even if they had been 
united to a man. 

Your.committee had great difficulty in eliciting the proof of the de- 
tails in regard to this secret society. ' One witness, a member of the 
legislative council, refused to answer questions in reference to it. (2) 
Another declined to answer fully, because to do so would result to his 
injury. (3) Others could or would only answer as to the general pur- 
poses of the society ; but sufficient is disclosed in the testiuiouy to show 
the influence it had in controlling the elections in the Territory. 

The first election was for a delegate to Congress. It was appointed 
for the 29th of .November, 1S54. The governor divided the Territory 
into seventeen election districts, appointed judges, and prescribed pro- 
per rules for the election. In the first, third," eighth, ninth, tenth, 

(1) Jourdim Divvidson, J. C. Prince. John Scott, J. H. Stringfellow. 

(2) W. P. Kichardson. (3) J. G. Privet, 



4 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

twelfth, tliirteentli, and seventeentli districts there appears to "hare 
been but little if any fraudulent voting. 

The election in the 2d district was held at the village of Douglas, 
near fifty miles from the Missouri line. On the day before the elec- 
tion large companies of men came into the district in wagons and on 
horseback, and declared that they were from the State of Missouri,- 
and were going to Douglas to vote. On the morning of the election 
they gathered around the house where the election was to be held. 
Two of the judges appointed by the governor did not appear, and 
other judges were selected by the crowd ; all then voted. In order to 
make a pretence of right to vote, some persons of the company kept a 
pretended register of squatter claims, on which any one could enter 
his name, and then assert he had a claim in the Territory. A citizen 
of the district, who was himself a candidate for delegate to Congress, 
was told by one of the strangers that he would be abused, and proba- 
bly killed, if he challenged a vote. (4) He was seized by the collar, 
called a damned abolitionist, and was compelled to seek protection in 
the room with the judges. About the time the polls were closed these 
strangers mounted their horses and got into their wagons and cried 
out, " All aboard for Westport and Kansas City." A number were 
recognised as residents of Missouri, and among them was Samuel H. 
Woodson, a leading lawyer of Independence. Of those whose names 
are on the poll-books, 35 were resident settlers and 226 were non- 
residents. 

The election in the fourth district was held at Dr. Chapman's, over 
forty miles from the Missouri State line. It was a thinly settled re- 
gion, containing but forty-seven voters in February, 1S55, when the 
census was taken. On the day before the election, from one hundred 
to one hundred and fifty citizens of Cass and Jackson counties, Mis- 
souri, came into this district, declaring their purpose to vote, and that 
they were bound to make Kansas a slave State, if they did it at the 
point of the sword. (5) Persons of the party on the way drove each a 
stake in the ground, and called it a claim ; and in one case several 
names were put on one stake. The ly^vty of strangers camped all 
night near where the election was to be held, and in the morning were 
at the election polls and voted. One of their party got drunk, and to 
get rid of Dr. Chapman, a judge of the election, they sent for him to 
come and see a sick man, and, in his absence, filled his pliice with 
another judge, who was not sworn. They did not deny or conceal that 
they were residents of Missouri, and many of them were recognised as 
such by others. They declared that they were bound to make Kansas 
a slave State. They insisted upon their right to vote in the Territory 
if they were in it one hour. After the election they again returned to 
their homes in Missouri, camping over night on the way. 

"VVe find upon the poll-books 161 names ; of these not over 30 resided 
in the Territory, and 131 were non-residents. (6) 

But few settlers attended the election in the fifth district, the district 



(4) John A. Wakefield. 

(5) Peter Rissinger. 

(6) Thomas Hopkms, Keuben Hackett, Perrj Fuller, John F. Lucas. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 5 

teing larp;e and the settlements scattered. Eip;IitY-two votes were cast; 
of tliese betu-een 20 and 30 were settlers, (7) and the residue were 
citizens of Missouri. Thev passed into the Territory l>y way of the 
Santa Fe road, and by the residence of Dr. Westfall, who then lived on 
the western line of Missouri. (S) Some little excitement arose at the 
polls as to the leiralitr of their voting ; hut they did vote for Gen. 
Whitfield, and said they intended to make Kansas a slave State, and 
that they had claims in the Territory. Judge Teagle, judge of the 
ctHirt in Jackson county, Missouri, was present, hut did not vote. (9) 
He said he did not intend voting, but came to see that others voted. 
After the election, the Missourians returned the way they came. 

The election in the sixth district was held at Fort Scott, in the south- 
east part of the Territory, and near the Missouri line. A party of 
about one hundred men from Cass county, and the counties in Missouri 
south of it, went into the Territory, travelling about 45 miles, most of 
them with their wagons and tents, and camping out. They appeared at 
the place of election. Some attempts were made to swear them, but two 
of the judges were prevailed upon not to do so, and none were sworn, 
and as many as chose voted. There were but few resident voters at 
the polls. The settlement was sparse ; about 25 actual settlers voted 
out of 105 votes cast, leaving SO illegal votes. (10) After the voting 
was over, the Missourians went to their wagons and commenced leaving 
for home. 

The most shameless fraud practised upon the rights of the settlers 
at this election was in the seventh district. It is a remote settlement, 
about seventy-live miles from "the Missouri line, and contained, in 
February, A. D. 1S55, three months afterwards, when the census was 
taken, but 53 voters ; and yet the poll-books show that GO-i votes were 
cast. The election was held at the house of Frey McGee, at a place 
called *'110." But few of the actual settlers were present at the 
polls. (11) A witness, who formerly resided in Jackson county, Mis- 
souri, and was well acquainted with the citizens of that county, (12) 
says that he saw a great many wagons and tents at the place of election, 
and many individuals he knew from Jackson county. He was in their 
tents, and conversed with some of them, and they told him they had 
come witti the intention of voting. He went to the polls, intending 
to vote for Flennigan; but his ticket being of a different color from 
the rest, his vote was challenged by Frey McGee, who had been 
appointed one of the judges, but did not serve. Lemuel Ralston, a 
citizen of Missouri, was acting in his place. The witness then chal- 
lenged the vote of a young man by the name of Xolan, whom he knew 
to reside in Jackson county. Finally, the thing was hushed up, as 
the witness had a good many friends there from that county, and it 
might have led to a fight if he challenged any more votes. Both 
voted: and he then went down to their camp. He there saw many oi 

(7) James W. Wilson. 

(8) Dr. E. C. West&lL 

(9) J. W. Wilson. 

(10) J. C. Prince. 

(11> Matthias A. Keed. 
<12) William F. Johnstone. 



6 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

• his old acqiiamtances, who he knew had voted at the election in 
August previous in Missouri, and who still resided in that State. By 
a careful comparison of the poll-lists with the census-rolls, we find 
but 12 names on the poll-hook who were voters when the census was 
taken^ three months afterwards ; and your committee are satisfied 
that not more than 20 legal votes could have been polled at that elec- 
tion. The only residents who are known to have voted are named by 
the witness, and are 13 in number ; thus leaving 584 illegal votes 
cast in a remote district, when the settlers within many miles were 
acquainted with each other. 

The total number of Avhite inhabitants in the 11th district in the 
mouth of February, A. D, 1855, including men, women, and chil- 
dren, was 36, of whom 24 are voters. Yet the poll-lists in this dis- 
trict show that 245 votes were cast at this election. For reasons 
stated hereafter, in regard to the election on the 30th of March, your 
committee were unable to procure the attendance of witnesses from 
this district. From the records, it clearly appears that the votes 
cast could not have been given by lawful resident voters. The best 
test, in the absence of direct proof, by which to ascertain the number 
of legal votes cast, is by a comparison of the census-roll with the poll- 
books, by which it appears that but 7 resident settlers voted ; and 
238 votes were illegally and fraudulently given. 

The election in the 14th district was held at the house of Benjamin 
Harding, a few miles from the 'town of St. Joseph's, Missouri. Before 
the polls were opened, a large number of citizens of Buchanan county, 
Missouri^ and among them many of the leading citizens of St. Jo- 
seph's, were at the place of voting, and made a majority of the com- 
pany present. At the time appointed by the governor for opening 
the polls, two of the judges were not there, and it became the duty of 
the legal voters present to select other judges. The judge who was 
present(13) suggested the name of Mr. Waterson as one of the judges ; 
but the crowd voted down the proposition. Some discussion then 
arose as to the right of non-residents to vote forjudges, during which 
Mr. Bryant was nominated and elected by the crowd. Some one 
nominated Col. John Scott as the other judge^ who was then, and is 
now, a resident of St. Joseph's, Missouri. At that time he was the 
city attorney of that place, and so continued until this spring; but he 
• claimed that the night before he had come to the house of Mr. Bryant, 
and had engaged boarding for a month, and considered himself a resi- 
dent of Kansas on that ground. 

l^he judge appointed by the governor refused to put the nomination 
of Col. Scott to the vote, because he was not a resident. After some 

♦ discussion. Judge Leonard, a citizen of Missouri, stepped forward and 
put the vote himself ; and Mr. Scott was declared by him as elected 
by the crowd, and served as a judge of the election that day. After 
the election was over he returned to St. Joseph's, and never since has 
resided in the Territory. It is manifest that this election of a non- 
resident lawyer as a judge was imposed upon the settlers by the citi- 
zens of Missouri. When the board of judges was thus completed^ the 

(13) Benjamin Harding. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 7 

voting proceeded ; but tlie effect of the rule adopted by the judges 
allowed many, if not a majority, of the non-residents to vote. They 
claimed that their presence on the ground, especially when they had 
a claim in the Territory, gave them a right to vote ; and under that 
construction of the law they readily, when required, swore they were 
" residents," and then voted. By this evasion, as near as your com- 
mittee can ascertain from the testimony, as many as 50 illegal votes 
were cast in this district out of 153, the whole number polled. 

The election in the 15th district was held at Penseneau's, on 
Stranger creek, a few miles from Weston, Missouri. On the day of 
the election a large number 'of citizens of Platte county, but chiefly 
from AVeston and Platte City, Missouri, came in small parties, in 
wagons and on horseback, to the polls. Among them were several 
leading citizens of that town ; and the names of many of them are 
given by the witnesses. (14) They generally insisted upon their right 
to vote, on the ground that every man having a claim in the Territory 
could vote, no matter where he lived. (15) All voted who chose. No 
man was challenged or sworn. Some of the residents did not vote. 
The purpose of the strangers in voting was declared to be to make 
Kansas a slave State. (16) Your committee find, by the poll-books, 
that 306 votes were cast ; of these we find but 57 are on the census- 
rolls as legal voters in February following. Your committee are sat- 
isfied, from the testimony, that not over 100 of those who voted had 
any right so to do, leaving at least 206 illegal votes cast. 

The election in the 16th district was held at Leavenworth. It was 
then a small village of three or four houses, located on the Delaw3,re 
reservation. (17) There were but comparatively few settlers then in 
the district, but the number rapidly increased afterwards. On the 
day before, and on the day of the election, a great many citizens of 
Platte, Clay, and Ray counties, Missouri, crossed the river, most of them 
camping in tents and wagons about the town, " like a camp-meet- 
ing. "(18) They were in companies or messes of 10 to 15 in each, and 
numbered in all several hundred. They brought their own provision, 
and cooked it themselves, and were generally armed. Many of them 
were known by the witnesses, and their names are given_, which are 
found upon the poll-books. Among them were several persons of in- 
fluence where they resided in Missouri, and held, or had held, high 
official position in that S^te. They claimed to be residents of the 
Territory from the fact that they were there present, and insisted upon 
the right to vote, and did vote. Their avowed purpose in doing so 
was to make Kansas a slave State. These strangers crowded around 
the polls, and it was with great difficulty that the settlers could get 
to the polls. (19) One resident attempted to get to the polls in the 
afternoon, but was crowded and pulled back. He then went outside 
of the crowd, and hurrahed for Gen. Whitfield; and some of those 

(14) J. B. Crane, Francis M. Patton, John W. House, Phineas Skinner, H. B. Gale. 

(15) J. B. Crane. 

(16) H. B. Gale. 

(17) George H. Keller and Jolin A. Landis. 

(18) George H. Keller. 

(19) John A. Landis, L. J. Eastin. 



8 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



who did not know him said, '' There's a good pro-siavery man," and 
lifted him up over their heads, so that he crawled on their heads and 
put in his vote. A person who saw, from the color of his ticket, that 
it was not for Gen. Whitfield, cried out, "He is a damned abolition- 
ist — let him down ;" and they dropped him. (20) Others were passed 
to the polls in the same way, and others crowded up in the best way 
they could. After this mockery of an election was over the non-resi- 
dents returned to their homes in Missouri, Of the 312 votes cast, not 
over 150 were by legal voters. 

The following abstract exhibits the whole number of votes at this 
election for each candidate, the number of legal and illegal votes cast 
in each district, and the number of legal voters in each district in 
February following. 

Abstract of census and election of November 29,. 1854. 



Districts. 


'Place of roting. 




2 

a 


s 
c 

fa 


M 

a 
m 


■3 



a; 2 

6 


> 




> 

CJI 
4) 


j>^i-«it 




46 
235 

40 
140 

63 
105 
597 

16 

9 

2 

237 

31 

69 
130 
267 
232 

49 


188 
20 

"**2i" 

4 


51 

6 

7 

21 

15 


15 


300 

261 

47 

161 

82 

105 

604 

16 

40 

37 

245 

41 

71 

153 

306 

312 

62 


369 

199 

101 

47 

442 

253 

53 

39 

36 

63 

24 

78 

96 

334 

308 

385 

50 

28 


300 
35 
47 
30 
30 
25 
20 
16 
40 
37 
7 
41 
71 
103 
100 
150 
62 








228 


Third 








])r. Cliapman's 


131 


Fifth 


62 


Sixth 


Fort Pcott 


80 


Seventh 


"110" 




^ 




584 


Eighth 






\inth 


Reynolds' 


e" 

9" 

1 


31 

29 

3 

i" 

23 
39 
80 
13 


""5" 
1 








Eleventh 




238 






Thirteenth 










50 


Fifleenth 


Penseiio 


206 
162 


Seventeenth 


f?lia\vace Agency 






















Total 


2,258 


248 


305 


23 


2,833 


2,905 


1,114 


1.729 









Thus your committee find that in this, the first election in the 
Territory, a very large majority of the votes were cast by citizens of 
the State of Missouri, in violation of the organic law of the Territory. 
Of the legal votes cast. General Whitfield received a plurality. The 
settlers took but little interest in the election, not one-half of them 
voting. This may be accounted for from the fact that the settlements 
were scattered over a great extent, that the term of the delegate to be 
elected was short, and that the question of free or slave institutions 
was not generally regarded by them as distinctly at issue. Under 
these circumstances, a systematic invasion from an adjoining State, 
by which large numbers of illegal votes were cast in remote and 
sparse settlements, for the avowed ^^nrpose of extending slavery into 
the Territory, even though it did not change the result of the election^ 



(20) John A. Landis. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 9 

was a crime of grqat magnitude. Its immediate effect was to further 
excite the people of the northern States, and exasperate the actual 
settlers against their neighbors in Missouri. 

In January and February, A. D. 1855^ the governor caused an 
enumeration to be taken of the inhabitants and qualified voters in the 
Territory, an abstract of which is here given. 















M 


j: 








By whom taken. 


Districts. 




. 






P 


3 












m 


« 


i 


£ 

o 


> 


'3 


o 
bo 


1 


S 










a 




.-J 














S 


b, 


> 


S 


^ 


fe 


Z 


OQ 


H 


G. VV. Babcock 


1 St district 

M.... do 


623 

316 


339 
203 


369 
199 


459 
237 


687 
506 


75 
19 






ssrj 


O. H. BiowH '. 


1 


7 


519 


T. VV. Haves 


3d.... do 


161 


91 


101 


112 


215 


12 




6 


25^ 


0. B. Donaldson.... 


'lth....do 


lOS 


71 


47 


97 


169 


2 


i 


1 


177 


Wm. Barbee 


5th do 


624 


583 


442 


724 


1.385 


22 


27 


26 


1,+}/ 


Do 


6ih....do 

Vth....do 


49-2 
{£2 


318 
36 


253 
53 


418 
50 


791 
117 


12 

1 


11 

1 


11 

1 


813 


J. B. McClurc 


113 


Do 


8th.. ..do 


56 


27 


39 


28 


76 


7 


13 


10 


ea 


M. F. Conway 


yth do 


61 


25 


35 


31 


66 


12 


14 


3 


ss 


Do 


lOUi. .do 


97 


54 


63 


61 


108 


23 






151 


B. H. Twonibly 

Do 


11th do 


33 


3 


24 


5 


30 


6 






3S 


13th... do 

13th. ..do 

14th. ..do 


104 
168 
655 


40 
116 
512 


78 
96 
334 


35 
145 


109 
273 
301 


37 

9 

46 


1 

14 

1 


7 
14 
35 


144 


H. B. Jollv 


2S4 


Albert VVeed 


* 1,167 


a. B. Jollv 


loth. ..do 


493 


381 


303 


448 


846 


16 


15 


15 


873 


Ojas. Lei'b 


16tli...do 


708 


475 


385 


514 


1.042 


104 


48 


33 


1,183 


Alex. O. Johnson . . . 


17th. ..do 


91 


59 


50 


54 


143 


o 


4 


S3 


IS-,* 


a. 11. Twombly... . 


lSth...do 


69 


40 


a> 


51 


97 


1 






99 








Total 


5,128 


3,383 


2,905 


3,469 


7,161 


408 


151 


192 


8,601 







ELECTION OF MAECH 30, 1S55. 

On the same day that the census was completed, the governor issued 
his proclamation for an election to be held on the 30th of March, A. 
D. 1855, for members of the legislative assembly of the Territory. It 
prescribed the boundaries of districts, the places for polls, the names 
of judges, the apportionment of members, and recited the qualification 
of voters. If it had been observed, a just and fair election would have 
reflected the will of the people of the Territory. Before the election, 
false and inflammatory rumors were busily circulated among the people 
of western Missouri. The number and character of the emigration 
tlien passing into the Territory were grossly exaggerated and mis- 
represented. Through the active exertions of many of its leading 
citizens, aided by the secret society before referred to, the passions 
and prejudices of the people of that State were greatly excited. Sev- 
eral residents there have testified to the character of the reports circu- 
lated among and credited by the people. These efforts were successful. 
By an organized movement, which extended from Andrew county in 
the north, to Jasper county in the south, and as far eastward as 
Boone and Cole counties, Missouri, companies of men were arranged 
in irregular parties and sent into every council district in the Territory, 
and into every representative district hut one. The numbers were so 
distributed as to control the election in each district. They went to 
vote, and with the avowed design to make Kansas a slave State. 
They were generally armed and equipped, carried with them their 



lO KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

own provisions and tents, and so marclied into the Territory. The 
details of this invasion form the mass of the testimony taken by your 
committee, and is so voluminous that we can here state but the leading 
facts elicited. 

First District. — Laiorence. 

The company of persons who marched into this district was collected 
in Ray, Howard, Carroll, Boone, Lafayette, Randolph, Macon, Clay, 
Jackson, Saline, and Cass counties, in the State of Missouri. Their 
expenses were paid ; those who could not come, contributing provi- 
sions, wagons, &c.(l) Provisions were deposited for those who 
were expected to come to Lawrence, in the house of William Lykins, 
and were distributed among the Missourians after they arrived there. (2') 
The evening before, and the morning of the day of election, about 
1,000 men from the above counties arrived at Lawrence, and camped 
in a ravine a short distance from town, near the place of voting. 
They came in wagons (of which there were over 100) and on horse- 
back, under the command of Col. Samuel Young, of Boone county, 
Missouri, and Claiborne F. Jackson, of Missouri. They were armed 
with guns, rifles, pistols, and bowie-knives ; and had tents, music, 
and flags v/ith them. (.3) They brought with them two pieces of 
artillery, (4) loaded with musket-balls. (5) On their way to Law- 
rence some of them met Mr. N. B. Blanton, who had been ap- 
pointed one of the judges of election by Gov. Eeeder, and, after 
learning from him that he considered it his duty to demand an oath 
from them as to their place of residence, first attempted to bribe him, 
and then threatened him with hanging, in order to induce him to dis- 
pense with that oath. In consequence of these threats he did not 
appear at the polls the next morning to act as judge. (6) 

The evening before the election, while in camp, the .Missourians 
were called together at the tent of Captain Claiborne F. Jackson, and 
speeches were made to them by Col. Young and others, calling for 
volunteers to go to other districts where there were not Missourians 
enough to control the election, as there were more at Lawrence than 
were needed there. (7) Many volunteered to go, and on the morn- 
ing of the election several companies, from 150 to 200 each, went off 
to Tecumseh, Hickory Point, Bloomington, and other places. (8) On 
the morning of the election the Missourians came over to the place of 
voting from their camp, in bodies of 100 at a time. (9) Mr. Blanton 

(1) F. P. Vaughan, Jourdan Davidson. 

(2) Wm. Yates, C. W. Babcock, Dr. John Doy. 

(3) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, William Yates, Wm. B. Hornsby, G. W. Deitzler, C. 
W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, S. N. Wood, E. Chapman, Robert Elliot, N. B. Blanton, 
Jourdan Davidson, Wm. Lvon, J. B. Abbot, J. W. Ackley, Dr. John Doy, A. B. Wade, 
John M. Banks, H. W. Buckley. 

(4) E. Chapman, Jourdan Davidson. 

(5) E. Chapman. 

(6) N. B. Blanton. 

(7) Norman Allen, J. Davidson. • 

(8) N. Allen, Wm. Gates, W. B. Hornsby, C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, J. Davidsoa, 
A. B. Wade. 

(9) E. D. Ladd. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 11 

not appearing, another judge was appointed in his place ; Col. Young 
claiming that, as the people of the Territor}^ had two judges, it 
was nothing more than right that the Missourians should have the 
other one to look after their interests ;(10) and Robert A. Cummins was 
elected in Bhmton's stead, because he considered that every man had 
a right to vote if he had been in the Territory but an hour. (11) 

The Missourians brought their tickets with them ;(12) but not 
having enough, they had oOO more printed in Lawrence on the even- 
ing before and on the day of election. (13) They had white ribbons 
in their button-holes to distinguish themselves from the settlers. 

When the voting commenced, the question of the legality of the 
vote of a Mr. Page was raised. Before it was decided. Col. Samuel 
Young stepped up to the window Vv^here the votes were received, and 
said he would settle the matter. The vote of Mr. Page was with- 
drawn, and Col. Young offered to vote. He refused to take the oath 
prescribed by the governor, but swore he was a resident of the Terri- 
tory ; upon which his vote was received. (15) He told Mr. Abbot, 
one of the judges, when asked if he intended to make Kansas his 
future home, that it was none of his business ; that if he were a resi- 
dent then, he should ask no more. (16) After his vote was received, 
Col. Young got up on the window-sill, and announced to the crowd 
that he had been permitted to vote, and they could all come up and 
vote. (17) He told the judges that there Was no use in swearing the 
others, as they would all swear as he had done. (18) After the other 
judges had concluded to receive Col. Young's vote, Mr. Abbot re- 
signed as judge of election,* and Mr. Benjamin was elected in his 
place. (19) 

The polls were so much crowded until late in the evening, that for 
a time when the men had voted tliey were obliged to get out by being 
hoisted up on the roof of the building where the election was being 
held, and pass out over the house. (20) Afterwards, a passage-way 
through the crowd was made by two lines of men being formed, through 
which the voters could get up to the polls. (21) Col. Young asked 
that the old men be allowed to go up first and vote, as they were tired 
with the travelling, and wanted to get back to camp. (22) 

The Missourians sometimes came up to the polls in procession, two 
by two, and voted. (23) 

During the day the Missourians drove off the ground some of the 

(10) S. N. Wood. 

(11) II. A. Cummins, Norman Allen, S. N. Wood, C. S. Tratt, J. B. Abbot. 

(12) C. W. Babcock, Eobert Elliot. 

(13) Robert Elliot. 

(14) G. W. Deitzler. 

(15) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, S. W. Ward, C. S. Pratt, J. B. Abbot. 
(IG) Norman Allen, J. B. Abbot. 

(17) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, S. N. Wood, C S. Pratt, J. B. Abbot. 

(18) C. W. Babcock, J. B. Abbot. 

(19) C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, C. S. Pratt, J. B. Abbot. 

(20) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, J. M. Banks. 

(21) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, Lyman Allen. 

(22) Lyman Allen, E. D. Ladd. 

(23) E. D. Ladd, Ira W. Ackley. 



12 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

citizens— Mr. Stearns, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Willis. (24) They threat- 
ened to shoot Mr. Bond, and a crowd rushed after him, threatening 
him ; and, as he ran from them, some shots were fired at him as he 
jumped off the hank of the river and made his escape. (25) The citi- 
zens of the town went over in a hody late in the afternoon, when the 
polls had hecome comparatively clear, and voted. (26) 

Before the voting had commenced, the Missourians said if the judges 
appointed hy the governor did not receive their votes they would choose 
other judges. (27) Some of them voted several times, changing their 
hats or coats and coming up to the window again. (28) They said they 
intended to vote first, and after they had got through the others could 
vote. (29) Some of them claimed a right to vote under the organic act, 
from the fact that their mere presence in the Territory constituted them 
residents, though they were from Missouri, and had homes in Mis- 
souri. (30) Others said they had a right to vote hecause Kansas be- 
longed to Missouri, and people from the East had no right to settle in 
the Territory and vote there. (31) 

They said they came to the Territory to elect a legislature to suit 
themselves, as the people of the Territory and persons from the East 
and the North wanted to elect a legislature that would not suit 
them. (32) They said they had a right to make Kansas a slave 
State, because the people of the North had sent persons out to make 
it a free State. (33) Some claimed that they had heard that the Emi- 
grant Aid Society had sent men out to be at the election, and they 
came to offset their votes ; but the most of them made no such claim. 
Col. Young said he wanted the citizens to vote, in order to give the 
election some show of fairness. (34) 

The Missourians said there would be no difficulty if the citizens did 
not interfere with their voting ; but they were determined to vote 
peaceably, if they could, but vote any how. (35) They said each one 
of them was prepared for eight rounds without loading, and would 
go to the ninth round with the butcher-knife. (36) Some of them said 
that by voting in the Territory they would deprive themselves of the 
right to vote in Missouri for twelve months afterwards. (37) 

The Missourians began to leave the afternoon of the day of election, 
though some did not go home until the next morning. (38) In many 

(24) E. D. Ladd, C. W. Babcock, Lyman Allen, S. N. Wood, N. B. Blanton, John Doy, 
J. Davidson, Charles Kobinson. 

(25) E. D. Ladd, C. W: Babcock, Lyman Allen, S. N. Wood, N. B. Blanton, J. David- 
son, Dr. John Doy. 

(26) E. D. Ladd, C. Kobinson, A. B. Wade, J. Whitlock, J. M. Banks, H. W. Buckley. 

(27) G. W. Deitzler. 

(28) S. N. Wood, Ira W. Ackley. 

(29) J. Davidson. 

(30) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, Lyman Allen. 

(31) W. B. Hornsbv, C. W. Babcock, C. Robinson. 

(32) William Yates, Thomas Hopkins, Ira W. Ackley. 

(33) Lyman Allen, J. Davidson. 

(34) Norman Allen. 

(35) Norman ^Vllen, Lyman Allen, C. W. Babcock, S. N. Wood, E. Chapman, Thomas 
liopkins. 

(36) Jourdan Davidson. 

(37) J. B. Abbot. 

(38) E. D. Ladd, Norman APen, William Yates, W. B. Hornsby, G. W. Deitzler, C. W. 
Babcock, C. Eobinson, E. Chapman, Lyman Allen, Jom'dan Davidson. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 13 

cases, wlien a wagon-load voted they immediately started for liome.(39) 
On their way home they said that if Grovernor Keeder did not sano- 
tion the election they would hang him. (40) 

The citizens of the town of Lawrence, as a general things were not 
armed on the day of election, though some had revolvers, but not ex- 
posed as were the arms of the Missourians.(41) They kept a guard 
about the town the night after the election, in consequence of the 
threats of the Missourians, in order to protect it. (42) 

The pro-slavery men of the district attended the nominating con 
ventions of the free-State men, and voted for, and secured the nomina- 
tions of, the men they considered the most obnoxious to the free-Stat'? 
party, in order to cause dissension in that party. (43) 

Quite a number of settlers came into the district before the day of 
election, and after the census was taken. (44) According to the cen- 
sus returns, there were then in the district 369 legal voters. Of 
those whose names are on the census returns, 1*77 are to be found on 
the poll-books of the 30th of March, 1855. Messrs. Ladd^ Babcock, 
and Pratt testify to fifty-five names on the poll-books of persons they 
knew to have settled in the district after the census was taken, and 
before the election. A number of persons came into the Territory in 
March before the election, from the northern and eastern States, in- 
tending to settle, who were in Lawrence on the day of election. At 
that time many of them had selected no claims, and had no fixed 
place of residence. Such were not entitled to vote. Many of them 
became dissatisfied with the country. Others were disappointed at its 
political condition, and in the price and demand for labor, and re- 
turned. Whether any such voted at the election, is not clearly 
shown : but from the proof, it is probable that in the latter part of the 
day, after the great body of Missourians had voted, some did go to tlie 
polls. The number was not over fitly. These voted the free-State 
ticket. The whole number of names appearing upon the poll-lists is 
1,034. After full examination, we are satisfied that not over 232 of 
these were legal voters, and 802 were non-residents and illegal voters. 
This district is strongly in favor of making Kansa* a free State, and 
there is no doubt that the free-State candidates for the legislature 
■would have been elected by large majorities if none but the actual 
settlers had voted. At the preceding election, in November, 1854, 
where none but legal votes were polled, General Whitfield, who re- 
ceived the full strength of the pro-slavery party, (45) got but forty- 
six votes. 

Second- District. — Bloomington. 

On the morning of election the judges appointed by the governoj 
appeared and opened the jiolls. Their names were Harrison Burson, 

(3D) S. N. Wood. 

(40) Ganis Jenkins. 

(41) E. D. Ladd. 

(42) E. D. Ladd. 

(43) A. B. Wade. 

(44) E. D. Ladd, Norman Allen, C. W. Babcock, Charles Robinson, Lj^man Allen, 3. 
M. Brooks. 

(45) James Wliitlock. 



14 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Nathaniel Ramsay, and Mr. Ellison. The Missourians began to 
come in early in the morning, some 500 or 600 of them in Avagons 
and carriages, and on horseback, under the lead of Samuel J. Jones, 
then postmaster of Westport, Missouri ; Claiborne F. Jackson and 
Mr. Steeley, of Independence, Missouri. They were armed with double- 
barreled guns, rifles, bowie-knives, and pistols, and had flags hoist- 
ed. (1) They held a sort of an informal election off at one side, at 
first for governor of Kansas Territory, and shortly afterwards an- 
nounced Thomas Johnson, of Shawnee Mission, elected governor. (2) 
The polls had been opened but a short time, when ]\[r. Jones march- 
ed with the crowd up to the window and demanded that they should 
be allowed to vote, without swearing as to their residence. (3) After 
some noisy and threatening talk, Claiborne F. Jackson addressed the 
crowd, saying they had come there to vote; that they had a right to 
vote if they had been there but five minutes, and he was not willing to 
go home without voting ; which was received with cheers. (4) Jackson 
then called upon them to form into little bands of 15 or 20, which they 
did, (5) and went to an ox wagon filled with guns, which were distributed 
among them (0) and proceeded to load some of them on the ground. (T) 
In jjursuance of Jackson's request, they tied white tape or ribbons 
in their button-holes^ so as to distinguish them from the " abolition- 
ists. "(8) They again demanded that the judges should resign ; and 
upon their refusing to do so, smashed in the window, sash and all, 
and presented their "pistols and guns to them, threatening to shoot 
them. (9) Some one on the outside cried out to them not to shoot, as 
there were pro-slavery men in the house with the judges. (10) They 
then put a pry under the corner of the house, which was a log-house, 
and lifted it up a few inches and let it fall again, (11) but desisted 
upon being told there were pro-slavery men in the house. During 
this time the crowd repeatedly demanded to be allowed to vote with- 
out being sworn, and Mr. Ellison, one of the judges, expressed him- 
self willing, but the other two judges refused ;(12) thereupon a body 
of men, iieaded by sherifi" Jones, rushed into the judge's room with 
cocked pistols an^ drawn bowie-knives in their hands, and approach- 
ed Burson and Ramsay. (13) Jones pulled out his watch and said he 
would give them five minutes to resign in, or die. (14) When the 
five minutes had expired and the judges did not resign, Jones said he 

(1) n. Burson, N. Ramsay, James M. Dunn, Andrew White, Dr. E. G. Maccy, 11. Muzzy, 
Wm. Jessee, John A. Wakefield. 

(2) E. G. Macey. 

(3) IT. Burson, N. Biamsay, J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. Macey, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jessee, 
John A. Wal^efiold. 

(4) J. :\I. Dimn, A. White, E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefi eld. 

(5) E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefield. 

(6) J. M. Dunn, J. C. Dunn, A. "White. 

(7) E. G. Macey. 

(8) J. M. Dunn, J. N. Mace, A. White, E. G. Macey, J. A. Wakefield 

(9) H. Burson, N. Ramsay. 

(10) J. C. Dunn. 

(11) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. N. Mace, J. C. Dunn, A. VThite, E. G. Macey, H. Muzzy, 
S. Jones, J A. Wakefield. 

(12) J. C. Dunn. 

(13) Harrison Burson, N. Ramsay. 

(1-i) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. C. Dimn, H. Muzzy, Wm. Jessee. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 15 

would give tliem another minute and no more. (15) Ellison told his 
associates that if they did not resign there would be one hundred shots 
fired in the room in less than fifteen minutes, (16) and then snatching 
up the hallot-box ran out into the crowd, holding up the hallot-hox 
and hurrahing for Missouri. (17) About that time Burson and Ramsay 
were called out by their friends, and not suffered to return. (18) As 
]\Ir. Burson went out he put the ballot poll-books in his pocket and 
took them with him, (19) and as he was going out Jones snatched 
some papers away from him, (20) and shortly afterwards came out 
himself, holding them up, crying, "■ Hurrah for Missouri ! "(21) After 
he discovered they were not the poll-books, he took a party of men 
with him and started off to take the poll-pooks from Burson. (22) 
When Mr. Burson saw them coming, he gave the books to Mr. Um- 
berger and told him to start off in another direction, so as to mislead 
Jones and his party. (23) Jones and his party caught Mr. Umberger, 
took the poll-books away from him, and Jones took him up behind 
him on a horse and carried him back a prisoner. (21) After Jones and 
kis party had taken Umberger back, they went to the house of Mr. 
Eamsay and took Judge John A. Wakefield prisoner, and carried 
him to the place of election, (25) and made him get up on a wagon 
and there make a speech ; after which they put a white ribbon in his 
button-hole and let him go. (26) They then chose two new judges 
and proceeded with the election. (27) They also threatened to kill the 
judges if they did not receive their votes without swearing them, or 
else resign. (28) They said no man should vote who would submit to 
be sworn; that they would kill anv man who would offer to do so. 
''Shoot him;" "Gut his guts out," &c.(29) They said no man 
should vote this day unless he voted an open ticket, and was all right 
on the goose; (30) and that if they could not vote by fair means, 
they would by foul means. (31) They said they had as much right to 
vote if they had been in the Territory two minutes as if they had been 
there two years, and they would vote. (32) Some of the citizens who 
were about the window, but had not voted when the crowd of Misson- 
rians marched up there, upon attempting to vote were driven back 

(15) H. Burson, N. Eamsay, H. Muzzy. 

(16) H. Burson, N. ruimsay, J. W. Mace, H. Muzzy, W. Jessee, S. Jones, J. A. Wake 
fieul. 

(17) H. Burson, J. C. Dunn. 

(18) H. Burson, N. Eamsay, J. C. Dunn, A. White, H. Muzzr, Wm. Jesseo. 

(19) H. Burson, J. C. Dunn. 

(20) H. Burson. 

(21) H. Burson, J. ^l. Dunn, E. G. Macey, Wm. Jessee. 

(22) H. Burson, N. Eamsav. 

(23) II. Burson, A. Wliite,"G. W. Umberger, Wm. Jessee. 

(24) H. Burson, X. Eamsav, A. White, E. G. Macey, G. W. Umberger, Wm. Jessee, J. 
A.Wakefield. 

(25) N. Eamsay, J. M. Dunn, A. "\Miite, E. G. Maccr, Q. W. Umberger, Wm. Jessee, 
J. A. Wakefield. 

(26) E. G. Macey, G. W. Umberger, J. A. Wakefield. 

(27) T. Lahy. 

(28) J. C. Dunn, Wm. Jessee, S. Jones. 

(29) H. Burson, N. Eamsay, J. M. Dunn, J N. Mace, A. White, E. G. Mivcey, W. Jesse*. 

(30) N. Ramsay. 

(31) H. Burson, N. Ramsay, J. M. Dunn. 
'32) J. M. Dunn. 



16 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

hj the mob^ or driven off. (33) One of tliem, Mr, I. M. Mace, was 
asked if he would take the oath; and upon his replying that he would 
if the judges required it, he was dragged through the crowd away 
from the polls, amid cries of "kill the damned nigger-thief," "cut his 
throat," "tear his heart out," &c. After they got him to the out- 
side of the crowd, they stood around him with cocked revolvers and 
drawn howic-knivcs ; one man putting a knife to his breast so that it 
touched him ; another holding a cocked pistol to his ear, while another 
struck at him with a club. (34) 

The Missourians said they had a right to vote, if they had been in 
the Territory but five minutes. (35) Some said they had been hired 
to come there and vote, and got a dollar a day, and by God they would 
vote or die there. (36.) 

They said the 30th day of March was an important day, as Kansas 
would be made a slave State on that day. (37) They began to leave in 
the direction of Missouri in the afternoon, after they had voted, (38) 
leaving some thirty or forty around the house where tlie election was 
held, to guard the polls till after the election was over. (39) The 
citizens of the Territory were not armed, except those who took part 
in the mob, (40) and a large portion of tliem did not vote. (41) Three 
hundred and forty-one votes were polled there that day, of which but 
some thirty were citizens. (42) A protest against the election was got 
up and sent to the governor. (43) The returns of the election made to 
the governor were lost by the committee of elections of the legislature 
at Pawnee. (44) 

The duplicate returns left in the ballot-box were taken by F. E. 
Lahy, one of the judges elected by the Missourians, and were either 
lost or destroyed in his house, (45) so that your committee have been 
imable to institute a comparison between the poll-lists and census 
returns of this district. The testimony is uniform, that not over 
thirty of those who voted there that day were entitled to vote, leaving 
311 illegal votes. We are satisfied, from the testimony, that had tl;ke 
actual settlers alone voted, the free-State candidates would have been 
elected by a handsome majority. 

Third District. — Tecumseli. 

On the 28th of March, persons from Clay, Jackson and Howard 
counties, Missouri, began to come into Tecumseh in wagons, carriages, 
and on horseback, armed with guns, bowie-knives and revolvers, and 
with tents, and camped close by the town, and continued coming in 

(33) n. Burson, N. Ramsay, Wm. Jcssee, I. N. Mace. 

(34) I. N. Mace, H. Muzzy. 

(35) J. M. Dunn, A. White, E. G. M.-icey, J. A. "Wakefield. 

(36) J. M. Dunn, J. C. Dunn, A. AVhite. 

(37) N. llnnisay. 

(38) J. C. Dunn, A. "White. 

(39) A. White. 

(40) II. Burson. 

(41) n. Burson, I. N. Mace, H. Mnzzy, "Wm. Jessee, J. A. Wakefield. 

(42) II. Burson. 

(43) S. .Jones, J. A. Wakefield. 

(44) Daniel Woodson. 

(45) F. E. Lahy. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 17 

and camping until the day of election. (1) The night before the 
election, 200 men were sent for from the camp of the Missoiirians at 
Lawrence.^) On the morning of the election, hefore the polhs were 
opened, some 300 or 400 Missourians and others collected in tlie yard 
about the house of Thomas Stinson, where the election Avas to he- held, 
armed witli bowie-knives, revolvers, and clubs. (3) They said thev 
came to vote and whip tlie damned Yankees, and would vote witliout 
being sworn. (4) Some said they came to have a fight, and wanted 
one. (5) 

Colonel Samuel H. Woodson, of Independence, Missouri, was in the 
room of the judges when tliey arrived, jjrt'paring ]ioll-b(.oks and tally- 
lists, and remained tliere during the attemi)ts to organize. ((>) The room 
of the judges was also tilled by many of these strangers. (7) The 
judges could not agree concerning the oath to be taken by themselves, 
and the oath to be administered by the voters ; Mr. Burgess desiring 
to administer the oath i)rescri])ed by the governor, and the other two 
judges ()j)posing it. (8) During the discus.^ion between the judges, 
whicli lasted for some time, tlie crowd outside became excited and 
noisy, threatening and cursing Mr. liurgess, the tree-State judge. (0) 
Persons were sent at different times by the crowd outside into the 
room where the judges were witli threatening messages, especially 
against Mr. Burgess, and at last ten minutes were given them to or- 
ganize in or lieave ; and, as the time passed, })ersons outside would 
call out the number of minutes leit, with threats against Burgess if 
he did not agree to organize. (10) At the end of that time the judges, 
not being able to organize, left the room, and the crowd proceeded to 
elect new judges and carry on the election. (11) 

The free-State men generally left the ground without voting, 
stating that there was no use in their voting there. (12) The polls 
were so crowded during the first part of the day that the citizens 
could not get up to the window to vote (13) Threats were made 
against the free-State men. (14) In the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Gil- 
patrick was attacked and driven off by the mob. (15) A man, by some 
called "Texas," made a speech to the crowd, urging them to vctte, 
and to remain on the ground until the polls were closed, for fear the 
"abolitionists" would come there in the afternoon and overpower 
tliem, and thus they would lose all their trouble. (10) 

(1) W. A. M. Vaiighan, M. J. Mitchell, John Long. 

(2) H. B. Biirgess. 

(S) Kev. H. B. Burgess. Chailcs Joiudan, James Rickey, Lewis 0. Wilmaith. D. H 
Heine, J. M. Merriam, W. R. Boggs, W. A. M. Vaughan. 

(4) John Long, L. 0. Wilmarth, George Holmes. 

(5) L. 0. Wilmarth. 

(6) Rev. H. B. Burgess, John Long, George Holmes. 

(7) H. B. Burgess. 

(8) H. B. Burgess, George Holmes. 

(9) H. B. Burgess, John Long, D. H. Home. 

(10) H. B. Burgess, Charles Jourdan, D. H. Home. 

(11) H. B. Burgess, Charles Jourdan, J. M. Merriam, George Hobnes. 

(12) H. B. Burgess, C. Jourdan, J. M. Merrian. 

(13) L. O. Wihuarth. 

(14) C. Jourdan. « 

(15) John Long. 

(16) Charles Jourdan, James Hickey, D. H. Home. 

H. Eep, 200 2 



18 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

For making an affidavit in a protest against this election, setting 
forth the facts, I\Ir. Burgess was indicted by the grand jury for per- 
jury ; which indictment was found more than fifteen months ago, and 
is still pending, Mr. Burgess never having been informe*^ who his 
accuser was, or what was the testimony against him. (17) 

A large majority, four to one, of the actual settlers of that district 
were i'ree-State men, (18) and there cannot be the least doubt that if 
none but the actual settlers of the district had voted at that election 
the free-State candidates would have been elected. The number of 
legal voters in the district, according to the census returns, were 101. 
The total number of votes cast were 372, and of these but 32 are on 
the census returns ; and, from the testimony and records^ we are 
satisfied that not over forty legal votes were cast at that election. 

Fourth District. 

A body of armed Missourians came into the district previous to the 
election, and camped there. (1) Before the time arrived for opening 
the polls, the Missourians went to another than the house appointed 
for the election, and one of the judges appointed by the governor and 
two chosen by the Missourians proceeded to open the polls and carry 
on the election. (2) The Missourians said that none but pro-slavery 
men should vote, and threatened to shoot any free-State men who 
would come up to vote. (3) Mr. Mockbee, one of the judges elected by 
the Missourians, had a store near tie boundary fixed by the proclama- 
tion of the governor, while he cultivated a farm in Missouri, where his 
family lived, (4) and while his legal residence is there, and is now. 

The Missourians also held a side election for governor of the Terri- 
tory, voting for Thomas Johnson, of Shawnee Mission. (5) The free- 
State men finding the polLs under the control of non-residents, refused 
to vote and did not vote. (6) They constituted a decided majority of 
the actual settlers. (7) A protest, signed by a majority of the residents 
of the district, was sent to the governor. (8) The whole number of voters 
in tliis district, according to the census returns, were 47 ; the number of 
votes cast were 80, of whom but 15 were residents. The number of resi- 
dents whose names are on the census rolls, who did not vote, were 32. 

Firm District. 

For some days prior to the election, companies of men w^ere organ- 
ized in Jackson, Cass, and Clay counties, Missouri, for the purpose of 

(17) H. B. Burgess. 

(18) H. B. Burgess. 

(1) Perry Fuller, Peter Bassinger. 
■ (2) Perry Fuller, Wm. Moore, J. F. Javens. 

(3) J. F. Javens. 

(4) William Moore. J. F. Javens, Tliomas Mockbee. 

(5) Perry Fuller, William Moore. 

(6) J. F. Javens, Thomas Mockbee. 

(7) Perry Fuller, W. Moore, J. F. Jftrens. 

(8) Perry Fuller, J F. Jarens^ 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 19 

coming to the Territory and voting in the fifth district. (1) The day- 
previous to the election^ some 400 or 500 Missourians, armed with 
guns, pistols, and knives, came into the Territory and camped at Bull 
creek, and on the Pottawatomie creek. (2) 

On the evening before the election, Judge Hamilton, of the Cass 
county court, Missouri, came from the Pottawatomie Creek camp to 
Bull Creek camp for 60 more Missourians, as they had not enough 
there to render the election certain, and they went down there with 
him. (3) 

On the evening before the election, Dr. B C. Westfall was selected 
to act as one of the judges of election in the Bull Creek precinct, in place 
of one of the judges appointed by the governor, who, it was said^ 
would not be there the next day. (4) Dr. Westfall was at that time a 
citizen of Jackson county, Missouri. (5) On the morning of the elec- 
tion the polls for Bull Creek precinct were opened, and, without swear- 
ing the judges, they proceeded to receive the votes of all who offered 
to vote. For the sake of appearances, the judges would get some one 
to come to the window and offer to vote, and when asked to be sworn 
he would pretend to get angry at the judges, and would go away, and 
his name would be put down as having offered to vote, but " rejected, 
refusing to be sworn." This arrangement was made previously, and 
was perfectly understood by the judges. (6) But few of the residents of 
the district were present at the election, and only 13 voted. (7) The 
number of votes cast in the precinct was 393. One Missourian voted for 
himself, and then voted for his little son but 10 or 11 years old. (8) 
Colonel Coffee, Henry Younger, and Mr. Lykins, who were voted for 
and elected to the legislature, were residents of Missouri at that 
time. (9) 

After the polls were closed the returns were made out, and a man 
claiming to be a magistrate certified on them that he had sworn the 
judges of election before opening the polls. (10) 

In the Pottawatomie precinct the Missourians attended the election, 
and after threatening Mr. Chestnut, the only judge present appointed 
by the governor, to induce him to resign, they proceeded to elect two 
Other judges, one a Missourian and the other a resident of another pre- 
cinct of that district. The polls were then opened, and all the Mis- 
sourians were allowed to vote without being sworn. After the })ulls 
were closed, and the returns made out for the signatures of the judgrs, 
Mr. Chestnut refused to sign them, as he did not consider them cor- 
rect returns of legal voters. Colonel Coffee, a resident of Missouri, but 
elected to the Kansas legislature from that district at that electioa, 
endeavored, with others, to induce Mr. Chestnut by threats to sign the 

(1) Dr. B. C. Westfall, Joseph M. Gearhart. 

(2) Dr. B. C. Westfall, Jesse W. WUson, J. M. Gearhart. 

(3) Dr. B. C. Westfall. 

(4) Dr B. C. Westfall. 

(p) Dr. B. C. Westfall, J. W. Wilson. 

(6)Di. B. G. Westfall. 

(7) J. W. Wilson. 

(^) Dr. B. C. Westfall. 

(9) Dr. B. C. Westfall, J. M. Gearhart. 

(10) Dr. B. C. Westfaii. 



^^ KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



return which he refused to do, and left the house. On his wav 
home he was fired at hy some Mi.ssourians, though not injured 7m 

Mt^rFw'^: ''''''' '' '''\''^-''' '''' ^-ivon there thaTd:': 
mofJlL,'^ &«gar_precmct the judges appointed by the governor 

Tly swtn lftr;f ^' ^°^ P^'T"^"^ *° ^^^^^ *^^ i-"«' -f^- being 
auiy sworn After a few votes nad ' een received, a party of Missouri 

ans came into the yard of the house where the ekctfon was he d and 

unloading a wagon filled with arms, stacked their guns in the yard 

and came up to the window and demanded to be allowed o vote Two 

Mr J^M^ ArtI n^'^^ ''""r '\''' '''''' "^--^P^^ the third judge! 
Mr J. M. Arthur, resigned, and another was chosen in his pla?e 

the tI'h?^' ^ '^'^''^i '^^^^^^^^^^ b"t a candidate for and e lee d to 

limed hat^'iirM^'' ""' ^'f'""'' ""^^ ""''''"^ ^^ ^^^^ P^^^^^^t. He 
claimtd that all Missourians who were present on the day of election 
were entitled to vote. But 30 or 40 of the citizens offhe precn^^^^ 
were present, and many of them did not vote (13) Precinct 

duftld ftiH v'^lrf^'fr' ^""f'' i^' '^^^'.^"^ '"'"^''^ '^ b^^^ been con- 
ouctea Uirly, and there a free-State major ty was polled Hi) From 

the testimony the whole district appeai to^ave Teen ii gL W 

dat ;;uld ItoT' 'f rlf" 'f''''' ^^^^^' *be free-StS'e candt 
aates would have been elected by a large majority 

findZt'frorsOO tr9'^^T'^'r 'V^' '''''''''''^ ^"^ *be records, we 
r.?H • -^ ^? ^^^ ^^^^^ ^"tes were polled out of 885— the total 

vnT. r fl'V ^^'' ^'''' P''^""^^'^ ^f that district. Of the leia 
votes cast the free-State candidates received 152. "= 

Sixth District.— i^or^ Scott. 

A company of citizens of Missouri, mostly of Bates ronnfv ^a^« 
mto this district the day before the election, son? camil' and oS 
putting up at tlie public house. (1) They numbered from fob to 200 (2) 
and came in wagons and on horseback, carrving their provisions and 
tents with them, and were generally, armed^ with pisto^ls! They de- 
clared their purpose to vote, and claimed the right to do so They 
C Y P^l^^'.f^er^^lly. in small bodies, with tickets in their 
fb.v I' T fT^' '} ""t all, voted. In som^ places they declared 
they had voted, and gave their reasons for so doing. Mr Anderson 
a pro-slavery candidate for the legislature, endeavored to dissuade the 
tesW r'rTh r" '''"?' ^^^^"^^.^^. ^^^ "°t wish the elSn c n! 

rifht to votP Ini rr' ^Zr''' '""'"'^''^ "P^^ ^^t^^g' and upon his 
right to vote, and did so. No one was challenged or sworn and all 

Ind bu" 6^4 of'tT' *" ?"' 1 ''\''''' '''' -t over 100 wer^ lega 
W M. ^ 1 T ^'^ ^°."^d ^^ the census taken one month before 

men did nof^ote ' Tf^''' ''' ^^•""^^^- ^'^^ '' ^^e free-sTa S 
men did ^noW ote ; but your comm ittee are satisfied that of the 

(11) Wm. Chestnut. ~ " — 

(12)Wm. Chestmit. 

(13) James McArthur. 

(14) S. W. Bonton. 

(1) John Hamilton. 

(2) John Ilamiltcn, E. B. Cook, F. B. Amett. 

(3) Joseph G. Anderson. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 21 

legal votes cast the pro-slavery candidates received a majority. Mr. 
Anderson, one of these candidates, was an unmarried man, who came 
into the district from Missouri a few days before the election, and 
boarded at the public house until the day after the election. He then 
took with him the poll-lists, and did not return to Fort Scott until 
the occasion of a barbacue, the week before the election of October 1, 
1855. He voted at that election, and after it left, and has not since 
been in the district. S. A. Williams, the other pro-slavery candidate, 
at the time of the election had a claim in the Territory, but his legal 
residence was not there until after the election. 

Seventh District. 

From 200 to 300 men from the State of Missouri came, in wagons 
or on horseback, to the election ground at Switzer's creek, in tlie 
second district, and encamped near the polls, on the day preceding the 
election. They were amcd with pistols and other weapons, and de- 
clared tlieir purpose to vote, in order to secure tlie election of pro- 
glavery members. They said they were disa])pointed in not finding 
more Yankees there, and that they had brought more men than were 
necessary to counterbalance their vote. A number of them wore 
badges of bluf ribbon, with a motto, and the company were under the 
direction of leaders. They declared their intention to conduct them- 
selves peacefully, unless the residents of the Territory attempted to 
stop them from voting. Two of the judges of election appointed by 
Governor Reeder refused to serve, whereupon two others were ap- 
pointed in their stead by the crowd of Missourians who surrounded 
the polls. The newly appointed judges refused to take tlie oath pre- 
scribed by Governor Recder, but made one to suit themselves. An- 
drew Johnson requested tlie voters to swear if he had a claim in the 
Territory, and if he had voted in another district. The judges did not 
take the oath prescribed, but were sworn to receive all legal votes. 
The Missourians voted without being sworn ; they supported H. J. 
Stickler for council and M. W. McGee for representative ; they left 
the evening of election ; some of them started on horseback for Law- 
rence, as they said they could be there before night, and all returned the 
way they came. The census list shows 53 legal voters in the district. 
253 votes were cast ; of these 25 were residents, 17 of whom were in 
the district when the census was taken. (1) Some of the residents 
present at the polls did not vote, declaring it useless. Candidates de- 
clined to run on the free-State ticket, because they were unwilling to 
run the risk of so imequal a contest, it being known that a great 
many are coming up from Missouri to vote. (2) Nearly all the settlers 
were free-State men, and 23 of the 25 legal votes given were cast for 
the only free-State candidate running. Mobillon McGee, who was de- 
clared elected representative, had a claim — a saw-mill and a house — 
in the Territory, and he was there part of the time. But his legal 
residence is now and was then near Westport, in Missouri, where he 
owns and conducts a valuable farm, and where his family resides. 

(I) James A. Stewart, M. S. Eose. 
IZi W. F. Johuson.. 



22 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Eighth District. 



_ This was attached to the seventh district for a member of the coun- 
cil and a representative, and its vote was controlled by the illegal votes 
cast there. The census shows 3y votes in it ; 37 votes were'^cast of 
whom a majority voted the free-State ticket. ' 

, Ninth District. 

Fort Riley and Pawnee are in this district. The latter place was 
selected by the governor as the temporary capital, and he designed 
there to expend the sums appropriated by Congress in the construc- 
tion of suitable houses for the legislature. A good deal of buildino- 
was then being done at the fort near by. For these reasons a number 
of mechanics, mostly from Pennsylvania, came into the district in 
March, 1855, to seek employment. Some of these voted at the election. 
The construction of the capital was first postponed, then abandoned 
and finally the site of the town was declared by the Secretary of War 
to be within the military reservation of Fort Riley. Some of the 
inhabitants returned to the States, and some went to other points of 
the Territory. Your committee find that they came as settlers, intend- 
ing to remain as such, and were entitled to vote.(l.) 

Tenth District. 

In this district ten persons belonging to the Wyandott tribe of 
Indians voted. They were of that class who under the law were 
entitled to vote, but their residence was in Wyandott village, at the 
mouth of the Kansas river, and they had no right to vot'e in this 
district. They voted the pro-slavery ticket. (2.) Eleven men, recently 
from Pennsylvania, voted the free-State ticket. From the testimony 
they had not, at the time of the election, so established their residence 
as to have entitled them to vote. (3.) In both these classes of cases 
the judges examined the voters under oath, and allowed them to vote 
and in all respects the election seems to have been conducted friendly! 
The rejection of both would not have changed the result. This and 
the eighth election district formed one representative district, and 
was the only one to which the invasion from Missouri did not extend. 

Eleventh District. 

The 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th election districts being all separately 
settled, were attached together in a council district, and the 11th and 
12th as representative districts. This election district is sixty miles 
north from Pawnee, and one hundred and fifty miles from Kansas 
City. It is the northwest settlement in the Territory, and contained, 
when the census was taken, but thirty-six inhabitants, of whom twen- 
ty-four were voters. There was on the day of election no white set- 

(1) Andrew McConnell, R. W. Wilson, A. H. Reeder. ' 

(2) M. A. Garrett, Joseph Stewart. 

(3) M. J. Osborne, Isaac S. Hascall. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 23 

tlement about Marysville, tlie place of voting, for forty miles, except 
that Marshall & Bishop kept a store and ferry at the crossing of the 
Big Blue and the California road. (4) Your coraniittee were unable 
to procure witnesses from this district. Persons who were present at 
the election were duly summoned by an officer, and among them was 
F. J. Marshall, the member of the House from that district. On his 
return, the officer was arrested and detained, and persons bearing the 
names of some of the witnesses summoned were stopped near Lecomp- 
ton, and did not appear before the committee. The returns show 
that, in defiance of the governor's proclamation, the voting was 
'' viva voce" instead of by ballot. Three hundred and twenty-eight 
names appear upon the poll-books as voting, and, by comparing these 
names with those on the census-rolls, we find that but seven of the 
latter voted. The person voted for as representative (F. J, Marshall) 
was chief owner of the store at Marysville, and was there sometimes, (5) 
but his family lived in Weston, Mo. John Donaldson, the can- 
didate voted for the council, then lived in Jackson county. Mo. (6) 

On the day after the election Mr. Marshall, with twenty-five or 
thirty men from Weston, Mo., was on the way from Marysville to 
the State. Some of the party told a witness who had formerly re- 
sided at Weston, that they were up at Marysville, and carried the 
day for Missouri, and that they had voted about one hundred and fifty 
votes. Mr. Marshall paid the bill at that point for the party. 

There does not appear to have been any emigration into that dis- 
trict in March, 1855, after the census was taken ; and, judging from 
the best test in the power of your committee, there were but seven 
legal votes cast in the district, and three hundred and twenty-one 
illegal. 

Twelfth District. 

The election in this district was conducted fairly. No complaint 
was made that illegal votes were cast. 

Thirteejsfth District. 

Previous to the day of election several hundred Missourians from 
Platte, Clay, Boone, Clinton, and Howard counties, came into the 
district in wagons and on horseback, and camped there. (1) They 
were armed with guns, revolvers, and bowie-knives, and had badges 
of hemp in their button-holes and elsewhere about their persons. (2) 
They claimed to have a right to vote from the fact that they were 
there on the ground, and had, or intended to make claims in the Ter- 
ritory, although their families were in Missouri. (3) 

The judges appointed by the governor opened the polls, and some 



) Augustus Baker. 

) Augustus Baker. 

) T. E. D'Avis. 

) T. B. Ross, W. n. Godwin, Dr. James Noble, T. A. Minard, CharleB Hardh. 

) T. B. Ross, W. H. Godwin. 



f: 



24 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



persons ofFered to vote ; and when their votes were rejected on the 
ground that they were not residents of the district, the crowd threat- 
ened to tear the house down if the judges did not leave (4) 

The judges then withdrew, taking the poll-books with them ,"5) 
i he crowd then proceeded to select other persons to act as iadges 
and the e ection went on. (6) Those persons voting who were sworn 
were aaked it they considered themselves residents of the district, and 
It they said they did they were allowed to vote. (7) But few of the 
residents were present and voted,(8) and the free-State men, as a 
general thing, did not vote. (9) After the Missourians got through 
voting, they returned home. (10) ^ 

A foimal return was made by the judges of election, setting out 
the fact, but it was not verified. The number of legal voters iS this 
district was ninety-six, of whom a majority were free-State men ; of 
the legal voters 12 voted. The total number of votes cast was 239. 

FOUKTEENTH DISTRICT. 

.^l\^.f,F?f^^\'^'''^'''^^ '"^ *^' ^^'^""^ ^^^ ««^e da7« ^^fo^e the 
election that the Missourians were coming over to vote.(l) Previous 
to the election men from Missouri came into the district and elec- 
tioneered for the pro-slavery candidates, (2) General David R Atchi- 
elections^rir'^^ controlling the nominations in one of the primary 

Burr Oakprecmct.-Seyer^l hundred Missourians from Buchanan, 
Platte, and Andrew counties, Missouri, including a great many of 
the prominent citizens of St. Joseph's, came into this precinct the 
da> be ore and on the day of election in wagons and on horses and 
iWrl'l, t'Y^ Arrangements were made for them to cros^ the 
teiry at ^t. Joseph s free of expense to themselves. (5) Thev were 
armed with bowie-knives and pistols, guns and rifles. (6) On the 
morning of the election the free-State candidates resigned in a body 
on account of the presence of the large number of armal Missourians, 
at which the crowd cheered and hurrahed.(7) General B. F Strin^- 
tellow was present and was prominent in promoting the election of 
the pro-slav ery ticket, as was also the Hon. Willard P. Hall and 

(4.) T. B. Boss, Charles Hardh, N. B. Sharp 
(5.) T. B. Boss, C. Hardh. 

G.^M^ Sye?: O^T'mbf ■ ''*^'""- ""'■ '■ ''"'^^' ^- ^'^^^^^-' ^- ^- M--1. «• Hardb, 
(7.) R. Chandler. 
(8.) T. B. Ross, Dr. J. Noble. 

nm^T^R^r- ^n '^■t^^^IV ^- Chandler, C. Hardh, 0. B. Tebbs. 
(10) 1. B. Ross, Dr. J. Noble. 

!J! U^'^J- Harding, John H. Wliitehead, Alft-ed Larzelier. 

(l) Benj. Harding, Willard P. Hall, Dr. G. A Cutler 

(3) Dr. G. A. Cutler. 

(4) A A. Jamieson, W. P. Richardson, Benj. Harding, J. H Wliitehead J R P.rf^r 

o: w'gIISpSI:""" ''■ """• ""■ =■ ""'*■ « *■ ^'»™'. ^- i^m'S,', aVcS 

(5) L. Dillon, G. W. Gillespie. 

it\ ^' ^ •^'^"^^eson, Willard P. Hall, G. W. Stewart. 
W.^ A Han, t'"r Bldr'"'- ''• ^^^^^^'^-'^' ^^J" Warding, J. H. Whitehead, A. Larzelier, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 25 

others of the most prominent citizens of St. Joseph's, Missouri. (8) 
But one of the judges of election appointed by the governor served oa 
that day, and the crowd chose two others to supply the vacancies. (9) 
The Missourians said they came there to vote for and carry the 
election for Major W. P. Richardson. (10) Major Richardson, elected 
to the council, had had a farm in Missouri, where his wife and daugh- 
ter lived with his son-in-law, Willard P. Hall, he himself generally 
goiag home to Missouri every Saturday night. The farm was gen- 
erally known as the Richardson farm. He had a claim in the Terri- 
tory upon which was a saw-mill, and where he generally remained 
during the week. (11.) Some of the Missourians gave as their reason 
for voting that they had heard that eastern emigrants were to be at 
that election, (12) though no eastern emigrants were there. (13) Oth- 
ers said they were going to vote for the purpose of making Kansas a 
slave State. (14) Some claimed that they had a right to vote under 
the provisions of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, from the fact that they 
were present on the ground on the day of election. (15) The free- 
State men generally did not vote,(lG) and those who did vote, voted 
generally for John H. Whitehead, pro-slavery, for council, against 
Major W. P. Richardson, and did not vote at all for members of the 
border town. (17) The parties were pretty nearly equally divided in 
the district, some being of opinion that the free-State party had a 
small majority, (18) and others that the pro-slavery party had a small 
majority. (18) After the election was over and the polls were closed, 
the Missourians returned home. During the day they had provisions 
and liquor served out free of expense to all. (19) 

Doniphan ^^recmc^. — The evening before the election some 200 
or more Missourians from Platte, Buchanan, Saline, and Clay 
counties, Missouri, came into this precinct, with tents, music, wagons, 
and provisions, and armed with guns, rifles, pistols, and bowie-knives, 
and camped about two miles from the place of voting. (20) They 
said they came to vote, to make Kansas a slave State, and intended to 
return to Missm,iri after they had voted. (21) On the morning of the 
election the judges appointed by the governor would not serve, and 
others were chosen by the crowd. (22) 

The Missourians were allowed to vote without being sworn, (23) 

(8^ A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, W. P. Hall. 

(9) A. A. Jamieson, Benj. Harding, J. H. Whitehead, A. Larzelier, 0. Hulan. 

(IC) A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Hall. 

(11) A. A. Jamieson, W. P. Richardson, W. P. Hall. 

(12) W. P. Richardson, T. H. Whitehead, J. R. Carter, W. P. Hall, A. M. Mitchell, H. 
S. Creel. 

(13) B. Harding, J. H. Whitehead, J. R. Carter, W. P. Hall. 

(14) W. P. Hall, H. S. Creel. 

(15) B. H. Brock, C. W. Stewart, H. S. Creel. 

(K!) A. A. Jameison, W. P. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, A. Larzelier, C. W. S. Creel. 

(17) W. P. Richardson, C. B. Whitehead. 

(IS) A. A. Jamieson, B. Harding, A. Larzelier, C. W. Stewart. 

(18) W. P. Richardson, J. H. Whitehead, W. P. Hall, Thomas W. Waterston, J. P. Blair. 

(19) W. P. Richardson, G. W. Gillespie. 

(20) Richard Tuck, Eli Hamilton, John Landis, Luther Dickersou, J. W. Beattie, David 
Fizer. 

(21) R. Tuck, L. Dickerson, J. W. Beattie. 

(22) R. Tuck, E. Hamilton, J. Landis. 

(23) R. Tuck, E. Hamilton, David Fizer. 



26 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

some of them voting as many as eight or nine times ; changing their 
hats and coats, and giving in different names each time (24) After 
they had voted, they returned to Missouri. (25) The free-State men 
generally did not vote, (26) though constituting a majority in the pre- 
cinct. (27) Upon counting the hallots in the box. and the names on 
the poll-lists, it was found that there were too many ballots, (27) and 
one of the judges of election took out ballots enough to make the two 
members correspond. (28) 

Wolf River precinct. — But few Missourians were present in this pre- 
cinct, though some of them threatened one- of the judges because he 
refused to receive their votes ; and when he resigned another was 
chosen in his place, who consented to receive their votes. (29) 

Protests were drawn up against the elections in the various precincts 
in the 14th district, but on account of threats that greater numbers of 
Missourians would be at a new election, should it be called, and of 
personal violence to those who should take part in the protest, it was 
not presented to the governor ;(30) Major Richardson, the pro-slavery 
candidate for council, threatening Dr. Cutler, the free-State candidate, 
that if he contested the election he and his office should be put in the 
Missouri river. (31) The number of voters in this district by the 
census was 334 ; of these 124 voted. The testimony shows that quite 
a number of persons M'hose legal residence was in the popular county 
of Buchanan^ Missouri, on the opposite side of the river, had claims 
in the Territory. Some ranged cattle, and others marked out their 
claim and built a cabin, and sold this incipient title when they could. 
They were not residents of the Territory in any just or legal sen^e. 
A number of settlers removed into the district in the month of March. 
Your committee are satisfied, after a careful analysis of the records 
and testimony, that the number of legal votes cast did not exced 200 
out of 727. 

/ Fifteenth District. 

The election in this district was held at the house of Mr. Hayes. 
On the day of election a crowd of from 400 to 500 men(l) collected 
around the polls, of which the great body were citizens of Missouri. 

One of the judges of election in his testimony(2) states that the 
strangers commenced crowding around the polls, and that then the 
residents left. Threats were made before and during the election 
day that there should be no free-State candidates, although there were 
nearly or quite as many free-State as pro-slavery men resident in the 
district ; most of the crowd were drinking and carousing, cursing the 
abolitionists, and threatening the only free-State judge of election. A 

(24) R. Tuck. 

(25) R. Tuck, E. Hamilton, J. Laudis, L. Dickerson. 

(26) John Landis. 

(27) R. Tuck, John Landis, E. Hamilton, J. F. Foreman. . 

(28) E. Hamilton. 

(29) Dr. G. A. Cutler. 

(30) Dr. G. A. Cutler, John Landis, A. A. Jaroieson. 
(81) Dr. G. A. Cutler. 

(1) T. B. Crane, Joseph Potter. 
(2)E. R. Zimmerman. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 27 

majority of those who voted wore hemp in their button-holes, (3) and 
their password was, " All rig^ht on the hemp." Many of the Misson- 
rians were known and are named hy the witnesses. Several speeches 
were made by them at the polls ; and among those who spoke were 
Major Oliver, one of your committee, Col. Burns, and Laban Williams, 
of Platte county. Major Oliver urged upon all present to use no harsh 
words, and expressed the hope that nothing would be said or done to 
wound the feelings of the most sensitive on the other side. He gave 
some grounds, based on the Missouri compromise, in regard to the 
right of voting, and was understood to excuse the Missourians for 
Toting. Your committee are satisfied that he did not vote. Colonel 
Burns recommended all to vote. Tliey came to vote, and he hoped 
that none would go home without voting. Some of the pro-slavery 
residents were much dissatisfied at the interference with tiieir rights 
by the Missourians, and for that reason, and because reflection con- 
yinced them that it would be better to have Kansas a free State, they 
that day " fell over the fence. "(4) 

The judges required the voters to take an oath that they were actual 
residents. They objected at first, some saying they had a claim, 
or held a claim, or owned a claim, or '* I am here ;" but the free-State 
judge insisted upon the oath, and his associates, who at first were dig- 
posed to waive it, coincided with him, and the voters all took it after 
some grumbling. One said he cut him some poles and laid them in 
the shape of a square, and that made him a claim ; and another said 
that he had cut a few sticks of wood, and that made him a claim. 
The free-State men did not vote, although they believed their number 
to be equal to the pro-slavery settlers, and some claimed that they had 
the majority. They were deterred by threats thrown out by the Mis- 
sourians, before and on the day of election, from putting up candidates; 
and none were run, for the reason that there was a credited rumor 
prevailing that the Missourians would control the election. The free- 
State judge was threatened with expulsion from the polls, and a young 
man thrust a pistol into the window through which the votes were 
received. The whole number of votes cast was 417 ; of the names on 
the poll-book but 62 are on the census rolls, and the testimony shows 
that but a small portion, estimated by a witness at one-fourth of the 
legal voters, voted. Your committee estimate the number of legal 
votes at 80. One of the judges refused to certify to the governor that 
the election was fairly conducted. It was not contested because no 
one would take the responsibility of doing it, as it was not considered 
safe, and that if another election was had the residents would fare no 
better. 

Sixteenth Distkict. 

For some time previous to the election, meetings were held and 
arrangements made in Missouri to get up companies to come over to 
the Territory and vote ;(1) and the day before and the day of elec- 

(3) PI R. Zimmerman, Joseph Potter. 

(4) E. K. Zimmerman. 

(1) H. Miles Moore, A. McAuley, L. Kerr. 



28 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

tion large bodies of Missourians from Platte, Clay, Ray, Chariton, 
Carrol, Clinton, and Saline counties, Missouri, came into this district 
and camped there. (2) They were armed with pistols, bowie-knives, 
and some with guns and rifles, (3) and had badges of hemp in their 
button-holes and elsewhere about their persons. (4) 

On the morning of the election there were from 1,000 to 1,400 per- 
sons present on the ground. (5) 

Previous to the election Missourians endeavored to persuade the two 
free-State judges to resign by making threats of personal violence to 
them ;(G) one of whom resigned on the morning of the election, and 
the crowd chose another to fill his place. (7) But one of the judges — 
the free-State judge — would take the oath prescribed by the governor, 
the other two deciding that they had no right to swear any one who 
offered to vote, but that all on the ground were entitled to vote. (8) 
The onl}^ votes refused were some Delaware Indians, some thirty 
Wyandott Indians being allowed to vote. (9) One of the free-State 
candidates withdrew in consequence of the presence of the Missouri- 
ans, amid cheering and acclamation by the mob. (10) During the 
day the steamboat New Lucy came down from Weston, Missouri, 
with a large number of Missourians on board, who voted, and then 
returne<l on the boat. (11) 

The Missourians gave as a reason for their coming over to vote, that 
the North had tried to foice emigration into the Territory, and they 
wanted to counteract that movement. (12) Some of the candidates, 
and many of the Missourians, took the ground that, under the Kan- 
sas-Nebraska act, all who were on the ground on the day of election 
were entitled to vote;(13) and others, that laying out a town and 
taking a lot, or driving down stakes, even on another man's claim, 
gave them a right to vote; (14) and one of the members of the coun- 
cils, R, R. Rees, declared in his testimony that he who should put a 
difierent construction upon the law must be either a knave or a fool. 
The free-State men generally did not vote at that election, (15) and 
no newly-arf-ived eastern emigrants were there. (16) 

The free-State judge of election refused to sign the returns until the 
words ''by lawful resident" voters were stricken out, which was done, 

(2) David Brown, F. A. Hart, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, A. Russell, P. R. Orr, L. J. 
Eastin, A. Fisher, M. France, H. M. Moore. 

(3) D. Brown, F. A. Hart, G. F. Warren, A. Fisher, H. M. Moore, W. G. Matthias. 

(4) F. A. Hart, L. J. Eastin, M. Fi-ance, W. H. Adams, H. M. Moore. 

(5) F. A. Hart, T. A. Minard, G. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, A. J. Pattie, W. G. Matthias. 

(6) D. Brown, M. France. 

(7) D. Brown, F. A. Hart, M. France. 

(8) M. France. 

(9) M. France. 

(10) F. A. Hart, L. J. Eastin, W. H. Adams. 

(11) D. Brown, F. A. Hart, T. A. Minard, G. F, Warren, R. R. Rees, L. J. Eastin, A. 
T. Kyle, U. J. Johnson, M. France, A. J. Pattie, H. M. Moore. 

(12) R. R. Rees, L. J. Eastin, W. H. Adams, H. M. Moore. 

(13) D. Brown, T. C. Minard, E. F. Warren, R. R. Rees, H. M. Moore. 

(14) D. Brown, F. A. Hart. 

(15) D. Brown, T. G. Minard, G. F. Warren, F. A. Hart, M. France, H. M. Moore. 

(16) L. J. Eastin, M. France, W. H. Adams. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 29 

and the returns made in tliat way.(n) The election was contested, 
and a new election ordered by the governor for the 22d of May. 

The testimony is divided as to the relative strength of parties in the 
district. The whole number of voters in the district accordina; to the 
census returns was 385, and according to a very carefully-pi-epared 
list of voters, prepared by the pro-slavery candidates and otiier pro- 
slavery men a few days previous to the election, there were 305 voters 
in the district, including those who had claims but did not live oa 
them. (18) The whole number of votes cast was 964 ; of those named 
on the census 106 voted. Your committee, upon careful exan-iination, 
are satisfied that not over 150 legal votes were cast, leaving 814 ille- 
gal votes. 

Seventeenth District. 

The election in this district seems to have been fairly conducted, 
and not contested at all. In this district the pro-slavery party had 
the majority. 

Eighteenth District. 

Previous to the election Gen. David K. Atchison, of Platte City, 
Missouri, got up a company of Missourians, and passing through 
Weston, Missouri, (1) went over into the Territory. He remained all 
night at the house of Araett Grooms, and there exhibited his arras, of 
which he had an abundance. He proceeded to the Nemaha or 18tli 
district. (2) On his way he and his party attended a nominating con- 
vention in the 14th district, and proposed and caused to be nominated 
a set of candidates in opposition to the wishes of the pro-slavery resi- 
dents of the district. (3) At that convention he said that there were 
1,100 coming over from Platte county, and if that wasn't enough they 
could bring 5,000 more ; that they came to vote and would vote, or 
kill every G — d d — d abolitionist in the Territory. (4) 

On the day of eleetion the Missourians under Atchison, who were 
encamped there, came up to the polls in the 18th district and voted, 
taking the oath that they were residents of the district. The Missou- 
rians were all armed with pistols and bowie-knives, and said there 
were sixty in their company. (5) But seventeen of the votes given 
there were given by citizens of the district. (6) The whole number of 
votes was sixty-two. E. L. Kirk, one of the candidates, came into 
the district from Missouri about a week before the election and board- 
ed there. (7) He left after the election, and was not at the time a legal 
resident of the district in which he was elected. No protest was sent 

(17) L. J. Eastin, M. France, W. H. Adams. 

(18) L. J. Eastin, A. McAuley. 

(1) H. Miles Moore. 

(2) Dr G. A. Cutler, Arnet Grooms. 

(3) Dr. G. A. Cutler. 

(4) Dr. G A. Cutler. 

(5) D. H. Baker, John Belew. 

(6) D. H. Baker, John Belew. 

(7) John Belew . 



30 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



to the governor on account of threats made against any who should 
dare to contest the election. (8) 

The lblh)wing tahles embody the result of the examination of your 
comnjjltee in regard to this election. In some of the districts it was 
Irnpossihk; to ascertain the j)r(!ciHe number of legal votes cast, and es- 
pecially in the 14th, ]5tii, and Ifjth districts. In such cases the num- 
ber of Ic'.'al and illegal votes cast is stated after a careful re-examina- 
tion of all the testimony and records concerning the election. 

No. 1. 

Abstract of census and returns of election of March 30, 1855, hy election 

districts. 





• 
Place of voting. 


O 

a 


V 

o 
> 

SI 

o 

t 


bil 

a 
■c 

o 
o 

m 




r. 

O 
> 

•3 
ta 

o 

■a 
1. 


■3 
ta 

o 

H 

1 


CENBD8. 


COUHCIL. 


HOUSE 


■s 

1 

o 
6 
a; 


p 


6 
Hi 


s 


'" 
6 



B 

■5 

6 


£ 

.a 

s 

s 


6 


•5 

•S 

6 


& 


Xi 

i 
1 

d 


1 

9 


Lawrence 


781 

:ii8 

366 
78 
377 
199 
74 
34 

air, 

'2]\ 
17 
23 
27 
2 

:s8 

4 

12 

2.33 

313 

.'i7 

2r,6 
412 
899 
43 
48 


2.''>3 

12 

4 

2 

9 

65 

17 

70 

35 

23 

17 

52 

42 

21 

19 
6 
30 
15 
2 

""m 

16 
14 


...... 

2 

....^ 
....„ 

"".V 

6 
48 
5 
5 


1,0.')4 

:mi 

372 
80 
386 
264 
98 
104 
350 

2;m 

37 

69 

23 

328 

11 

239 
346 
78 
306 
417 
964 
59 
62 


2.'i2 
.'JO 
32 
15 
13 
75 
32 
104 
100 
25 
37 
75 
48 
23 
7 
11 
33 
12 


802 
3)6 
3;i8 

65 
380 
191 

59 


369 

199 
101 
47 


962 

519 
282 
177 


1 
2 
3 
1 


2 

1 

1 

.... 


2 
3 

4 

1 


3 
2 


3 

4 
f 


Sliiinoii'H orTeouinscli 

Ilr. C1i!i[)ii]:ui'h 

r!iill<;ri-fk 




I'oltiivviitofiiie 

His Sugar Creok 

l.iltJe Siij;;ir Crock.... 

Fi-irr Hcott 

IsiiiK' l{. 'I'ilus' 

Ojuucil Crovc 










"7' 






442 


1,407 


4 


2 




6 
7 

8 


250 
209 

"21' 


253 
.53 
39 
36 
63 


610 
118 
83 
86 
151 


5 
3 
3 
6 

10 
8 
9 

10 
1 

10 
7 
7 
8 
9 

10 
1 

7 


1 
...... 

...... 

...... 

2 
...... 


6 
5 
5 
8 
8 
8 
9 
9 
9 
10 
11 
U 
12 
13 
14 


1 


fl 




.... « 


in< 


IJij; nine 




JU 


Hoi'k (;rc<'k 




11 ' 




321 


24 


36 




1- ( 


St. Mnry'H 

Silvi^r Lake 

Hick'iry I'ljint 

l)iiiii|iliiiii 

Woll Cr.M-k 

Iliirr Oak 


13 


"236' 


78 
90 


144 
284 




200 


530 


334 


1,167 


2 
2 


I'i 


Hayi-H' 


80 

150 

59 

17 


337 
814 

"'45' 


208 
385 
50 

28 


873 

1,183 

150 

99 


2 
3 


16 
17 


Lcavc/iwortli 


1?, 


Moorcstown 








Total 








5,427 


791 


89 


6, .307 


1,410 


4,908 


2,905 


8,601 


105 


13 


155 


2« 







(8) Dr. G. A. Cutler. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



31 



•UO'WBAIJI 






•j.-)fjj«fp iiaiinoo 
Uj xajoA iBaaiii JO -Ofi 






: :3 



•J.-)UJ-(fp II-'"J""3 

III fiaioA iKSiM JO "o^ 



i I ;§ :^ : -S: 



:g : : :g 



•lainsfip iioi]a:iI9 
ui natoA |i;J<i>iii JO o^ 



i^ i : iggi : ii :i i^ i ii :- ;i 



^:i 



•jjujaTP iioiiKSja 
ui f(;»)oA \v'Si)\ JO -0^ 



:2 :3 :8?.^S :2 :?2 :g :'5t:'2$r2''SSP 



':: :?. :!' :;? 



•laui^ip IP 
■lino.) HI jiflea MiiiOA |^oi 



8 



o 

CO 



o 

CO 






c 

•J 



■o 

^ 



o 



•joujiqp UOIJ 

-39(3 111 ii<Ti» iiaiOA |C10X 



■8u!J3iieag 



:^g i 



nn 

li-r 

'Jin 



i^ :^ iiSi^ ii :i :» i^ 



I- ai sis 53 3 



50g9» 



'" 'S ■■'' 
!? 'SI -S^ 



•iii.-tHJ joj lauj'W 
liaiino9 UI gaioA |Fioi 



:f2J 



:S 



•JSUlSnp UOIJ03I9 III 

maiii JOJ M^fioA JO 'ON 









2 :'*».2-?} 



-• • -3 • -S • -C "S 3 . -A 7 ■// 3 »; 

'ji '^ v/'' ui "^ '' o ^ \'''. ■i.^'^i,^". 

" "^ T ''• ~ ''• < '^ 2 'J I • I '-5 

>^ '/i .^ a* >n 'A -^ •'I ^ I J^ >n ir -^ « 



S. — X 



i?.iA 



-i-CTS-e-a 



•iji;)(|i io( VfiJiKip 
lU'iiinoa III n;»ioA linoj^ 



^ .»<-< 



J5r}- .7; 

•rSt-r • — 



■IsiiJKip lloiiaripi III 
uiaiii JOJ HaioA JO -o/^ 






■uauiipunos jo -oj^ 



K - K 2 5/ -3 



o ; jejZ~:12c-^i=-2.3 2 









'^ 5 ; : • : 

. . :^ . . « ,9 : - : e 

: : ^ : .x.-'ipiE 






'laui-fip (Kjiinoa UI 
•nulla.) Xn xj.'iiOA JO -on 



23 : :i9 

CI — 



§3 



i^il 



•IDIJl 

np uoipaia ui nino\ 



5? S 2S3^? 



3183 :S;2 :2 



-S'i^ ^ 



i I 



■ 2 • zl 5 * ii 

:5^ :£ 6^ a .2 



iisd.^l1li^ 



'/> 'A :- s .a 



ijmKip uor)3»|3 JO -o/^ 



I- C»?3I-X<0 



'fi s> s> — 71 -r «) -r .o « 'A 



i;«mfnp DauDb» /o 'ojij 



CT59 "T 



32 



KANSAS AFFAIRS 



Xq poiodia -sUj.! jo -ok 










r 




■TJ 


-^ 




-' 




































-* 






-^ 






-' 






•loiJlstp aAiiBiuasa.iilai 
ui sajoA (uSaii! jo -om 








o 

00 


2t 


1 


i 






























§ 









§1 I 


■japisip aAijBjuaso.idoj 
UI saioA ii;3a( jo 'o^i 




•^ 






8?3 




1 






























i 




CO 






32 : 


•joinsip iionaaio 
HI sajoA piSaii! jo -on 


u5 






i 


CO TO Cft 












o 

CO 






o> 






05 

U3 















3 




8 : 


•joi^sip uoijoaia 
ui sojoA luSai JO -ox 


;2S 
















CO 






.2 






^ 








10 33 CO 
1- UO(N 


'" 


^cj ; 


•jauisip aAiiBittasa.! 
-dai 111 jsKj sajoA ibjox 




s? 








i 






























00 




cc 






•loi.asip uon 
-aaia ui jsua sajoA ibjo j. 


ss 




1 


r-* o -^f r* 


i 






CO 






CO 






a 


I 


•ftlflOICO 


i- 




•SiiuajiBag 




rj 




o 


-. — Ol 












I> 






:o 












"J- 




CO 










•lai-usip OAiTO"asa.i(Ia.i 
UI liiam joj sajoA (lijox 




a> 




3 
































1 




(N 




§ 




•jomsip uoTioaja in 
uiaqi ioj sajoA jo ■o.v 




31 


tr-n ifi 


2 

s 

c 
a 

V 


1 
o 

< 


4 


c 
c 


3 


> 

£ 

3. 


C 


• > 

• a 












1- 
o 

c 

I 

T 

a: 




1__ 

o 

s 


C 

< 


a 

c 
I 


b 
C 


:_ 
c 

1 


0. 

'■c 

c 

< 


c 




if 

? 

1^ 





6 




a 


^1 

do 


•lauiSTp nAUBluasajdaj 
ui iuom Joj saiOA iBJox 




o 




03 


eo us 


i 


CO 


























CO 




TT 




35 : 


•jouisip uoiiaaia ut 
luaiii ioj sajoA jo -oji 


f-«o-H— ■Qoootoo(Mio?tt~ioioi^ooQOoDco^-^'»'rrc>353m.f5x-H<Noo<N-5i-r~-r^ 


o 

■3 
s 

c« 
u 

o 


< 
1 

'J 




c 

i 




J < 




c 

a 


c 
t 


S 


c 


< 




_• c 
0. 


5 C 
»>i _ 


< 

1 




:> 
s 


•7 
■j 


< 




> 




< 


< 


I 
C 


c 
c 


1 


c 


C 


r 
5 


c 


c 


• 

■!a> 

I.I 

> 


•saAijBJuasajdaj jo -on 


'-' 


JC (D — -1 


JCJ •» 






'. '"' 




■" 




" : 


•jsip aAHBluasa-idaj m 
snsuaa /{q s.iaiOA jo 'oj^ 


s 




CO (M 

r-O 'T 










i 




s i 


•iai.ijsip uonoo|3 UI 
snsuao .(q sJajOA jo -Ofi 


-^i i s""i 1 






: 5?3 


I 


CO 


CO • 

■00 : 
1*1 

cj 


o 
« 

C 

o 

'3 
2 


j C 


i 

5y 


c 


■ £ 

C 

1 
i 1 

■ c 


3 

> a 

: E- 


a: 


. 4 
C 

'1 


t 
c 

■J 

t 

c 


4 P 


4 

: d 

; a 

; '^ 

c 

3 I 

i c 
5 0- 


.5 


a 

a 

I L 

) r 

e 

P Q 

i 
- 


D 

' a 
> c 


; a 


a 
c 

£ - 




. a 
r 

• k 

• a 

• > 

'■J 


> 
V. 


•jDUjsip uoiioaia JO -oji 1 -'IS'^ =' c^t-coco « • c'S =2 J3:: 


•13U1STP 

aAvjBinssaidaj jo -o^ 


1- 


- 


fi 


^ 




r 


5 


'J 


r "■ 


J 


« 


i 


r 


• 






























a 













S;? 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



33 



















































:§ 




«J '• 










ji 




■■o '• 




^ •' 






ii 
















ii 




x> '■ 


N 








;0 . 




"^ : 


jcO j 


























js 


ooaogOGO^^*' 




: 1 


1 

s 

£ 




s 
= 
a 

•< 

e 


5 -i: 


•3 ; 

5 u 
J Si. 

3 '3 




'■6 
■ 2 


O 

il 

SB 
1^ 


1 

i 
i 








'5' • 


l: 




:| 




?5 OJ Ol CI TT T 00 OO 00 


a: 


is 

. o 

1 


i i 

; § 

* M 

^ 'B 

-5 K 


J^ Si 


o ; 

u 


•s 

■ « 


s 

" 5 

o r 

mi 
3:4 


r 






C» 01 P» 






2 § S 

<N C) TO 




s s § s 

irt (M CO 


o 

n 


i 
2 


1. 




o 
c 

c 

.3 




00 •»■ >« to 








?» 


rj 


•^ 




1 



H. Eep. 200 



34 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Your committee report the following facts not sliown bj tlie tables 

Of the 2,005 voters named in the census rolls, 831 are found on the 
poll-hooks. Some of the settlers were prevented from attending the 
election hy the distance of their homes from the polls, but the great 
majority were deterred by the open avowal that large bodies of armed 
Missourians would be at the polls to vote, and by the fact that they 
did so appear and control the election. The same causes deterred the 
free-State settlers from running candidates in several districts, and in 
others induced the candidates to withdraw. 

The poll-books of the 2d and Gth districts were lost, but the proof is 
quite clear that in the 2d district there were thirty, and in the 8th 
district thirty-eight legal votes, making a total of eight hundred and 
ninety-eight legal voters of the Territory whose names are on the 
census returns. And yet the proof, in the state in which we are 
obliged to present it, after excluding illegal votes, leaves the total 
vote of 1,410, showing a discrepancy of 512. The discrepancy is ac- 
counted for iji two ways : First, the coming in of settlors before the 
March election, and after the census was taken, or settlers who were 
omitted in tlie census ; or, secondly, the disturbed state of the Terri- 
tory while we w^ere investigating the elections in some of the districts, 
thereby preventing us from getting testimony in relation to the names 
of illegal voterr, at the time of eleci ion. 

If the election had been confined to the actual settlers, undeterred 
by the presence of non-residents, or the knowledge that they would be 
present in numbers sufficient to outvote them, the testimony indicates 
that the council would huve been composed of seven in favor of making 
Kansas a free State, elected from the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 6th council 
districts. The result in the 8tli and 10th, electing three members, 
would have been doubtful, and the 5th, *Jth, and 9th would have elect- 
ed three ;n'o-slavery members. 

Under like circumstances the House of Eepresentatives would have 
been compoised of fourteen members in favor of making Kansas a 
free State, ekcted from the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 0th, and 10th 
representative districts. 

The result in the 12th and 14th representative districts, electing 
five men"; l)ers, would have been doubtful ; and the 1st, 6th, 11th, and 
15th uistrirts would have elected seven pro-slavery members. 

By the election as conducted, the pro-slavery candidates in every 
district but the 8th representative district received a majority of the 
votes ; and several of tliem, in botK the council and house, did not 
''reside in" and were not "inhabitants of " the district for which 
they were elected, as required by the organic law. 

By that act, it v/as declared to be " the true intent and meaning 
of this act to leave the people thereof perfectly free to form and regu- 
late their domestic institutions in their own way, subject to ihe consti- 
tution of the United States.'' So careful was Congress of the right of 
popular sovereignty, that to secure it to the people, without a single 
petition from any portion of the country, they removed the restrie- 
tion against slavery imposed by the Missouri compromise. And yet 
this right, so carefully secured, was thus by force and fraud over- 
thrown by a portion of the people oi an adjoining State 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



rri^o .triVinff difference between this republic and otber republics \ 
Tbe striking ^li^^^^^^^ \. provisions of constitutions and laws, 
on this continent is ^^^/'J, f^dmTnistration of those laws have been 
but that here changes in the ^?;^™;^;'X'?,^lot.hox This invasion 
made peacefully and ^^^^ ^^ ,*^\^}^J^^f '. our government, by which 
is the 'first and only -^^ ^ ^^^^.^^s Jlected^ forLother 

g^aL^rTefrit?;/^^^ T su^ itToaTd have been resisted by the . 
wllL"xI:utive p'ower of the na^onal |o--e^^^^^^^^^ ,,, 1,^, 

^=t:f^^^^^^ ¥t;tX^ acl 

the Territory ^i^hampe power for this purpose ^^^^J J^^^^ 

flftpr receiving authentic information ol the 1 acts , out ^li^" j 

bv the governor duly elected members of said house. ihe piocla 
mation of the governor 'required a verified notice of a contes , when 
Te was made ^o be filed with him within four days after the elec- 
tTonwTthin that time he did not obtain information as to lorce or 
Wi^any"^^^^^^^ the following f ^ncts ; and^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
material defects in the returns of election Without d^^^^^^ 
his power to set aside elections lor force and fraud, they were set aside 

''-J^^^^^^o^e the words ''by lawful resident voters" 

T thllT dXictVefause' the oath was administered by G. W, 
Tavlor who was not authorized to administer an oatu. 

Yn the 3d rtrict, because material erasures from the prmted form 
of the oath were purposely made. 

In Uie 4th district, for the same reason. 

In the 7th district, because the judges were not sworn at all. 

In the 11th district, because the' returns show the election to have 
been held viva voce instead of by ballot. ^p«iriPTit=," were 

In the IGth district, because the words ' ' by lawful residents were 

stricken from the returns. j. ^ • . „„.,.,.olW o-rpnt a<» 

Although the fraud and force in other districts was equally great as 
in these, yet, as the governor had no information m regard to them, 
he issued certificates according to the returns. 



3^ 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



ELECTION OF MAY 22, 1855. 

The election to fill the vacancies caused hy the action of the gov- 
ernor was held on the 22d of Maj, 1855. There was no illegal voting 
at that election except in the 16th district, at Leavenworth. For 
that district the pro-slavery party, while publicly refusing to acknowl- 
edge the legality of that election, not only voted, but a large number 
of the citizens of Missouri came over and voted as at the previous 
election. (1) The majority of the judges decided that all that was 
necessary to constitute a legal voter, was to have some one say he had 
some interest in the Territory. (2) No one was sworn that day, 
or even challenged. (3) The steamboat Kate Kassel came up, and 
men from her came ashore and voted. (4) Many free-State men did 
not vote that day. (5) One of the free-State judges desired the words 
"by lawful resident voters" to be striken out of the return before he 
would sign it, (6) and only signed the return with those words in 
under a misapprehension. ("7) It is impossible for your committee 
accurately to decide which party would have had a majority of the 
legal votes of the district, had no illegal votes been polled, on account 
of the difficulty of determining who were legal and who were illegal 
voters at that election. 

Abstract of the returns of election of May 22, 1855. 



No. of dis- 
trict. 


Place of voting. 


> w 

'to o 

6 > 

It 

Ph 






3 


1 


Lawrencee -. 




288 
127 
148 
66 
33 
110 


18 

1 

13 

15 


306 


2 


Douglas 




127 


3 






149 


7 


" 110" 




79 


8 






33 


16 


Leavenworth .. • 


5C0 


715 




Total 






560 


S02 


47 


1,409 









Your committee have felt it to be their duty, not only to inquire 
into and collect evidence in regard to force and fraud attempted and 
practised at the elections in the Territory, but also into the facts and 
pretexts by M^iicli this force and fraud have been excused or justified ; 
and, for this purpose, your committee have allowed the declarations 

(1) Win. H. Adams, G. H. Keller, Amos Rees. 

(2) M. France, Adam Fisher. , 

(3) Matt. France, W. H. Adams, A. Fislier. 

(4) Matt. France, W. H. Adams. 

(5) M. France, A. Fisher. 

(6) Matt. France, Adam Fisher. 

(7) Matt. France. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 37 

of non-resident voters to be given a.' evidence in tlieir own belialf ; 
also, the declarations of all who came up the Missouri river, as emi- 
grants, in March, 1855, whether they voted or not, and whether they 
came into the Territory at all or not, and also the rumors which were 
circulated among the people of Missouri previous to the election. The 
great body of the testimony taken at the instance of the sitting dele- 
gate is of this character. 

When the declarations of parties passing up the river were oifered 
in evidence, your committee received, them upon the distinct statement 
that they would be excluded unless the persons making the declara- 
tions were, by other proof, shown to have been connected with the 
election. This proof was not made, and therefore much of this class 
cf testimony is incompetent by the rules of law ; but, it is allow^ed to 
remain as tending to show the cause of the action of the citizens of 
Missouri. The alleged causes of the invasion of March, 1855, are 
included in the following charges, viz : 

1st. That the New England Emigrant Aid Society, of Boston, was 
then importing into the Territory large numbers of men, merely for 
the purpose of controlling the elections ; that they came without 
women, children, or baggage, went into the Territory, voted, and 
returned again. 

2d. That men were hired in the eastern and northern States, or 
induced to go to the Territory, solely to vote and not to settle, and 
by so doing to make it a free State. 

3d. That the governor of the Territory purposely postponed the day 
of election to allow tliis emigration to arrive, and notified the Emi- 
grant Aid Society and persons in the eastern States of the day of 
election before he gave notice to the people of Missouri and the Ter- 
ritory. 

That these charges were industriously circulated ; that grossly ex- 
aggerated statements were made in regard to them ; that the news- 
paper press and leading men in public meetings in western Missouri 
(aided in one case by a chaplain of the United States army) gave 
currency and credit to them, and thus excited the people and induced 
many well-meaning citizens of Missouri to march into the Territory 
to meet and repel the alleged eastern paupers and abolitionists, is 
fully proven by many witnesses. 

But neither of these charges is sustained by the proof. 

In April, 1854, the general assembly of Massachusetts passed an 
act entitled " An act to incorporate the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid 
Society." The object of the society, as declared in the first section of 
this act, was " for the pnrpose of assisting emigrants to settle in the 
West." The nominal capital of the cor})oration was not to exceed 
five millions of dollars, but no more than four per cent, could be 
assessed during the year 1854, and no more than ten per cent, in any 
one year thereafter. No organization was perfected or procftedings 
had under this law. 

On the 24th day of July, 1854, certain persons in Boston, Massa- 
chusetts, concluded articles of agreeme-ot and association for an Emi- 
grant Aid Society. The purpose of this association was declared to 
be, '' assisting emigrants to settle in the West." Under these articles 



38 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of association eacli stockholder was individually liable. To avoid 
this difficulty an application was made to the general assembly ot 
Massachusetts for an act of incorporation, which was granted. On 
the 21st day of February, 1855, an act was passed to incorporate the 
New England Emigrant Aid Company. The purpose of this act was 
declared to be, " directing emigration westward, and aiding and provi- 
ding Hccommodation after arriving at their place of destination." 
The capital stock of the corporation was not to exceed one million of 
dollars. Under this charter a company was organized. 

Your committee have examined some of its officers, and a portion of 
its circulars and records, to ascertain what has been done by it. The 
public attention at the time of its formation was directed to the Ter- 
ritory of Kansas, and emigration naturally tended in that direction. 
To ascertain its character and resources, this company sent its agents 
into it, and the information thus obtained was published. The com- 
pany made arrangements with various lines of transportation to lessen 
the expense of emigration into the Territory, and procured tickets at 
reduced rates. Applications were made to the company by persons 
desiring to emigrate ; and when they were numerous enough to form a 
party of convenient size, tickets were sold to them at the reduced 
rates. An agent acquainted with the route was selected to accompany 
them. Their baggage Avas checked, and all trouble and danger of loss 
to the emigrant in this way avoided. Under these arrangements 
several companies went into the Territory in the fall of 1854, under 
the articles of association referred to. The company did not pay any 
portion of the fare, or furnish any personal or real property to the emi- 
grant. The company, during 1855, sent into the Territory from 
eight to ten saw-mills ; purchased one hotel in Kansas City, which they 
subsequently sold ; built one hotel at Lawrence, and owned one other 
building in that place. They held no property of any other kind or 
description. They imposed no condition upon their emigrants, and 
did not inquire into their political, religious, or social opinions. The 
total amount expended by them, including the salaries of their agents 
and officers, and other expenses incident to all organizations, was less 
than one hundred thousand dollars. 

Their purposes, as far as your committee can ascertain, were lawful, 
and contributed to supply those wants most experienced in the settle- 
ment of a new country. 

The only persons who emigrated into the Territory under the au- 
spices of this company in 1855, prior to the election in March, was a 
party of 169 persons, who came under the charge of Charles Eobin- 
Bon.(l) 

In this party there were sixty-seven women and children. (2) 
They came as actual settlers, intending to make their homes in the 
Territory, and for no other purpose. (3) They had about their per- 
sons but little baggage, usually sufficient clothing in a carpet-sack for 
a short time. Their personal effects, such as clothing, furniture, &c», 
were put into trunks and boxes, and, for convenience in selecting and 

(1) Benjamin Slater, Charles Eobinson. 

(2) Charles Eobinson. 

(3) Samuel C. Smith. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 39 

Cheapness in transporting, was marked ''Kansas party baggage; care 
of B. Slater, St. Louis." Generally this was consigned as freight, in 
the ordinary way, to the care of a commission merchant. This party 
had, in addition to the usual allowance of one hundred poucdsto each 
passenger, a large quantity of baggage, on which the respective 
owners paid the usual extra freight. (4) Each passenger or party 
paid his or their own expenses, and the only benefit they derived from 
this society, not shared by all the people of the Territory, was the re- 
duction of about seven dollars In the price of the fare, the convenience 
of travelling in a company instead of alone, and the cheapness and fa- 
cility of transporting their freight through regular agents. Subse- 
quently many emigrants, being either disappointed with the country 
or its political condition, or deceived by the statements made by the 
newspapers, and by the agents of the society, became dissatisfied and 
returned, both before and after the election, to their old homes. Most 
of them are now settlers in the Territory. (5) Some few voted at the 
election in Lawrence, (5) but the number was small. The names of 
these emigrants have been ascertained, and thirty-seven of them are 
found upon the poll-books. (5^.) This company of peaceful emigrants, 
moving with their household goods, was distorted into an invading 
horde of pauper abolitionists, who were, with others of a similar 
character, to control the domestic institutions of the Territory, and 
then overturn those of a neighboring State. 

In regard to the second charge, there is no proof that any man was 
either hired, or induced'to come into the Territory from any free State, 
merely to vote. The entire emigration in March, 1855, is estimated 
at 500 persons, including men, women, and children. (6) They came 
on steamboats up the Missouri river in the ordinary course of emi- 
gration. Many returned for causes similar to those before stated, but 
the body of them are now residents. The only persons, of those who 
were connected by proof with the election, were some who voted at 
the Big Blue precinct in the 10th district, and at Pawnee, in the 9th 
district. Their purpose and character are stated in a former part of 
this report. 

The third charge is entirely groundless. The organic law requires 
the governor to cause an enumeration of the inhabitants and legal 
voters to be made, and that he apportion the members of the council 
and house according to this enumeration. For reasons stated by per- 
sons engaged in taking the census, it was not completed until the 
early part of March, 1855.(7) At that time the day of holding the 
election had not been and could not have been named by the governor. 
As soon as practicable after the returns were brought in, he issued 
his proclamation for an election, and named the earliest day consistent 
with due notice as the day of election. The day on which the elec- 
tion was to be held was a matter of conjecture all over the country, 
but it was generally known that it would be in the latter part of 

(4) B. SLater. 

(5) Charles Robinson, Samuel C. Smith. 
(5^) Anson J. Stone. 

(6.) W. H. Chick and J. Kiddlesbarger. 
(7.) William Barbee. 



40 ' K^iNSAS AFFAIRS. 

March. The precise day was not known by any one until the procla- 
mation issued. It was not known to the agents of the Emigrant Aid 
Society in Boston on the 13th day of March, 1855, when the party of 
emigrants before referred to left. (8) 

Your committee are satisfied that these charges were made the mere 
pretexts to induce an armed invasion into the Territory as a means to 
control the election and establish slavery there. , 

The real purpose is avowed and illustrated by the testimony and 
conduct of Colonel John Scott, of St. Joseph's, Mo., who acted as an 
attorney for the sitting delegate before your committee. The follow- 
ing are extracts from his deposition : 

" Prior to the election in Burr Oak precinct, in the 14th district^ 
on the 29th of November, 1854, I had been a resident of Missouri, 
and I then determined, if I found it necessary, to become a resident 
of Kansas Territory. On the day previous to that election I settled 
up my board at my boarding-house in St. Joseph's, Mo., and went 
over to the Territory and took boarding with Mr. Bryant, near whose 
house the polls were held the next day, for one month, so that I might 
have it in my power, by merely determining to do so, to become a 
resident of the Territory on the day of election. 

"When my name was proposed as a judge of election, objections 
were made by two persons only. * * * j then publicly in- 
formed those present that I had a claim in the Territory ; that I had 
taken board in the Territory for a month, and that I could at any 
moment become an actual resident and legal voter in the Territory ; 
and that I would do so if I concluded at any time during the day that 
my vote would be necessary to carry that precinct in favor of the pro- 
slavery candidate for delegate to Congress. * * * I did not 
during the day consider it necessary to become a resident of the Ter- 
ritory for the purpose mentioned, and did not vote or offer to vote at 
that election. 

''I held the oflSce of city attorney for St, Joseph's at that time, and 
had held it for two or three years previously, and continued to hold it 
until this s]3ring. * * * j voted at an election in St. Joseph's in 
the spring of 1855, and was re-appointed city attorney. The question 
of slavery was put in issue at the election of November, 1854, to th« 
same extent as in every election in this Territory. General Whit- 
field was regarded as the pro-slavery candidate by the pro-slavery 
party. I regarded the question of slavery as the primarily prominent 
issue at that election, and, so far as I know, all parties agreed in 
making that question the issue of that election. 

^' It is iny intention, and the intention of a great many other Mis- 
sourians noiv resident in Missouri, whenever the slavery issue is to he 
determined upon by the peojDle of this Territo7y in the adoption of the 
State constitution, to remove to this Territory in time to acquire the 
right to hecome legal voters upon that question. The leadiiig purpose of 
our intended removal to the Territory, is to d^Jermine the domestic in-t 
stitutions of this Territory ivhen it comes to he a State, and lue ivould 
not come hut for that purpose, and tuould never think of coining here 



(8) Charles Robinson, Anson J. Stone, and Eli Thayer. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 41 

tut for that purpone. 1 believe there are a great many in Missouri 
loho are so situated." 

The invasion of March 30th left both parties in a state of excite- 
ment, tending directly to produce violence. The successful party was 
lawless and reckless, while assuming the name of the " Law and 
Order" party. The other party, at first surprised and conCoun ded, 
was greatly irritated, and some resolved to prevent the success of the 
invasion. In some districts, as before stated, protests were sent to 
the governor ; in others this was prevented by threats, in others by 
the want of time, and in others by the belief that a new election woiild 
bring a new invasion. About the same time, all classes of men com- 
menced bearing deadly w^eapons about their persons — a practice which 
has continued to this time. Under these circumstances, a slight or 
accidental quarrel produced unusual violence, and lawless acts became 
frequent. This unhappy condition of the public mind was furtlier 
increased by acts of violence in western Missouri, where, in April^ a 
newspaper press called the Parkville Luminary was destroyed by a 
mob. 

About the same time Malcolm Clark assaulted Cole McCrea at a 
squatter meeting in Leavenworth, and was shot by McCrea in alleged 
.self-defence. 

I On the 17th day of May, William Phillips, a lawyer of Leaven- 
Iworth, was first notified to leave, and upon his refusal was forcibly 
(Seized, taken across the riyer and carried several miles into Missouri, 
ajid then tarred and feathered, and one side of his head shaved, and 
•other gross indignities put upon his person. 

!| Previous to this outrage, a public meeting was held(lO) at which 
I resolutions were unanimously passed, looking to unlawful violence, 
I and grossly intolerant in their character. The right of free speech 
I upon the subject of slavery was characterized as a disturbance of the 
(peace and quiet of the community, and as " circulating incendiary 
|sentiments." They say "to the peculiar friends of northern fanatics, 
(go home and vent your treason where you may find sympathy." 
j Among otlier resolves is the following : 

i " Besot ved, That the institution of slavery is known and recog- 
I nised in this Territory ; that we repel the doctrine that it is a moral 
ajid political evil, and we hurl back with scorn upon its slanderous 
I authors the charge of inhumanity ; and we warn all persons not to 
Icome to our peaceiul firesides to slander us and sow the seeds of dis- 
cord between the master and the servant ; for, much. as we deprecate 
j the necessity to which we may be driven, we cannot be responsible for 
the consequences." 

A committee of vigilance of thirty men was appointed ''to observe 

[ and report all such persons as shall, * * * by the expression of 

abolition sentiments, produce disturbance to the quiet of the citizens, 

I or danger to their domestic relations ; and all such persons so oifend- 

j ing shall be notified and made to leave the Territory." 

[ The meeting was "ably and eloquently addressed by Judge Le- 

compte, Col. L. N. Burns, of Weston, Missouri, and others." Thus 

the head of the judiciary in the Territory not only assisted at a public 

(10) A. Payna. 



42 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and bitterly partizan meeting, whose direct tendency was to produce 
violence and disorder^ but, before any law is passed in the Territory, 
he prejudges the character of the domestic institutions which the 
peoj)le of the Territory were, by their organic law, "left perfectly 
free to form and regulate in their own way." 

On this committee were several of those who held certificates of elec- 
tion as members of the legislature. Some of the others were then, 
and still are, residents of Missouri, and many of the committee have 
since been appointed to the leading offices in the Territory, one of 
which is the sheriffalty of the county. Their first act was that of 
mobbing Phillips. 

Subsequently, on the 25th of May, A. D. 1855, a public meeting 
was held, at which R. R. Rees, a member elect of the council, pre- 
sided. (11) The following resolutions, offered by Judge Payne, a 
member elect of the House, were unanimously adopted: 

" Besolved, 1st. That we heartily endorse the action of the commit- 
tee of citizens that shaved, tarred and feathered, rode on a rail, and 
had sold by a negro, William Phillips, the moral perjurer. 

^' 2d. That we return our thanks to the committee for faithfully 
performing the trust enjoined upon them by the pro-slavery party. 

" 3d. That the committee be now discharged. 

" 4th. That we severely condemn those pro-slavery men who, from 
mercenary motives, are calling upon the pro-slavery party to submit 
without further action. 

" 5th. That, in order to secure peace and harmony to the commu- 
nity, we now solemnly declare that the pro-slavery party will stand 
firmly by and carry out the resolutions reported by the committee 
appointed for that purpose on the ' memorable 30th.' " 

The act of moral perjury here referred to is the swearing by Phil- 
lips to a truthful protest in regard to the election of March 30th in 
the 16th district. 

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. 

The members receiving their certificates of the governor as mem- 
bers of the General Assembly of the Territory met at Pawnee, the 
jdace appointed by the governor, on the 2d of July, A. D. 1855. 
Their proceedings are stated in three printed books, herewith sub- 
mitted, entitled_, respectively, " The Statutes of the Territory of Kan- 
sas ;" " The Journal of the Council of the Territory of Kansas ;" and 
''The Journal of the House of Representatives of the Territory of 
Kansas." 

Your committee do not regard their enactments as valid laws. A 
legislature thus imposed upon a people cannot affect their political 
rights. Such an attempt, if successful, is virtually an overthrow of 
the organic law, and reduces the people of the Territory to the condi- 
tion of vassals to a neighboring State. To avoid the evils of anarchy, 
no armed or organized resistance to them would have been made, .but 
the citizens would have appealed to the ballot-box at future elections, 
to the federal judiciary, and to Congress, for relief. Such, from the 
proof, would have been the course of the people but for the nature of 

(11) R. K. Bees. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



4% 



these enactments and the manner in which they are enforced. Their 
character and their execution have Leen so intimately connected with 
one branch of this investigation — that relating to "violent and tumul- 
tuous proceedings in the Territory" — that we were compelled to ex- 
amine them. 

The "laws" in the statute-books are general and special ; the latter 
are strictly of a local character, relating to bridges, roads, and the 
like. The great body of the general laws are exact transcripts from 
the Missouri code. To make them^ in some cases, conform to the 
organic act, separate acts were passed defining the meaning of words. 
Thus, the word "State" is to be understood as meaning "Terri- 
tory •,"(!) the w^ords " county court" "shall be construed to mean 
the board of commissioners transacting county business, or the probate 
courts, according to the intent thereof." The words " circuit court" 
to mean " district court. "(2) 

The material differences in the Missouri and Kansas statutes are 
upon the following subjects : 

Tl-e qualifications of voters and of members of the Legislative As- 
sembly ; the ofiicial oath of all ofiicers, attorneys, and voters ; the 
mode of selecting efficers, and their qualifications ; the slave code, 
and the qualifications of jurors. 

Upon these subjects the provisions of the Missouri code are such as 
are usual in many of the States. But, by the "Kansas Statutes" 
every ofiicer in the Territory, executive and judicial, was to be ap- 
pointed by the legislature, or by some officer appointed by it. These 
appointments were not merely to meet a temporary exigency, but were 
to hold over two regular elections, and until after the general election 
in October, 1857.(3) Thus, by the terms of these "laws" the people 
have no control whatever over either the legislative, the executive, or the 
judicial departments of the Territorial government, until a time, before 
which, by the natural progress of population, the Territorial govern- 
ment will be superseded by a State government. 

No session of the legislature is to be held during 1856, but the mem- 
bers of the house are to be elected in October of that year. (6) A can- 
didate to be eligible at this election must swear to support the Fugitive 
j Slave law, (7) and each judge of election, and each voter, if challenged, 
must take the same oath. (8) The same oath is required of every offi- 
j cer elected or appointed in the Territory, and of every attorney ad- 
1 mitted to practice in the courts. (9) 

A portion of the militia is required to muster on the day of elec- 
tion. (10) "Every free white male citizen of the United States, and 
every free male Indian who is made a citizen by treaty or otherwise, 

(1) statutes, p. 718. 
I (2) Statutes, p. 7G6. 

(3) Statutes, pp. 1G8, 227, 712. 

(4) Statutes, p. 330. 

(5) Statutes, p. 475. 
I (G) Statutes, p. 330. 

(7) Statutes, p. 333. 

(8) Statutes, p. 332. 

! (9) Statutes, pp. 132, 339, 516 
I (10) Statutes, p. 469. 



44 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and over tlie age of twenty-one years, and wlio shall be an inJiahilant 
of the Territory, aad of the cjuiity atii district in which he offers to 
vote, and shall have paid a Territorial tax, shall he a qualified elector 
for all elective officers. "(11) Two classes of persons were thus ex- 
cluded, who, by the organic act, were allowed to vote, viz : those who 
would not swear to the oath required, and those of foreign birth who 
had declared on oath their intention to become citizens. (12) Any man 
of proper age who was in the Territory on the day of election, and who 
had paid one dollar as a tax to the sheriff, who was required to be at 
the polls to receive it, (13) could vote as an " inhabitant," although 
he had breakfasted in Missiouri, and intended to return there for sup- 
per. There can be no doubt that these unusual and unconstitutional 
provisions were inserted to prevent a full and fair expression of the 
popular will in the election of members of the house, or to control it 
by non-residents. 

All jurors are required to be selected by the sheriff, and ''no person 
who is conscientiously opposed to the holding of slaves, or who does 
not admit the right to hold slaves in the Territory, shall be a juror in 
any cause affecting the right to hold slaves, or relating to slave pro- 
perty." 

The slave code, and every provision relating to slaves, are of a char- 
acter intolerant and unusual, even for that class of legislation. 

The character and conduct of the men appointed to hold office in. the 
Territory, contributed very much to produce the events which fol- 
lowed. Thus, Samuel J. Jones was appointed sheriff of the county of 
Douglas, which included within it the first and second election dis- 
tricts. He had made himself peculiarly obnoxious to the settlers by 
his conduct on the 30th of March, in the second district, and by his 
burning the cabins of Joseph Oakley and Samuel Smith. (14) 

THE ELECTION OF OCTOBER 1, 1855. 

An election for delegate to Congress, to be held on the 1st day of 
October, 1855, was provided for under the same rules and regulations 
as were applied to other elections. The free-State men took no part 
in this election, having made arrangements for holding an election on 
the 9th of the same month. The citizens of Missouri attended at the 
election of the 1st of October, some paying the dollar tax, others not 
being required to pay it. They were present ftnd voted at the voting 
places of Atchison(l) and Doniphan, (2) in Atchison county ; at Green 
Springs, Johnson county ;(3) at Willow Springs, (4) Franklin, (5) and 
Lecompton,(6) in Douglas county; at Fort Scott, Bourbon county ;(7) 

(11) statutes, p. 332. 

(12) Statutes, p. 3i. 

(13) Statutes, p. 333. 

(14) Samuel Smith and Edward Oaklej. 

(1) D. W. Field. 

(2) John Landis. * 

(3) Robert Morrow, G. Jenkins, B. C. WestfalL 

(4) A. White, T. Wolverton, J. Reid. 

(5) L. M. Cox, L. A. Prather. 

(6) B. C. Westfall. 

(7) E, B. Cook, J. Hamilton. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. ^ 

at Baptiste Paola, Lykins county, where some Indians voted, some 
whites paying the doHar tax for them ; (8) at Leavenworth City(9) 
and at Kickapoo City, Leavenworth county; at the latter place under 
the lead of General B. F. Stringfellow and Colonel Lewis Burns, of 
Missouri. (10) From two of the election precincts at which it was 
alleged there was illegal voting, viz: Delaware and Wyandott, your 
committee failed to ohtain the attendance of witnesses. 

Vou committee did not deem it necessary, in regard to this election, 
to enter into details, as it was manifest that from there being hut one 
candidate. General Whitfield, he must have received a majority of the 
votes cast. This election, therefore, depends not upon the number or 
character of the votes received, but upon the validity of the laws under 
which it was held. Sufficient testimony was taken to show that the 
voting of citizens of Missouri was practised at this election, as at all 
former elections in the Territory. The following table will exhibit 
the result of the testimony as regards the number of legal and illegal 
votes at this election. 

The county of Marshall embraces the same territory as was in- 
cluded in the 11th district, and the reasons before stated indicate 
that the great majority of the votes there cast were either illegal 
or fictitious. In the counties to which our examination extended, 
there were 857 illegal votes cast, as near as the proof will enable us 
to determine. 

Abstract of -poll-boohs of October 1, 1855. 







ii 














o 








m 


» 




-^2 






S 


o 






"!S 




% 


o 
> 


> 


Comities. 


Townships. 


a: -^ 






% 


to 






1^ 


to 

a 


O 


to 


_aj 






"S^ 




> 


<4.1 

o 


o 






o^ 


eS 




o 


o. 






^ 


Ul 


H 


^ 


"A 


Atchison. . . 




7 










BourboH ... . 




131 

242 

4 

29 

8 

42 

31 

66 


4 

4 

... 


219 

242 

4 

29 

14 








50 
4 
29 
12 
41 
31 
62 


192 


Brown 






Calhoun 






Davis . 






Doniphan 


Burr Oak 


1 




Iowa 








Wayne 






4 


Douglas .. .... . 




59 
53 
86 
42 
101 






59 
53 
23 

42 




Wolf River 




251 




Franklin . 


63 


( 


Lawrence 


















Willow Springs 


103 




332 


63 


60 


Franklia_ 




15 




15 


15 





(8) B- C. Westfall. 

(§) G. F. Warren, H. Miles Moore. 

(10) J. W. Stephens, 



46 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
ABSTRACT— Continued^ 







■2 . 






0) 


m 

•♦a 
p 


Counties. 


Townships. 


o eg 






o 

> 

-3 


1, 






1^ 


bO 


o 


<D 


3 






«« > 


> 


<<H 


"ts 






o(> 


-►» 


•3 


o 








d i-i 


c3 




o 


o 






"A 


Ul 


& 


"A 


^ 


Jefferson .._•_._. .. .. 




42 
190 

42 
239 
150 


3 


45 
190 






Johnson 




90 


100 










Delaware 












Kickapoo 


1 






50 






212 

246 








100 






5 


895 






Lykens - 




220 




220 


70 


150 


Lynn 




67 




67 






Madison 


(See Wise county.) 












Marshall ...... 


171 
6 

28 




171 
6 

28 


24 
6 

28 


147 


Nemaha 






Riley 






Shawnee .........-•_ 


One Hundred and Ten. . 
Tecumseh 


23 
52 
14 






23 
52 
14 








75 
14 




Wise 


Council Grove 









THE STATE MOVEMENTS. 

While the alleged legislative assembly was in session, a movement 
was instituted to form a State government, and apply for admission 
into the Union as a State. The first step taken by the people of the 
Territory, in consequence of the invasion of March 30, 1855, was the 
circulation, for signature, of a graphic and truthful memorial to Con- 
gress. Your committee find that every allegation in this memorial 
has been sustained by the testimony. No further step was taken, as 
it was hoped that some action by the general government would pro- 
tect them in their rights. When the alleged legislative assembly 
proceeded to construct the series of enactments referred to, the settlers 
were of opinion that submission to them would result in entirely de- 
priving them of the rights secured to them by the organic law. Their 
political condition was freely discussed in the Territory during the 
summer of 1855. Several meetings were held in reference to holding 
a convention to form a State government, and to apply for admission 
into the Union as a State. Public opinion gradually settled in favor 
of such an application to the Congress to meet in December, 1855. 
The first general meeting was held in Lawrence, on the J 5th of 
August, 1855. The following preamble and resolution were there 
passed : 

"Whereas the people of Kansas have been since its settlement, and 
now are, without any law-making power, therefore be it 

^^ Resolved, That we, the people of Kansas Territory, in mass meet- 
ing assembled, irrespective of party distinctions, influenced by com- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS 47 

mon necessity, and greatly desirous of promoting the common good, 
do hereby call upon and request all bona fide citizens of Kansas Terri- 
tory, of whatever political views or predilections, to consult together 
in their respective election districts, and in mass convention or other- 
wise elect three delegates for each representative to which said election 
district is entitled in the house of representatives of the legislative 
assembly, by proclamation of Governor Reeder of date 10th of March, 
1855 ; said delegates to assemble in convention at the town of Topefca, 
on the 19tb day of September, 1855, then and there to consider and 
determine upon all subjects of public interest, and particularly upon 
that liavins?; reference to the speedy formation of a State constitution, 
■with an in tention of an immediate application to be admitted as a State 
into the Union of the United States of America." / 

Other meetings were held in various parts of the Territory, which 
endorsed the action of the Lawrence meetings, and delegates were se- 
lected in compliance with its lecommendations. 

They met at Topeka on the 19th day of September, 1855. By their 
resolutions they provided for the appointment of an executive com- 
mittee, to consist of seven persons, who were required to "keep a 
record of their proceedings, and shall have a general superintendence 
of the atr.ars of the Territory, so far as regards the organization of a 
State government." They were required to take steps for an election 
to be held on the second Tuesday of the October following, under 
regulations imposed by that convention " for members of a convention 
to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, 
and take all needful measures for organizing a State government pre- 
paratory to the admission of Kansas into the Union as a State." The 
rules prescribed were such as usually govern elections in most of the 
States of the Union, and in most respects were similar to those con- 
tained in the proclamation of Grovernor Reeder for the election of 
March 30, 1855. 

The executive committee appointed by that convention accepted 
their appointment, and entered upon the discharge of their duties by 
issuing a proclamation, addressed to the legal voters of Kansas, re- 
questing them to meet at their several precincts at the time and places 
named in the proclamation, then and there to cast their ballots for 
members of a constitutional convention, to meet at Topeka on the 4th 
Tuesday of October then next. 

The proclamation designated the places of elections, appointed 
judges, recited the qualifications of vocers, and the appointment ot 
members of the convention. 

After this proclamation was issued public meetings were held in 
every district in the Territory, and in nearly every precinct. The 
State movement was a general topic of discussion throughout the Ter- 
ritory, and there was but little opposition exhibited to it. Elections 
were held at the time and places designated, and the returns were 
sent to the executive committee. 



48 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Table slwioing the numher of voters, mid the number of votes cast for 
delegates to the comtitidional convention, October 9, 1855. 

FIRST DISTRICT. 


Candidates. 


Precincts. 


Total. 




Blanton. 


Palmyra. 


Lawrence. 




Charles Robinson 


67 
70 
70 
CI 
30 
72 
40 


16 






J. H. Lane ^. . 




S. W. Smith 


16 
16 

IG 
16 




J. K. Goodin ._ 




Edward Jones . . 




Morris Hunt 




Abraham Still 










Total 


74 


16 


558S 


648 






- The poll-books of Lawa-ence precinct ^ 
laid or lost. The number of votes cast w£ 

SECONI 


vere not am 
IS 558. « 

) DISTRICT 


ong the others, and are 


either mis- 





Precincts. 




Candidates. 


Benicia, 


Blooming- 
ton. 


Total. 


A. Curtis 


27 
27 
24 

27 


116 
116 
116 
116 


143 


H. Ben,ton 


14^ 


J. A. Wakefield 


140 


J. M. Turner 


143 






Total 


27 


116 ' 


14H 







THIRD DISTRICT. 



Candidates. 






Precincts. 








Tecum- 
sch. 


Camp 
Creek. 


Topeka. 


Washing- 
ton. 


Browns- 
ville. 


TotaL 


W. Y. Roberts 


31 
31 


7 
7 


94 

104 

14 

12 

2 

3 


33 
33 


19 
19 


184 

194 

14 


C. K. Holliday. 


J. Cowles 


H. H. Wentworth 










12 


Edward Segraves , 










3 


Scattering | 








3 


P. C. Schuyler 








5 


5 












Total 


31 


7 


119 


33 


24 


214 





• G. P. Lowrey, M. F. Conway, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



49 



FOURTH DISlTxICT. 



Candidates. 



S. Mewhinney 

Wni. Graham 

Tbtal 



Precinct. 



Wilson 
Springs. 



55 
55 



55 



Total. 



55 
55 



55 



FIFTH DISTRICT. 





Precincts. 




Candidates. 


S3 

bo 

s 


6 

a 
$ 

1 
1 


6 

to 

O 


d 
to 

O 


d 

1 
o 

a 

o 


1^ 

Q 


o 


a 

O 


ft 

a 




William Turner 


24 
24 
23 
24 
24 
23 
17 


49 
49 
49 
49 
49 
48 


8 
8 
8 

13 


IG 
16 
16 
16 
16 
16 


67 
67 
66 
66 
67 
66 


32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 


35 
35 
35 
35 
35 
35 


8 
9 
9 


33 
33 
33 
33 
33 


272 
273 


M T Morris . . 


272 


Orvillc C. Ijrowii 

Richard Knii.;ht 

Hamilton Smith 


255 
257 
220 




13 ! 

1 


43 


Da-vid C. Forbes 


16 








16 


N. S. Nichols 








3 
C4 








O 


Wm. S. Nichols 












7 
29 
35 


1 


76 


Isaac Wool lard 













29 


Fred. Brown 


24 


47 


---- 


16 


64 


32 




33 


251 






Total 


u 


49 


13 


16 


67 


32 


35 


13 


33 


232 



H. Rep. 200- 



60 



KAXSAS AFFArRS. 



SIXTH DISTRICT. 



Candidates. 



W. R. Griffin... 
John Hamilton . 
A. W. J. Brown 
Wm. Saunders . 
W. J. Griffith ... 
T. H. Burgess ... 

A. H. Brown 

Jas. H. Pheris ... 



Total. 



Ph. C. Schuyler . ,. 
Total. 



Precincts. 



House of R. I Scott Town. 
J. Fargird. 



Columbia. 



12 
12 
12 
12 



27 
24 
26 



20 



12 



27 



20 



SEVENTH DISTRICT. 



Candidate. 



Precinct. 



J. B. Titus', 
Council City. 



60 



62 



EIGHTH DISTRICT. 



Total. 



12 
59 
12 
12 
27 
24 
26 
20 



59 



Total. 



60 



62 



Candidates. 


Precinct. 


Total. 


. 


Waubaunassa. 








J. H. Pillsbury.. 


27 
27 




P. C. Schuyler " 


27 

27 


Total 








27 27 


.. — ___ — 


■ 


' 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
NINTH DISTEICT. 



%l 





Candidates. 


Precinct. 


Total. 




Pawnee. 




Unhf^rt Klnf,7 - .--- -- 


63 

54 


53 




54 








Total 


76 


76 







TENTH DISTEICT. 





Candidates. 


Precincts. 


Total. 




Rock Creek. 


Big Blue. 


Dr A Hunting 


30 
30 


64 
73 


94 




103 








Total 


30 


80 


110 









ELEVENTH DISTRICT. 
No return except Black Vermillion precinct — total, 14. 



TWELFTH DISTRICT. 



Candidates. 



M. F. Conway . . 
Jos. F. Coles---. 
J. S. Thompson . 

Total-. 



Precincts. 



St. Mary's. Silver lake. 



19 



11) 



12 

18 
21 

21 



Total. 



31 
18 
21 

40 



52 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT. 



Candidates. 



Geo. S. Hillyer 
Wm. Grigsbee . 

Wm. Hicks 

J. Whitinir 



Precincts. 



Falls. Pleasant HiH.i 



43 
41 



Totiil. 



43 



43 
43 



43 



Total. 



43 
41 
43 
43 



86 



FOUETEENTH DISTRICT. 





Precincts. 


Total. 




Palermo. 


Burr Oak. 


Doniphan. 


WolfPUvcr. 


G. A. Cutler 


40 
40 
40 
39 


33 
33 
33 
33 


42 
42 
42 
42 


18 
18 
18 
IS 


133 


Jno. Laudcs 


133 


D. M. Field 


133 


C. M. Stewart 


132 


Total 


40 


33 


42 


18 


133 







FIFTEENTH DISTRICT. 



Candidates. 


Precincts. 


Total. 


Crosby's Store. 


Precinct. 


Caleb May 


29 
29 




29 


R. H. Crosby 




29 


Stanford McDaniel 


30 

30 

28 

2 


3Q 
30 


Jas. S. Sayle 


H. B. Gale 


2S 


Oh. S. Foster 




2 








Total .' 


29 


. 30 


59 


' 





KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT. 



53 



Candidates. 

i 


Pieciucts. 




Leaven- 
worth. 


Wyan- 
dott. 


Ridge. 


Eioston. 


Delaware. 


Total. 


M. J. Parrott 


492 
495 
493 
493 
493 
493 


38 
38 
33 
38 
38 
38 


47 
47 

47 
47 
47 
47 


61 
61 
61 
61 
61 
61 


22 
22 
22 
22 
22 
22 


6^0 


M. W. Delahay 


G63 


Matt. France . 


661 


-8. W. Lattie 


661 


Eobcrt Riddle 


661 


D.Dodge 


661 


Total 




514 


38 


47 


63 


22 


684 






SEVENTEENTH DISTRICT. 


Candidates. 

1 


Precincts. 


Total. 


AOssion. 


Wakarusa. 




13 
13 


5 
5 


18 


1 Samuel Mewhinney 


18 


1 Total 




13 


F, 


18 


\ 















KECAPIPULATION. 



' Votes cast in first district 648 

j second district 143 

j third district 214 

I fourtli district 55 

fifth district 282 

. sixth district 59 

i seventh district 62 

eighth district 27 

ninth district 76 

I tenth district 110 



Votes cast in eleventh district 14 

twelfth district 40 

thirteenth tl/stvict 86 

fourteenth district 133 

fifteenth district 59 

sixteenth district 684 

seventeenth district .. 18 

Total 2,710 



I The result of the election was proclaimed by the executive commit- 
tee, and the members elect were required to meet on the 23d day of 
October, 1855, at Topeka. In pursuance of this proclamation and 
direction the constitutional convention met at the time and place ap- 

( pointed, and framed a State constitution. A memorial to Congress 
was also prepared, praying the admission of Kansas into the Union as 
a State under that constitution. The convention also provided that 

I the question of the adoption of the constitution, and other questions, 

I be submitted to the people, and required the executive committee to 

I take the necessary steps for that purpose. 

' Accordingly an election was held for that purpose on the 15th day 

[ of December, 1855, in compliance with the proclamation issued by the 



i» 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



executive committee. The rotnnis of tliis election were made bj the 
ox^cutive committee, iiiul au abstract of them is contained in the fol- 
Jowiui;- table : 



Abstract of the election on the adoption qfthe State ConstUuti 

her 15. 1855. 



on, Decent 



rieciiicts. 



Lawrence 

I^lanton 

PllIuiTIil 

l->imklin 

Bloouiingtoii 

F^ist IXiugl;^: 

Topektv 

AVasbinnton 

Browns V il le ^ . 

Temunseh 

Prairie City 

Little Os;\ge 

Big Sngoi- , 

Neoslio 

Pottawatoniie . . . 

Little Sugjxr 

Stanton 

Os{»w;\tomie 

lltus 

Juniata 

OhioCitv 

Milia-eek 

St, Mary's 

WaulKiwsji 

Pawnee 

Gnisshopper FjUIs 

IV>niphan 

Burr Oak 

Jesse l\\dons" 

Ocejuia 

Kiokapoo 

Pleas.Hnt Hill II _ 

Iiiiliauola ! 

WhitiiolJ ""; 

WolfKiver j 

St. Josephs Rntom j 

Mount rieiisAut ! 

Eastou ! 

Mission I 



343 
72 
11 
48 

137 
IS 

135 
42 
24 



21 
IS 
12 
31) 
42 
32 
56 
39 
30 
21 
20 
14 
19 
45 
54 
22 
33 
12 
38 
20 
47 
19 
7 
24 
15 
32 
71 
7 



TotiU 



.'l.731 



3 

IS 



Genei-al bank 
ing law. 



Yes. No. 



225 
59 

9 
31 
122 
13 
125 
41 
22 
23 
39 
16 

6 

6 
21 
S3 

4 
33 
32 
23 
16 



17 

15 

19 

6 



3 I 

11 ' 

4 

3 L 



S,'> 

14 

3 

15 

11 

4 

9 

1 

2 

11 
33 
12 
16 
6 

19 

13 

33 

20 
7 
6 
5 

20 

14 
1 

29 

34 

14 

16 

11 

20 

13 
6 

IS 
4 

12 
9 
1 

19 



46 1,120 [ 564 



Exclusaon of ne- 
groes and mu- 
lattoes. 



Yes. 



133 
48 
12 
4S 

113 
14 
69 
42 



!1 
22 
12 
2S 
16 
45 
19 

6 
IS 
14 
SO 
71 

1 



1.2S7 



No. 



20 



15 

4 

64 



22 


•-> 






So 




69 


3 


23 


7 


20 




12 




25 


IS 


42 


2 


33 


5 


3S 


17 


25 


15 


10 


la 


20 


1 


20 




14 




7 


11 


40 


5 


50 1 


3 



453 



NoTK.— The iH)ll-book at Leavenworth wiis destroyed 
1S55. \ras 514. 



The vote cast there October 9, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 56 



ELECTION OF JANUARY 15, lSr)C. 

The executive committee tlicn issued a proclamation reciting tlio 
results of the ekn'tion oftho 15th ot December, ami at the same time 
c provided tor an ek^'tion to be hehloa the loth day of January, 1S5G, 
for State ofHcers and members of the general assembly of the State of 
Kansas. The election was accordingly held in the several election 
precincts, the returns of which were sent to the executive committee. 
An abstract of them is contained in the foUowiuir table. 



56 



KANSIS AFFAIRS. 





•Xeqaiaa 'W W 


^ 


?3S2f: 


^ o r~ tc 


?3S? 




^ O lO to 


? 


c 


^^g 




1 


re"- 










o 

c 
•c 

p. 


iioiiia D -a 






i^ ■ : 




n 








S 




0OTJ>0O-H~« • ^ 

■«• ro in o •-< 






•jaadtj aiiof 


'-?2S!2p?;SS;s§SS§SS3Sa<"?52S'^22Sg2 


S 








•pxoij a "s 


S53SJ2SSSSJ?S;?SS{;?^* Sg5?2§S 


ifs ^ r^ o ■* to 

OC O (?» -1 r- re 






3 
O 

o 
02 
O. 


•uoisjmjx 'Vi "3 




-^ ■* o 

-nag 




^ 




•OTzuaHsW -a 'S 


31 






^ ; • 




n 




■^S5« 




S 




ss 


s^§ 


■* 






I 

a> 

S 
a 

Q. 

3 


•piaUOBBAV 'V f 


S5 
























00 










o : 


?? 


o 








•uosutiof -M "S 


§ 






t~ : : 




f 




^S?$=' 




1^ 






S'-? 


■<r 






•WmS •A\ "O 








t~ I I 




■»r 




"S^^ 




1^ 




an 


s^-s 


»»• 






•Xbmuoo -j -H 




re 










•BJJTiT -fi -s 


"S5S2S?;SSSSS^?2SS;52S'°S22S 


Ti- — 1 C5 re TT rt 
-2're- -"^ 




•junH -n 


^5?£2SSSS;^§?5S§SS?2S*S2S-^ 


■* ■* re re ■* o 

-.05 '* rt-H re 




<i 


•ajooiv soiiW -H 




m — 'TO re 

too CT — 
r^ ■* 


re 




3 


•XaAJBO M -0 a 








00 • • 




n 








■§ i 


CO-* 


S'-S 


■* 








■pi3yo5(i3A\ -V T 


'-SS2SSSS;SSSg?5SS5?2!S="S2g*§2:S|2 










o 

•3 

3 


•ipaJPO 'H "M 


g 






t~ : • 




n 




^SS"* 




00 




cores* xi 




■>S" 






•jsiino V D 


-?5x2g5;?SS?^«f5SSS32S°°S23-"SS|2 JS 




2 


•Xepnm;! M 


§s 






t~ • • 




n 




^«S=' 




00 I 


gsss*-? 


•* 






o 


•jaiXnqas "D "J 




-«i 




a 




a 

! 

i2 


•jjojjcj f iv 


Oi 






t- I z 




n 




TT « o CJ a» 


s 




Tj* ^ ?^ Oi I^ »0 










•sysqoa -A "M 




gS2gS?S;^SSf§S§S^'"S'"¥523^"'°Sg2SS 




o 
c 

i 


•suaqoa -A M 








«5 .••-< 




n 




'Sg=^ 




00 • 


"SnSS''? 


■"frt 


o 
5! 


•uosuiqon -0 






- 


1 




5 




c 


;c 


5C 


5^ 


• ■ 2 

'• '. o 
. .q: ; 

' ^ 6 '■ 


■ ; 
'5 


c 


]3 


: 1 

: c 


Vb 


• C 
c 

IS 








;p. 


c 




c 
5- 


r 

c 
c 






c 
c 
c 


: 


a 

c 
c 


c 

c 
2 













KANSAS AFFAIRS, 67 

The result of this election was announced by a proclamation by the 
executive committee. 

In accordance with the constitution thus adopted, the members of 
the State legislature, and most of the State officers, were on the day 
and at the place designated by the State constitution, and took the oath 
therein prescribed. After electing United States senators, passing 
gome preliminary laws, and appointing a codifying committee, and 
preparing a memorial to Congress, the general assembly adjonrned to 
meet on the 4th day of July, 1856. The laws passed were all condi- 
tional upon the admission of Kansas as a State into the Union. These 
proceedings were regular, and, in the opinion of your committee, the 
constitution thus adopted fairly expresses the will of the majority of 
the settlers. They now await the action of Congress upon their me- 
morial. 

These elections were not illegal. Whether the result of them is 
sanctioned by the action of Congress, or they are regarded as the mere 
expression of popular will, and Congress should refuse to grant the 
prayer of the memorial, that cannot affect their legality. The right 
of the people to assemble and express their political opinion in any 
fornij whether by means of an election or a convention, is secured to 
them by the constitution of the United States. Even if the elections 
are to be regarded as the act of a party, whether political or other- 
wise, they were proper, and in accordance with examples in both 
States and Territories. 

The elections, however, were preceded and followed by acts of vio- 
lence on the part of those who opposed them, and those persons who 
approved and sustained the invasion from Missouri were peculiarly 
hostile to these peaceful movements preliminary to the organization 
of a State government. Instances of this violence will be referred to 
hereafter. 

To provide for the election of delegates to Congress, and at the same 
time do it in such a manner as to obtain the judgment of the House 
of Representatives upon the validity of the alleged legislative assem- 
bly, sitting at Shawnee Mission, a convention was held at Big Springs 
on the 5th and 6th days of September, 1855. This was a party con- 
vention, and a party calling itself the free-State party was then organ- 
ized. It was in no way connected with the State movement, except 
tliat the election of delegate to Congress was fixed by it on the same 
day as the election of members of a constitutional convention^ instead 
of the day prescribed by the alleged legislative assembly. Andrew H. 
Eeeder was put in nomination as Territorial delegate to Congress, and 
an election was provided for under the regulations prescribed for the 
election of March 30, 1855, excepting as to the appointment of officers 
and the persons to whom returns of the elections should be made. 
The election was held in accordance with these regulations, an ab- 
stract of the returns of which is contained in the following table. 



58 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Abstract of the election of A. H. Reeder, 



Name of district. 




First district.. 

Second district 
Third district. 



Fourth district. 
Fifth district . . 



Sixth district 

Seventh district 

Eiglith district 

Ninth district 

Tenth district 

Eleventli district.. 
Twelfth district... 

Thirteenth district . 
Fom-teenth district 

Fifteenth district.. 
Sixteenth district . 



Seventeenth district 
Eighteenth district - 



Lawrence 

Blanton . 

Pahuyra 

Bloomington 

Benicia 

Brownsville 

Topeka 

Tecumseh 

Big Springs 

Camp Creek 

Willow Springs 

Hampden 

Neosho 

Stanton 

Ossawatomie 

Pottawatomie 

Big Sugar Creek.. 
Li ttle Sugar Creek 

Scott-town 

Columbia 

Fuqua's 

Council City 

Waubousa 

A. J. Baker's 

Pawnee 

Big Blue 

Bock Creek 

Black Vermillion - 

St. Mary's 

Silver Lake 

Pleasant Hill 

Falls Precinct 

Hickory Point 

Burr Oak 

Doniphan 

Palermo 

Wolf River 

Ocena 

Crosby's Store 

Jackson Crane's. . 

Leavenworth 

Wyandott 

Delaware 

Easton 

Ridje Point 

Wakarusa 

Mission 

Iowa Point 

Moorstown 

Total.. 



The resolutions passed by the convention which nominated Gov- 
ernor Reeder, indicate the state of feeling which existed in the Terri- 
tory in consequence of the invasion from Missouri and the enactments 
of the alleged legislative assembly. "^' ^ " " '^ 



The language jof some of the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 59 

resolutions is violent, and can only be justified in consequence of the 
attempt to enforce the grossest acts of tyranny, and for the purpose 
of guarding against a similar invasion in future. 

In the fall of 1855, there sprang out of the existing disorder and 
excitement in tlie Territory two secret free-State societies. (1) They 
were defensive in their character, and were designed to form a protec- 
tion to their members against unlawful acts of violence and insult. 
One of those societies was purely of a local character, and was con- 
fined to the town of Lawrence. Very shortly after its organization 
it produced its desired eftect, and then went out of use and ceased to 
exist. (2) Both societies were cumbersome, and were of no utility 
except to give confidence to free-State men, and enable them to know 
and aid each other in contemplated danger. So far as the evidence 
shows, they led to no act of violence or resistance to either real or 
alleged laws. (3) 

On the 21st day of November, 1855, F. M. Coleman, a pro-slavery 
man, and Charles W. Dow, a free-State man, had a dispute about the 
division line between their respective claims. Several hours after- 
wards, as Dow was passing from a blacksmith's shop towards his 
claim, and by the cabin of Coleman, the latter shot Dow with a 
double-barreled shot-gun loaded with slugs. Dow was unarmed. 
He fell across the road, and died immediately. This was about one 
o'clock p. m. His dead body was allowed to lie where it fell until 
after sundown, when it was conveyed by Jacob Branson to his house, 
at which Dow had boarded. The testimony in regard to this homi- 
cide is voluminous, (4) and shows clearly that it was a deliberate 
murder by Coleman, and that Harrison Buckley and -a Mr. Hargous 
were accessories to it. The excitement caused by it was very great 
among all classes of the settlers. On the 26th a large meeting of 
citizens was held at the place where the murder was committed, and 
resolutions passed that Coleman should be brought to justice. (5) In 
the mean time Coleman had gone to Missouri, and then to Governor 
Shannon at Shawnee Mission, in Johnston county. He was there 
taken into custody by S. J. Jones, then acting as sheriff. No war- 
rant was issued or examination had. On the day of the meeting at 
Hickory Point, Harrison Buckley procured a peace warrant against 
Jacob Branson, which was placed in the hands of Jones. That same 
evening, after Branson had gone to bed, Jones came to his cabin with 
a party of about 25 persons, among whom were Hargous and Buckley, 
burst open the door, and found Branson in bed. He drew his pistol, 
cocked it, and presented it to Branson's breast, and said : " You are 
my prisoner, and if you move I will blow you through." The others 
cocked their guns and gathered round him, and took him prisoner. 
They all mounted and went to Buckley's house. After a time, they 
went on by a circuitous route towards Blanton's bridge, stopping to 

(1) Pat Laiighlia, Dr. Francis, A. H. Beeder, and M. F. Conway. 

(2) G. P. Lowrey and A. H. Eeeder. 

(3) G. P. Lowrey. 

(4) Wm. J. Nichols, W. McKinney, D. T. Jones and wife, Thomas Brown, F. M, 
Cohuan, and others. 

(5) W. McKirmey. 



60 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

''drink" on the way. As they approached the bridge there were 13 
in the party, several having stopped, Jones rode up to the prisoner, 
and among other things told him that he " had heard there were 
100 men at your house to-day," and "that he regretted they were 
not there, and that they were cheated out of their sport. "(H) In the 
mean time the alarm had been given in the neighborhood of Branson's 
arrest, and several of the settlers, among whom were some who had 
attended the meeting at Hickory Point that day, gathered together. 
They were greatly excited. The alleged injustice of such an arrest 
of a quiet settler, under a peace warrant, by " sheriff Jones," aided 
by two men believed to be accessory to a murder, and who were 
allowed to be at large, exasperated them, and they proceeded as 
rapidly as possible by a nearer route than that taken by Jones, and 
stopped at the house of J, S, Abbott, one of them. They were on 
foot. As Jones's party approached on a canter, the rescuers suddenly 
formed across the road in front of Jones and his party, Jones halted 
and asked : " What's up?" The reply was : " That's what we want 
to know ; what's up ?" Branson said : " They have got me a prison- 
er." Some one in the rescuing ])arty told him to come over to their 
side. He did so, and dismounted, and the mule he rode was driven 
over to Jones's party, Jones then left. (7) Of the persons engaged 
in this rescue, three were from Lawrence, and had attended the meet- 
ing. Your committee have deemed it proper to detail the particulars 
of this rescue, as it was made the ground-work of what is known as 
the " Wakarusa war." On the same night of the rescue the cabins 
of Coleman and Buckley were burned, but by whom is left in doubt 
by the testimony. 

On the morning after the rescue of Branson, Jones was at the vil- 
lage of Franklin, near Lawrence. The rescue was spoken of in the 
presence of Jones, and some conversation passed between two others 
in his presence, as to whether it was most proper to send for assistance 
to Col. Boone, in Missouri, or to Gen. Shannon. Jones wrote a des- 
patch and handed it to a messenger. As soon as he started, Jones 
said : " That man is taking my (lespatch to Missouri, -and, by God, I 
will have revenge before I see Missouri." A person present, who was 
examined as a witness, (8) complained publicly that the despatch was 
not sent to the governor, and within half an hour one was sent to tlie 
governor by Jones through Horgous, 

Within a few days large numbers of men from the State of Missouri 
gathered and encam})ed on the Wakarusa. They brought with them 
all the equipments of war. To obtain them, a party of men, under 
the direction of Judge J. T. V. Thompson, broke into the United States 
arsenal and armory at Liberty, Missouri, and after a forcible deten- 
tion of Ca])tain Leonard, then in charge, (9) they took the cannon, 
muskets, rifles, powder, hammers, and, indeed, all the materials and 
munitions of war they desired, some of which have never been re- 
turned or accounted for, 

(6) Jacob Branson. 

(7) Jacob Branson. 

(8) L. A. Frather. 
i'J) Luther Leonard, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 61 

The chi^cf hostility of this military foray was against the town of 
Lawrence ; and this was especially the case with the officers of the 
law. 

Your committee can see in the testimony no reason, excuse, or pal- 
liation for this feelinf;;. 

Up to this time no ivarrant or process of any Txind had been in the 
hands of any officer against any citizen of Laiorence. (10) No arrest 
had heen a:ttem[/ted, and no writ resisted in that town. The rescue 
of Branson sprang out of a murder committed thirteen miles from 
Lawrence, in a detached settlement, and neither the town nor its citi- 
zens extended any protection to Branson's rescuers. (11) On the con- 
trary, two or three days after the rescue, S. N. Wood, who claimed 
piihiicly to he one of the rescuing party, wished to he arrested for the 
purpose of testing the Territorial laws, and walked up to sheriff 
Jones and shook hands with him, and exchanged other courtesies. 
He could have been arrested without any difficulty ; and it was his de- 
sign, when he went to Mr. Jones, to he arrested, hut no offer or at- 
tempt was made to do so. (12) 

It is ohvious that the only cause of this hostility is the known desire 
of the citizens of Lawrence to make Kansas a free State, and their re- 
pugnance to laws im])osed upon them by non-residents. 

Your committee do not propose to detail the incidents connected 
j with this foray. Fortunately for the peace of the county, a direct con- 
I flict between the opposing forces was avoided by an amicable arrange- 
( ment. The losses sustained by the settlers in projjerty taken, and 
' time and money expended in their own defence, added much to the 
I trials incident to a new settlement. Many persons were unlawfully 
' taken and detained, in some cases under circumstances of gross cruel- 
i ty. This was especially so in the arrest and treatment of Dr. Gr. A. 
I Cutler and (>. F. Warren. They were taken without cause or war- 
I rant, sixty miles from Lawrence, and when Dr. Cutler was quite sick. 
I They were compelled to go to the camp at Lecorapton, and were put 
into the custody of sheriff Jones, who had no process to arrest 
them. They were taken into a small room, kept as a liquor shop, 
which was open and very cold. That night Joues came in with others 
and went to '' playing poker at twenty-five cents ante." Tlie prison- 
ers were obliged to sit up all night, as there was no room to lie down 
when the men were playing. Jones insulted them frequently, and 
told one of them he must either " tell or swing." The guard then 
objected to this treatment of prisoners, and Jones desisted. G. F. 
Warren thus describes their subsequent conduct: 

" They then carried us down to their camp. Kelly, of the squatter 
sovereign, who lives in Atchison, came round and said he thirsted for 
blood, and said he should like to hang us on the first tree. Cutler 
was very weak, and that excited him so that he became delirious. 
They sent tor three doctors, who came. Dr. Striiigfellow was one of 
them. They remained there with Cutler till after midnight, and then 
took him up to the office, as it was very cold in camp." 

(10) Wilson Shannon, Charles Eobinsou. 

(11) G. P. Lowrey, Charlea llobiusou. 

(12) Charles llobiusou. 



62 KANSAS AFFAIRS 

During the foray either George W. Clark or Mr. Burns murdered 
Thomas Barher, while the latter was in the highway, on his road from 
Lawrence to his chiim. Both fired at him, and it is impossible, from 
the proof, to tell whose shot was fatal. The details of this homicide 
are stated by eye-witnesses. (13) 

Among the many acts of lawless violence which it has been the duty 
of your committee to investigate, this invasion of Lawrence is the most 
defenceless. A comparison of the facts proven with the official state- 
ments of the officers of the government will show how groundless were 
the pretexts which gave rise to it. A community in which no crime 
had been committed by any of its members, against none of whom had 
a warrant been issued or a complaint made, who had resisted no pro- 
cess in the hands of a real or pretended officer, was threatened with 
destruction in the name of " law and order," and that, too, by men 
who marched from a neighboring State with arms obtained by force, 
and who at every stage of their progress violated many laws, and 
among others the constitution of the United States. (14) 

The chief guilt must rest on Samuel J. Jones. His character is il- 
lustrated by his language at Lecompton, where peace was made. He 
said Major Clark and Burns both claimed the credit of killing that 
damned abolitionist, and he didn't know Avhich ought to have it. If 
Shannon hadn't been a damned old fool, peace would never have 
been declared. He would have wiped Lawrence out. He had men 
and means enough to do it. (15) 

Shortly after the retreat of the forces from before Lawrence, the 
election upon the adoption of the State constitution was held at Leaven- 
worth city, on the 15th of December, 1855. While it was proceeding 
quietly, about noon, Charles Dunn, with a party of others, smashed in 
the window of the building in which the election was being held, and 
they jumped into the room whero the judges of election were sitting 
and drove them oif.(16) 

One of the clerks of election snatched up the ballot-box and fol- 
lowed the judges, throwing the box behind the counter of an adjoin- 
ing room, through which he passed on his way out. As he got to 
the street-door, Dunn caught him by the throat and pushed him up 
against the outside of the building, and demanded the ballot-box. (17) 
Then Dunn and another person struck him in the face,, and he fell 
into the mud ; the crowd rushed on him, and kicked him on the head 
and in his side. (18) In this manner the election was broken up, Dunn 
and his party obtaining the ballot-box and carrying it off. 

To avoid a similar outrage at the election for State officers, &c., to 
be held on the 15th of January, 1856, the election for Leavenworth 
district was appointed to be held at Easton, and the time postponed 
until the 17th day of February, 1856.(19) On the way to the elec- 

(13) Robert T. Barber, Thomas W. Parson, Jane W. Colborn, and others. 

(11) Article four of the amendments. 

(15) Harrison Nichols. 

(16) Georyie Wcthcrell, George H. Keller. 

(17) Georere Wetherell. 

(18) George Wetlicrcll, George W. Hollis. 

(ly) J. Q. Gre«n, Heiiry G. Adams, Joseph H. Eced. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 6^ 

tion persons were stopped by a party of men at a grocery, and their 
gims taken from them. During the arternoon parties came up to the 
place of election and threatened to destroy the ballot-box, and were 
guilty of other insolent and abusive conduct. (20) After the polls were 
closed, many of the settlers being apprehensive of an attack, re- 
mained in the honse where the election had been held, until the next 
morning. Late that night Stephen Sparks, with his son and nephew, 
started for home, his route running by the store of a Mr. Dawson, 
where a large party of armed men had collected. As he approached, 
these men demanded that he should surrender, and gathered around 
him to enforce the demand. (21) Information was carried by a man in 
the company of Mr, Sparks to the house where the election had been 
held. R. P. Brown and a company of men immediately went down, 
to relieve Mr, Sparks, and did relieve him, when he was in imminent 
danger, (22) Mr. Sparks then started back with Mr, Brown and his 
party, and while on their way they were fired upon by the other party. 
! They returned the fire, and an irregular fight then ensued, in which 
a man by the name of Cook, of the pro-slavery party, received a mor- 
tal wound, and two of the free-State party were slightly wounded. 
' Mr. Brown, with seven others who had accompanied him from 
1 Leavenworth, started on their return home. When they had pro- 
', ceeded a part of their way, they were stopped and taken prisoners by 
la party of men called the '' Kick aj)oo Rangers," under the command 
I of Captain John W. Martin. They were disarmed and taken back 
•to Easton, and put in Dawson's store. (23) Brown was separated from 
,the rest of his party and taken into the office of Dr. E. S. Motter.(24) 
iBy this time several of Martin's party, and some of the citizens of 
!the place, had become intoxicated, and expressed a determination to 
'kill Brown, (25) Captain Martin was desirous to, and did do all in 
I his power to save him. Several hours were spent in discussing what 
'should be done with Brown and his party. In the mean time, with- 
'out the knowledge of his party. Captain Martin liberated all of 
JBrown's party but himself, and aided them in their escape. (26) The 
crowtl repeatedly tried to get in the room where Brown was, and at 
ore time succeecled, but were put out by Martin and others, Martin, 
I finding that further effort on his part to save Brown was useless^ 
J left and went home. The crowd then got possession of Brown, and 
I finally butchered him in cold blood. The wound of which he died 
'was inflicted with a hatchet by a man of the name of Gibson. After 
ihe had been mortally wounded, Brown was sent home with Charles 
I Dunn, and died that night. No attempt was made to arrest or pun- 
ish the murderers of Brown, Many of them were well known citi- 
zens, and some of them were officers of the law. On the next grand 
jury, which sat in Leavenworth county, the sheriff summoned several 

(20 and 21) Stephen Sparks. 

(22) Goorse A. Taylor, Stephen Sparks, J. IT. P.h-d. 

(23) Henry J. Adams, Getn-ge A. Taylor, M. P. Kivcly, John W. Martin, Wiley Williams. 

(24) Henry J. Adams, J. W. Martin. 

(25) Wiley Williams, J. W. Martin, H. J. Adams 

(26) H. J. Adams, G, A. Taylor, J. H. Bird, W, Williams, 



Gl KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of tho persons iniplio;itt\l in tl\ls innrilor.("2T') One of tliom was "M, 
P. Kivoly, at tluit timo troasuror o\' tho ooiiiity. Ho has boon oxani- 
inod as a witnoss boforo ns. Tho reason ho gives why no uuliotn\onts 
wore t'onnil is. " thor killed one of the pro-shvvory nion, and the pro- 
slavery men killed one of the others, and 1 thonght it was about 
mntual." The same grand jury, however, fonnd bills oi' indiotnient 
against those who aeted as judges of the free-State eleetion. Kivoly 
says : "I know our utmost endeavors were niailo to tind out who 
acted as judges and clerks of the election of the ITth ot danuary last, 
and at all tlie bogus elections held by tho abolitionists lu'ro. Wo 
were vorv anxious to tind thonv out, as wo thought thov acted ille- 
gally.- * ■ 

Your committee in their examinations have found that in no case of 
crime or homicide mentioned in this report, or in the testimony, has 
any indictment boon found against the guilty party, except in the 
homicide o\' Clark by McCrea ; McCrea being a free-State man. 

Your committee did not doom it within their power or duty to take 
testimony as to events whioh have trans{iired since the date oi' their 
appointment ; but as some of these events tended seriously to embar- 
rass, hinder, and delay their investigations, they deem it proper hero 
io refer to them. On their arrival in the Territory, tho people wore 
arrayed in two hostile parties. Their hostility continually increased 
during our stay in the Territory, by tho arrival of -rmed bodies of 
men, who from their equipments came not to follow tho peaceful ]nir- 
suits of life, but artnod and organizovl into companies a[)parontly for 
■wftr, by the unhtwfnl detention of persons and property wliile passing 
through the State ot^^lissouri, and by frequent forcible sei/aires oi' 
persons and property in the Territory without legal warrant. Your 
committee regret tliat they were conipelli\l to witness instances of 
each of tliose classes of outrages. Wiiilo holding their session at 
Westport they saw several bodies of armed men, coiLlesscdly citii:ens 
of ^lissouri, march into the Territory on torays against its citizens, 
but under the pretence of enforcing the enactments before referred to. 
The wagons of emigrants were stopped in the highways, searched 
without claim of legal process, and, in some instances all their prop- 
erty taken from them. In Leavenworth city, loading citizens wore 
arrested at noon-day in presence of members of your committee, by an 
armed force, without any claim of authority, except that derived from 
a self-constituted committee of vigilance, many ot whom were legisla- 
tive and executive otReers. Some were released on promising to leave 
the Territory; and others, after being detained for a time, were formallr 
notitiod to leave, under the ijovorost jHMialtios. 

The only otVence charged against thorn was their political opinions, 
and no one was thus arrested for alleged crime of any grade. 

Kesistance to these lawless acts was not made by the settlers, 
because, in their opinion, the persons engaged in them wouhl have been 
sustained and reinforced by the citizens oi' the populous border 
counties of Missouri, from whence they were *»nly separated by the 

(27) M. r. ruYclv. 



KAKSAS AFFAIES. 



m Y In ono ca^e witne«Be<i by one of your comrnitl^^, an application 
for the writ of habeas fx>rpu« wa^ prevented by the urgent Bolicitation 
of pro-8hivery inen who jn«iHte^l that it would endanger the lifW of 
the prisoner U) be diHcharged under legal profx>s8 

While we remained in the Territ^.ry, repeat..d acts of outrac^e werr> 
rx.mrrutted upon quiet, unoffending citijjens, of which we recoivr^d au- 
thentic jnt^Jligenrxi. Men were atta^;ked in the highway, robbed 
arid..iOHeriuently inripriH.>ned; others were «ei;5ed and Bearched, and 
their weapons of defenc^i taken from them without (y.mT>en nation 
JJorHe« were frequently taken and appropriat<id. Oxen were takr-n 
from the yoke while ploughing, and but<ihered in the presence of 
their ownerH A minister was seized in the streets of the tr.wn of 
AUjh.son, and, under circurnstances of gross barbarity, wa« tarred ana 
cott^.ned and m that condition was s^ nt to Jiis family. AH the pro- 
visions of the constitution of the Unit<.d States securing persons and 
property were utter y d isregarded. The officers of the itw, instead of 
protecting the people, in some instances were engaged in these out- 
rages and m no instance did we learn that anv rnan was arrest, 
indicted, or punished for any of these crimes. While such offence« 
were committed with impunity, the laws were used as a means of in- 
dicting men for holding elections preliminary to framing a com^titu- 
tion, and applying for admission into the Union as the State of 
Kansas. Charges of high treason were made against prominent citizens 
upon grounds which seem Uy your committee absurd and ridiculous • 
and under these charges they are now held in custody, and are refused 
th privilege of bad In several cases men were 'arrested in the 
State of Missouri while passing on their lawful business through that 
State, and detained until indictments could be found in the Terntory 

J hese ijroceedings were followed by an offence of still greater mail 
m.n tb. LT rr^/'' 1 ^T^ process, a company of about TOO arm?d 
c^tz;.r! f^ . T V' whom your committee are satisfied were not 
citi/ens of the Territr.ry, were marched into the town of Lawrenr-^ 
under niarshal iJonaldHon and sheriff done., officers da rn n^ to act 
under the law, and then bombarded and burned to the ground aValimbk 

kl .'r'd fv"" ^V "" ^^'^'■^'-;^r^'-?>^^'^l two printing-presses and mate- 
ria, xrd then, being released by the officers whose pisse they claimed 

V. n fr//^'''" ';i •' '^i^' ^'"^^'^'' ^"'^ ''^^' ^^^"•'^^''«' ^''^'^^^'^ trunks. &c.. 
Wn I * 'V^^^thing of women and children. Some letters thus unl 
lawfully taken were private ones, written by the contesting delcL^ate 
and ^^.^ were offered in evidence. Your'committee did not'deem 
r Ji rr"' ^'^'^:f^' -^'"'^^^ ^'^'^ any nght thus to use them, and 
Obtained instruments to report private letters'thus 

This force was not resisted because it was collected and marshalled 
under the forms of law. But this act of barbarity, unexarS in the 

AH thf tr- T'V^rf' -^« ^'^^"-'^'^l >^y its natural con equ n^ 
Al the restraints which American citizens are acr;ustomed topiy, even 

ano h.r^-^hr;;'l'; i 1 >^"' "'?^ '^"^^"" ^^- ^^"« ^'' '^^ violencJled to 
another homicides became frequent. A party, under H C Pate 

S'of. nl"'^ ''^ ^^"^r '^ '^'^^^^^^ --^' taken prisoners by a 
party ^/^''^jttlers^,^ and while your committee were at Westport, a co^m- 



66 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

paiiy, cliiedy of Missouriaus, accompanied by the sitting:; dclej^ate, 
went to relieve Pate and his party. A collision waa prevented by 
the United States troops. Civil war seemed impendin<^ in the Terri- 
tory. Notliing; can ])revent so great a cahimity but the presence of a 
large force of United States troo])s, under a ct)mmander who will, 
with prudence and discretion, quiet the excited passions of both 
parties, and expel with force the lawless band of men coming from 
Missouri and elsewhere, who, with criminal pertinacity, infest the 
Territory. In some cases, and as to one entire election district, the 
condition of the country ])revented the attendance of witnesses, who 
were either arrested and detained while, or deterred from, obeying 
our process. The scrgeant-at-arms who served the j^rocess u[)on tliem 
was himself arrested and detained for a short time, by an armed force 
claiming to be a])art of the posse of the marshal, but was all()\ved to 
proceed upon an examination of his papers, and was furnished with a 
pass signed by " Warren D. Wilkes, of South Carolina." John Upton, 
another olHcer of tlie committee, was subse({uently 8to])ped by a hiw- 
less foi'ce on the bordei's of the Territory, and after being detained 
and treated with great indignity, was released. He, also, was fur- 
nished with a pass, signed by two citizens of Missouri, and addressed 
to "pro-slavery men." By reason of these disturbances wo were 
delayed in Westport, so that while in session there our time was but 
partially occupied. 

But the obstruction which created the most serious embarrassment 
to your comn\ittee was tlie attempted arrest of (lov. Ileedcr, the 
contesting delegate, upon a writ of attachment issued against him by 
Judge Lecompte, to compel his attendance as a witness belbre the 
grand jury of Douglas county. William Fane, recently from the 
State of Georgia, and claiming to be the deputy marshal, came into 
the room of the committee while Gov. Ileeder was examining a 
witness before us, and producing the writ, required Gov. Ileeder to 
attend him. SubscMiuent events have only strengthened the con- 
viction of your committee, that this Avas a wanton and unlawful in- 
terference by the judge who issued the writ, tending greatly to 
obstruct a full and fair investigation. Gov. lieeder and Gen. Whit- 
field ahme were fully possessed of that local information which would 
enable us to elicit the whole truth, and it was obvious to every one 
that any event which would separate either of them iVom the com- 
mittee would necessarily hinder, delay, and embarrass it. Gov. 
lieeder claimed, that under the circumstances in which he was ])laced, 
he was privileged from arrest, except for treason, felony, or breiich 
of the peace. As this was a question of privile'gc, proper I'or the 
courts, or for the privileged person alone to determine, on his peril, wo 
declined to give him any ])rotection, or take anyaction in the matter. 
He relused to obey the writ, believing it to be a mere pi'etence to get 
the custody of his person : and fearing, as he alleged, that he would 
be assassinated by lawless bands of men then gathering in and near 
Lecompte, he then left the Territory. 

Subsequently li. Miles Moore, an attorney in Leavenwortli city, 
but for several years a citizen of western Missouri, kindly I'urnished 
the committee information as to the residence of persons voting at, the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 67 

cU'ctioriR ; and in sonic cases cxaininctl wilncsscs bdort^ iis, lie; was 
arrested on the strcctH ol' tlial. Iowa by an arnicd hand ol" about iJO 
iiuui, beaded by W. D. Willies, williout any color of authority, eon- 
fined witli other citi/iOns under a military ^uard for 'M hours, and tluui 
uotificul to leave tlie Territory. His tcjstiniony was rcjjjarded as iin- 
[)()rlant, and ui)on liis sworn stalenient tliat it wotdd cMuiau^j^er liis 
persMU to jjjive it optuily, the majority oC your eommittee deemed it 
projier to exajuine him ex parf.c, and did so. 

By reason of" these occurrences the contestant, ami the ])apty with 
and ibr wboia lie acted, were uuropreHcuted bolbre usduriufj; a furcate r 
])ortion of ilie time ; and your committeo were re([uired to ascertain 
t]ie truth in tlie best nuinner tliey coubl. 

Your committee report the foUowing facts and coucluBions as estab- 
lislied l)y tlie testimony : 

Firtit. That each election in the Territory, hchl under the orj^anic 
or alleged Territorial law, lias been carried by organized invasion from 
the State of Missouri, by which the peo])le of the Territory have; becni 
prevented i'rom exercising the rights secured to them hy the organLc 
law. 

Second. That the alleged Territorial legislature wafl an illegally 
constituted body, and had no power to puss valid laws, and their 
enactments are therefore null and void. 

Third. That these alleged laws have not, as a g(.'neral thing, ])een 
used to ])rotect ])ersous and j)roperty, and t'.> j)unish wrong, but ibr 
unlawful purpos(!S. 

Fonrl.h. ^JMiat the election undiu' which the sitting delegate!, .lolin 
W. Whitfield, holds bis seat, was not held in pursuance of any valid 
law, and that it should be regarded only as the expression of the 
choice of those resident citizens who voted ibr him. 

Fi/lh. That the election, under which tlie eoiilcsfing dtilcgatt;, 
Andrew H. lleeder, claims his seat, was not held in ])ursuatiee of law, 
and that it should be I'cgarded only us (he cxpiessioii ni' tin; resid(!nt 
citizens wlio voted for him. 

Sixth,. That Andrew II. lieeder received a great,er number of votes 
of resident citizens than John W. Whitfield, ibr delegate. 

Sevenlh. That in the present condition of the Territory a fair elec- 
tion cannot lie held without a new ct^nsus, a stringent and well- 
guarded eh.'ction law, tin; sehiction of impartial judges, and the ])re(+- 
ence of LInite<l States troops at every plac(! of election. 

L'iyhlh. That tlu; various elections held by the jieople of the Ter- 
ritory preliminary to the formation of the State government, have 
been as regular as the disturbed condition of the Territory would al- 
low ; and that the constitution jiassed by the convention, held in pur- 
suance of said elections, embodies the will oi' a majority of the peophj. 

As it is not the jirovince of your committcte to suggest I'emedies for 
the existing troubles in the Territory of Kansas, they content them- 
selves with tin; foregoing statement of iiicts. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

WM. A. IIOVVAILI). 
JOilW SllEKMAN 






MNOKITY KEPOET. 



July 11, 185G. — Ordered to be printed. 



Mr. MoRDECAi Oliver, from the Select Committee, submitted the fol- 
lowing views of the minority. 

TJie undersigned, memher of the committee of three appointed hy the 
House of Rejiresentatives to investigate the state of affairs in Kansas, 
disagreeing ivith the views and conclusions of his tivo colleagues, in 
the written statement submitted by them touching the residf of their 
investigations, begs leave, under the permission of the House, to 
present a counter-statement. 

The authority under which the committee acted was an order of 
this House, passed the 19th of March last, directing them to ''pro- 
ceed to inquire 'into, and collect evidence in regard to, the troubles in 
Kansas generally, and particularly in regard to any iraud or force at- 
tempted or practised in reference to any of the elections which have 
taken place in said Territory, either under the law organizing said 
Territory or 2in.y pretended law which may be alleged to have taken 
effect there since ; and when the investigation was completed, to re- 
port the evidence so collected to the House." 

Under this resolution the committee entered upon the discharge 
of the duties imposed on them with as much dispatch as possible. 
Their labors were closed at Westport, Missouri^ on the 9th of June, 
1856. The paper in the nature of a report, drawn up by the col- 
leagues of the undersigned on the committee, was not read to or by 
him, and he knew nothing of its contents or character until it was 
presented to the House. It was not the expectation of the under- 
signed that any other report would be submitted by them than the 
testimony taken. A full execution of the commission of the House, 
he thought, was the presentation of the evidence collected. But as 
the majority of the committee have thought proper to comment on the 
character of the testimony, and to give their version of the substance 
of the facts, which is altogether at variance from his understanding 
of both, the undersigned feels it incumbent on him to follow their 
example, by presenting like comments on his part. 

It must have been apparent to all, that the report of the majority 
was not only ex parte and one-sided, but highly partisan in its char- 
acter from beginning to end. This appears all through the paper, in 
the manner of their statement of all things referred to by them, as 
facts, many of which statements of facts thus made rest upon no evi- 
dence whatever collected by the committee 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 69 

To justify this remark, the undersigned will, in the beginning of 
what he has to offer, barely allude to a few statements in the report 
of the majority, from which its whole character may be judged. It 
is, for instance, said by the majority, that "a party under H. C. 
Pate, composed chicjly of citizens of Missouri, were taken prisoners 
by a party of settlers ; and while your committee were at Westport, 
a company, chiefly of Missourians, accompanied by the sitting dele- 
gate, went to relieve Pate and his party, and a collision was pre- 
vented by the United States troops." 

Now, the undersigned affirms most positively that this statement has 
not one particle of proof, taken before the committee, to rest upon ! 
There is no testimony in the whole mass collected by the committee 
cm that matter — none at all. But the undersigned affirms, that, in 
in his opinion, and according to the best of his information and belief, 
the fact is contrary to the statement of the majority ; at all events, 
so far as relates to Captain Pate. Since that report has been made, 
under indulgence granted by this House, testimony has been taken on 
that point, from which it is made very clearly to appear that this state- 
ment, made without proof in the first instance, was founded wholly in 
error. Captain Pate himself — a man of character and integrity — 
swears that, to the best of his knowledge, " not one of them were cit- 
izens of Missouri." This deposition the undersigned here refers to, 
without sprea-ding it out at large, and makes it a part of his report 
as fully and completely as if it were given in full in this place. 

Again. The statement about the " young man being seized in the 
town of Atchison, and, under circumstances of gross barbarity, tarred 
and cottoned, and in that condition sent to his family," is entirely 
unsustained by any proof in the mass of that taken by the committee. 
It is true, testimony was taken as to alleged facts of this character ; 
but when it was proposed to go fully into the investigation of the 
whole truth of such charges, and not to rest them on ex parte state- 
ments alone, the majority of the committee abandoned the investiga- 
tion, and struck out the testimony which they had taken. But the 
undersigned has not time to go on with such specifications. He will 
here barely add, that all like statements in the report, as to the exist- 
ing condition of the Territory, are wholly gratuitous and unsupported 
by any testimony taken by the committee. For the correctness of 
what he now affirms, the undersigned appeals to the testimony on file ; 
and to counteract the impression of such statements by the majority 
of the committee, he begs leave to refer to the sworn depositions here- 
unto appended and made part of his report, as fully as if the same 
were set forth at large. 

The undersigned affirms, most positively and distinctly, that the 
testimony taken by the committee contains no matter going to dis- 
prove or deny in the slightest degree these great, leading, and con- 
trolling facts in the merits of the controversy which gave rise to the 
organization of this committee, to wit : that an election for a Terri- 
torial legislature was held in Kansas Territory on the 30th of March, 
1855, in pursuance of the proclamation of A. H. Reeder, governor of 
the Territory under the organic law ; that, in that proclamation, the 
time and places of voting were set forth ; that the judges of election 



70 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

were appointed by him, with instructions as to liow their places were 
to be filled if they or any ol" them refused or failed to act ; that he 
reserved the power to himself to judj^e, in the first iovstance, of the 
election returns, and that he did so act ; that the returns were made 
to him, and he did set aside the election of but nine members of the 
twenty-six elected to the house of representatives, and three of the 
thirteen elected to the council, and gave Ills' certificate of election to 
the other seventeen members of the house, and ten members of the 
council, being a majority of both branches of the legislature ; tliat he 
ordered new elections in those districts where he had set aside the re- 
turns ; that the governor convened the legislature, thus constituted, ac- 
cording to law, on the 1st of July, 1855, and communicated witlithem 
officially after they were organized, and recognised them as a legally 
and properly constituted law-making body ; and never, until August, 
1855, after he was removed from the office of governor, did he object 
to the election of a majority of the legislature, both in the council 
and in the house of representatives, to whom he had previously given 
certificates. 

These great leading and essential facts, upon which the validity or 
invalidity of laAvs, or ^^ pretended laus," of Kansas must rest, are not 
denied, or even assailed, by a particle of testimony taken by tlie com- 
mittee ; and, with these facts unassailed and unimpeached, it is be- 
yond the comprehension of tlie undersigned how the majority could 
come to the conclusion that the laws passed by the Territorial legisla- 
ture were null and void in consequence of any illegality, even if such 
had been proved, in the election of its members. All questions re- 
lating to that election were closed by their waiver at the proper time, 
and without an investigation by the proper authority. This is a well- 
fixed principle in all our representative institutions ; upon it they all 
rest, and with the correctness of it Governor Roeder himself seems to 
be duly impressed. This the testimony clearly discloses. In a letter 
found in the streets of Lawrence, and ])roven before the committee to 
be in the hand-writing of G-overnor Reeder, and bearing his genuine 
signature, dated in this city on the 12th of February^ 185G, and ad- 
dressed to a friend of his in Kansas Territory, he says : 

" As to putting a set of laws in o})eration in opposition to the Terri- 
torial government, my opinion is confirmed instead of being shaken ; 
my predictions have all been verified so far, and will be in the future. 
We ivill be, so far as legality is concerned, in the lorong ; and that is no 
trijling matter, in so critical a state of things, andinvieiv of such bloody 
consequences. ***** j ixiay speak my plain and private 
opinion to our friends in Kansas, for it is my.duty. But to the pub- 
lic, as you will see by my published letter, I show no divided front." 

This letter, and another also found, were addressed, as it is understood, 
to Grosvenor P. Lowrey, his friend, and formerly his ])rivate secretary, 
while he was governor of Kansas ; and so important a bearing had^they 
upon the main facts of the case, which are the legality of the Territorial 
legislature and their enactments, that the majority of the committee, 
alter they had admitted them as evidence, as it Avas clearly understood 
by all parties, attempted to reject them. The .following is their 
action in regard to them : 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 71 

" The counsel for J. W. Wliitfiold, liavin;;- at Leavenwortli city 
offered in evidence before the comniittee two letters written l>y A. H, 
Ileeder — tlie one dated Wasliinf^^ton, January 20, 185f;, the other dated 
"VVasliinc^^ton, Fcibruary 12, 1850 — and, bel"oi-e olferin<^ tlie said lett(!rs, 
their authenticity, botii as to the si«j;nature and hand-writing in the 
body of said letters, was proved to be the proper hand-writing and 
signature of A. II. Rceder, and of which facts tlie committee were 
satisfied ; but a majority of the committee — Messrs. Howard and Slier- 
man — not being satisfied, at the time, of the propriety of the admission 
of such evidence^ took the matter under consideration; and now, at 
this day, at the sitting of the committee at West])ort, the question of 
tlie admission of said letters as evidence came up for consideration and 
decision, and a majority of tlie committee, Messrs. Ploward and 
Sherman — Mr. Oliver dissenting — decline to receive said letters in 
evidence, and to be engraft(Ml into and to constitute a portion of the 
evidence taken by the committee in their investigations, upon the 
ground that they, the committee, have not the rightful possession of 
them ; they having been found in the street, and being clearly private 
letters, or so declared to be by the majority of the committee. The 
said majority of the committee take no objection to the relevancy or 
competency of said letters as evidence ; but jilafc! their objection solely 
upon the grf)unds above stated, not denying that said letters might be 
evidence against said A. II. Reeder in a criminal prosecution. The 
committee admit" that tiie copies of said letters, furnished to the com- 
mittee for tlie purpose of having them transcribed into the evidence, 
are true and genuine copiers of the originals offered in evidence, and 
which said copies are hereto appended, marked (A) and (B), and made 
part of this protest. 

"The counsel for J. W. Whitfield, and on behalf of th© law and 
order party in Kansas Territory, offer said letters in evidence for the 
double ])urpose of showing the opinions and admissions of A. H. 
Keed(;r, in reference to the matters and subjects connected with the 
elections of the 30th of March, 1855, in the Territory, and the con- 
test now pending between Whitfield and Keeder in the House of Rep- 
resentatives, as well as to show the complicity of A. H. Reeder in all 
the troubles which have led to bloodshed and civil war in the Terri- 
tory. 

"To the refusal of the majority of said committee to receive said 
tleters in evidence Mr. Oliver enters his protest ; and also the said 
John W. Whitfield, by his attorneys, protests against the action of a 
majority of the committee in refusing the admission of said letters in 
evidence, as depriving him of his just rights in the investigation 
before the committee, and in showing to the country the true ground 
and source of all the difficulties in Kansas Territory. 

"J. W. WHITFIELD. 

Jiy hifi Attorneys^ 
"AUSTIN "a. king, 
"JOHN SCOTT. 

"Wrstport, Mo., Jane 1, 1850. 

" The above protest was this day presented^ and the accompanying 



iZ KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

copies of letters, marked by me ' Exhibit A, accompanying protest/ 
and ' Exhibit B, with protest.' 

^'WM. A. HOWARD, 

" Chairman K. Q. 

'' Westport, June 7, 1856." 

But the undersigned insists that they were not only competent, but 
pertinent to the main issue which the committee were sent out to in- 
vestigate. He therefore incorporates copies of them in this report ; 
he appends tliem to it, and makes them part of the same as fully as 
if here entered at large. 

These remarks, touching the general character of the majority's 
report, and what has not been proved, are preliminary to such com- 
ments as the undersigned intends to submit on the matters which 
were elicited by the investigation. And another fact on the same 
line of preliminary observations, deserving, in his opinion, to be no- 
ticed, is, that witnesses were examined by the committee in but three 
places in the Territory, to wit : Lawrence, Tecumseh, and Leaven- 
vrorth city ; except that the testimony of Daniel Woodson, secretary 
of the Territory, was taken informally at Lecorapton, in regard to the 
loss of poll-books in certain districts, and also a certain letter said to 
have been written by him. All the places in which witnesses were 
examined touching the election of the 30th of March, 1855, were in 
districts where the elections had been set aside by Governor Reeder 
himself, as before stated. All the testimony they took touching the 
elections at other places, was given by witnesses sent for and exam- 
ined out of the vicinage ; and much the larger portion of the testimony 
taken at the instance of the contestant was taken at Lawrence, the 
great rendezvous of the malcontents in the Territory. The object of 
the testimony of the witnesses produced by Governor Reeder, was to 
show that the election of the legislature on the 30th of March was 
carried by illegal votes from Missouri, notwithstanding he had offi- 
cially adjudicated that question as governor of the Territory, 

And before proceeding to notice in detail the testimony, such as it 
is, adduced for that purpose, it may be proper here to advert to some 
strange inconsistencies in the report of the majority, and whicli are 
apparent upon its face. They say, for instance, "this unlawful in- 
terference has been continued in every important event in the history 
of the Territory. Everij election has been controlled, not by the actual 
settlers, but by citizens of Missouri ; and, as a consequence, every 
officer in the Territory, from constables to legislators, except those 
appointed by the President, owe their positions to non-resident voters. 
a^Jone have been elected by the settlers, and your committee have been 
unable to find that 'A.ny political power whatever, however unimport- 
ant, has been exercised by the people of the Territory." 

This is certainly very broad and sweeping language ; and who, aft;er 
having heard it read, was not surprised to hear the same gentlemen 
admit, in an after part of their report, in speaking of the first elec- 
tion for a delegate to Congress, November 29, 1854, and after giving 
all the facts in relation to that election, that General Whitfield was 
duly elected a delegate to Congress? They say, ''o/" the legal votes 



>7n 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 73 

cast, General WJdf/ield received a pluralifT/," and was consequently duly 
elected. And if he was duly elected by legal votes, as they were forced 
to admit from the evidence, then the result could not have been af- 
fected by non-resident voters. 

The undersigned does not deem it necessary for him to say more 
upon the subject of that election, which was the first object of their 
inquiry. 

The majority admit that General Whitfield was duly elected by the 
actual settlers of the Territory, and those who were entitled to vote. 
This admission is a sufficient answer to their previous statement, that 
no person had been elected by the settlers, and that they had been 
unable to find that any political power whatever, however unimport- 
ant, had been exercised by the people of the Territory. Like incon- 
sistencies appear in their statements concerning the election of mem- 
bers of the legislature on the 30th of March, 185'5. 

They say in the first place, in relation to this election, that compa- 
nies of m^^n from Missouri '^were arranged in regular jiarties, and 
sent into every council district in the Territory, and into every repre- 
sentative district hid one. The numbers were so distributed as to con- 
trol the elections in each district." 

And then, under the head of " tenth district," they say, " this and 
the 'eighth election district' formed one representative district, and 
was the only one in which the invasion from Missouri did not extend." 
But under the head of " twelfth district," they say, " the election in 
this district was conducted fairly ; no complaint was made that illegal 
votes were cast." 

And again, under the head of "seventeenth district," they say, 
'' the election in this district seems to have been fairly conducted, and 
not contested at all. In this dihftrict the pro-slavery party had a ma- 
jority." 

These contradictory statements, to the undersigned, seem wholly 
inexplicable, and he leaves them for the majority to reconcile or ex- 
plain as best they may. But the undersigned affirms, that the weight 
of testimony shows that the majority of the legal voters in fourteen 
out of the eighteen election districts in the Territory were in favor of 
the party electing a majority of the legislature, as returned and cer- 
tified to by the governor. And the testimony as to the other districts, 
while it is contradictory on some points, is far from being conclusive 
that a like majority did not exist in them. This, moreover, appears 
from the report of the majority itself, without referring to the testi- 
mony. 

The Territory was divided into ten council election districts and 
fourteen representative districts. The first council district embraced 
the city of Lawrence — the stronghold of the abolition or free-State 
party, as it is called. In this council district, the whole entire vote 
cast for the free-Stat'^ ticket was but 255. The whole number of 
legal voters in that district, by the census in February before, was 
^46. These figures are taken from the tabular exhibit given by the 
majority themselves. And it is also in proof by Mr. Ladd, one of 
Gov. Eeeder's main witnesses, that at least fifty illegal votes were 



74 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



given for the free-State ticket in Lawrence by eastern emigrants just 
arrived, and not entitled to vote. 

These figures and this fact show that the free-State ticket did not 
receive a majority of the legal voters in this district ; for if fifty be 
taken from the 255 cast for their ticket, it would leave only 205, being 
61 short of a majority of the 466 legal voters in the district. That 
Missourians may have voted there illegally, does not, and cannot, vary 
this result. But the election at Lawrence was set aside by Gov. Eeeder 
for informality in the return. 

The undersigned has compiled tables, comparing the votes cast for 
the free-State ticket in the several council districts and representative 
districts in the Territory. This is taken from the tables exhibited by 
the majority. It is part of their own showing. In it will be seen 
the number of votes cast in each district for the free-State tickets, 
compared with the number of voters at the time the census was taken 
in each respectively; and from this it will appear that the free-State 
votes fell far short of being sufficient to elect a majority in either 
branch of the legislature, even if there had been no increase of voters, 
by bona fde settlers, between the time the census was taken and the 
election. 

But the concurrent testimony of a number of witnesses establishes 
the fact conclusively, in the opinion of the undersigned, that the emi- 
gration of bona fde settlers from the southern States was greater in 
the month of March, after the census was taken, than in any equal 
time previous. 

Here are the tables : 



EEPRE3J2\'TATIVE DISTRICTS. 




COUNCIL 


DISTRICTS. 






, 






, 


^ , 




11 1 


, 




H -^' 


^ 


5 -^ 




8.| 




a-^ 


'o 






O aj 


CO '42 


<v > 


DO 

li 


CO "43 

> S 


P 

S d 




c ::: 


o u 




O -M 


rs 


O « 


O O 






H-^ 




• ^ jJ 














o ^ 


o 


o cb o 


o 


O 


O 


c c: o 


o 




^^ 


^. 


^ 


^ 


^ 


^ 


:z^ 


'A 




1 


97 


19 


1 


1 


466 


255 


2 




2 


3G9 


253 


3 


2 


212 


12 






3 


212 


12 


2 


3 


193 


44 






4 


101 


4 


1 


4 


442 


156 






5 


<12 


49 
35 


1 


5 


253 








6 


253 


2 


C 


201 


140 






7 


242 


152 


4 
1 




247 








8 


99 


120 


8 


215 


60 






9 


102 


26 


1 


9 


208 








10 


83 

-17 




1 
2 


10 


468 


66 


2 




11 


54 




12 


215 
203 
335 




2 
2 

s 








* 




13 






11 


59 





This shows that the aggregate of the votes cast in the Territory for 
the free-State ticket fell short of 800, while the census shows that there 



KANSAS AFFAIRS 75 

were 2,905 legal voters in the Territory in the February previous. 
The free-State ticket, therefore, did not receive one-third of the legal 
voters of the Territory, even if all be excluded from the account who 
emigrated to the Territory after the census was taken. 

This fact was apparent to the majority of the committee. But they 
attempted to break its force in two ways : First, by comparing the 
names on the poll-books with those on the census returns, from which 
comparison they argue that only a fraction over -1,300 of the legal 
voters upon the census returns voted at that election. And secondly, 
by arguing that the abolitionists were prevented from voting by vio- 
lence, threats, and intimidation. 

On the first point, tlie undersigned deems it unnecessary to say 
more than that no comparison between the poll-books and the census 
returns was made except by districts. Between the time of taking the 
census and the election, settlers had changed their residence from one 
part of the Territory to another, and doubtless voted in a phice differ- 
ent from that in which they were registered when the census was taken. 
The committee did not compare the names on the poll-books with the 
names on the census returns throughout the Territory, and the com- 
parison alluded to by the majority, therefore, by no means proves what 
they claim for it. 

On the second point the undersigned will barely state that there is 
no evidence that any violence was resorted to, or force em])loyed, by 
which men were prevented from voting at a single election precinct in 
the Territory, or that there was any greater disturbance at any elec- 
tion precinct than frequently occurs in all our State elections in ex- 
citing times. A number of witnesses on both sides swear that men on 
both sides had arms, guns, pistols, bowie-knives, &c., and made 
threats, &c. But no one of them swears that any one was prevented 
from voting by tlie use of these weapons in a single instance, to the 
best of the undersigned's recollection. The testimony from beginning 
to end does not disclose the fact of a single assault and battery at or 
about the polls, or on account of the side on which any one wished to 
vote or had voted, in the whole Territory, on the day of election. 
Some quarrels and fights occurred at two or three places, but not alrout 
voting, and not as many in the whole Territory as the undersigned is 
informed occurred at one precinct in this city at the late municipal 
election. 

The undersigned will now take up and proceed with the districts in 
their order. He now refers to the election districts. There were 
eighteen of these. 

First Election District. 

The testimony in this district shows that a great many strangers 
were present, some with wagons and tents ; that considerable excite- 
ment prevailed. But there is no positive evidence of but a very few 
persons, known at that time to be citizens of Missouri, being present. 
All else is hearsay, vague and uncertain. "While this is so, Mr. Sal- 
ster, in his deposition hereunto appended and made part of this report, 
testifies as follows : 



76 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

" I emigrated into the Territory of Kansas in Jime, 1854, and set- 
tled in tlie neighborhood of Lawrence, and have resided there ever 
since." 

"My acquaintance was reasonably extensive in that district. I 
knew about 400 voters who resided in the district, but I did not know 
near all of the resident voters of that district. So far as I know, all 
the resident voters of that district were present and voted." 

''At tlie time of the election of the 30th March, 1855, there was a 
majority of pro-slavery residents in the Lawrence district. I was well 
acquainted in the district. There were about 200 free-State resident 
voters in that district, and there were from 300 to 400 pro-slavery 
voters at the polls that day, whom I knew to be residents of that dis- 
trict, and a great many of them voted in my presence, and the others 
told me they had voted." 

Besides this, the testimony of other witnesses shows that a large im- 
migration of bona fide settlers from Missouri came into the district 
after the census was taken, and before the election. (1) The parties, 
says one witness, were pretty nearly divided — perhaps more of the 
free-State than pro-slavery party ; but the free-State party were di- 
vided, and many voted for the pro-slavery candidates. (2) There was 
no intimidation or force used to prevent any of the free-State party 
from voting, and all could have voted who wished to vote. (3) In the 
afternoon gome one hundred men, who had come in with Dr. Ciiarles 
Robinson from the east, marched over to the polls and voted the free- 
State ticket. (4) They were said to have come into the Territory that 
very day. (5) 

From this testimony, it is difficult for the undersigned to see how 
the majority of the committee could come to the conclusion to which 
they arrived, that even in the Lawrence district there was a majority 
of the legal voters for the free-State ticket. 



■'o 



Second District. 

In regard to this district, the testimony is conflicting and contra- 
dictory ; but the weight of the evidence, in the opinion of the under- 
signed, shows that there were many settlers came into this district 
after the census was taken, and before the March election. On the 
morning of election the free-State judges took arms with them into 
the judges' room. The free-State men, under the lead of Judge 
Wakefield, took possession of tlie polls, and required all the pro- 
slavery men to be sworn without discrimination, and did not swear any 
free-State men. The pro-slavery residents objected to this, and de- 
clared that both parties ought to be sworn alike. After some time 
the free-State judges resigned, and other judges were selected by the 
crowd. No intimidation was used to prevent the free-State men from 
voting, but all were asked to come up and vote. The pro-slavery 

(1.) Horatio Owens, James Whitlock, A. B. Wade. 
(2.) James Whitlock, A. B. Wade. 
(3.) Horatio Owens, J. Whitlock, A. B. Wade. 
(4.( J. Whitlock, A. B. Wade, J. M. Banks. 
(5.) James Whitlock, John M. Banks. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 77 

ticket had a majority in the district, as the free-State party were not 
united on their ticket. (6) In addition to the general testimony re- 
latin*^ to this district, the undersigned Legs to call the attention of 
the House especially to the testimony of Parris Ellison, one of the 
judges to hold said election, appointed by Grovernor Reeder himself, 
which deposition, with others in relation to the election in that dis- 
trict, is hereunto appended and made part of this report. Mr. Elli- 
son, in his deposition, among other things, says : 

''The undersigned, Parris Ellison, states on oath: That I em- 
igrated from Missouri to Kansas, and settled at Douglas, the 
second district, in October, 1854, and have resided there ever since. 
I was present at the election held at Mr. Burson's, in the second dis- 
trict, on the 80th March, 1855. I was appointed by Governor Reeder 
as one of the judges, and Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsay, I think, were 
the other two. We met at Mr. Burson's house in the morning be- 
fore the hour to open the polls. Mr. Burson was a magistrate, ap- 
pointed by Governor Reeder, and he qualified me and qualified 
Ramsay. Ramsay qualified Burson. We appointed the clerks, and 
qualified them. George W. Taylor was one of the clerks. My son 
Parris was very sick at the time, and I wanted to resign. I proposed 
to resign if the other judges would permit me to name a man to serve 
in my place. Judge Wakefield, one of the candidates on the free- 
State ticket, was in the room, and interfered, telling the judges that 
tlic}' had power to' name the man. They refused to let me appoint a 
man in my place, and 1 determined to serve, and did serve. I re- 
marked to the other judges that we were sworn to act impartially 
during the whole day. They said. Yes ; we are sworn to act impar- 
tially-. We agreed that, inasmuch as they knew a great many voters 
that I did not know, and I knew a great many that they did not 
know, that those whom I knew should vote without swearing, and 
those whom they knew I would not require of them to be sworn. Under 
this agreement we commenced the election. Alter some twenty-nine 
or thirty votes were taken, the pro-slavery party had some two to 
one against the free-State ])arty. The other two judges began to grum- 
IjJe. Dr. Brooks came up to vote. I knew Dr. Brooks had a claim 
in that district, and had been on it, and had put a house on it. 

" Dr. Brooks was a single man, and afterwards brought his mother 
there, and has resided there ever since. At the time of the election Dr. 
Brooks claimed to be a citizen of the district. I knew him to be a 
resident, and under our agreement I wanted to take his vote without 
swearing, but the other two judges refused to take his vote unless he 
would swear; this he refused to do, because he said that he had 
understood that, under the agreement, if Mr. Ellison took his vote 
witliout requiring him to swear, that was all that was necessary. 
The other two judges still refused to take his vote. The doctor 
stood at the window a long time, and said, that unless they would let 
him vote, as he was a citizen of the district, and had been for some 
time previous, no other man should vote there that day. I told them 
tliat if they refused his vote it would create a fuss and confusion, and 

(6.) George W. "Ward. 



78 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

tliat it would be violating the agreement made before tlie election be- 
gan ; but still refused. Sherman Woffal then came up to vote ; but 
they refused to take his vote without swearing. Sherman said that 
he could prove by me that he was a citizen of the district, and had 
been a citizen of the district from the fall before. I knew that Mr. 
Woffal was a resident of the district^ for he was living there when I 
went to the district to live. I bought hay of Mr. Woffal before the 
election, which he had made and cured the summer before. They 
still refused to let him vote, unless he would swear. He refused to 
swear because they, the judges, would not let him prove his residence. 
He said he would not swear. I had not, up to this time, objected to 
any of the persons that came up to vote which the other two judges 
said they knew. I had kept the agreement made between us to the 
word and letter. On account of this conduct on the part of the other 
two judges, a fuss and confusion arose in the crowd outside of the house. 
While the fuss was going on, I proposed to adjourn, as I told them I 
thought it would be over in half an hour or so. Mr. Burson, there- 
upon, adjourned for half an hour. He proclaimed the adjournment 
aloud. I told each one of the judges to pick up a poll-book. I took 
the ballot-box, which one of the judges tried to take from me. I 
think it was Ramsay, but am not certain. Sharp words passed be- 
tween us, but I kept the ballot-box, and they took the poll-books and 
went off. A man by the name of Jones asked me where the poll- 
books were ? I told him that Burson and Ramsay had taken them 
off. He followed them, and brought the poll-books back. I waited 
until the half hour had ex]iired, and the other two judges did not 
come back. I waited ten minutes longer. I called them ; but they 
did not come. I called them again, and they did not appear. I told 
the people that I would wait five or ten minutes longer, and if the 
other two judges did not come they would have a right to select tWo 
men to act in their places. I waited ten minutes and they did not 
come, and the people elected two men to act in their places, namely, 
Sherman Woffal and Frank Labay. They were qualified. I asked 
Mr. Taylor to repeat the oath to them, which he did ; but, by mis- 
take, Mr. Taylor signed the oath instead of myself. Mr. Taylor had 
been sworn in as a clerk by Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsay. Messrs. 
Woffal and Labay and I then opened tlie polls, and the election 
went oft" quietly during the remainder of the day. We kept the 
polls open until 6 o'clock in the evening. Andrew McDonald was 
the pro-slavery candidate for council, and Judge Wakefield was the 
free-State candidate for council. 0. H. Brown and Mr. Ward were 
the pro-slavery candidates for the house of representatives, and Jesse 
was one of the free-State candidates for the house, and the other 
I do not remember. All the votes received after we began the 
second time were for the pro-slavery candidates. The ballot-box 
which I took possession of at the time of the adjournment I care- 
fully preserved, and did not open it until 6 o'clock in the evening. 
It was then opened in presence of the other two judges, who had 
been selected by the people, and the clerks. The ballots were count- 
ed, and there were twenty-one votes for the pro-slavery ticket^ and 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 79 

twelve votes for the free-State ticket. WJiea we commenced tne 
election the second time, we got another ballot-box. 

"When I got there in the morning, there were some thirty or forty 
men present about the house, and when I went into the house I saw 
some htteen or twenty guns standing in one corner of the house 
which had been brought there by the free-State men. When the 
adjournment took place, the guns were taken away by the free-State 
men. Ihe^e guns were all the guns that I saw on the ground I 
did not see a gun m the hands of a pro-slavery man that day There 
was no charge made with either guns or pistols or other weapons at 
the window, nor were there any threats of violence made by the pro- 
slavery men There was no violence committed by the pro-slavery 
men there tliat day to the judges, nor were there any threats of 
violence offered, as I saw. I did not see Mr. Samuel Jones pull out 
his watch and say to the judges, Eamsay and Burson, that he would 
pve them five minutes to resign, nor did I hear him afterwards sav 
to them that he would give them one minute to resign. If this had 
occurred, I should have seen and heard it, for I was in the house all 
the time, and was at the door when these two judges came out I 
did not see Samuel Jones in the house at any time while Ramsay and 
Burson were there. In my neighborhood I was well acquainted with 
tlie settlers there, and at the time of the election and before The 
residents_ were almost all pro-slavery. From what I knew myself 
atid the information received from the census taker and others, I am 
second dislnct.*-' pro-slavery party had a decided majority in the 

This is the district in which it is represented that sheriff Jones 
hgured so conspicuously. The testimony of Mr. Ellison clearly dis- 
proves all such_ allegations. Other depositions, herewith filed and 
made part ot this report, fully confirm the testimony of Mr. Ellison. 

Third District. 

The testimony in relation to this district is, that the pro-slavery 
party had a majority among the actual settlers of the district. (7) 

Fourth District. 

The testimony in relation to this district shows that the pro-slavery 
party had a majority among the actual settlers. (8) 

Fifth District. 

In this district the testimony goes to show that there was a maiof- 
ity lor the free-State party. "^ 

Sixth District. 
Phe testimony goes to show that the pro-slavery party had a major- 

(7.) Geo. Holmes. ~ 

(8) A. S, Jolanson, T. Mockbee. 



80 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

ity of tlie actual settlers in this district, and also that most of the free- 
State men voted for the pro-slavery candidates. (9) 

Seventh Distkct. 

The testimony shows that the pro-slavery party had a majority 
among the actual settlers in this district. (10) 

Eighth District. 

As to this district, no testimony was taken on either side, so far 
as tlie undersigned now rememhers. 

Ninth District. 

The testimony shows that in this district the pro-slavery party 
were in the majority among the actual settlers. (11) 

Tenth District. 

The testimony shows that the election was conducted fairly in this 
district, and the result would not liave heen changed by the rejection 
of all i;iu ilJegal votes on both sides. 

Eleventh District. 

In this district there is no evidence to impeach the correctness of the 
election returns as made to and sanctioned by the governor. 

Twelfth District. 

There is no evidence to impeach the correctness of the returns of 
election for this district. 

Thirteenth District, 

The evidence shows that there was a pro-slavery majority of the 
actual residents in this district, and that there was no force or intimi- 
dation used to prevent free-State men from voting. (12) 

Fourteenth District. 

The evidence shows that tlie pro-slavery party was largely in the 
majority among the actual residents in this district ; that the election 
was peaceable and quiet, and that no intimidation was used to pre- 
vent any one from voting. (13) 



(9) Wm. Barbcc, Joseph C. Anderson, S. A. Williams, T. B. Arnett. 

(10) C. A. Linkenaiigcr, Andrew Johnson. 

(11) C. R. Mobley, Thomas Reynolds. 

(12) AVm. Tebbs, O. H. Tehhs. and others. 

(13) W. P. Richardson, Willard P. Hall, J. H. Whitehead, J. P. Blair, and others. 



KANSAS AFFAIRE 81 

Fifteenth District. 

The evidence in regard to this district shows that the pro-slaver 
party were largely in tlie majority among the actual residents — prob- 
ably ten to one — and that there was no force or intimidation used to 
prevent any man from voting. (14) 

Sixteenth District. 

The evidence shows that the election in this district was conducted 
peaceably and quietlj'", and no intimidation or force used to prevent 
any one from voting. There was a decided pro-slavery majority 
among the actual settlers in this district. (15) 

Seventeenth District. 

The evidence shows that in this district the election was conducted 
peaceably and quietly, and that the pro-slavery party were in the 
majority among the actual settlers. (16) 

Eighteenth District. 

The evidence shows that the election was conducted peaceably and 
quietly, and that there was a decided pro-slavery majority among the 
actual settlers in this district. (IT) 

Upon an examination of the testimony taken before the committee, 
what the undersigned has affirmed in relation to these several districts 
will be found to be sustained by the proof. And from all the testi- 
mony collected, when compared and weighed properly, the under- 
signed feels confident that it will appear to every unprejudiced mind, 
not only that General Whitfield was duly elected, by the actual 
and bona fide residents, a delegate to Congress at the first election, 
in November, 1854, but that the free-State party was in the minority 
in the Territory at the March election in 1855, for members of the 
legislature; and tha,t that election was not carried either by force, 
violence, or non-residents, but that a majority of the legislature was 
duly elected as certified to by the governor, and was properly consti- 
tuted as a law-making body ; and, as a consequence, that the laws 
passed by them, as far as they are consistent with the constitution 
of the United States and the organic act of the Territory, are valid ; 
and, as a further consequence, that the sitting delegate, having been 
dnl]/' elected a delegate to Congress under a Territorial law thus 
passed, is entitled to a seat on this floor as such. 

And having gone through this branch of the subject, the under- 
signed now beg leave to refer to other matters alluded to by the ma- 
jority of the committee in their report. They speak of a certain secret 
political society formed in the State of Missouri, known by difierent 

(14) John W. Martin, N. Williams. 

(15) W. G. Matthias, L. J. Eastin, R. R. Rees, Amos Rees, A. T. Pattie, J, H. Day, A 
McAuley, and others. 

(IG) Cyprian Chouteau, Rev. T. Johnson. 
(17) R. L. Kirk, J. W. Foreman. 

H. Eep. lino.- 6 



82 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

names, siicli as "Social Band," "Frionds' Society," "Blue Lodge," 
"Sons of the South." — the o})ject of wliicli was to send emigrants into 
Kansas for the purpose of making it a slave State. 

In reply to this part of their report it is only necessary to state 
that the evidence shows that these organizations wore formed for the 
purpose of counteracting similar and other organizations, first started 
at the east and elsewhere, for the purpose of colonizing the Territory 
with persons for the avovred object of making Kansas a free State, 
and in this way ultimately affecting injuriously the institutions of 
Missouri. 

The first society of this kind was formed in the city of Washington, 
immediately after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. It was 
composed of members of Congress of botli branches, and others. 

T4ie undersigned refers, in this connexion, to the testimony of the 
Hon. Daniel Mace, a member from Indiana, which is appended to 
this report and made part thereof. In his deposition he states that 
such an association was formed in Washington immediately after the 
passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act. It was called the Kansas Aid 
Society, the members of which subscribed various sums of money, he 
himself subscribing $50 or $100, he is not certain which amount. The 
object of the movement was to induce persons to go to Kansas who 
would make that their home, and who would at all elections vote 
against the institution of slavery. Mr. Goodrich, a member of the 
House of Kepresentatives from Massachusetts, was the president of the 
society. 

Soon after this society was formed, other societies wore formed in 
the eastern States for the same object ; that is, for the purpose of send- 
ing persons to Kansas to control the elections there. A society of this 
kind formed in Boston, Massachusetts, commenced sending emigrants 
to Kansas for this avowed object. To show the object of this last- 
named Emigrant Aid Company, the undersigned begs leave to refer to 
a letter written by Thomas H. Webb, corresponding secretary of the 
company, and which is among the testimony taken by the committee. 
It is as follows : 

Boston, August 14, 1854. 

Dear Sir : By the pamphlet mailed you, much of the information 
which you desire can be obtained. 

The next party will leave here on the 29th inst., at quarter past 
2 p. m. ; they will go via Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, Alton, and St. 
Louis, and will disembark at Kansas City, near the mouth of Kansas 
river. The fare through will be about $25 for first-class accommoda- 
tions; meals extra, which need not cost, on an average, more than 
twenty cents. Each person is allowed 100 pounds of baggage, and for 
all excess will be liable to pay about $3 per 100. Children un.der 
thi^ee years will be taken free ; between three and twelve, pay half- 
price. No pledges are required from those who go ; but as our prin- 
ciples are known, we trust those who differ from us will be honest 
enough to take some other route. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 83 

The agent who located our pioneer party will accompany the next 
one, and furniKh all requisite information. 
Yours, respectfully, 

THOMAS H. WEBB, 

Sec. Em. Aid n-. 
A. Jennings, Provincetown, Mass. 

The undersigned also refers to a pamphlet admitted in evidence be- 
fore tlie committee, from which he submits the following extracts : 

'*' The Pioneer Party. — Charles H. Brauscomb, esq. , one of the com- 
pany's agents, went up with the pioneer party, and located them on a 
beautiful tract of land previously selected by him as an advantageous 
position for a town-site. Tliis spot is situated six miles above the 
Wakarusa, a tributary of the Kansas river, and about thirty-five miles 
above the mouth of the latter stream, on its south side. For a brief 
description, the reader is referred to the paragraph commencing on 
page eleven, and continued on page twelve, of this pamphlet. 

" Mr. B. travelled in various sections of the Territory, and says it is 
impossible for one who has not been in tliat region to conceive of its 
beauty and fertility ; he confirms all the statements that have been 
made respecting it in our pamphlet. 

" The second party lelt tliis city on Tuesday, the 29tli of August. 
They reached Kansas City September 6th, and entered the Territory 
under the guidance of Charles Ptobinson and S. L. Pomeroy, agents of 
the company. They were cordially received by the pioneer party, 
and have made a joint settlement at the beautiful site selected by Mr. 
Branscomb. 

" The third party, under the guidance of Mr. Branscomb, (who has 
returned twice from Kansas since July,) left Boston September 26th. 
It numbered eighty-six i)ersons, to which accessions were made at 
Worcester, Piochester, and elsewhere westward. Messrs. Pomeroy 
and Robinson are making great exertions to accommodate the parties 
for the winter, and to provide the materials for the erection of houses 
in the spring. This pressure of business involves a large expenditure, 
which their experience will enable them to make with prudence and 
discretion. But their drafts cannot be met with the funds in the 
hands of the trustees, unless ' material aid' furnished by those who 
wish for success to the enterprise shall be very much greater than it 
has been thus far. 

" The fourth party left this city the ITth of October. It numbered 
123 individuals, to which sixty were added at AVorcester, a number at 
Springfield, Albany, Rochester, and Bufialo. At Chicago a large ac- 
cession was anticipated, and ere leaving St. Louis the number will 
exceed 250." 

This was all in the summer and fall of 1854, and prior to the first 
election for a delegate to Congress, in November of that year. 
Whatever organizations, therefore, were formed in Missouri, of the 
character alluded to by the majority of the committee, were formed 
solely and expressly for the purpose of counteracting those organiza- 
tions previously formed elsewhere. This the testimony abundantly 
proves. 



g4 • KANSAS ATTAfRS. 

The tesilmony also shows that emigraiits goin- out under those 
and shnilar organizations were supplied with arms and i^^^nitions of 
war Great numbers of Sharpe's rifles and several pieces of artil eiy 
we'; sent to the Territory. And if arms were taken by emigrants 
IZ M^souri, it was only for the purpose of defence agamst arms 
In tbp hands of emigrants from other quarters. 

The testimony shows that large numbers of persons sent ou by 
these eastern societies went into the Territory during the month of 
Ma ch ustVe?ore the election, declaring it to be their mtention to 
vo?e lit they came there for that purpose; and m a lew days after 
Ihe election g^eat numbers of these persons were «een returuin^g to 
fC north and east saying, many of them, that they had voted.- The 
estimJny a S^^^ large number of Missourians went over 

io the TeiT ory on the day of election, merely to prevent ilegal 
^.t ' on the part of these eastern emigrants, and few o the e 
I is ourians, and only a few, are proven to 1}'-^^-,;^^;^ ? ^^^f ^J\^^^ 
names -iven, by the testimony ; not as many m all as those ot the 
easTem emic^rants, who it is proven voted illegally at Lawi-ence. 

The m^rlty of your committee in. their report say, that the only 
c Jse of X hostilities in the Territory was the known desire of the 
c?t!zens of Lawrence to make Kansas a free State, and their repug- 
nance to laws imposed upon them by non-residents. f 

The undersigned, however, is unable to concur with them m that 
aliec^^at on On th^ contrary he affirms, what he believes to be the 
t ith of the matter, that the cause of all the difficulties in the Tern- 
tor v of Kansas from its organization down to the present time, is to 
^hffonnd first as before stated, in the various organizations of 
membe^Tot Con^iss and in the northern and eastern States with 
Se avowed purpose of colonizing the Territory with persons of anti- 
slaverv sentiments, to the end of making Kansas a free State, 
ecmidh/ that fining themselves defeated and thwarted m their pur- 
3 of o'l^ ting a legislature in favor of making Kansas a free State, 
^slhown in a fbrme? part of this report, being chagrined and morti- 

i:^-^Zecon^La] there were p?opositions made t-Jorm an or^^^^^^^^^ 
zat on of a military character, to resist any and all laws which might 
be enac ed by that legislature, by force of arms, even should such 
resirnce'refult in thS subver'sioi of the government of the Tern- 
tor.v, and to the peril of the Union itself ._ 

In PJPof of thisallegatioi. the -^-|;Si^:Ss;-eJ.^-^r 

locatLlTermanently in LawrLe f -t the Jh o Oc ob^, 18o4 
resided there until some time the last «/. ^^aich oi the Ist^t Apr 
last, and then I went to Lecompton. About the time l^came thme, 

«F. M. Malian, H. M. Blossom, and others. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 85 

there was considerable difficulty between what was called the Law- 
rence Association, of which Dr. Robinson was president, and the set- 
tiers that were not members of this association. The members of the 
association held a meeting two or three evenings after I got there, and 
elected a judge, and a Mr. Grover marshal, and organized a compa- 
ny, which I think they called the 'shot-gun battalion,' for the ])ur- 
pose of preventing persons that did not belong to their association 
from settling about the place, and taking timber and stone from the 
claims of those who did live there. They said there was no lav/ in 
the Territory ; that the organic act was unconstitutional — made so by 
the repeal of the Missouri compromise ; and that they intended to form 
an association, and make and enforce their own laws^ irrespective of 
the laws of Congress, until there could be a change in Congress, by 
which the Missouri compromise could be restored, and the organic act 
set aside. 

" Tliere was no open o[)positiou to the execution of the laws until 
Governor Reeder appointed justices of the peace, and one or two mem- 
bers of this association were arrested. They refused to recognise the 
2)0 wer ol the justice of the peace, and refused to attend as witnesses, 
and would only attend their own provisional court, as they termed it. 

" When the legislature was about to be elected, they held a meet- 
ing, and brought out their candidates. After the legislature was 
elected, and before they met, there were several meetings held in 
Lawrence, and art those meetings they passed resolutions declaring 
they would submit to no laws passed by that legislature. This was what 
was called the Lawrence association, different from the town associa- 
tion. It was composed of men sent out under the auspices of the 
Emigrant Aid society, and Dr. Robinson was at the head of the asso- 
ciation. Many belonging to this association lived in different parts 
of the Territory. They were allowed to vote at the meetings of the 
association, which I sometimes attended, and those who were not 
enrolled as members of the association were not allowed to vote or 
debate at their meetings. Some of them lived at Ossawatomie, To- 
peka, Manhattan, and other places in the Territory. They resolved 
not to obey the laws that would be passed by the legislature, and only 
obey their own provisional laws until they could form a j)rovisional 
government for the Territory. 

" The first general meeting, while the legislature was in session, 
was held in Lawrence in July or August, 1855. Before that time 
their meetings had been of the association ; but this was the first gen- 
eral meeting. That was the first meeting at which I recollect hear- 
ing Colonel Lane take ground in opposition to the laws that the legis- 
lature, then in session, should pass. All the public speakers that I 
heard there, said they did not intend to obey the laws that should be 
passed, but intended to form a provisional government for themselves. 
After tlie legislature adjourned, the first meeting at which I heard 
any declarations with regard to the resistance of the laws was held 
at Blanton's bridge. Col. Lane, Mr. Emery, and Mr. John Hutchin- 
son addressed the meeting, urging the people to resist the laws, let 
the consequences be what tiiey might. 

" In private conversation with those men, they always expressed 



86 KANSAS AFFAIRS. ' 

their determination to resist the laws, and said the officers and posse 
shouhl not enforce the laws. They said they had a new code of laws 
called Sharpe's Revised Statutes, and they were going to use thein in 
preference to any others. It was a common remark, that they would 
use iSharpe's revised statutes in preference to any others. 

'' I think the first box of rifles came there marked Revised Statutes. 
I think after Mr. Dietzler came back he said he brought the rifles 
with him. When they were brought to Lawrence they wanted to put 
them in my warehouse. They were lying at my door, and I inquired 
what they were, and Mr. Salter, who was keeping the warehouse for 
me, said they were emigrant aid guns. I objected to their being put 
in my warehouse, and they were taken and put in Mr. Simpson's 
office. I told them I would not be the first to harbor guns brought 
there for revolution. 

"I often expostulated with Lane, Robinson, and others, both pub- 
licly and privately, as to their course, and addressed the meeting at 
Blanton's bridge in opposition to their course. They said they would 
resist the laws regardless of consequences. 

" The next public meeting I recollect of was the Big Springs con- 
vention. At that convention I had but little conversation, except 
with Governor Reeder and Judge Johnson. Prior to the meeting 
several days. Governor Reeder came up to our place. I heard that 
he was urging tl\e people to resist the laws, and do so by setting a 
diflerent clay for the election of delegate to Congress, on which he 
should be voted for, I called on him at his room, and asked him if 
he had recommended that course, and he said that he had intended 
to have returned to Pennsylvania, but upon reflection he had con- 
cluded that if they would take that course at the convention, he 
would be a candidate for Congress, and had returned from Kansas 
City, where he had taken his trunks and baggage. He said he had 
understood since he came there that Lane, Roberts, and others, would 
be candidates before the convention ; but if they would withdraw, 
and the course he had indicated was taken, he would be a candidate 
for Congress. He said it would give him an opportunity to bring 
the matter before Congress, and with the majority they had then in 
Congress against the democratic party he thought he could succeed 
in ousting General Whitfield if elected. 

" A meeting was held in Lawrence, and it was agreed upon that 
a dilferent day should be fixed upon for the election ; and the candi- 
dates who were there — Robinson, Lane, and some others — agreed to 
withdraw in favor of Governor Reeder. This was four or five days 
before the Big Springs convention. 

" I rode up to tliat convention in company with General Pomeroy, 
who invited me to go up with him. At the convention I had another 
conversation with Governor Reeder. We had always been on the 
most intimate terms, and I talked with him as I Avould with a-ny 
friend. I talked with him, and said that I thought that by taking 
that couise, and thereby repudiating the laws, it would bring a state 
of anarchy upon the Territory that he nor I would probably live to 
see the end of. I said it would be opening the doof and giving an 
invitation to outlaws outside of the Territorv to come and make that 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 87 

the field of operations ; that it woukl bring abont a state of things 
that would be injurious to the country, by preventing capitalists from 
risking their means in such a CQuntry. 

" He replied that he thought diiferently ; that they had determined 
to adopt the platform of the Topeka convention, held before tliat time, 
recommending the formation of a provisional government. I think 
he took a pencil and draughted a resolution recommending the calling 
of a convention to form a 8tate constitution. He said he would offer 
that resolution ; tliey could go on and form their State constitution, 
appoint an executive committee to issue a proclamation calling for 
the election of delegates to form a free-State constitution, and they 
would elect their members to the legislature, pass their laws ; and if 
Congress did not admit them, they would pass their own laws, and 
go on independently of Congress, until such time as they could be 
admitted. 

"I remarked, that would bring them immediately in conflict with the 
acts of the Territorial legislature, one or the other of which must 
become supreme ; and I thought it would necessarily bring on a colli- 
sion between the two opposing parties^ and involve the country in an 
armed difficulty. 

" He replied, that they had made up their minds to resist the laws, 
and by forming a free-State constitution they could get the aid and 
sympathy of the NoTtli to help them enforce their provisional laws ; 
that they were determined to resist the Territorial laws. That was 
about the substance of the conversation. 

" In his speech before the convention, he urged them to resist 
the Territorial laws at all hazards. I have read the speech of Gov. 
Reeder as reported in the proceedings of the Big Springs convention, 
in a printed copy now before me. I cannot say that it contains all 
his speech. He spoke for an hour, or a little over an hour. I under- 
stood him distinctly to say this : that he wanted them, if they had 
any regard for their rights, not to appeal to the laws for redress, nor 
answer others if appealed to. He called them 'bogus' laws, meaning 
thereby the Territorial laws. That, I think, is about the substance of 
what lie said. 

"I came down home, I believe, in company with Judge Johnson, 
who disapproved of the course adopted. I had conversations with 
Governor Reeder afterwards, but wo held our respective positions. 

" A proclamation was issued by what was called the Executive 
Committee, calling an election for State officers and legislature, a con- 
vention to form a State constitution having met and formed a State 
constitution. I talked with Lane and Robinson often about this matter. 
There were free-State men in Lawrence who opposed this course^ and 
oppose it yet. I myself co-operated with t]\e free-State party, until 
they took these revolutionary steps, and then I left them. 

" I lived in Hliuois twelve years before I came to this Territory." 

Indeed the undersigned affirmed, upon the testimony, that either 
before the meeting of the legislature, or during its session, or after its 
adjournment, there were other organizations formed, to resist by force 
of arms the execution of any laws the legislature might pass, or any 
which they had passed, at all hazards, even to the destruction of the 



88 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Territorial government, and tlic dismemluerment of tlie confederacy 
itself. In proof of this assertion the undersigned begs leave to refer 
to the testimony of Pat. Laiighlin, and the testimony of Dr. Andrew 
J. Francis. 

Pat. Liuighlin testifies, in snbstance, that he came to Kansas from 
the State of Kentiiclvy, in May, 1855. Ho settled in Doniphan, and 
favored the free-soil sentiment. He became a free-soiler about the 
middle of August, J855, and had a meeting of that party on the 25th 
of tlio same month; at which meeting S. Collins presided. 

The meeting — although it was one intended for all of the four- 
teentli election district, as d-esignated by Gov. Reeder, in his official 
proclamation governing the spring election of 1855 — had but about 
forty members in it, and tliat, too^, in a district far more thickly pop- 
ulated than any other district in the Territory of Kansas. 

Tliis meeting was addressed by A. Lazelerc, Dr. G. A. Cutler, C. 
W. Stewart, B. Harding, and otliers, all of whom urged very strongly 
on the meeting tlie necessity of forming a .society something on tlie 
order of the "Know-nothings," by whicli they could unite their small 
party, and labor more effectually against tlie pro-slavery party. This 
idea was received with general acclanuition by every member of the 
meeting but himself. He thought tliis a good sign of their " Know- 
nothing" origin. He therefore opposed the manoeuvres they were 
making; told them if they Avent into such measures, they would find 
in him an unrelenting enemy. They, sooner tlian cause any disturb- 
ance in their yet feeble ranks, gave up all thoughts of such organiza- 
tions. The meeting then went on; and, after disposing of all busi- 
ness before it, we had speeches from several of the leading men — S. 
Collins^ Dr. G. A. Cutler, C. W. Stewart, John Fee, A. Lazelere, 
B. Harding, B. G. Cady, and others — many of whom strongly urged 
that the people ought to rise in arms, and with their might resist the 
authorities; and sooner than permit slavery in Kansas, or even to 
submit to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise^ to go with all 
their might for a disunion of the States ; and, in order to effect their 
purpose, shed, if necessary, the last drop of their blood. Those 
speeches were received with acclamation by the poor deluded listeners. 
He was appointed at this meeting, together with several others, to 
represent the people of this (14th) district at the Big Springs conven- 
tion, to be held on the 5th of September. Next day several of the 
delegates met, and solicited him to go before the rest several days, 
that he might find out what our party was doing in other parts of the 
Territory. He started for Lawrence on the 2'7th of August, and after 
riding as far as Ocena, in Atchison county, he stopped at the house 
of Mr. Crosby, and made himself known to him. He then made him 
acquainted with the secret military organization, whicli organization 
had been on foot from the 4th of April, 1855. (There was another 
society previous to this.) Mr. Crosby then gave him a letter of intro- 
duction to G. W. Brown, of the Herald of Freedom. 

He went to Lawrence, and after acquainting Brown with his busi- 
ness, and giving him the letter of Mr. Crosby, he showed him a great 
number of Sharpe's rifles — he supposed about 75 or 100 — and told him 
they were sent to them by the Emigrant Aid Society, of Boston; that 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 89 

this society had also sent, and would continue to send, men and means 
to make Kansas a free (State by force, if necessary. He told him that 
the arms and munitions of war were sent generally as dry goods or 
books to the agent of the society; and were sent concealed in this 
manner, that they might not be detected by the United »States offi- 
cers. Ife told him that when our regiment would number thirty 
men, we could .send a delegate to Boston ; but that he must first visit 
Lawrence, wheie he would get letters of introduction to the society in 
Boston, who would furnish us with as many rifles as we had men to 
bear tliem in the neighborhood; and, furthermore, tliat he would get 
them gratis. 

While in Lawrence, a box of goods came, directed to C. Robinson; 
it was taken into the room where they hold their secret meetings. A 
friend of his invited him to go u[) with liim to see the kind of goods 
they received from the East, He went up, and, to his sur[)rise, saw 
in the box a lot of bluejackets and white pants for military uniform; 
also a drum and drum-sticks. 

The lookers-on winked with their eyes, as though they meant some- 
thing. Tiiere was a large house, which answered the double purpose 
of a hotel and foit, and with wliich the public is very faniiliai-; it was 
then in the course of erection by the Emigrant Aid (Society of Boston ; 
it had port-holes in it for guns. He was told by Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Conway, Hutchison, and Lowry, and many other leading men among 
the abolitionists, that this hotel was intended principally for a fortifi- 
cation for tlieir town, for tliey exj)ected tlieir conduct would bring 
thcni, before long, into a collision with tljo authf)rities. 

A. H. Reeder seemed very well acquainted with the secret military 
order. Im.mediately after he told his business to Mr. Brown, and let 
him know he was a member of the secret order, he had an introduc- 
tion to A. JL Reeder. They both then got up and went into the 
back room, where the rifles were, about twenty-five feet from him, 
and stood in a position on the floor where he had a full view of tliem. 
He could see from their actions, and from part of their conversation, 
which he overheard, that he and the society were the principal topics 
of their conversation. When they finished their interview a preacher 
came in, and he was intioduced as late of Boston. The three then 
began a conversation, in which the topic was, what men and means 
they could get by the next election, which was to come off in the fall, 
for delegate to Congress. They spoke of a })reacher wlio had gone to 
Boston for the express purpose of getting voters and other means to 
insure success at the coming election. 

Pursuant to public notice, the convention of the abolitionists met 
at Big Springs, on tne 5th of Sei)tember. 1855 ; also the executive 
committee. This committee claimed the sole right to govern tlie 
Territory. He was introduced to ibis convention by A. JL Reeder. 
His manner of introducing him was very strange, and he was made a 
member without being p]-oposed in his hearing. Shortly after he was 
introduced to the conimittee a man whose name, he thought, was 
McCnlioiigh, and whose accent and outward demeanor besj)oke him to 
be from tlie eaHt(;rn States, offered the following resolution : 

" Itcsolved, That every reliabhj free-State man in tlie Territory be 



90 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

furnished witli a rifle, a brace of pistols, and a sahrc, gratis ; and that 
he be required to take an oath to come when called upon, and muster 
into service under his superior officer, and to sacrifice his life, if 
necessary, to rescue the person and property of any person who would 
be brought under the jurisdiction of the present laws of the Territory." 

The above resolution was seconded, and received by loud stampings 
in every part of the house, except the chairman, (C. Robinson,) who 
remained silent a few moments, as though lost in deep thought. He 
at last spoke up, and asked the gentleman to withdraw his motion, 
and tliey would act upon it in a more private manner. All seemed 
silent and seemed to wonder at the chairman's course. Another spoke 
up., and said he thought the resolution interfered with provisions al- 
ready made. 

Tlie chairman said he thought not ; but, for reasons he cared not 
to give at present, he wished the gentleman to withdraw his re- 
solution, and let them act upon it in a more private manner. It 
v/as then withdrawn. This committee, in assuming the government 
of the Territory, appointed two governing committees of three men 
each side of the Kansas river, whose duty it was to establish post 
offices, mail routes, and mail carriers, to carry and take care of all 
free-soil and abolition mails, which was confined to the Territory. 
These two governing committees had the power to appoint persons 
who would arbitrate all difficulties arising in their respective districts. 
Persons so appointed were subject to removal, and responsible to the 
governing committee for any neglect of duty or abuse of power. In 
like manner, the governing committees were responsible to the execu- 
tive committee. 

All expenses of the above-named officials were to be'borne by the 
executive committee, who would derive the necessary aid from the 
eastern States and the Emigrant Aid Society of Boston. The execu- 
tive committee issued orders for all free-State men to give into the 
governing committees all the statements they could which would effect 
anything in weakening the pro-slavery party. He being further 
north than any of the other two who were on the committee with him, 
he had all the statements to take of those north of him, and any other 
direction that was convenient. 

There were many who gave him their statements against the legis- 
lature and private individuals. All those who gave him any state- 
ments, had it in such language as was capable of being construed into 
a more dangerous meaning for the pro-slavery party, than what the 
real definition should be. Many of them told him they were making 
use of language tliat would make the pro-slavery party appear to the 
v»orld more guilty than they in reality were ; and no matter how false 
a meaning was put on their statements, they would be easy in con- 
science if they could realize their object. Many told him, when called 
upon, they were willing to swear that thousands of Missourians came 
over and voted, although he saw none ; but admitted to him that they 
saw no Missourians vote, nor did they know of any who did. He had 
heard A. H. Reeder urge the people to rebellion and bloodshed, while 
they listened to him as though he were one of the jwophets and patri- 
archs of old. He had heard men say, who appeared to take and hold 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 91 

a high position among the abolitionists, openly boast that they had 
helped to run off negroes from the south into Canada, and hoped the 
day was near at hand when they would succeed in all tlieir designs, 
and settle those gentlemen of color along the shores of Kansas, where 
they could make war on the institutions of tlie South — particularly of 
Missouri — ^^till there would not be a slave left in it. Such are the prin- 
ciples of those who keep Kansas in a state of rebeHi.m, and such are 
the men who are the leaders of the abolitionists — leading them on to 
thievery, treason, and death. 

He has heard Judge Johnson, of the United States supreme court 
for the Territory, often instruct the people that, when called on to 
swear in the Territory, they might swear to what suited them, and 
they would not be perjured, as there was no law in the Territory. 
Whilst in Lawrence as delegate to the convention of the free-State 
men to be held at Big Springs, he heard many of the people say many 
of their people returned after the spring election. There were a great 
many camps at Lawrence then. Some of those forming the camps 
told him that they would return to the States in the latter part of 
the fall. At the fall and winter election for a delegate to Congress, 
for a State constitution and the formation of a State government, the 
judges of tlie polls had instructions publicly, that in case of Indian or 
other troubles they might adjourn from day to day, and finally to 
any other district in the Territory, to hold their election. But the 
private instructions were, if pro-slavery men attempted to vote, and 
were likely to have a majority, they must adjourn from day to day, 
and finally to any free-soil district in the Territory. He heard 
many of the people in Lawrence curse the Emigrant Aid Society of 
Boston, and say if it did not pay them soon they would return to the 
States, for it had failed to pay them for some time. He was told by 
several of the emigrants in Lawrence that the Emigrant Aid Society 
of Boston paid the expenses of all men who would come out to 
Kansas to vote for it to be a free State. 

The following is an extract from the deposition of Andrew J. 
Francis : 

'' Offers were made to me by various persons to introduce me to a 
secret political organization. The only name I ever received as a 
member of the lodge was ' Kansas Regulator.' The next morning 
I was conversing with Governor Reeder, Jas. H. Lane, G. P. Lowry, 
and several others, one by the name of Chapman and one by the 
nam.e of Hornsby ; but both these gentlemen had merely come up to 
us as we were standing on the corner of the street talking. I had 
noticed black ribbons tied h\ the shirt-bosoms of several gentlemen ; 
I noticed one or two tied to Governor Reeder's shirt-bosom. I made 
the inquiry as to what those black ribbons meant. Colonel Lane 
asked me to, go with him, and he would show me something that 
would please me better than what I had seen the night beibre. The 
night before I had attended a masonic lodge. Colonel Lane was in 
the lodge while I was there. I made some reply to Lane, as though 
awaiting to go with him, saying that I would have to see something 
that would please me extraordinarily well, if it pleased me better than 
what I had seen the night betbre. I went with Colonel Lane to the 



92 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

law-office of John Hutchison, as I afterwards found out. Grovernor 
Reeder did not go into the room where I was initiated. Doctor 
Robinson was standing just before the door, with a lady, I think. 
Cok)nel Lane asked him to leave the lady and go into the office with 
us. Robinson rather objected at tirst, but finally came in with us 
and said he would explain the nature of the organization he was 
about to initiate me into. The substance of the explanation was 
that Kansas was a beautiful country and well adapted to freedom, 
and the best territorj^ in the world for the friends of freedom to 
operate on, more especially for those who were engaged in the free- 
white State cause. After proceeding in that strain for awhile, he 
asked me if I was willing to pledge my word and honor that I would 
keep secret what I saw there and who I saw there, provided he would 
pledge his word and honor that there was nothing that would inter- 
fere with my duties as a citizen, or that was disloyal in any respect. 
I replied that I was willing. He then gave me some other instruc- 
tions that I do not now recollect, of about the same import as the 
first. Colonel Lane then took me in hand and told me that he could 
administer the grand obligation^ which was done by my repeating after 
him, as follows : 

'I, of my own free will and accord, in the presence of Almighty 
Grod and these witnesses, do solemnly swear that I will always hail, 
forever conceal, and never reveal any of the secrets of this organiza- 
tion to any person in tlie known world, except it be to a member of 
the order, or within the body of a just and legal council. I further- 
more promise and swear, that 1 will not write, print, stain, or indite 
them on anything movable or immovable, whereby the least figure or 
character may become intelligible to myself or any other person. I 
furthermore promise and swear, that I will at all times, and under all 
circumstances, hold myself in readiness to obey, even to death, the 
orders of my superior officers. I furthermore promise and swear, that 
I will at all times, and under all circumstances, use my influence to 
make Kansas a free-white State. I furthermore promise and swear, 
that all things else being equal, I will employ a free-State man in 
preference to a Missouri man, or a pro-slavery man. 1 furthermore 
promise and swear, that all business that I may transact, so far as in 
my power, shall be transacted with free-State men. I furthermore 
promise and swear, that I will at all times, and under all circum- 
stances, hold myself in readiness to take up arms in defence of free- 
State principles, even though it should subvert the government. I 
furthermore promise and swear, that I will at all times, and under all 
circumstances, wear upon my person the regalia of my office and the 
insignia of the order. I furthermore swear, tliat I will at all times, 
and under all circumstances, wear on my person a weapon of death. 
I furthermore promise and swear, that I will at all times, and under 
all circumstances, keep in my house at least one gun, with a full 
supply of ammunition. I furthermore promise and swear, that I will 
at all times, and under all circumstances, when I see the sign of dis- 
tress given, rush to the assistance of the person giving it, even when 
there is a greater probability of saving his life than of losing my 
own. I furthermore promise and swear, that I will, to the utmost of 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 93 

my power, oppose the laws of tlie so-called Kansas legislature. I 
furthermore promise and swear, that when I hear the words of danger 
given, I will repair to the place where the danger is. I furthermore 
promise and swear, that if any part of my obligation is at this time 
omitted, I will consider the same as binding when legally informed of 
it. I furthermore promise and swear, that, at the first convenient 
opportunity, I will commit this obligation to memory. To all of this 
I solemnly swear, without equivocation or self-evasion, binding my- 
self under the penalty of being declared a perjuror before Heaven and 
a traitor to my country.' 

" I then remarked to Col. Lane, that that was a very serious obliga- 
tion. He replied it was ; and also stated that it was necessary for me 
to become acquainted with the signs and pass-words. The sign of 
recognition is given by placing the right thumb under the chin, and 
the ibre-finger of the right hand by the side of the nose, quietly 
scratching or rubbing it two or three times. The answer to it was 
given oy placing the thumb and fore-finger of the left hand on the 
lower lip, as if rubbing it. The grip was given by locking the 
two first fingertB of the right hand over each other. The words ac- 
companying the grip are these : The one giving you the grip would 
ask : ' Are you in favor of Kansas becoming a free State ? ' The 
answer was : 'I am^ if Missouri is willing.' The means by which 
persons procured admission into the council was, by going to the door 
the sentinel wolild then present himself. The person applying would 
say 'Kansas,' accenting the last syllable. The person would then 
advance t© the centre of the room and salute the colonel, by placing 
his right hand just above his forehead. The regalia was this : The 
private members wore a black ribbon tied upon their shirt-bosoms ; the 
colonel wore a red sash ; the lieutenant-colonel a green sash ; the 
major a blue sash ; the captains white sashes ; the lieutenants yellow 
sashes ; the orderly sergeant a very broad black ribbon upon the shirt- 
bosom. Col, Lane then remarked to me that I had been made ac- 
quainted with the principles of the institution, and that it was the 
determination of the free-State party not to submit to the laws of the 
legislature, or to any opposition that might come from Missouri or any 
other quarter. I remarked to the Colonel that I was sworn to sup- 
port those laws in taking my oath as a lawyer, and that I considered 
that that oath was administered by a higher power than he exercised, 
and hence I should not keep tlie obligation he had given to me ; and 
under no circumstances would I do anything to subvert the institu- 
tions of the country, or place myself in opposition to the laws ; and 
he might depend upon it, I would expose it the first convenient oppor- 
tunity. I also told him I could not consistently keep both obligations 
that had been imposed upon me ; that I was also a member and min- 
ister of a religious denomination, and that it would not be consistent 
with my Christian duties to keep the obligation he had imposed on 
me ; that I should most certainly, when the subject came up, expose 
it. He stated then to me, that if that was my determination, and I 
did express myself so publicly, I would hardly get away from the city 
with my life. I replied to him that I would express myself so under 
all circumstances, both in public and private." 



94 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

It now being most fully shown, as the undersigned believes, that 
the anti-slavery party formed secret political organizations of a mili- 
tary character to resist, with force of arms, the execution of the laws 
of the Territory, and to defend themselves against any effort which 
might be made by officers to enforce obedience to the laws and au- 
thorities of the Territory ; after preparing the minds of the people 
to embark in any measures, however reckless and desperate in their 
nature and characters, the primary objects of these seditions, secret 
associations were boldly developed at a convention held by the anti- 
slavery party at Big Springs on the 5th and 6th days of KSeptember, 
1855. But, before proceeding further in relation to tbis convention, 
the undersigned deems it proper to remark, that after the legis- 
lative election in March, 1855, Governor Eeeder issued his procla- 
mation, convening the legislature at Pawnee city, upon the express 
undeistanding that if there were not sufficient accommodations 
there for the members and officers of the legislature, they could, 
strictly in accordance with the provisions of the organic act, adjourn 
to any other point in the Territory, and if they did so he would co- 
operate with them. In proof of this, reference is made to the testi- 
mony of the Rev. Thomas Johnson, a member of the council. The 
legislature consequently met at Pawnee city. They remained there 
but a sliort time, as they found no accommodations for the members 
aivd officers of the legislature, the great majority of them having to 
camp out and cook their own provisions, there not being boarding- 
houses in the place sufficient to receive and accommodate them. The 
cholera also broke out there, and several deaths occurred in conse- 
quence. The legislature then adopted a resolution adjourning to 
Shawnee Mission. It is evident that Pawnee city was not a suitable 
place for the convening of the legislature, because of the absence of all 
accommodations for members_, as well as being 145 miles from the 
Missouri river, whence they derived chiefly their supplies for subsist- 
ence. The house in which they were convened had neither doors nor 
windows, and but a temporary floor. 

Whih^ in session, however, at Pawnee, the governor recognised them 
as a legally constituled legislative body, as will be more full}^ shown 
by reference to his message to that body ; but, after they removed to 
Shawnee Mission, he vetoed all the bills they passed, of every de- 
scription, upon the ground that they were sitting then at a place not 
authorized by law — the only ground alleged. 

Meanwliile, " The governor, instead of exercising constant vigilance, 
and putting forth all his energies to prevent or counteract the tenden- 
cies to illegality which are prone to exist in all imperfectly organized 
and newly associated communities, allowed his attention to be divert- 
ed from his official obligations by other interests, and himself set the 
exam})le of a violation of law in the performance of acts which [as it 
seems] rendered it the duty of the President of tlie United States, in 
the sequel, to remove him from the office of chief executive magistrate 
of the Territory." 

The undersigned, in proof of the want of accommodations at Pawnee 
city, refers to the testimony of Rev. Thomas Johnf^on, member of the 
council, A.S.Johnson, Thomas Barbee, Wm. Gr. Matthias, and other 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 95 

} msmbers of the legislature, as taken before a justice of the peace 

- and properly certified, which the undersigned bogs to have consid- 
g ered a part of this repcn-t. 

J After the removal of Governor Reeder, chagrined as he evidently 

- was, he is found an active member of the Big Springs convention, held 
' on the 5th and 6th days of September ; at which convention, as it is 
■ proven by the testimony of Marcus J. Parrott, a free-State man, and 
J a member of the free-State legislature, taken before your com- 

- mittee, the following resolutions, drawn up in the hand-writing of 
Gov. Reeder, were adopted. They are taken by the undersigned from 
a certified copy of the proceedings of said convention, in evidence be- 

- fore your committee, and are as follows : 

. _ '^'Resolved, That we owe no allegiance or obedience to the tyran- 
> nical enactments of tliis spurious legislature ; that their laws have no 
a validity or binding force upon the people of Kansas, and that every 
; freeman amongst us is at full liberty, consistently with all his obliga- 
\ tions as a citizen and a man, to defy and resist them, if he chooses to 
\ do so. 

i ^^Resolved, That we will resist them, primaflly, by every peaceable 
«'and legal means within our power, until we can elect our own repre- 
jgentatives, and sweep tliem from the statute-book ; and that, as the 
j majority of the supreme court have so far forgotten their official duty, 
jhave so far cast off the honor of the lawyer and the dignity of the 
J judge, as to enter, clothed with the judicial ermine, into a partisan 
I contest, and by an extrajudicial decision, given opinions in violation 
iof all propriety, have prejudged our case before we could be heard^ 
I and have pledged themselves to these outlaws in advance to decide in 
j their favor, we will, therefore, take measures to carry the question of 
^ the validity of these laws to a higher tribunal, where judges are un- 
( pledged and dispassionate, where the law will be administered in its 
j purity, and where we can at least have the hearing before the deci- 
jsion. 

j ^'^ Resolved, That we cannot and will not quietly submit to surrender 
jour great ' Aiwerican birthright' — the elective franchise— which, first 
jby violence, and then by chicanery, artifice, weak and wicked legisla- 
tion, tliey have so effectually accomplished to deprive us of, and that 
Iwe with scorn repudiate the 'election law,' so-called, and will not 
jmeet with them on the day they have appointed for the election, but 
I will ourselves fix upon a iiitj for the purpose of electing a delegate to 
Congress. 

^'Resolved, That we will endure and submit to these laws no longer 
than the best interests of the Territory require, as the least of two 
(evils, and v/ill resist them to a hloody issue, as soon as we ascertain 
jthat peaceful remedies shall fail and forcible resistance sliall furnish 
I any reasonable prospect of success; and that, in the mean time, we 
(recommend to our friends throughout the Territory the organization 
and discipline of volunteer companies, and the procurement and pre- 
jparation of arms." 

I And, finally, as the natural result of the foregoing proceedings of 
ithe free-soil party in the Territory, the laws were violated, their ex- 
jecution oj^enly resisted by them, till at length came the difficulties at 
I Lawrence, in the fall of 1855, and after the Big Springs convention • 



96 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

in regard to wliich, as the most reliable testimony taken by your 
committee, the undersigned begs to refer to the evidence of Governor 
Wilson Shannon, which is as follows: "'That, as to the origin, pro- 
gress, and conclusion of the difficulties at Lawrence last fall, (1855,) 
he begs leave to refer to his two despatches to the President of the 
United States, with the accompanying documents — the first dated on 
the 28tli day of November, and the second on the 11th day of Decem- 
ber, 1855 — as containing what deponent believes to be a correct history 
and account of those transactions/' 

The following are the despatches and documents referred to by the 
witness : 

Executive Office, Shawnee MisstoN, 

Kansas Territory, Novemher 28, 1855. 

Sir : Affairs in this Territory are daily assuming a shape of real 
danger to the peace and good order of society. I am well satisfied 
that there exists in this Territory a secret military organization which 
has for its object, among other things, resistance to the laws by force. 

Until within a few oays past I have looked upon the threats of 
leading men and public papers who have placed themselves in an atti- 
tude of resistance to the laws, as not intended by those who made them 
to be carried into execution. I am now satisfied of the existence of this 
secret military organization, and that those engaged in it have been 
secretly supplied with arms and munitions of war, and that it is the 
object and ])urpo^e of this organization to resist the laws by force. 
The strength of this organization is variously estimated at from one 
to two thousand, but I have no satisfactory data from which to esti- 
mate its real strength, and I do not believe they can command for any 
given purpose more than one thousand men. They are said to be well 
supplied with Sharpe's rifles and revolvers, and that they are bound 
by an oath to assist and aid each other in tlie resistance of the laws 
when called upon so to do. Independent of the disclosures raade by those 
who formerl}^ belonged to this association and the hints thrown out in 
some of the public journals in their interest, the most practical proof of 
the truth of these allegations consists in their own acts. A few days 
since a difficulty took place in Douglas county^ some ten miles south of 
Lawrence, between one of these men and a man by the name of Cole- 
man, from Virginia, in relation to a claim : in which the former was shot 
and died immediately. Coleman was taken into custody for trial, by 
the sheriff" of that county, and to avoid all ground of objection as to 
legal authority. Judge Lecompte was written to and requested to at- 
tend at the county seat (it being in his judicial district) and sit as an j 
examining court. In the mean time a large body of armed men, said 
to be from three to four hundred, collected at and near Lawrence for { 
the avowed purpose of rescuing Coleman from the sheriff and excating 
him without a trial. Coleman claims that he shot the man strictly in j 
self-defence, and is willing to abide a judicial investigation and trial, i 
On Monday last a warrant was issued against one of this band of men ' 
for threatening the life of one of his neighbors, and placed in the ' 
hands of the sheriff of the county for execution. Who, with a posse of ' 
some ten men, arrested him on Tuesday night, and as he was convey- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 97 

:, ing the prisoner to Lecompton, he was met about two o'ch)ck in the 
; morning hy a band oftliese men, consisting of between forty and fifty 
. all armed with Sharpe's rifles and revolvers, who forcibly rescued the 
' prisoner out of his hands, and openly proclaimed that there were no 
] officers or law in this Territory. In the settlement in which these 
p transactions took place there were from sixteen to twenty law and 
. order i'amilies, and about one hundred free-soil families. At the last 
■i advices three of the houses of the farmer had been burnt down by this 

armed l)and. 
:; Cattle had been killed, and a considerable amount of corn and other 
personal property destroyed, and the whole law and order population 
of that neighborhood, induced by terror, had fled, except two families 
whose lives were threatened. Helpless women and children have been 
forced by fear and threats to flee from their homes, and seek shelter 
li and protection in the State of Missouri. Measures were being taken 
i by the legal authorities to procure warrants against these lawless men, 
[' and have them arrested and legally tried. Under these circumstances 
,,the sheriff of the county has called on me for three tliousand men to 
!,aid him in tlie execution of the warrants in his hands, and to protect 
.1 him and his prisoner from tlie violence of this armed force. The force 
(required by tlie sheriff is far beyond what I believe to be necessary, 
jand indeed far beyond what could be raised in this Territory. From 
jfive to eight hundred men will be amply sufficient, I have no doubt 
jto protect the sheriff, and enable him to execute the legal process in 
I his hands. With the view of giving to the sheriff the requisite aid 
i I have issued orders to Major General Richardson, of the northern 
I division of mihtia of this Territory— a prudent and discreet man— a 
I copy of which I send you herewith. 1 also send you a copy of a 
J request I have made of General Strickler, who resides in the adjoin- 
jing county to Douglas, These are the onlv orders I have thouo-ht it 
I necessary to issue, by means of which I believe a sufficient forcS will 
I be raised to protect the sheriff, and enable him to execute the lec^al 
I process in his hands. ^ 

I The time has come when this armed band of men, who are seeking 
jto subvert and render powerless the existing government, have to be 
met and the laws enforced against them, or submit to their lawless 
I dominion. If the lives and property of unoffending citizens of this 
: Territory cannot be protected by law, there is an end to practical o-qv- 
ernment, and it becomes a useless formality. * 

The excitement along the border of Missouri is running wild, and 
nothing but the enforcement of the laws against these men will allay 
it. Since the disclosure of the existence and purposes of this secret 
Imilitary organization in this Territory, there has been much excite- 
jment along the borders of Missouri, but it has been held in check 
I heretofore, by assurances that the laws of the Territory would be en- 
I forced, and that protection would be given to the citizens against all 
unlawful acts of this accociation. This feeling and intense excite- 
|ment can still be held in subordination if the laws are faithfully ex- 
jecuted -otherwise there is no power here that can control this border 
, excitement, and civil war is inevitable. This military organization is 
I looked upon as hostile to all southern men, or rather to the law and 
H. Rep. 200 7 



98 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

order party of the Territory, many of whom heave rehitions and friends, 
and all have sympathizers, in Missouri, and the moment it is helieved 
that the laws will not furnish adequate protection to this class of citi- 
zens against the lawless acts of this armed association, a force will 
be precipitated across the line to redress real and supposed wrongs 
inflicted on friends that cannot be controlled, or for the moment 
resisted. It is in vain to conceal the fact : we are standing on a 
volcano, the upheavings and agitations beneath we feel, and no one 
can tell the hour when an eruption may take place. Under existing 
circumstances the importance of sustaining the sheriff of Douglas 
county, and enabling him to executevhis process, independent of other 
considerations connected with the peace and good order of society, will 
strike you at once ; and to do this by the aid and assistance of the 
citizens of this Territory is the great object to be accomplished, to 
avoid the dreadful evils of civil war, I believe this can be done ; in 
this, however, I may be mistaken. No efforts shall be Avanting on 
my part to preserve good order in the Territory, and I will keep you 
constantly advised of the progress and state of things here. 
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 

WILSON SHANNON. 
His Excellency Franklin Pierce. 



Headquarters, Shawnee Mission, 

Kansas Territory, Novemher 27, 1855'. 

Sir : Keliable information has reached me that an armed military 
force is now in Lawrence and that vicinity, in open rebellion against 
the laws of this Territory, and that they have determined that no pro- 
cess in the hands of the sheriff of that county shall be executed. I 
have received a letter from S. J. Joncs^ sheriff* of Douglas county, 
informing me that he had arrested a man under a warrant placed in 
his hands, and while conveying him to Lecompton he was met by an 
armed force of some forty men, and that the prisoner was taken out 
of his custody, and open defiance bid to the law. I am also duly 
advised that an armed band of men have burnt a number of houses, 
destroyed personal pro])erty, and turned whole families out of doors 
in Douglas county. Warrants will be issued against those men, and 
placed in the hands of the sheriff of Douglas county lor execution. 
He has written to me, demanding three thousand men to aid him in^ 
the execution of the process of the law and the preservation of peace. 

You are, therefore, hereby ordered to collect together as large a 
force as you can in your division, and repair without delay, to Lecomp- ' 
ton, and report yourself to S. J. Jones, the sheriff" of Douglas county, 
together with the number of your forces, and render to him aJl tlieij 
aid and assistance in your power, if required in the execution of any J 
legal process in his hands. The forces under your command are toi! 
be I'jsed for the sole purpose of aiding the sheriff in executing thei 
law, and for no other purpose. 

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 

WILSON SHANNON 

Major General Williajm P. Richardson 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 99 

Headquarters, Shawnee Mission, 

Kansas Territory, November 27, 1855. 

Sir : I am this moment advised, by letter from S. J. Jones, sheriff 
of Doughis county, that while conveying a prisoner to Lecompton, 
whom he has arrested by virtue of a peace warrant, he was met by a 
band of armed men, who took said prisoner forcibly out of his posses- 
sion, and bid defiance to the execution of all law in this Territory. 
He has demanded of me three thousand men to aid him in the execu- 
tion of the legal process in his hands. As the southern division of 
the militia of this Territory is not organized, I can only request you 
to collect together as large a force as you can, and at as early a day 
as practicable report yourself, with the forces you may raise, to S. J. 
Jones, sheriff of Douglas county, and to give him every assistance dn 
your power, in the execution of the legal process in his hands. 
Whatever forces you may bring to his aid are to be used for the sole 
purpose of aiding the said sheriff in the execution of the law, and no 
other. It is expected that every good citizen will aid and assist the 
lawful authorities in the execution of the laws of the Territory and 
the preservation of good order. 

Your obedient servant, 

WILSON SHANNON. 

General H. J. Strickler. 



Executive Office, Shawnee Mission, 

Kansas Territory, December 11, 1855. 

i Sir : In my despatch to you of the 28th ultimo, I advised you of the 
jthreatened difficulties in relation to the execution of the laws of this 
jTerritory in Douglas county. The excitement which then existed con- 
jtinued to increase, owing to the aggravated reports from Lawrence 
and that vicinity in relation to the military preparations that were 
jbeing made to attack the sheriff and resist the execution of the laws. 
The excitement increased and spread, not only throughout this whole 
Territory, but was worked np to the utmost point of intensity in the 
jwhole of the upper portion of Missouri. Armed men were seen rush- 
ing from all quarters towards Lawrence, some to defend the place, 
land others to demolish it. The orders I had issued to Major Gen- 
eral Richardson and General Strickler had brought to the sheriff of 
Douglas county a very inadequate force for his protection, when com- 
(pared with the forces in the town of Lawrence. Indeed, the militia of 
jthe Territory being wholly unorganized, no forces could be obtained 
jexcept those who voluntarily tendered their aid to the sheriff, or to 
iGenerals Richardson and Strickler. The whole force in the Territory 
{thus obtained did not amount to more than three or four hundred 
jmen, badly armed, and wlioUy unprepared to resist the forces in Law- 
^rence, which amounted, at that time, to some six hundred men ; all 
'remarkably well armed with Sharpe's rifles and other weapons. These 
(facts becoming known across the line, in the State of Missouri, large 
'numbers of men from that State, in irregular bodies, rushed to the 



100 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

countj of Douglas, and many of them enrolled tliemselves in the 
sheriff's posse. In this state of affairs, I saw no way of avoiding a 
deadly conflict but to obtain the use of the United States forces at 
Fort Leavenworth, and with that view I addressed you a telegraphic 
despatch, and received on the 5th instant your very prompt and satis- 
factory reply of the 4th instant, a copy of which I immediately trans- 
mitted, by special despatch, to Colonel Sumner, with the request that 
he would accompany me with his command to the scene of difficulty. 
In reply, I was informed he would immediately do so, having no 
doubt that in due time proper instructions would bereceiA/ed from the 
War Department. Information, however, v/hich I received from both 
parties, convinced me that my presence was necessary to avoid a con- 
flict, and without waiting for Colonel Sumner, I repaired to the seat 
of threatened hostilities, at the same time advising Colonel Sumner, 
by special despatch, of this movement. On my way to Lawrence, I 
met a despatch from Colonel Sumner, informing me that, upon reflec- 
tion, he had changed his determination, and that he would not march 
with his command until he had received orders from the proper de- 
partment, but that he would be ready to move with his command the 
moment such orders came to hand, f proceeded as rapidly as })ossible 
to the camp of General S trickier, on the Wakarusa, six miles east of 
Lawrence, and arrived in camp about three o'clock on the morning of 
the sixth instant. I found that General Strickler, as well as General 
Eichardson, had very judiciously adopted the policy of incorporating 
into their respective commands all the irregular forces that had 
arrived. This was done with the view of subjecting them to military 
orders and discipline, and to prevent any unlawful acts or outbreaks. 
The great danger to be apprehended was from an unauthorized attack 
on the town of Lawrence, which was being strongly fortified, and had 
about one thousand and fifty men, well armed, to defend it, with two 
pieces of artillery, while, on the other side, there was probably in all 
near two thousand men, many of them indifferently armed, but having 
a strong park of artillery. I found in the camp at Wakarusa a deep 
and settled feeling of hostility against the opposing forces in Lawrence, 
and apparently a fixed determination to attack that place and demolish 
it and the presses, and take possession of th'eir arms. It seemed to be 
a universal opinion in the camp that there was no safety to the law 
and order party in the Territory while Jhe other party were permitted 
to retain their Sharpe's rifles, an instrument used only for war purposes. 
After mingling with all the leading men in the Wakarusa camp, and 
urging on them the importance of avoiding a conflict of arms, that ' 
such a step would probably light the torch of civil war and endanger - 
the very Union itself, I still found that there was a strong desire with ; 
all, and a fixed determination with many, to compel the forces in j 
Lawrence to give up their arms. Believing that such a demand j 
would lead to a conflict which, if once commenced, no one could tell j 
where it would end, and seeing no way to avoid it except by the aid j 
of the United States forces, I again wrote another communication to j 
Colonel Sumner, and sent it to him by special de/?patch about three ) 
o'clock on the morning of the Yth instant, requesting his presence ; ; 
a copy of which I send you herewith, marked E. I received no reply 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 101 

until my return to tliis place, after the difiu'nlty had been arranged. 
I send you a copy of this reply, marked F. Early on the morning 
of the 7th instant I repaired to the camp at Lawrence, and found 
them hu.sily engaged in their fortifications anJ. iu drilling their 
forces, and had a full and satisfactory interview Avith the committee 
ap})ointed by the forces in Lawrence, in relation to the impending 
difficulties. So far as the execution of the laws wa-s concerned, we 
ha/l no difficulty in coming to a satisfactory understanding. It was 
at once agreed that the laws of the Territory should have their regu- 
lar course, and that those wlio disputed their validity should, if they 
desired to do so, test that question in the judicial tribunals of the 
country; that, in the mean time, no resistance should be made to their 
due execution, and the citizens of Lawrence and vicinity were, when 
properly called on, to aid in the arrest of any one charged with their 
violation, and aid and assist in the preservation of the peace and good 
order of society; Avhile, on my part, 1 gave them every assurance in my 
power that they should be protected in all their rights and defended 
against any unlawful aggressions. It is proper I should say, that 
they claimed that a large majority of them had always held and incul- 
cated the same views. The assurances I received entirely satisfied me 
[that no one against whom a writ had issued was then in Lawrence; 
[that the}^ had all fled, and that they were harboring, concealing, or 
[defending no one against whom a writ had been issued, and that here- 
after there would be no combined effort made to prevent the service of 
I any process in the county of Douglas. This was entirely satisfactory, 
land all that had been desired. But to satisfy the forces that sur- 
1 rounded Lawrence, so that the}^ could be induced to retire in order, was 
(the great difficulty to be overcome. To issue an order to the slieriff 
|to disband \uh posse, and to Generals Richardson and Strickler to dis- 
iband their forces, would have been to let loose this large body of men, 
jwdio would have been left without control to follow the impulse of 
(their feelings, wdiich evidently was to attack and disarm the people 
I of Lawrence. Early on the morning of the 8th, through the influ- 
ence of some leading men, I procured tbirteen of the leading captains 
I in the Wakarusa camp to be appointed a committee to confer with a 
committee from the Lawrence camp, to meet at Franklin, midway 
' between the two hostile forces. I proceeded to the Lawrence camp, 
1 and returned to Franklin in the evening, with the committee, where 
I the proposed interview took place. This interview, which lasted for 
some time, resulted in producing a better state of feeling, and the 
committee from the Wakarusa camp were satisfied to retire without 
doing anything more, and so reported to the army. This^ with the 
active exertions of myself and others, produced abetter feeling amon^ 
jthe men, and by daylight on the morning of the 9th, I felt I could 
'with safety order the forces to disband, and accordingly did so. 
I They retired in order, and refrained from any act of violence, but it 
{ was evident there was a silent dissatisfaction at the course I had 
I taken. But I felt conscious I was right, and that my course would 
' be sanctioned alike by the dictates of humanity and sound policy. 1 
J returned to Lawrence on the 9th, and remained until the morning of 
I the 10th, when, everything being quiet and safe, I returned to this 



102 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

place. Ev^ery tiling; is quiet now; but it is my duty to say to you, 
frankly, that I have forebodings as to the future. The militia or 
volunteer corps cannot be relied on to preserve the peace in these civil 
party contests, or where partisans are concerned. A call on the 
militia will generally only bring in conflict the two parties. I am 
satisfied that the only forces that can be used in this Territory in en- 
forcing the laws, or preserving the peace, are those of the United 
States, and with this view I would suggest that the executive of this 
Territory be authorized to call on tlie forces of the United States wlien, 
in his judgment, the public peace and tranquillity, or the execution 
of tlie laws, may require their assistance. Should there be an out- 
break, it will most probably be sudden, and before orders can be ob- 
tained from Washington the crisis will have passed. I send you 
herewith the copies of various affidavits, letters, &c., which will give 
you some information in detail touching the subject-matter of this 
despatch. 

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 

WILSON SHANNON. 

His Excellency Franklin Pierce. 



ss. 



United States of America, 
Territory of Kansas. 

Be it remembered, that on this sixth day of December, in the year 
A. D. 1855, personally appeared before me, J. M. Burrell, one of the 
associate justices of the supreme court of the said Territory of Kansas, 
Harrison Buckley, of lawful age, who being by me duly sworn, saith 
that he is a citizen of the county of Douglas, and has i elided therein 
since 30th day of March last, and has resided during all that time at 
Hickory Grove ; that he was informed on good authority, and which 
he believed to be true, that Jacob Branson had threatened his life, 
both before and after the difficulty between Coleman and Dow^ which 
led to the death of the latter. I understood that Branson swore that 
deponent should not breathe the pure air three minutes after I re- 
turned, this deponent at this time having gone down to Westport, in 
Missouri ; that it was these threats, made in various shapes, that made 
this deponent really fear his life, and which induced him to make 
affidavit against the said Branson, and procure a peace warrant to 
issue, and be placed in tiic hands of the sheriff of Douglas county ; 
that this deponent was with the said sheriff (S. J. Jones) at the time 
the said Branson was arrested, which took place about two or three 
o'clock in the morning ; that Branson was in bed when he was arrested 
by said sheriff ; that no i)istol or other weapon was presented at the 
said Branson by any one ; that after the arrest, and after the company 
with the sheriff had proceeded about five miles in the direction of 
Lecompton, the county seat of Douglas county, the said sheriff and his 
posse were set upon by about between thirty and forty men, who came 
out from behind a house, all armed with Sharpe's rifles, and presented 
their guns cocked, and called out who they were ; and said Branson 
replied that they had got him a prisoner ; and these armed men called 
on him to come away. Branson then went over on their side, and 



. KANSAS AFFAIRS. 103 

' sheriff Jones said tliej were doing something they would regret here- 
\ after in resisting the laws ; that he was sheriff of Douglas county, and, 
\ as such, had arrested Branson. These armed men replied that they had 
no laws, no sheriff, and no governor, and that they knew no laws hut their 
guns. The sheriff, being overpowered^ said to these men, that if they 
took him hy force of arms he had no more to say, or something to that 
import, and then we rode off. Tiiis deponent further states that there 
have been three houses burned in the Hickory Point settlement ; one 
was this deponent's house, another belonged to Josiali llargis, and the 
third to said Coleman. All I had in the world was burned up, leaving 
my wife and children without clothing. This dej)onent's wife and 
four children fled to Missouri, where they still remain Avith their rela- 
tives. The house of deponent was burned down, as it is said, shortly 
before daylight in the morning. The wives and children of both Cole- 
man and Hargis also fled to Missouri, where they still remain. There 
were about fifteen or sixteen law-abiding families in the settlement 
called the Hickory Grove settlement about the time these difficulties 
sprung up ; they have all been forced by terror and threats of these 
armed men to flee with their wives and children to the State of Mis- 
souri for protection, and still remain there. These armed men have 
repeatedly in my presence said that they would resist the law h}' force, 
and tliere was no law in this Territory. These tbreats have been re- 
])eatedly made by these men for tlie last three months. And further 
this deponent s'aith not. 

H. H. BUCKLEY. 

Sworn and subscribed the day and year above stated, before me. 

J, M. BURRELL, 
Associate Justice Supreme Court, Kansas Territory. 



ss. 



United States of America, 
Territory of Kansas. 

Be it remembered, that on this Tth day of December, A, D. 1855, 
personally came before me, S. G. Cato, one of the associate justices of 
the supreme court of the Territory of Kansas, Josiah Hargis, of law- 
ful age, who being by me duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that on or 
about the 2Gth day of Kovemher, 1855, in Douglas county, sheriff 
Jones called upon me, with nine others, to act as a posse to arrest one 
Jacob Branson, under a peace Avarrant issued by Hugh Cameron, a 
justice of the peace ; that he proceeded with said sheriff to Hickory 
Pointy in said county, and there arrested said Branson, Avith AAdiom 
they proceeded in the direction of Lawrence. When near a house on 
the Wakarusa an armed mob of persons, amounting to between thirty 
and forty, rushed from behind said house;, and by force did rescue said 
Branson out of the hands of said slieriff and posse, and in defiance of 
of said sheriff's command, take said Branson and refuse to deliver 
him to said sheriff. That the said sheriff told the said mob that he 
held said Branson under a peace Avarrant properly issued by a legally 
authorized officer ; and that he was sheriff of said county of Douglas, 



104 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and charged with the execution of said writ. The leader of said mob 
replied to said officer that they knew him as Mr. Jone.s, but not as 
sheriff of Douglas county. He then told them that he would call out 
the militia to enforce the law. Their reply was that he could not get 
men to enforce said law. He told them then that he would call on the 
governor for assistance ; to which the said mob replied that they had 
no laws and no officers, and to pitch in. Said mob stood with their 
guns cocked and presented at the time of said rescue. 

This deponent further saith, one H. H. Buckley, of said county of 
DouglaS;, was with said shoriflf at the time of said rescue, as one of 
said sheriff's posse ; that during the same night on which said rescue 
was made, said affiant saw a light in the direction of said Buckley's 
house, and that he fully believes said house was at that time burned. 
That he believes, from circumstances within his knowledge, that said 
house, together with his own, w^as burned by persons concerned with 
said mob ; and that he has reason to believe that some of said houses 
were fired by said Branson aforesaid, assisted by a German, commonly 
called Dutch Charley ; and they were counselled and advised thereto 
by one Farley. This affiant further says, that at the time of the res- 
cue of said prisoner he was at a house near Hickory Point, and that he 
there saw three women, who told him that there had been an armed 
force that day who notified them to leave, and all other pro-slavery 
families in the neighborhood ; and since, said families have left said 
neighborhood and fled to the State of Missouri. Said affiant says 
that he believes there were at that time in said neighborhood about 
fifteen ])ro-slavery families, nearly all of whom have fled, as aforesaid, 
to the State of Missouri, for protection. Said armed force was repre- 
sented to consist of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty armed 
men. 

S. N. HARGIS. 

Sworn and subscribed before me. S. G. CATO, 

Associate Justice of Kansas IWritory. 

In relation to events which have transpired since the apppointment 
of your committee, the majority of your committee use this language: 
" Your committee did not deem it within their power or duty to take 
testimony as to events which have transpired since the date of their 
appointment." The undersigned begs to say, that the majority of 
your committee did, however, take testimony as to events which 
'' transpired since the date of their appointment." They admitted to 
record the testimony of Pardee Butler, as to his being tarred and 
cottoned at Atchison, and that of others touching other events, all 
happening after the date of their arrival in Kansas Territory, and 
conse([uently after that of their a])p()intment. Having admitted tes- 
timony as to some events of the kind, it was but justice to all parties 
that counter testimony, relating to those as well as other events of the 
same kind, should be admitted. And thus the undersigned thought, 
when the counsel of General Whitfield sought to introduce evidence 
as to the Pottawatomie Creek murders, and other outrages. Having 
established a precedent, it was inconsistent for the majority of your 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 105 

committee to refuse to take such testimony upon the ground that they 
had no " power," and that it was not their " duty" to investiinjate oc- 
currences that "transpired since the date of their appointment." 
They exercised such a "power," and in part fulfilled such a " duty/' 
when tliey took testimony prejudicial to the pro-slavery party ; but 
when testimony unfavorable to the free-State party was sought to be 
introduced, it was tlien, and not till then, that the majority of your 
committee concluded that it was not within " their power or duty to 
take testimony as to events which transpired since the date of their 
appointment." But the majority of your committee extricated 
themselves from tlie dilemma in which they liad, in this regard, 
placed themselves, by expunging testimony favorable to the free- 
State party side — testimony already received in relation to alleged 
violence shown to Tai'dee Butler and others, so that they could 
consistently refuse to admit testimony as to outrages committed 
by the free-State i)eo})le, whicli in savage barbarity and demoniac 
cruelty have scarcely an equal in the history of civilized man. But, 
notwithstanding that the majority deemed it without their '-power 
or duty" to investigate matters occurring since the time of their ap- 
])()intment, they have reported, and in their report dwelt with much 
warmth of expression upon, events which they admit "transpired 
since the date of their appointment" — events for which tliey do not 
claim to have a shadow of authority for their truth except vague 
rumor, and foV which in fact there is none as yet shown ; and the tes- 
timony in regard to at least one of which events they had expvjnged 
from the record, to wit, the tarring and. cottoning of Pardee Butler. 
The undersigned is of the opinion, that if the majority of your com- 
mittee are justified in re]>orting and dwelling upon occurrences for 
the truth of which they offer no i)roof, he is equally, if not much more 
strongly justified, in reporting and dwelling upon occurrences for the 
proof of which he has sworn testimony. The majority of your com- 
mittee having presented, in their report, scarcely anything but what 
is favorable to the abolition party in Kansas and prejudicial to the law 
and order ])arty, the undersigned deems it a duty, no less to the House 
than to the country and the cause of truth, to give some facts on the 
other side f;ivoi'able to tlie other party in Kansas, so that in present- 
ing both sides, the world may have a fair chance to get at the truth, 
and arrive at a just conclusion. The minority of your committee (the 
majority having alluded, in their report, to events as to which they 
refused to take testimony) has fortunately been furnished with sworn 
testimony to wliich he desires to refer, and which he considers im- 
portant to lay before the House and the public. First in order of 
time are the murders committed on the night of the 2-4th of May, 1856, 
on Pottawatomie creek. In this massacre, it is known that live per- 
sons were killed in one night, viz : Allen Wilkinson, William Sher- 
man, William P. Doyle, father, and William and Drury Doyle, sons. 
The undersigned begs leave to refer to various affidavits which he ap- 
pends to and makes a part of his report. 

Allen Wilkinson was a member of the Kansas legislature — a quiet, 
inoffensive man. His widow, Louisa Jane Wilkinson, testifies, that 
on the night of the 24th of May last, between the hours of midnight 



106 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and flay-hreak, she thinks^ a party of men came to the house where 
they were residing and forcibly carried her husband away ; that they 
took him in the name of the " Northern Array,'' and that next morn- 
ing he was found about 150 yards from the house, dead. Mrs. Wilk- 
inson was very ill at the time with measles. Here follows an extract 
from her affidavit : "I begged them to let Mr. Wilkinson stay with 
me, saying that I was sick and helpless, and could not stay by myself. 
My husband also asked them to let him stay with me until he could 
get some one to wait on me ; told them that he would not run off, but 
■would be there the next day, or whenever called for ; the old man who 
seemed to be in command looked at me, and then around at the child- 
ren, and replied, ' you have neighbors.' I said, ' so I have, but 
they are not here, and I cannot go for them.' The old man replied, 
'it matters not,' and told him to get ready. My husband wanted 
to put on his boots, and get ready, so as to be protected from the damp 
and night air, but they would not let him. They then took my hus- 
band away. * * * After they were gone I thought I heard my 
husband's voice in complaint. * * Next i-iiorning Mr. Wilkinson's 
body was found about 150 yards from the house, in some dead brush. 
A lady, who saw my husband's holy, said that there was a gash in 
his head and his side. Others said that he was cut in the throat twice. ' ' 
Mr. Wilkinson was a poor man, and of course his widow was left desti- 
tute ; but, regardless of thi5i fact, they took away some property, in- 
cluding the only lior.se they had. Mrs. Wilkinso.n was presented at 
Westport, Missouri, with the necessary means to go to her father's ia 
Tennessee. She has two small children. Mrs. Wilkinson's descrip- 
tion of the leader of the men who murdered her husband suits Ca}> 
tain John Brown, a well known character in the abolition party. She 
says that her husband was a quiet man, and was not engaged in arrest- 
ing or disturbing anybody. He took no active part in the pro-slavery 
cause, so as to aggravate the abolitionists; but he was a pro-slavery 
rnan . 

The circumstaTces attending William Sherman's assassination are 
testified to by Mr. James Harris, of Franklin county, Kansas. Mr. 
Sherman was staying over night at the house of Harris, when, on the 
night of the 24th of May, about two o'clock. Captain John BroAvn and 
party came therC;, and after taking some property and questioning 
Harris and others, Sherman was asked to walk out. Mr. Harris, in his 
affidavit, says : "Old man Brown asked Islr. Sherman to go out with 
him, and Sherman then went out with Brown. I heard nothing more 
for about fifteen minutes. Two of the ' Northern Array,' as they styled 
themselves, staid with us until we heard a cap burst, and then these two 
men left. Next morning, about ten o'clock, I found William Sher- 
man (](",i(\ in the creek near my house. I was looking for him; as he 
had not come back, I thought he had been murdered. I took Mr. 
William Sherman (body) out of the creek and examined it. Mrs. 
Whitcman was with me. Sherman's skull was split open in two 
places, and some of his brains were washed out by the water ; a large 
hole was cut in his breast, and his left hand was cut off, except a little 
piece of skin on one side." 

In relation to the assassination of James P. Doyle and sons, the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 107 

affidavit of Mrs. Maliala Doyle, the Avidowed mother, was procured. 
"William Doyle, one of the murdered, was twenty-two vears of a^^e ; 
Drury Doyle, the other, was twenty years of age. Mrs. Doyle was 

left very poor, with four children — one of tlicm only eight years old 

to support. Mrs. Doyle testifies : '-'That a party of armed men came 
to her house about 11 o'clock, she thinks, on the night of the 24th of 
May; they first inquired wiiere Mr. "Wilkinson lived, and then made 
Mr. Doyle open his door, and went into the house, saying they were 
from the 'xirmy of the North,* and asking them to surrender." Savs 
Mrs. Dojde : "They first took my husband out of the house, then they 
took two of my sons — the two eldest, W^illiam and Drury — out, and 
then took my husband and the two boys away. My son John (sixteen 
years old) was s})ared because I asked them, in tears, to spare him. In 
a short time afterwards I heaiil the rej^ort of pistols — two reports ; 
after which I heard moaning, as if a person was dying ; then I heard 
a wild whoop. * * * I went out next morning in searcli of tliera, 
and found my husband and William, my son, lying dead in the road 
near together, about two hundred yards from the house. Tliev were 
buried the next day. On the day of the burying I saw the dead body 
of my son Drurj. Fear for myself and the remaining children in- 
duced me to leave the home which we had been living at, and I went 
to the State of Missouri. " ' 

Tlie testimony of Jolin Doyle goes to corroborate that of his mother. 
Here follows. an extract : -'I found my father and one brother (W^il- 
liam) lying dead in tlie road, about two hundred yards from tlie house. 
I saw my other brother lying dead on the ground, about one hundred 
and fifty yards from the house, in the grass, near a ravine. His fin- 
gers were cut off; his head was cut open ; there was a hole in his 
breast. William's liead was cut open, and a hole was in his jaw, as 
though it was made by a knife, and a hole was also in his side. Mr 
father was shot in the forehead and stabbed in the breast. I have 
talked often witli northern men and eastern men in the Territory, and 
these men talked exactly like eastern men and northern men talk — 
that is, their language and pronunciation were similar to those of 
eastern and northern men witli whom I had talked. An old man 
commanded the party; he was of dark complexion, and his iace was 
slim. My father and brotliers were pro-slavery men, and beloot^ed 
to the Jaw and order part f/." 

There seems to be little or no doubt that a certain notorious leader 
of the free-State party (as they call themselves) in Kansas, whose 
name it is not here deemed proper to give, was at the head of the 
party engaged in this fiendish massacre. i\Ir. Harris testifies that 
one Jolm Brown, one of the leaders of the free-State party, was en- 
gaged in the killing of Sherman, and it will hardly be doiibted that 
they wi\o murdered Sherman also killed the rest — all being murdered 
ou the same night and in the same neighborhood. Those who were 
killed, it is testified, were pro-slavery people ; and the undersigned 
has no hesitation in saying tliat these ill-tated men were deprived of 
their lives, and their wives and children made widows and orphans, in 
const i|uonce of the insurrectionary movements instigated and set on 
foot by the reckless leaders of the Topeka convention. 



108 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Next in order are tlio outrages committed on the properly of Mor- 
ton Bourn and that of J. M. Bernard. The affidavit of Mr. Bourn 
shows tluit, on the night of Wednesday, the 28th day of May, 1856, 
a party of abolitionists entered his liouse forcibly, threatened to take 
his life if he did not leave the Territory immediately ; took all the 
money lie had, which they said they v/antcd to carry on the war. 
They also took guns, saddles, and horses, and then robbed his store 
of various articles. Mr. Bourn, on oath, says: "I own slaves, and 
have a crop of corn and wheat growing. Have never taken any active 
part with the pro-slavery party, only voted the pro-slavery ticket, and 
was for sustaining the la^A-s. * * * These men said I must leave 
in a day or two or they would kill me, or hinted as much — said I 
would not fare well, or words to that eitect. 1 left for fear of my life 
and the lives of my family. They said that the war was commenced, 
that they were going to fight it out, and drive the pro-slavery people 
out of the Territory, or words to that amount. Tiie men that robbed 
my house and drove me away from my property were abolitionists, or 
free-soilers. * * * I believe they hated me so because I am a pro- 
slavery man, and in favor of the Territorial laws, and because I served 
on the last grand jury at Lecompton." 

But the most flagrant case of robbery that occurred Avhile your com- 
mittee were in Kansas was the plundering of Mr. Joab Bernard's store 
and premises. Mr. Bernard is quite a young man, and of highly re- 
spectable family. While prosecuting his business, he was warned that 
liis life was in danger, and was compelled to leave his home for safety ; 
and during his absence his store was robbed of nearly four thousand 
dollars' worth of goods and money, and his premises of cattle and 
horses of the value of at least one thousand more. Tiie facts of this 
case are testified to by Messrs. John Miller and Thomas S. Hamilton. 
Mr. Bernard testifies himself as to his life being threatened, and the 
amount of goods in his store and otlier property on the premises. 
Messrs. Miller and Hamilton corroborate his testimony, and the un- 
dersigned makes their depositions a part of his report. St. Bernard, 
J. M. Bernard's place, is situated in Douglas county, on the Califor- 
nia and Fort Scott road, al)out thirty miles from Lecompton. The 
robbery took place on the 27th day of May, 1856. In his affidavit^ 
Mr. Miller says : "I was in the store with Mr. Davis. Whilst there 
a party of thirteen men came to the store on horseback, armed with 
Sharpe's rifles, revolvers, and bowie-knives. They inquired for Mr. 
Bernard. I told them that he had gone to AVestport. One of them 
said to me, 'You are telling a Gi-od damned lie,' and drew up his 
gun at me. Some of them came into the store, and the rest remained 
outside. They called for such goods as they wanted, and made Mr. 
Davis and myself hand them out, and said if we ' didn't hurry* they 
would shoot us. They had their guns ready. After they had got the 
goods — they wanted principally blankets and clothing — they i)acked 
them upon tlieir horses and went away. Mr. Joab Bernard is a pro- 
slavery man." Mr. Miller recognised one of the party as an active 
free-State man. They on the next day came back with a wagon, and 
took the remainder of the goods in the store, except about one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars' worth — including flour, siugarj cofiee, bacon, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 109 

and all kinds of provisions, as well as two fine liorses, tluG(3 saddles, 
two bridles, and all the money there was in the stoi-e. In the conclu- 
sion of" his affidavit, Mr. 3Iiller says: "When tliey first came, they 
looked up at the sign, and said they would like to shoot at the name." 
The affidavits accompanying this report are full and explanatory, and 
the undersigned begs to make them a part of his report. They are 
sworn to before a justice of the peace for Jackson county, Missouri, 
and tlie seal of tlie Jackson county court is attached to the clerk's cer- 
tificate, as to the official character of the justice of the peace. The 
undersigned thinks that, in reviewing these outrages, he did not in- 
appropriately characterize the Pottawatomie creek murders as instances 
of "savage barbarity and demoniac cruelty," while the robberies of 
Bourn and Bernard are almost witjiout parallel in the history of crime 
in this country. In this connexion, the undersigned deems it proper 
to state that the report so currently circulated throughout the country, 
to the effect that the lamented Wilkinson, Sherman, and the Doyles 
were caught in the act of hanging a free-State man, and were shot by 
a party of free-soilers, is without the least foundation in truth — that it 
is entirely false. 

In conclusion, the undersigned begs to report the foUov/ing facts 
and cf)nclusions, as he believes, established by the testimony and sanc- 
tioned by the law: 

First. That at the first election held in the Territory under the 
organic act,* for delegate to Congress^ Gen. John W. Whitfield re- 
Gived a plurality of the legal votes cast, and was duly elected such 
delegate, as stated in the majority report. 

Second. That the Territorial legislature was a legally constituted 
body, and had power to pass valid laws, and their enactments are 
therefore valid. 

Third. That these laws, when appealed to, have been used for the 
protection of life, liberty and property, and for the maintenance of 
law and order in the Territory. 

Fouitli. That the election under which the sitting delegate, John 
W. Whitfield, was held, v/as in pursuance of valid law, and should be 
regarded as a valid election. 

Fifth. That as said Whitfield, at said election, received a large 
number of legal votes without opposition, he v/as duly elected as a 
delegate to this body, and is entitled to a seat on this floor as such. 

Sixth. That the election under which the contesting delegate, An- 
drew H. Reeder, claims his seat, was not held under any law, but in 
contemptuous disregard of all law ; and that it should only be re- 
garded as the expression of a band of malcontents and revolutionists, 
and consequently should be wholly disregarded by the House. 

Seventh. As to whether or not Andrew H. Reeder received a 
greater number of votes of resident citizens on the 0th, than J. W. 
Whitfield did on the 1st of October, 1855, no testimony was taken 
by the committee, so far as the undersigned knows, nor is it material 
to the issue. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

M. OLIVER. 



ilO KANSAS AFFAIRS 



MINUTES OF THE COMMITTEE. 



The Select Committee of the House of Representatives of tlie United 
States, appointed to investigate the affairs of Kansas, met at the city 
of Washington on the 27th day of March, A. D. 1856. 

Present, William A. Howard, chairman, Mordecai Oliver, and Joiin 
Sherman. 

Ordered, That the resolutions of the House, providing for tliis com- 
mittee, he read and entered on the minutes. 

They are as follows : 

"March 19, 1856. 

^^ Resolved, That a committee of three of the members of this 
House, to be appointed by the Speaker, shall proceed to incjuire into 
and collect evidence in regard to tlie troubles in Kansas generally, and 
particularly in regard to any fraud or force attempted, or practised, 
in reference to any of the elections vrhich have taken place in said 
Territory, either under the law organizing said Territory, or under 
any pretended law whicli may be alleged to have taken effect therein 
since. That they shall fully investigate and take proof of all violent 
and tumultuous proceedings in said Territory at any time since the 
passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act, whether engaged in by residents 
of said Territory, or by any person or persons from elsewhere going 
Tuto said Territory and doing, or encouraging others to do, any act of 
violence or public disturbance against the laws of the United States, 
or the rights, peace, and safety of the residents of said Territory ; and 
for that purpose said committee shall have full power to send for and 
examine and take copies of all such papers, public records, and pro- 
ceedings, as in their judgment will be useful in the premises ; and 
also, to send for persons and examine them on oath, or affirmation, as 
to matters within their knowledge touching the matters of said inves- 
tigation ; and said committee, by their chairman, shall have power to 
administer all necessary oaths or affirmations connected with their 
aforesaid duties. 

^'- Besolved further, That said committee may hold their investiga- 
tions at such places and times as to them may seem advisable, and 
that they have leave of absence from the duties of this House until 
they shall have completed such investigation. That they be author- 
ized to employ one or more clerks, and one or more assistant sergeants- 
at-arms, to aid them in their investigation ; and may administer to 
them an oath or affirmation faithfully to perform the duties assigned 
to them respectively. Qud to keep secret all matters which may come 
to their knowledge touching such investigation as said committee shall 
direct, until the report of the same shall be submitted to this House ; 
and said committee may discharge any such clerk or assistant ser- 
geant-at-arms for neglect of duty or disregard of instructions in the 
premises, and employ others under like regulations. 

^^ Resolved further, That if any person shall in any manner obstruct 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. Ill 

or hinder said committee, or attempt so to do, in their said investiga- 
tion, or shall refuse to attend on said committee, and to give evidence 
when summoned for that purpose, or shall refuse to produce any 
papers, book, public record, or other proceeding in their possession oi 
control, to said committee, when so required^ or shall make any di«- 
turbance where said committee are holding their sittings, said com- 
mittee may, if they see fit, cause any and every such person to be 
arrested by said assistant sergeant-at-arms, and brought before this 
House, to 1)8 dealt with as for a contempt. 

" Resolved further, That for the purpose of defraying the expenses 
of said commission, there bo and hereby is appropriated the sum of 
ten thousand (i]) 10,000) dollars, to be paid out of the contingent fund 
of this House. 

" Resolved fiirther, That the President of the United States be and 
is hereby requested to furnish to said committee, should they be met 
with any serious opposition by bodies of lawless men in the discharge 
of their duties aforesaid, such aid from any military force as may, at 
tlie time, be convenient to them, as may be necessary to remove such 
opposition, and enable said committee, without molestation, to pro- 
ceed with their labors. 

^^ Resolved further, That when said committee shall have completed 
said investigation, they report all the evidence so collected to this 
House." 



" March 24, 1856. 

'•'The Speaker announced that he had appointed Mr. Lewis D. 
Campbell, of Ohio ; Mr. William A. Howard, of Michigan ; and Mr. 
Mordecai Oliver, of Missouri, the select committee under the resolu- 
tion of the House of the 19th instant. 



'•'March 25, 1856. 

" On motion of Mr. Lewis D. Campbell, by unanimous consent, 
" Ordered, That he be excused from serving on the select committeo 

(appointed under the resolution of the House of the 19th instant. 
"The Speaker thereupon appointed Mr. John Sherman, of Ohio, 

to fill the vacancy occasioned thereby." 



The following officers of the committee were appointed : 

Clerks — Gr. Gr. Fogg, John S. Bowen, S. P. Hanscom, and John T. 
Hughes. 

Reporter — W. Blair Lord. 

Sergeants-at-arms — John Upton, Amos Townsend, and H. J. Co- 
mer. 

Ordered, That each officer shall discharge such duties as may be, 



112 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

from time to time, assigned to him by the committee, and that their 
compensation shall be the same per diem. 

Ordered^ That the chairman be directed to draw the fund appro- 
priated by the House, and out of it to pay the travelling expenses of the 
committee and its officers, and to procure from the postmaster of the 
House, or otherwise, the necessary stationery, books, papers, and 
supplies. 

The chairman was also directed to send to the sitting and contest- 
ing delegates the following notice : 

"Washingtox, March 29, 1856. 

''Sir: The committee appointed to investigate Kansas aifairs deem 
it proper to advise you that it is their wish that the two contestants, 
Hon. J. V\^. Whitfield and Hon. A. H. Keeder, hould be present at 
examinations to be had by the committee, on terms of perfect equality. 
You can therefore attend, if you choose so to do, at your own expense, 
to look after your own interest in connection Avith said investigation. 
Keither can, in any sense, be in the employ of the committee. 
" Very respectfully, 

''WM. A. HOWAED, 
" Chairman of Kansas Committee.'" 



Adjourned to meet on call. 



WM. A. HOWARD, 

Chairman. 



Kansas City, Mo., April 14, 1856. 

The committee met. Present, Messrs. Howard and Sherman. 
The following letter was received from Colonel Sumner, U. S. A. 

" H^EADQUARTERS FiRST CaVALRY, 

''April 1, 1856. 

" Gentlemen : If you would prefer to hold the sessions of your board 
at this post, it will afford me great pleas-ure to give you all the facili- 
ties in my power. There may be no excitement if you assemble 
elsewhere, but there Avill certainly be none here. 
" I am, with high respect, your obedient servant, 

"E. Y.' SUMNER, ^ 
" Colonel First Cavcdry Commanding. 
"Messrs. Sherman, Howard, Oliver, 

' ' Kansas Committee . ' ' 

To which the chairman made the following reply : 

'' Kansas City, April 14, 1856. 

" Colonel : Your note of the 1st instant, inviting us to hold the 
sessions of the Kansas investigating committee at the post under 
your command, has just been received. AVe expect to hold our 
sessions at various points in the Territory^ and, amon^- others, in the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 113 

vicinity of Fort Leavenworth ; when it will give us great pleasure to 
be at liberty to avail ourselves of your very courteous invitation. 
''With the highest esteem, your obedient servant, 

^'W. A. HOWARD. 
"E. V. Sumner, 

" Colonel First Cavalry, Fort Leavenworth.^* 

The committee adjourned, to meet on call. 

WM. A. HOWAED, 

Chairman . 



' Lecompton, K. T., April 18, I80G. 

The committee met. Present, Messrs. Howard, Sherman, and 
Oliver, 

Ordered, That the following official documents be copied : 

The poll-books of the election in the Territory on the 29th of No- 
vember, 1854. 

The census of the voters taken in February, 1855. 

The proclamation and instructions of Governor Reedcr in regard to 
the election of the 30th of March ; the returns of that election, and 
the official action of Governor Reeder thereon. 

The returns of the election held on the 22d of May. 1855, and 
October 1, ]855. 

All of Avhich was done. 

The following rules were adopted : 

The examination of Avitnesses before the committee shall be open, 
and be governed by the rules of the common law ; and Greenleaf's 
Evidence is adopted as the standard. 

The sitting and contesting delegates are each invited, with an 
attorney for each, to be present at the examination of witnesses, and 
may put proper questions to witnesses in regard to all matters per- 
taining to their contest. 

Mr. J. W. Whitfield, being present, was notified and requested to 
produce his v;itnesses for examination, and to furnish the names of 
persons whom he desired to be subpoenaed for that purpose. 

Adjourned, to meet on call. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Lawrence, April 23, 1856. 
Committee met at 3 o'clock p. m. All the committee present. 

Gen. J. W. Whitfield appears with Col. Wright, his counsel; also 
Mr. A. H. Reeder ; who are requested to produce their witnesses, and 
to furnish names of persons to be subpoenaed. 

After much discussion, and a statement by the committee of their 
plans for conducting the examinations, adjourned, to meet to-morrow 
morning at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 
H. Rep. 200 8 



114 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

April 24, 1856. 
Committee met at 8 o'clock a. m. All present. 
AdjuurueJ, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morninf]:. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 

The followinoj communication was received from Gen. J. W. Whit- 
field by the chairman in the course of the day, viz : 

Free-State Hotel, Lawrence, Ajpril 24, 1856. 
To Wm. A. Hoioard, Chairman of Committee: 

Dear Sir : Owing to the assassination of sheriff Jones, in this town, 
last night, while in the prosecution of the duties of his office, 'and 
that, too, while surrounded by a body of United States troops, detailed 
to aid him in the executiim of the laws of the Territory of Kansas, 
and the excitement consequent upon the same, I am and shall be 
unable to get my witnes.^es to attend the sitting of the committee at 
this place ; they refusing, and with good reason, to expose themselves 
and run the risk of being assassinated, whenever night shuts in, by a 
lawless band of conspirators. One of my chief witnesses (sheriff 
Jones) has already been shot ; on that account, others who are here 
have determined to leave, and others whom I expected and notified to 
be here have informed me that they will not attend while the commit- 
tee sit at this place. I will further state, that there are others here 
rendering me material aid in this investigation, and without whom I 
cannot safely proceed, whom I cannot ask to remain and imperil their 
lives in so doing, or at least subject themselves to insult and contumely. 

I would most respectfully sugrgest to the committee to adjourn from 
this to some more safe and neutral point, where witnesses and others 
will not be subject to the dangers and insults above alluded to. 

In the event this committee shall conclude to adjourn to some other 
point, I pledge in advance, and assure this committee, that from me 
they shall have all the aid I can summon to a fair, full, and complete 
investigation. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

J. W. WHITFIELD. 

Hon. W. A. Howard, 

Lawrence, K. T. 

The chairman made the following reply : 

Lawrence, Ajtril 24, 1856. 
Dear Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of this date. If, for any reason satisfactory to yourself, you do 
not wish to bring your witnef^ses here to be examined, it will afford 
the committee pleasure to hold sessions, at their earliest convenience, 
at any suitable place, giving you ample notice and the benefit of our 
sub()oena to collect as many witnesses as you may desire, at such place 
as you may designate. In the mean time there are some witnesses, 
we think, we can examine here, and we would be pleased to have you 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 11$ 

attend in person, or by attorney, to cross-examine witnesses and aid. 
ns orenerally in elicitinji; the truth. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chah-man. 

Hon. J. W. Whitfield. 

The above are true copies, 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 

Mr. Oliver submitted the following motion : 

On account of the excitement now prevailing in the city of Lawrence 
and surrounding country, growing out of the aKsaasination of sheriff 
Jones when engaged in the lawful discharge of his duty, which as- 
sassination and Consequent excitement he believes will deter parties 
and witnesses from coming and appearing before the committee, he 
objects to proceeding with the investigation further at this time at 
this point, and suggests that the committee adjourn to Fort Leaven- 
worth, and there proceed with the investigation until the excitement 
above alluded to shall have subsided and order reigns supreme. 

Which was not agreed to ; the committee declining to adjourn at 
present. 

N. B. — The committee had met at 8 o'clock this morning, (24th,) 
and immediately adjourned out of regard to Samuel J. Jones, who 
was in the same building, and suffering from his wounds received the 
night before. But he was removed to Franklin that morning, and, 
the communications of General Whitfield and Mr. Oliver requiring 
immediate action, the committee met on special call, were all present, 
and the above action was bad, and also the orders which follow. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 

Odered, That the compensation to witnesses shall be as follows : 

For each day in attendance $1 50 

For each mile necessarily travelled, (circular) 5 

Ordered, That the compensation of clerks and sergeants-at-arms 
shall be |4 50 per day. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



April 25, 1856. 

Met pursuant to adjournment. All present. 

The following forms of oath and affirmation were adopted : 

" You solemnly swear that the evidence you shall give to this com- 
mittee, touching the investigation now pending before them, shall be 
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth ; so help you 
God." 

"You solemnly and sincerely afiirra that the evidence you shall 
give to this committee, touching the investigation now pending before 



116 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

them, shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing hut the truth; 
and this you do under the pains and penalties of perjury." 
Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 1. E. D. Ladd. No. 4. William B. Hornshy. 

2. Norman Allen. 5. F. P. Vaughn. 

3. William Yates. 

Mr. Oliver ohjects to the admission of proof of the statements made 
by the young man at his father's residence, in Clay county, Missouri, 
Objection overruled. 

No. 6. Gains Jenkins. No. 8. George W. Deitzler. 

7. Lewis N. Cox, sworn but 
not examined. 

Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman, 



April 26, 1856. 

Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee pres- 
ent. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 
No. 9. C. W. Babcock. No. 13. Ira W. Ackley. 

10. Charles Robinson. 14. Edward Chapman. 

11. Lyman Allen. 15. George Churchill. 

12. S. N. Wood, affirmed. 

Adjourned, to meet on Monday morning at 8^ o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



April 28, 1856. 
Committee met at 8^ a. m. All the committee present. 
A letter was received from Gen. J. W. Whitfield, as follows : 

Lawrence, April 28, 1856. 
The undersigned, in answer to your favor of the 24th instant, has 
the honor to propose that the witnesses he intends to present as original 
or rebutting evidence v/ho reside on the north side of the Kansas river 
be examined at Leavenworth city, and those residing on the south 
side of said river be examined at Wea Missions, at such times respect- 
ively as the committee may designate. 

Respectfully, 

J. W. WHITFIELD. 
Hon. W. A. Howard, Chairman Committee. 

Mr. J. W. Whitfield appeared with Mr. S. H. Woodson, his at- 
torney. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 117 

Witnesses sworn and examined, viz : 
No. 16. Gains Jenkins, recalled. 

Mr. Oliver files written objections to tlie mode of examination. 
No. 17. Kobert A. Cummins. No. 18. Kobert (r. Elliott. 

Colonel Woodson objects to the admission of declarations by Sulli- 
van, of Lexington, Missouri, as to his residence and purpose in 
making seven claims near Leavenworth, 

Objection overruled ; Mr. Oliver dissenting. 

No. 19. Harrison Burson. No. 23. John C. Dunn. 

20. Nathaniel Ramsey. 24. Andrew White. 

21. James H. Dunn. 25. Dr. E. Gr. Macy, affirmed. 

22. J. N. Mace. 

Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



April 29, 1856 



Committee met. All the members present. 

Witnes^ses sworn and examined, viz : 

No. 26. Jordan Davidson. No. 31, George Umberger« 

27. F. E. Lahy. 32. Marcus H. Rose. 

28. William Lyon. 33. James R. Stewart. 

29. Hammond C. Muzzy, 34. Absalom Hoover. 

30. Augustus Wattles. 

-A.djourned, to meet to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



April 30, 1856, 
Committee met by appointment. All the members present. 
Witnesses called and sworn, as follows : 

No. 35. Marcus H. Rose, re- No, 37. Isaac B. Titus, 
called. 
36. James R. Stewart, re- 
called. 

'Ordered, That objection to the competency of testimony shall be 
stated at the time, if they involve any question or princi[)le not 
already decided by the committee, and shall be reduced to writing by 
the objector and attached to the testimony objected to, on or before 
the next meeting of the committee. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, viz: 

No. 38. Hollam Rice. 41. Thomas B. Wolverton 

39. Rubert Morrow. 42. N. B. Blanton. 

40. William Jesse, 43. Peter Bassinger. 



118 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

No. 44. Thomas Hopldns. No. 45. Lewis M. Cox. 

— . G. P. Lovvrey, not ex- 46. C. S. Pratt, 

ami lied. 
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morninp:. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairmati 



May 1, 1856. 
Committee met agreeably to adjournment. 
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz : 
No. 47. Chas. Robinson, recalled. No. 49. Wm. M. McClure. 
48. Samuel C. Smith. 

The testimony of Wm. M. McClure, on objection of Col. Woodsou, 
was ruled out by the committee. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, viz : 

No. 50. J. M. Winchell. No. — . C. M. Babcock, recalled. 

— . E. D. Ladd, recalled. 51. L. A. Prather. 

— . C. S. Pratt, recalled. 

Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow evening. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman, 



Mat 2, 1856. 
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee 
present. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 52. J. B. Abbott. No. 54. William McKinney was 

53. G. P. Lowrty, recalled. sworn, and examined in secret 

session. 
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



May 3, 1856. 

Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee pres- 
ent. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as fidlows : 
No. 55. Salem Gleuson was sworn, No. 59. Dr. John Doy. 

Reuben Hackett. 
Homme Hayes, 
Reuben Hackett, recalled. 
Chas. Robinson, recalled. 
Perr}' Fuller. 

At the instance of Mr. Whitfield, one of the sergeants-at-arms 
(Mr. Townsend) was sent to Franklin to ascertain whether sheriff 
Jones could now be examined as a witness by the committee in his 





and examined in secret 


60 




session. 


61 


56. 


Thomas Breeze. 


62 


57. 


Nicholas McKinney. 


63 


58. 


John C. Davidson. 


64 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 119 

room at that place. The sergjeant-at-arms reports that he was in- 
formed hy Mr.s. Jones that, by the physician's orders, no person 
couhl he allowed to see him at that time. 

Adjourned, to meet at Tecumseh, K. T., on Monday next at 2 
o'clock p. m. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Tecumseh, May 5, 1856. 

Committee met at this place pursuant to adjournment. Present, 
all the metuhers of the committee. 

Mr. Whitfield appears with Mr. R. R. Rees, his counsel. Mr. 
Recder also present. 

Mr. Whitfield is notified and requested to produce witnesses, and 
to furnish the names of persons to be subpoenaed to testify at this 
place. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, viz : 

No. 65.. Rev. H. B. Burgess. No. 66. J. M. Mitchell. 

Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow mornin^^. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Tecumseh, 3fa7j 6, 1856. 
Committee met by adjournment. All the members present. 
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows: 

No. 67. H. B. Burj^ess, recalled. No. Y3. Charles Jordan. 

68. J. M. Mitchell, recalled. 74. Lewis C Wilmartli. 

69. John honor, — . J. M. Mitchell, recalled. 

70. G. A. Cutler. 75. James Hickey. 

71. John Lonf?, recalled- 76. D. H. Horn. 

72. A. A. Jamison. 

Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow mornino^. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Tecumseh, May 7, 1856. 
Committee met by adjournment. All present. 
Witnesses sworn and examined, viz : 

No. 77. James Reed. No. 81. John W. Stephens. 

78. W. A. M. Vau^han. 82. Wm. R. Bojrgs. 

79. Ed. R Zimmerman. 8:5. Wm. F. Johnson. 
— . W. A. M.Vaughan,rec'd. 84. Matthias A. Reed. 

80. James F. Merriam. 

Adjourned, to meet at Lawrence, K. T., to-morrow afternoon at 
half-past 2 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



120 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 8, 1856. 

Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, ali the com- 
mittee. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 85. Wm. Moore. No. 86. James M. Arthur. 

— . Dr. B. C. Westfall. 87. Joseph Stewart. 

Pending the examination of this witness, (Joseph Stewart,) and 
while the committee were pui suing tl)eir investigations, AVilliam 
Fane, chximing to he deputy-marshal, and to have been appointed as 
such by J. B. Donaldson, marshal of the Territory, })resented to A. 
H. Reeder, then engaged in examining a witness in the presence of 
and before the committee, a paper pur})orting to be a writ of attach- 
ment, issued by D. Scott Boyle, cleik, and attested by Hon. Samuel 
D. Lecompte, judge of the first district court for the first judicial 
district of Kansas Territory ; and before serving said writ, A. H. 
Eeeder a{)})lied to the committee to secure to him the protection given 
him by the constitution of the United States as a contesting delegate 
of s^id Territory, and now in attendance before the committee, upon 
its invitation. 

After consideration, the committee determined that the privilege 
from arrest given by the laws to the members of this comniittee, and 
the sitting and contesting delegates, was not a matter ibr tliem to 
enforce, and declined to make any decision whatever, or take any 
action upon the application thus made. 

The examination of Joseph Stewart was resumed, and 

No. 88, Samuel Jones, was sworn and examined. 

Adjourned, to meet at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman, 



Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. 

Committee met according to adjournment. Present, Messrs. How- 
ard and Sherman. 

Messrs. Kt-eder and Whitfield being absent, the following witnesses 
were sworn and examined by the committee : 

No. 



89. 


Joseph M. Gearhart. 


No, 


. 96. 


Wm. Chestnut. 


90. 


Jesse W. Wilson. 




97. 


Rev. Pardee Butler. 


91. 


Marshall A. Garrett. 




98. 


A. Allen. 


92. 


George W. Gillespie. 




99. 


S. N. Simpson. 


98. 


Augustus Baker. 




100. 


S. B, Prentiss. 


94. 


John E. Davis. 




101. 


Wm. Phillips. 


95. 


J. C. Prince. 









Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 121 

Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs How- 
ard and bhernian. 

In the absence of the contestants and their counsel, the following 
witnesses were sworn and examined by the committee : 
No. 102. J.'icob Branson, in se- No. 107. Robert F Barber 
cret session 108. Mrs. J.W. Colburn 

103 John A Wakefield. 109. Wilda McKinnev. 

104. Mrs. Almina Jones, in 110. Henry M. Simpson 
secret session. HI. Thomas M. Pierson 

inp w "''pT-Mr''"''- 1^^- ^^^^-'^ ^- Warren. 

10b. VVm. Phillips, 

Adjourned^ to meet at 8 o'clock on Monday morning. 

WM. A. iiOWAPtD,' Chairman. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 12, 1856. 
Committee met by adjournment. Present, Messrs. Howard and 
ibherraan. 

Witnesses sworn and examined by the committee, as follows : 
No. 113. Geo. F. Warren, re- No. 120. James F. Le-ate 

n^ 'f ''^' 1 c, -,1 121- George W. Deitzler, re- 

I iJ*. Samuel Smith. called 

115. Edward Oakley. 122. Thomas Thorp. 

116 James J. Javens. 123. W. Y. Roberts. 

7. S.muel F. Tappan. lU. John Wise. E.xcluded. 

18. Joseph Oakley. 125. Capt. S. Walker, do. 
119. A. B. Bronson. 

Adjourned, to meet at Leavenworth city, on Wednesday next at 
I clock p. m. ./J 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, May 14, 1856. 
Met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee present 
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows: 
No. 126. a. H. Baker. No. 127. Wm. P. Richardson. 

Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow mornin<^ 

WM. A. Howard' chairman. 



j Leavenworth City, K. T., May 15, 1856. 

Committee met at 8 o'clock. All present. 
^ Witnesses sworn and examined as follows: 
^0. 128. Wm. P. Richardson, No. 180. George A. Taylor 

19Q 'ff^"^^T , , 131. David Brown. 

1^9. Henry J. Adams. 132. M. P. Rively. 



122 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Nos. 129, 130, 131, and 132 being examined in secret session. 
Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to morrow morninii;. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 16, 1856, 
Committee met by adjournment. All the members present. 
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. I:i3. Dr. James Davis. No. 137. Edward S. Hotter, re- 

134. Dr. a. J. Park. called. 

135. J. C. Green. 138. J. C. Green, recalled. 
130. Edward S. Hotter. 139. Joseph H. Bird. 

140. Nick Smith. 
All of whom were examined in secret session. 
No. 141. John Belew. 

Adjourned, to meet at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

WH. A. HOWARD, Chairm(m, 



Leavenworth City, 3Iay 17, 1856. 

Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee pres- 
ent. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 142. Geo. H. Keller. No. 145. David Brown, recalled. 

143. F. H. Mahan. 146. Francis A. Hart. 

144. Samuel F. Few. 

Adjourned, to meet on Honday morning next, at 8 o'clock. 

WH. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 19, 1856. 

Committee met as per adjournment. All the members of the com- 
mittee present. 

Witness sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 147. F. A. Hart, recalled. No. 150. J. B. Ross. 

148. Richard R. Rees. 151. H. B. Gale. 

149. Wm. H. Godwin. 152. J. B. Crane. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock, 

WH. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City', 3Iay 20, 1856. 
Committee met as usual. All the members present. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 123 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 153. DundriHge Holladay. No. 158. Harmon G. Weibling. 

154. B. F. Nicholson. 159. Francis M. Potter. 

155. Joseph Potter. 160. John W. House. 

156. John Hamilton. 161. Emory B. Cook. 

157. Joseph Potter, recalled. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 21, 1856. 
Committee met at usual hour. All present. 
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 162. E. B. Cook, recalled. No. 168. Josiah Elliott. 

163. John Hamilton, recalled. 169. Milton J.Payne. 

164. Dr. James Noble. 110. Wm. H. Summers. 

165. Dr. Jas. Noble, recalled. 171. Wm. H. Miller. 
167. Alexander Gilham. 172. Matthew Walker. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 22, 1856. 

Committee met as usual. All present. 
Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 173. Charles Hardh. No. 177. Patrick R. Orr. 

174. WiUard P. Hall. 178. Edward Bourne. 

175. T. A. Minard. 179. Stephen Sparks. 

176. T. A. Minard, recalled. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairmm. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 23, 1856. 

Committee met at the usual hour. All the members of the com- 
jmittee present. 
I Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 180. John H. Whitehead. 

] General Wm. P. Richardson states to the committee, that a copy of 
'A. A. Jamieson's testimony was made by bin) without the knowledge 
'of any mem her of the committee, or any of their employees, and that 
(lie was not aware that he was violatinur anv rule of the committee. 



124 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

No. 181. Jolm K. Carter. No. 185. Benjamin Duncan. 

182. Benjamin H. Brock, af- 186. Col. A. M. Mitchell. 

firmed. 187. Henry S. Creal. 

183. Benjamin H. Brock, re- 188. A. Langdon. 

called. 189. Osborne Hulan. 

184. Charles W. Stewart. 190. A. Grooms. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 24, 1856. 

Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members of the 
committee piesent. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 191. Benjamin Harding. No. 194. Thomas W. Waterson. 

192. Lutiier Dillon. 195. Albert Heed. 

193. Thomas E. Bottom, 

Adjourned, to meet on Monday morning next, at 8 o'clock a. m. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 

Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the committee pres- 
ent. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 196 John Landis. No. 205 Joel P. Blair. 

197 W. A. Sublett. 206 Cary B Whitehead. 

198 John W. Smith. 207 John Scott. 

199 Allen B Lyon. 208 Luther Dickerson. 

200 James Lynch. 209 D. W. Field. 

201 Eli HamUton. 210 Joseph Beattie. 

202 Andrew McConnell. 211 Joseph H. Gilbert.' 

203 Richard Tuck. 212 M. T. Bailey. 

204 David Eizer. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 1856. 

Committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. 
Witnesses were sworn and examined as ioUows : 

No. 213 George Wetherell. No. 217 W. H. Chick. 

214 John Scott. 218 J. Riddlesberger. 

215 Joseph B. Evans. 219 Adam T. Rattie. 

216 John W. Martin. 220 Dr. J. H. Stringfellow. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 125 

No. 221 A. T. Pattie, (recalled.) No. 224 J. F. Foreman. 

222 Robert Wilson. 225 Peter T. Abell. 

223 John W. Foreman. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., Maij 28, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
present. 

Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 226 William J. Osborn. No. 282 Campbell Logan. 

227 Thomas Reynolds. 233 J. W. Logan. 

228 Dr. J. M. Ridge. 234 Wiley Williams. 

229 H. A. Lowe. 235 Marcus J. Parrott. 

230 Patrick Laughlin. 236 G. B. Redman. 

231 C. R. Mobley. 237 Henry Adams. 
Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 29, 185G. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
present. 

The poll-books and returns of the three elections relating to the 
State organization were filed, and retained to be copied. 

Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 238 W. Williams, (recalled.) No. 245 Thomas J. Thompson. 

239 John Wilfley. 246 S. W. Tunnell. 

240 Charles Blakely. 247 Alexander Russell. 

241 John A. Linsley. 248 J. D. Clarkson. 

242 S. J. Kookogy. 249 H. H. Johnston. 

243 L. J. Eastin. 250 A. Pavne. 

244 J. T. Read. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning at the usual hour. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Leavenworth City, K T., May 30, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
were present. 

Witnesses were sworn and examined as follows : 

No. 251. W. H. Tebbs. No. 254. Andrew T. Kyle. 

252. Adam Fisher. 255. Amos Rees. 

253. A. Macauley. 256. A. B. Sharp. 



126 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

No. 257. 0. B. Tebbs. No. 260. D. J. Jolmson. 

258. G. M. Dyer. 261. William Burgess. 

259- Richard Chandler. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning at the usual hour. 

WM. A. HOWAED, Chairman. 



Leavenworth, K. T., 3fay 31, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
present. 

Witnesses were sworn and examined as follows : 

No. 262. Nathan Adams. No. 269. R. L. Ki.-k. 

263. John A. Haldeman. 270. Matt. France 

264. E. C. McCarty. 271. Samuel Rixey. 

265. James Davis. 272. H. M. Hook. 

266. W. H. Adams 273. Rev. Leander Kerr. 

267. George H. Keller. 274. Dr. J. H. Day. 

268. G. W. Hollis. 275. M. P. Rively. 

Adjourned, to meet at Westport, Mo., on Mondav, June 2, 1856. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Westport, Mo., June 2, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the memberiB 
present. 

Seven blank subpoenas were given to General Whitfield. 

Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows : 
No. 276. Thomas B. Arnett. No. 279. E. W. Donaldson. 

277. Charles E. Kearney. 280. Andrew Johnson. 

278. Cyprian Chouteau. 281. Rev. Thomas Johnson. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Westport, Mo., June 3, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
present. 

Witnesses were called, sworn, and examined, as follows : 

No. 282. George Holmes. No. 285. William Barbee. 

283. Thos. Johnson, recalled. 286. S. W. Bouton. 

284. B. T. Kezer. 

Adjourned, to meet tc-morrow morning, at 8 o'clock. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 127 

Westport, Mo., June 4, 1856. 
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the memhers 
present. 

Witnesses were called, sworn, and examined as follows : 

No. 287. John M. Banks. No. 289. William A. Tehhs 

288. A. J, Francis. 
Adjourned, to meet at the usual hour to-morrow morn in o- 

WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman. 



Westport, Mo., June 5, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
present. 

Witnesses were sworn anc examined, as follows : 

^''- OQ?' ?^\?^;.^f ' '''^"'^- ^^- 294. Chas. A. Linkenauger. 

oqV l\ • ^"i?^ff • 2^^- ^h^^le« C. iSpaulding. 

292. ihomas Mockbee. 296. Andrew J. Johnson 

293. Isaac 8. Hascall. 

Adjourned, to meet at 7 o'clock to-morrow mornino- 

WM. A. HOWAKD*, Chairman. 



Westport, Mo,, June 6, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
present. 

Witnesses were called, sworn, and examined, as follows : 
No. 297. John E. Ingalls. No. 298. James Haines. 

Mr. Scott offered in evidence certain letters of A. H. Reeder referred 
to in the testimony of (No. 225) Peter T. Abell. ' 

The committee declined to receive and transmit these letters, on the 
ground that they have not the rightful possession of them, they hav- 
ing been found in the street, and being clearly private letters and 
improperly obtained. ' 

Mr. Oliver dissented. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 299. Horatio Owens. No. 301. Wm. G. Mathias. 

300. Joseph C. Anderson. 

On motion, the copies of the executive minutes, of the census returns, 
and copies of all Territorial records in possession of the committee, 
are considered in evidence. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning at the usual hour 

^M., A. HOWARD, Chainnan. 



128 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Westpokt, Mo., Jui),e 7, 1856. 
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
present. 

Witnesses sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 302. William Donaldson. 

Grov. King and Mr. Scott, in behalf of J. W. Whitfield, presented 
a protest, which, with copies of Reeder's letters, were marked as ex- 
hibits by me. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 

No. 303. George W. Berry. No. 304. John A. Contrell. 

The committee adjourned to Monday morning, June 9, 1856. 

WJVI. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Westport, Mo., June 9, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members 
present. 

The proceedings of the convention at Big Springs, held on the 5th 
and 6th of September, 1855_, were offered in evidence by (j:ov. King, 
and received. 

Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows : 

No. 306. Samuel A. Williams. No. 309. J. N. 0. P. Wood, af- 

307. A. B. Wade. firmed. 

308. Thomas Connelly. 

Pending the examination of Dr. Wood, a communication in writing, 
from a committee of citizens of Westport, was received, as follows : 

" We, the undersigned committee, appointed by citizens of West- 
port and vicinity, appear before the Congressional Investigating Com- 
mittee, for the purpose of assuring them that tliere need be no appre- 
hension on their part that any interruption will be ofi'ercd to the pro- 
ceedings of the committee, and that they will pledge themselves, and 
fellow-citizens generally, to allow no interruption of tlieir business, 
or any indignity to be offered them personally, notwithstanding the 
excited state of the public mind in regard to Kansas aftairs ; and they 
make this pledge with the full knowledge that they can lulfil it, which 
they will do at any and every hazard. 

" We have been told that the committee propose to adjourn imme- 
diately, without completing their labors, on the ground of an appre- 
hension on their part that personal indignity might be offered them. 

" We would add, that, in our opinion, the ap{)rehen8ion is entirely 
without foundation ; but deeming it necessary to allay any misappre- 
hension on your minds, we take this means to assure you tliat no in- 
terruption shall be offered to your proceedings ; and nothing of the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

kind has been intended or attempted' by'tlie citizens of this town or 
vicinity or the county of Jackson ; any report to the contrary is false. 
" Westi'ort, Mo., Jane 9, 185G. 

''CHABLES E. KEARNEY, 

'' Chairman Committee. 
' ' To the Members of the Committee of Investigation, now in session in 
Westport, Mo." 

Mr. Howard, the chairman, being absent on account of illness, Mr. 
Sherman replied to the communication verbally — the committee of 
citizens being present — as follows : 

'' Gentlemen : I regret that Mr. Howard, the chairman of the com- 
mittee, is not present, on account of illness. We are very happy to 
receive this communication from you, and shall enter it upon our 
journal, and make it a part ot our proceedings, with great jdeasure. 
' But it is our duty to say to you that we never have supposed that we 
were in the least danger of any kind here, and have never felt in fear 
of any. 

•'We came here, at the invitation of Mr. Whitfield^ to take testimony 
, in his behalf alone. We did not anticipate personal danger, nor is 
' our action based in any degree upon the rumor you mention. We were 
I idle the most of last week because witnesses were not here. ^ We were 
told this was on account of the public disturbances in the Territory, 
•, and we concluded to wait until this evening. To-day we have had 
I but little to do, and deem it our duty to adjourn, and for that reason 
\ alone will do so. Since we have been here we have personally re- 
I ceived nothing but kind treatment from the citizens of this place, and 
I have no cause to complain of them. 

i " We deeply regret the unfortunate condition of affairs in this border, 
I and the excited state of the public mind here in regard to Kansas 
I affairs." 

The committee having announced their determination to adjourn 
I forthwith. Gov. King, in behalf of J. W. Whitfield, filed the follow- 
I ing protest : 

I . " Westport, Mo., June 9, 1856. 

i " The undersigned, John W. Wliitfield, represents that he is not 
yet through with the evidence which he proposes to introduce before 
the committee, and is in hourly expectation of witnesses to be in at- 
tendance for the purpose of giving such evidence. That for the last 
eight days the disturbances have been of such a character, and the ex- 
citement so great in the Territory, that it has been impossible to pro- 
cure attendance of witnesses, and, in several instances, to liave them 
even summoned. That he has witnesses summoned whose evidence 
is most important in reference to the election of the 30th of March, 
1855, in the Territory, in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and 
seventh representative election districts. That owing to the recent dis- 
turhances in the Territory he has been v/holly deprived of rebutting 
the evidence of witnesses examined by the contestant, A. H. Reeder, 
in those districts. That if the committee will continue its sessions for 
two days to come, he believes he will be able to procure the witnesses 
H. Rep. 200 9 



130 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and avail himself of the benefit of their testimony, by which he will 
be able fully and certainly to vindicate the legality of those elections, 
and to rebut and repel much of the evidence taken by the contestant 
in reference to tliose districts. That the witnesses expected are resi- 
dents of the Territory, and of that portion of it where, for the last ten 
days, there has been the most intense excitement, imposing an abso- 
lute necessity on them to seek protection and safety for their families ; 
and that, although subpoenaed, for these reasons he has been unable as 
yet to procure their attendance. 

" The said John W. Whitfield therefore protests against the ad- 
journment of the committee until a seasonable time be allowed him to 
get such testimony as these witnesses will afford before the committee, 
and here files this his protest in the matter. 

^ "JOHN W. WHITFIELD. 
" By his attorney, 

"AUSTIN A. KING. 
"io the honorable the Congressioi^al Committee, noio in session at 
Westport." 

After receiving the foregoing protest, the committee, for the reason 
that General Whitfield had already had opportunity to examine these 
same witnesses, and inasmuch as he had left the committee for three 
days to take part in the war during the time we had been in West- 
port, adjourned. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Steamboat "Polar Star," 

On Missouri river, Jime 10, 1856. 
The committee met at 2 o'clock. All the members present. 
Witnesses were sworn and examined, as follows : 
No. 310. Capt. Luther Leonard. No. 311. Henry M. Blossom. 
Adjourned. 
Mr. Oliver left at Camden for Richmond. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Steamboat " Polar Star," 

At Lexington, Mo., June 10, 1856. 
The committee met. Present, Messrs. Howard and Sherman. 
The following witnesses were sworn and examined : 
No. 312. James Brewster. No. 313. 0. H. Brewster. 

Adjourned, to meet at St. Louis on the 12th instant. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 131 

St. Louis, Mo., June 12, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment, Messrs. Howard 
and Sherman jn'esent. 

The following witnesses were sworn and examined : 
No. 314. Benjamin Slater. No. 315. F. A. Hunt. 

Adjourned, to meet at Detroit, Michigan, on Tuesday, June 17, 
1856. 

WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman. 



Detroit, Mich., June 17, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs. 
Howard^and Sherman. 

On the 21st of June the committee adjourned to meet in New 
York city. 

WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman. 



New York, June 26, 1856. 

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs. 
Howard and Sherman. 

The following witnesses were sworn and examined : 
No. 316. Amos A Lawrence. No. 317. Eli Thayer. 

Adjourned, to meet to-morrow at 9 o'clock a. m. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



New York, June 27, 1856. 
Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs. How- 
ard and Sherman. 

The following witnesses were sworn and examined : 

No. 318. G-. P. Dowry, recalled. No. 320. Anson J. Stone. 
319. A. H. Pieeder. 

Adjourned, to meet in Washin«;ton city, D. C. 

\VM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



Washington, D. C, June 28, 1856. 
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs. 
Hov/ard and Sherman. 

Report of the committee was read and adopted. Adjourned. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



132 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Washington, D. C, July 1, 1856. 

Committee met. Present, Messrs. Oliver and Sherman. 

The following witness was sworn and examined by Mr. Oliver : 

No. 321. Daniel Mace. 
Adjourned. 

WM. A. HOWAKD, Chairman 



Washington, July 4, 1856. 
Committee met. Present, Messrs. Oliver and Sherman. 
No. 322. Mr. H. C. Pate was called and sworn by Mr. Oliver. 
Adjourned. 

WM. A. HO WAR Chairman. 



Washington, July 11, 1856. 
Committee met. Present, Messrs. Howard and Sherman. 
No. 323. G. P. Lowry, recalled. 
Adjourned. 

WM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. 



THE TESTIMONY. 



ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 29, 1854. 



John A. Wakefield testifies : 

I came into t]ie Territory in July, 1854, from Iowa, settled in the 
second district, and have resided there ever since. I was present 
at the election of the second district on the 29tli of November, 
1854, and was a candidate at that time for delegate to Congress. On 
the evening of the 28tli of November I started to Lawrence with 
Colonel Safford, of Ohio, then a citizen here. I had made an engage- 
ment to address the citizens of Lawrence that night. We came down 
in a carriage, and on the road met a number of persons in com- 
panies — at least one hundred and fifty in all — on horseback and ia 
wagons. Colonel Safford asked some of them, in my hearing, where 
they were from ; and they said " from the State of Missouri, and are 
going up to Douglass to vote to-morrow."' We passed Judge Mil- 
ler's, and came on here. On the morning of the 29th, in company 
with perhaps three others, 1 went to Douglass ; found a crowd ofi 
wagons, and a large gathering of men around the house where the 
polls were being held. When I got out of my buggy, a man came to 
me and said, " is there many more of the boys behind?" Supposing 
he took me to be a Missourian, I said I thought there were a great 
many. Says he, "by God, half of Clay county will be here to-day. 
Now," says he, "old man, I will tell you how to do, if you want 
to vote. We have a parcel of clerks, and you will see them writing 
on the heads of barrels. Do you go to them, and tell one of them 
you want him to register a claim for you. ' ' I saw a number of persons 
writing on heads of barrels. When I got up to the polls, I heard 
it cried out that such a man was nominated forjudge of election, and 
the response was "ay, ay" all around. I heard no one vote in the 
negative. Whether it was one or two judges they were voting for I 
cannot say. A man by the name of Gr. W. Ward was one of the 
judges, and Paris Ellison another ; both of them residents of the 
Territory. The name of the other judge I do not recollect, but I 
never saw him before, and have not seen him since, that I know of. 
Soon after the polls opened, a stranger came to me, and said he wanted 
to speak to me. He took me on one side, and said, "I understand 
you have come here to-day to challenge votes." I told him I had 
not come for any such purpose, and asked him why he asked me that 
question. Says he, " if you challenge a vote hereto-day, you will be 
badly abused, and probably killed ; and as you are an old man, I do 
not wish to see you abused." I then remarked that that kind of talk 
would not frighten me, but I thought it was the duty of the judges 
H. Rep. 200 1* 



A KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

to see that all voters were legal voters. I asked liim his name, and 
he told me, but I cannot remember it. 

That district was newly settled, and there were not exceeding fifty- 
men in it — I think not over forty. I think there were two hundred 
and sixty-one or two hundred and sixty-two votes polled, and Whit- 
field got two hundred and thirty-five votes, if my memory serves me 
right. I got twenty votes, I think, and Flanigan six votes. 1 do 
not think there were actually more than thirty-five legal votes that 
day. Those men were armed with revolvers, some with guns, and a 
great many with clubs ; and a great many of our settlers, knowing 
these facts, did not go to the election. They had barrels of liquor 
there for all to drink who wanted to. I knew the citizens in the dis- 
trict generally. I was one of the very first settlers in the district. 
About the time the polls were closed, they mounted their horses, and 
got into their wagons, and cried out " all aboard for Westport and 
Kansas City." They then went ofi" towards Missouri. A majority 
cf them I should think were very much intoxicated, and they were 
very noisy. The language they used against the Yankees was 
something like " damn the abolitionists, kill them." One of them 
came up to me and seized me by the collar, and said, "you are a 
damned abolitionist." When I drew my cane on him, his brother 
came up, and told me not to mind him, that he was drunk. One of 
the judges then, it being right before them, invited me to come in 
where they were, or 1 would be abused. I did so, and remained there 
until the polls closed. When the polls were closed, I asked the judges 
to give me their names. They hesitated somewhat, and one of the 
clerks wrote out their names, and asked me for what purpose I wanted 
them. I said that I might know them when I met them again. He 
asked if that was all. I said " No, it is not." lie then gave me the 
names of the judges and clerks. I had a couple of men swear to 
these facts, in order to contest the election. I drew up a petition to 
the governor, and had' the facts approved by Mr. Snyder and Mr. 
McClellan. I took them to the governor, and showed him some other 
afiidavits taken by another person ; and he requested me not to show 
him any more, as it was useless to contest the election there, unless I 
had done so throughout the Territory. I find on the poll-books the 
name of S. H. Woodson. There is a Mr. Woodson, of Independence, 
Missouri, that I know, but I did not see him vote. There was no 
one of that name a resident in our district at that time. I recognise 
upon the poll-list a number of names of persons I know in Westport 
and other places in Missouri ; among them, Mr. Elkins, Mr. Hufi', 
Mr. Smart, Joseph Dillon, S. C. Coombs, and others. 

JOHN A. WAKEFIELD. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



Harrison Burson called and sworn. 

To Mr. Eeeder: 

I was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854. The number 
of people in our district was very slim at that time. I should judge 



KANSAS AFFAIBS. 3 

there were three times as many people at the polls on that election as 
there "were voters in the district. I do not think there were 261 legal 
voters in the district at that time. This election was held at Douglass. 
I was at the polls that day, and saw a great number of strangers : they 
left in bodies, in wagons, down the river. I came out in a company 
of about one hundred myself, but they overtook us and passed us. 
There was but one man in this company of strangers that I knew ; 
his name was Barnett, of Westport, Missouri. I know Wm. H. 
Russell, and have seen him frequently. I do not recollect seing him 
that day. I have seen him about Kansas City, but I do not know 
where his residence is. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson: 

Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Wakefield, and Mr. Flanigan were candidates 
for delegate to Congress. I know nothing about the residence of 
Whitfield and Flanigan. Report said they were not residents, but 
I do not know. Mr. Flanigan was not a resident, so far as I know. 
I knew nothing about it ; I do not know where he resides now, or at 
what time he left after the election, 

H. BUP^SOX. 

Lawrenxe, K. T., April 28, 1856. 



Augustus Wattles called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder: 

I came into the Territory about the 1st of May, 1855, and settled 
on Rock creek, in the second district, nine or ten miles from Law- 
rence: and my family has resided there ever since, though I hare 
been away on business, some, in other parts of the Territory. I have 
examined the poll-list of the second district, for the 29th of ^Novem- 
ber, 1S54, in connexion with the census returns. I find 25 of the 
census list of names in the poll-list, though some of them I never 
knew, and I do not think they ever lived in the district. I do not 
recognise in the poll-book any names of residents that were not in the 
census, but some I think I was acquainted with in Missouri. 

Cross-examine*! by Mr. Woodson : 

I came here in May. 1S55, and was put up as a candidate at the 
second election, in May, 1S55, and travelled over the district, and in 
that way became acquainted with a great many in that district. 

I was not a resident of the district, and knew nothing of the resi- 
dents of the district at the time of the election of the 30th of March, 
1855. Mr. 0. H. Brown took the census in that district, and was 
elected to the lesrislature. 



LA^^lE:<-CE, K. T., April 29, 1856. 



AUGrSTTS WATTLES. 



William Ltos testifies: 
To Mr. Reeder: 
I voted here at the election of delegate to Coneress in 1854 in Nck 



4 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

vemlicr. A niimlicr passed my house where I lived, on the California 
road, on the day before the election; they were inquiring; the way to 
Douglass. It was understood from them that they were going to 
Douglass to vote, and that they were from Missouri. The next day 
(the day of election here) I met some as I was coming here to vote. 
I do not know positively that any Missourians voted here on that 
day. All that 1 inquired of, that passed my liouse, did not seem to 
hesitate in saying that they were going to Douglass to vote. I should 
think there were 100 or 150 who passed the house, and of some of whom 
I inquired. After the election was over, I saw what I took to he the 
same company coming down the road they went up to Douglass, the 
same evening, and some the day after the election. These men were 
strangers to me. I do not recollect of seeing any women and children 
or furniture with tliem, or any goods in their Avagons, going either 
way. I lived on this side of what I considered the Douglass line, 
and I voted here. None of the voters of the Douglass district could 
live down the road below me. The men seemed to be very noisy, and 
hurrahed for Whitfield, and some for hell, and some tor Wiiitfield 
and hell both. 

Wx^I. LYOX. 
Lawkexce, K. T., J2^ril 29, 1850. 



James M. Dunn called and sworn. 

To Mr. Eeeder: 

I was at the election of the 29th of Kovemher, 1854, and gave my 
vote there. I was late in getting there — not till about 11 o'clock. 
The election was held in Douglass, at Mr. Ellison's house, I think. 
I saw no violence used there. 1 saw persons who were from Missouri, 
and knew a number of them, as I had been living in Missouri but a 
lew weeks previous. According to my judgment, I do not think 
there were half the number of voters residing in that district that were 
polled there — 2G1. According to the best estimation I can make, I 
.should not suppose that more than one quarter of those present that 
day were actual residents of the district, as it was very sparsely set- 
tled at that time. I saw a number of voters that I thought were not 
of age, and one young man whom I asked told me he was not of ago. 
I knew him in Westport, and knew that he was not a resident of the 
district. 

JAMES M. DUNN. 

L.\WRENCE, K. T., Jj9/-c7 28, 185G. 



M, J. Mitchell called and sworn. 
I was here at the election of November, 185-1, but was confined in 
my room with a cut leg. The election was held in the room where 
I was. They went on voting in the morning until up to ten o'clock. 
There was some talk that there was an abolitionist to vote, and it 
was said that the polls should not be disgraced by an abolition vote. 
They said they called an abolitionist any one who voted for Mr. Chap- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 5 

man. or Mr. Flanigan. I then took a ticket out of my pocket, and 
requested it to be put in the ballot-box, and my name put down ou 
the [)()11 list. They refused to do so at first ; but after some consult- 
ing they consented to do so, and said that would be the only one that 
should go in. Tlie judges and clerk counselled each other about it, 
and the rest of the day there Avas no diflEiculty. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Rees : 

I think it was either 42 or 52 votes given that day. I think Mr. 
Chapman had 1 vote, and Mr. Flanigan some 6 votes. It was the 
clerk and one of the judges — either Mr. Watts or Mr. Horner, I do not 
know wliich — who said that there should bo no abolition votes given. 
George Holmes, of Westport, was the clerk. I do not know of my 
own knowledge tliat he did not live here. If he has ever lived within 
one mile of this town since I have lived in this Territory he must 
have kept himself very close, as I do not think any one has lived that 
near town without my knowing it. I do not know that he did not 
live within two miles of town. He had a claim near Mr. Stinson's 
claim. There was no house on it, and if there had been a tent on it 
I think I must have seen it, as I used to pass there nearly every day 
before my leg was cut ; and I saw nothing of the kind. 

M. J. MITCHELL. 

Tecumseii, K. T., May G, 185G. 



Thomas Hopkins called and sworn. 
To Mr. Pteeder : 

On the election of the 29th of November, 1854, I was at Doctor 
Chapman's, in the fourth district. It was my first visit in that sec- 
tion of the country, and I met a great many there I got acquainted 
with in Jackson county, where I had made a crop that year — Mr. 
Leander Deharncy, Shepherd West, and a man named Lyons — I think 
his name was William, but will not be positive — and Henry Brack- 
en. I also saw Mr. Berry, ^rom Cass county. I do not recollect the 
names of others at this time. A short time after the election I was at 
old Judge Bracken's. He told me he outfitted 20 men, furnished 
them with mules, and ways of getting here to vote. I saw these men 
at Chapman's and had conversation with some of them. Mr. Berry 
introduced me to a great many of his neighbors, who told me they 
came here witli the intention of voting. They told me how many 
there were of them, but I do not recollect their numbers now ; but I 
think there were at that precinct between 80 and 150. Some of them 
said they supposed Kansas was becoming a free State, and they 
wanted to use their influence as much as possible to make it a slave 
State. I should suppose Chapman's was some 40 or 45 miles from 
the Missouri State line. I do not know how far it is from the line of 
the district ; but I think it is called some 4 miles from the Santa F6 
road, which was the line at that time. 

I do not recollect any further about the voting. 

THOMAS HOPKINS. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



^ KANSAS AFFAIES, 

« 

Peter Bassinqer called and sworn. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

I came into the Territory the first of September, 1854, from War- 
ren county, Iowa, and settled at what was called 131ack Jack Pointy 
on the Santa Fe road, in the 4th district, 

I was at the firsi election after I came into the Territory, held at 
Doctor Chapman's, in November, 1854. I saw a great many men 
and teams travelling the Santa Fe road at the time of the election, 
and I hardly knew what it meant until some 40 or 50 men camped at 
my house. They came in the house oif and on, and were talking and 
were wishing to know how I would vote ; and after their insisting, I 
said, at last, I thought, if I did vote at all, I would vote the free-State 
ticket. One old gentleman — Mr. Pialston, I think they called his 
name, who lived between Westport and Independence — hooted at me, 
and said they were bound to have Kansas a slave State, if they did it 
at the point of tlie sword, and that it was not worth while for me to 
kick up about it. A man who liad stuck up a stake by my calf-pen, 
said he had as much a claim there as he wanted. A gentleman rode 
up that I was partly acquainted with, and we rode to the polls after 
these men had started. One of their men had driven down a stake 
which they said was their claim, and I jumped down and pulled it up; 
and it had either 7 or 9 names on it, I do not recollect which. There 
was no person sworn, but all voted. I voted. The one I knew came 
back and staid with me all night. After we got back, he said, as all 
the fun was over, he would tell me the sport of it. He said that 
one man got drunk, and they sent for Dr. Chapman to come and 
see a sick man ; and when they got him oif, they got another man in 
his place a judge, who was not sworn in. These men at my house 
told me, some of them, that they lived in Missouri. One of them 
told me he lived in Jackson county. I have passed his house several 
times since. There was one who drove up to my house in his car- 
riage, who was from Missouri, and inquired the way to the election. 
He said if ho did not get to vote, whether he had been there long 
enough or not, he would give his team. He said that every man had 
a right to vote. I did not see arms about these men, except that 
almost every man had revolvers and knives belted to them. I saw 
arms in their wagons. I saw some guns there. After the election 
was over, they went back towards Missouri. I started for Indepen- 
dence the next morning, and some of them passed me that day. I 
left my wife at home. I camped that night at Cedar creek, and seve- 
ral of this party camped there Some of them hallooed for Whitfield, 
and some for Wakefield. The road seemed to be full of them. I 
was not very well acquainted in my district at that time. I saw 
others, more than staid at my house, on the road going back to Mis- 
souri. 

his 

PETER + BASSINGER. 

mark. 

Lawrence, K. T.; April 30, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 7 

Eeuben Hackett called and sworn. 

To Mr. Eeeder. 

Came into the Territory 6tli June, 1854 ; settled on Ottawa creek. 
Kesidecl there since I moved my family there the 2d of September fol- 
lowing. I came from Indiana to Illinois, and from Illinois here. I 
live in the fourth district, I was present at the election in November, 
1854, at Doctor Chapman's. My acquaintance was not extensive in 
the district, but I tliink the population was not great. I got to the 
place of election between ten and eleven o'clock in the morning on the 
day of election. I saw a considerable number of men I was not ac- 
quainted with. I saw many of my acquaintances there also. I do not 
remember that I heard these strangers to me say where they had come 
from, or what for. I never saw these strangers before, and have 
seen but a few of them since, that I know. Those that I saw coming 
in, came from across the prairie towards Hickory Point and some 
from the direction of " Eight-mile " creek. I am not well acquainted 
with the district now, but I am acquainted with the persons on Ot- 
tawa creek and above; but there are persons on "Eight-mile" 
creek that I am not acquainted with. I have no knowledge of the 
exact number of families on "Eight-mile" creek. 

I was at the election on the 30th of March, 1855. I do not recol- 
lect about the population in the district between the census and the 
time of election, except that it was increasing slowly. I saw a num- 
ber of persons there I did not know to be citizens of the district. I 
did not count them, and cannot judge correctly, but can estimate 
them. I think there were some 80 odd votes polled. I should judge 
there were about 20 or .30 persons there, perhaps more, I was 
not acquainted with , that I did not know to be residents. There were 
persons in the district I was unacquainted with. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

Of the 80 odd who voted there, I probably knew some 30 odd per- 
sons. I cannot form any correct opinion of what persons besides were 
citizens or were not citizens of the district. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

It was peaceable and quiet at both elections. 

REUBEN HACKETT. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 3, 1856. 



Reuben Hackett recalled. 

I have examined the poll-books of the election of the 29th Novem- 
ber, 1854, in the fourth district, and I find upon that poll-list 30 
names whom I know to have been residents of the district at that 
time, as follows: 

^ J. T. Keeser, Charles White, B. C. Moore, R. Hill, R. M. Wil- 
liams, W. David, J. Bradbury, Gr. Simmons, H. Lowry, W. Grace,' 
C. Mayfield, Judge Bernard, T. Mockaby, A. F. Powell, J. Eddy, 
A. J. Miller, A. B. Gilland, P. Bassinger, E. H. Bassinger, E. Hill, 



8 ' ' KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

J. M. Banks, E. Hackett, J. B. Davis, J. H. Lockridge, A. Hanna,, 
J. Curran, W. Ewart, 0. Band, Wm. Moore, J. Chapman. 

REUBEN HACKKTT. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 3, 185G. 



Perry Fuller called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I came into this Territory about the 6th of September, 1854, and 
settled on what is called '^ Eight-mile " creek, in the 4th district, and 
have resided there ever since. I was at the first election, of 29tli of 
November, 1854. . 

I profess to be well acquainted with my district. I have examined 
the poll-list of that election, and find a good many names there of 
men who do not live in the district. There were 161 votes cast. I 
do not find over 24 or 25 names of residents at that time on the poll- 
book. There might have been more, but I think not. 

I saw a great many strangers there on the day of the election — some 
of them from Missouri. I understood they camped on the ground 
over night. They were there early in the morning. There was con- 
siderable confusion on that day at the election polls. There were 
severe threats that they were bound to make Kansas a slave State. I 
did not know any of the strangers there. 

I have looked over the list made out by Mr. Hackett, in connexion 
with the poll-books, and think it is correct. I live some eight miles 
from Mr. Hackett, in another settlement. 

PERRY FULLER. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 3, 1856. 



John F. Javens called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory the 29th of February, 1854, from West- 
port, Missouri, and settled on the headwaters of the Marais des Cygnes, 
and was tlie first settler who made a claim there. It was in the fourth 
election district. I was at the election of November 29, 1854, at the 
house of. Dr. Chapman, when General Whitfield was elected, and I 
voted there. There were citizens of Missouri who came there and 
voted at that election, some of whom I had been personally acquainted 
with for the last ten or twelve years. Among those I recognised, and 
whose names I find on the poll- list of that election, are James Price, 
G. W. Allen, H. T. Childs, A. B. Smith, Thomas Hall, John Price, 
M. Simmons, J. Campbell, and others. I conversed with some of 
them, and they told me they came there to vote. I asked them if 
they had a right to vote in Missouri and in the Territory too, and 
they said they were told by citizens of the Territory they had a right 
to come here and vote. They were armed^ every man ot them I saw. 
Many of them were cursing the Free- State men of the Territory. Some 
told me they had never been in the Territory before, and if they had 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 9 

known I lived in that section of the country, tliey would have made 
their arrangements to have stopped with me the night of the election. 
They said they wanted to see the Territory anyhow, and that was a good 
time to do so. That they could come and vote and see the Territory at 
the same time. When this was told me, some of the party were ready 
to start home, and these persons told me they would have to go back 
with the others, as their baggage was in the wagon, and but for that 
they Avould have stopped with me that night. Aiter I saw how they 
were voting, and heard a number express themselves as being deter- 
mined to outvote the Free-State party, if some of them had to stay 
and vote again, I left the polls and started home. 

I find but a very few resident voters' names in the list, and I 
thought I knew all of them. I have not examined so thoroughly as 
to say how many there were. I saw three or four times as many 
armed men from Missouri on the ground as there were resident voters 
in the district at that time. 

JOHN F. JAVENS. 

Lawrence, K. T., 31ay 12, 1856. 



William Moore called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory about the 16th of August, 1854, from In- 
diana, and settled in the 4th district, on the Ottawa creek, and have 
lived there ever since. I was at the election on the 29th of Novem- 
ber, 1854, in that district. My acquaintance was very limited at that 
time. But in that district I do not think there were more than 25 
or 30 resident voters. When I went to the election I saw a great 
many strangers there, which surprised me very much, as I thought I 
knew most in the district. I do not know that I recollect any con- 
versation distinctly on that day about that matter with any of them. 
They were encamped some 200 or 300 yards from Dr. Chapman's 
house, where the election was held. I was not in their camp. They 
were armed with double-barreled shot-guns, bowie-knives, and re- 
volvers. I heard them say they had as good right to come from Mis- 
souri and vote there, as others who were there and had come from 
other States. They did not appear to claim any residence in the Ter- 
ritory. The principal portion of them left an hour and a half or two 
hours after I got there, in carriages, buggies, and wagons, and were 
very noisy and proiiane, and appeared to be intoxicated. I saw a 
great many of them vote that day. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver: 

I knew a Mr. Thomas Mockaby, as he said his name was, who was 
of this party of strangers. I think I heard as many as a dozen of 
these strangers say they were from Missouri. I think I saw at least 
as many as twenty-five of them vote. 

WILLIAM MOORE. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 8, 1856. 



10 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Dr. B. C. Westfall testifies : 

I saw a great many persons coming from Missouri to the Territory 
at tlie time of the election, on the 29th of November, 1854, and I saw 
them alter they returned home. They were residents of Missouri, and 
I was personally acquainted with many in our neigliborhood, who 
said they were coming out to the election to vote, and elect men theyi- 
considered suitable for officers in the Territory. After they returned, 
they told me they had been in the Territory and voted. They told 
me the precincts they had been to. I think some of them came to 
Dr. Chapuian's, on Ottowa creek, and some to Pottawatomie creek. 
There was an uncommonly large tree had fallen at Pottawatomie 
creek at that time, and as I came out with some of them afterwards, 
they told me they had had a dance around it. They also told me 
they came very near mobbing the man Wilkinson for being a free- 
soiler, and who afterwards run on the pro-slavery ticket ; and it was 
with difficulty they were ])rcvented from taking him out and whipping 
him. I lived near the line of the Territory, in the State of Missouri, 
at that time, and had lived in Jackson, Cass^ and Johnson counties 
for the previous ten years. 

B. C. WESTFALL. 

Lawkence, K. T., May 8, 1856. 



James W. Wilson testifies : 

I came from Missouri into the fifth district in August, 1854. I 
was at the election at Henry Slierman's, in that district, on the 29tli 
of November, 1854. There were but few settlers at the election, but 
quite a number of non-residents there — a large number from Mis- 
souri. I do not think there were more than twenty residents at the 
polls at that time. There were eighty-two votes cast, of which I 
think the principal part were from Missouri. Some of the same men 
were there tluxt were afterwards at the election at Bull Creek precinct 
on the 30th of March, 1855. I saw some little excitement that day, 
but not much, about the legality of their voting, but no fighting or 
quaneling. The Missourians voted the pro-slavery ticket for Gene- 
ral Whitfield, and said they intended to make Kansas a slave State ; 
that they had a right to vote, as they had claims in the Territory. 
There was a number of them I have never seen or heard tell of being 
in the Territory since. Judge Teagle was there, managing the af- 
fairs, though he did not vote. He said he did not intend voting, but 
intended to see others vote. He was judge of the court in Jackson 
county, Missouri. He had several hands out there attending to cattle, 
who voted, and I have never heard of their being in the Territory 
since, Mr. Samuel Wade, of Jackson county, Missouri, near New 
Santa Fe, voted that day. Wade is a farmer, and still lives where 
he lived at the time he voted there. 

J. W. WILSON. 

Lawrence^ K. T., May 9, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 11 

J. C. Prince called and sworn. 

I was at the election at Fort Scott in November, 1854. I lived at 
that time in Cass county, Missouri, in a little town on the boundary- 
line, called West Point. I went out in company with some one hun- 
dred men the day before the election. It was about forty-five miles 
from where I lived to Fort Scott. A great number of the party had 
their tents and wagons with them, and camped out. I went out to 
Fort Scott, and staid there the night before the election. The most, 
perhaps all, the i)arty were from Missouri. They went to Fort Scott 
to vote. On the day of election, Barbee and Wilson, two of the judges, 
made some attempts to swear some of the men ; but they got them in 
some way not to swear the voters, and I think none were sworn that 
day. They all voted, so far as 1 know ; at least tliey told me so. I 
think I was acquainted with about fifty who voted there, and who 
lived in Missouri at that time. There were but very few resident 
voters ; I should think not probably over fifty. There were some 
there from Missouri who voted, with whom I was not personally ac- 
quainted. I should su[)pose there were but about twenty-fi/e legal 
voters that day at Fort Scott. The settlement was sparse. Fort 
Scott was a trading point, with but one store there, I think. The 
voting was by ballot, and there was no violence there. There were 
several men pointed out to me as eastern emigrants, who intended to 
vote and leave, the same as the Missourians. They were strangers to 
me, and I do not know that they voted. I voted on that day, and 
upon examining the poll-list I find my vote put down as '' No. 25, 
J. H. Prince." After the voting was over, the Missourians went to 
their wagons, and commenced leaving for Missouri. I did not leave 
until the morning after the election. Some of the most influential 
men of Missouri in the company that went urged me to go and vote. 
And the morning before the election I started in my buggy for Fort 
Scott_, and staid all night at Colonel Aruett's, in Fort Scott. Whit- 
field and Wakefield were the candidates. I live now in Osawatomie, 
in this Territory, and have lived there about five months. 

J. C. PRINCE. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



Matthias A. Eeed called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory from Jackson, Missouri, in August, 1854 ; 
took a claim ; went back to Missouri, and came up the next month, 
and settled on the Wakarusa, in the seventh district, and have lived 
there ever since. I was at the election on the 29th of November, 
1854, held at Frey McGee's. I saw a good many men there I was 
not acquainted with, and a good many men I had been acquainted 
with in Missouri. I was in their camp there — in Mr. Ross's camp, 
and John Flournoy's, and Abnet's. Samuel Ralston I saw there, 
and he showed me where he had staked ofi" a claim, and said he 
had bought a large tree of Mr. McGee for timber. Some of them I saw 
there have claims in the Territory now, and are living here now. I 



12 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

do not know whether Mr. Ealston ever lived on his claim or not, 
though I understand he has hla?ks working on it ; hut I do not know 
"whether he has any house on it or not. I judge I saw there ahout 
one hundred men. I do not recollect that I heard any of those men 
say what they had come for. I did not stay there until they left. 

Cross-examined hy J. W. Whitfield : 

There were a good many men who came here and made claims that 
fall, and I have not heard of them since — both pro-slavery men and 
free-soilers. Some made claims, and came back in the spring. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

The district was tolerably tliinly settled at that time, but I could 
not tell how many actual settlers there were in the district. There 
were not many settlers at the polls. I think I saw some twenty or 
forty tliere. I was tolerably well acquainted in the district_, though 
I had not been there a long time. 

MATTHIAS A. + EEED. 

mark. 

Tecumseii, K. T., 31ay 7, 185G. 

The witness could not sign his name, having cut his hand. 



Wm. F. Johnston called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I first came into the Territory to locate a claim in' August, 1854, 
and brought my family here in the fore part of November, 1854. I 
settk-d on one of the branches of the Wakarusa, in this district. I 
am from Jackson county, Missouri. I was at the election of the 29th 
of November, 1854, at " One Hundred and Ten," as I was considered 
in that district then, being at a place called Brownville. 

I saw a great many wagons and tents there, and many individuals 
I knew, from Jackson county, Missouri. I was among tlieir tents, 
and I had a conversation with some there, and they told me they had 
come with the intention of voting. I went up to the ])olls, and it ap- 
peared to be very quiet. As I had a diiferent colored ticket from the 
rest of our party, who had intended to vote for Flapigan, it was chal- 
lenged by Frey McGee, who had been appointed one of the judges, 
but did not serve. Lemuel Ralston was serving in his ])lace, and lives 
on the road between Independence and Westport, Missouri. I had 
been acquainted with him since the year 1847. I then turned and 
challenged the vote of a young man by the name of Nolan, from Jack- 
son county, I knew. I first asked if he had come over here and taken 
a claim, and he said he had not. Finally the thing was hushed up, 
as I had a great many. friends there from Jackson county, and it 
might lead to a fight if I'challenged any more votes. We both voted, 
and I went down to the camp. I saw a great many there I knew 
who had voted in Missouri the August before, at which election I was 
one of the judges. Among those I knew were Nathan Ross and three 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 13 

or four others in and around Independence ; and from tlie township of 
Washington, that I lived in, there were some three or four Muirs, 
some Nolans, and a young man by the name of Case, hut I did not see 
him vote; some young Harpers and Esquire Smith, then acting justice 
of the peace for Missouri ; a man by the name of Abnett, and several 
others I cannot now remember. I was in their camp while here, but 
I did not see them leave, and but few came in, as they had principally 
come before I had got here. I was surprised to see them here, as I 
liad heard nothing of their being here. There were several hundreds 
on the ground, principally from Jackson county, Missouri, I should 
suppose there were 300 or 400 at any rate — probably more than that, 
though I cannot say exactly. I did not see any man vote more than 
once that day. I left the polls immediately after the difficulty I had 
started, and went into the camp. 

Cross-examined by Mr. J. "W. Whitjfield : 

There were a great many persons coming into the Territory at that 
time, taking up claims ; but a great many of those I saw there that 
day I knew to be living in Jackson county, Missouri, for I have been 
in Missouri since, and found them living there. Some of them that 
day told me they stopped at Bull creek, and laid off a town, and took 
each a lot there, and that was all the claim they had. There were 
many who came in that fall and took up claims, and never came back 
again. 

The following is the list of all the residents whose names I know 
on the poll-list : George W. Berry, AVilliam Daly, Wm. Holly, F. 
M. McGee, John Smith, Robert Turner, M. W. McGee, M. A. Reid, 
L. T. Cook, J. W. Brown, Wm. Handlev, and Daniel Turner. 

W. F. JOHNSTON. 

Tecumseh, K. T., May 1, 1856. 



Alfred Larzelere called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory with my family on the first day of March, 
1855, from St. Joseph, Missouri, and settled in the Burr Oak pre- 
cinct, in the 14th district, and have resided there ever since. I was 
at the election on the 29th of November, 1854. My family was then 
at St. Joseph, but I had made a claim in the Territory. I did not 
come over for the purpose of voting at that election ; did not vote^ and 
did not think I had any right to vote. Col. John Scott, Benjamin 
Harding, and Mr. Bryant were the judges of election. Those judges 
were elected, I think, after I. arrived from St. Joseph. In the morn- 
ing, when I got on the ground, I saw a great many citizens of Mis- 
souri there, principally citizens of St. Joseph. There was consider- 
able excitement at the time I arrived, which appeared to be arising from 
a dispute between the citizens of Missouri and the citizens of the Ter- 
ritory, as to the right of Colonel Scott to act as a judge of election. I 
took no part in it. The issue was, that Colonel Scott was selected 
by the bystanders, the citizens of Missouri taking as active part in it 
as those who were bona-fide citizens of the Territory. Colonel Scott 



14 KANSAS At'FAIRS. 

resided in the city of St. Joseph, and held the office of city attorney 
for the city of St. Joseph at that time. I heard him claim that he 
was a citizen of the Territory, hut I do not recollect that I heard 
him say what time he came over. He was selected and acted as 
judge. On my return to St. Joseph 1 inquired if he had resigned his 
office as city attorney, and was told he had not. He has exercised 
that office since, I think, up to the first part of last A]n'il. I forget 
whether I left before the polls were closed or not, hut I was there a 
portion of tlie day. When I arrived on the ground I think there was 
a majority of Missourians there. I think in the alter part of the day 
a good many of the Missourians had left before I did. Several voted 
then, but I could not name any one now. They contended with me 
that I had a right to vote, as they had, but I contended that such was 
not the case. There was a crowd of some 30 or 40 when I first went 
there, and I do not know as at any time there was to exceed 50 men ; 
but the crowd was changing all the time. Judge Leonard, AVm. K. 
Richardson, and Reuben Middleton, seemed to be the most active per- 
sons there from St. Joseph. Wm. P. Richardson was there also, and 
I always considered him a citizen of Missouri up to that time. They 
insisted that the citizens of Missouri had a right to vote there, espe- 
cially every man who had any pretensions to a claim in the Territory 
at that time. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

I remember but one of the judges of election appointed by the gov- 
ernor, and his name was Mr. Irwin, of Iowa Mission, and he was not 
on the ground at the time I came up. Mr. Harding was there ; but I 
do not recollect whether he was one of the judges appointed by the gov- 
ernor. He acted as a judge. I did not learn that the dispute was in 
consequence of Mr. Harding claiming the right, as the judge ap})ointed 
by the governor, to appoint the other two judges. The dispute then 
was as to the right of Colonel Scott to act as a judge of election. I 
heard Colonel Scott claim that he was a citizen of Kansas Territory, 
and that he had come over and taken a claim, and I think he said he 
had taken board for a month with Mr. Bryant. 1 do not know as 
those remarks were addressed to any particular person, but I under- 
stood them to be made publicly to the bystanders. There was a dis- 
pute as to liis right to serve as a judge ; and to establisli his right, I 
think he made tliose remarks. 1 do not recollect any argument that 
a judge of the election was not necessarily required to be a citizen of 
the Territory. I think it was generally understood by all parties that 
a judge must be a citizen of the Territory. I understood him to say 
that he had made a claim, and had taken a month's board at Mr. Bry- 
ant's. I recollect one instance of a man being asked to be sworn as to 
his residence, and he refused, and did not vote^ and Avent off swearing 
because he was not allowed to vote. Mr. Harding, and I think Mr. 
Bryant, acted as judges of the election, and were both actual residents 
of the Territory at that time, I think. 

A. LARZELERE. 

Leavenworth, K. T., May 23, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 15 

Benjajiin Harding called and sworn. 

I moved into the Territory in 1852. I resided in the Burr Oak pre- 
cinct of the 14th district. I came from St. Joseph, Missouri, where I 
had resided several years. I was jiulg;e of the election on the 29th of 
Novemher, 1854, appointed hy Gov. lleeder. The other two judges 
appointed by the governor did not appear at the time of 0})ening the 
polls. When the time arrived, I stated to the crowd that tlse other 
two judges Avere not present ; gave a statement of the governor's in- 
structions for such a case, which was for the voters on the ground to 
select other judges. I then nominated Mr. Waterson, and the crowd 
present voted him down. Several came around me then, and told me 
they thought there was no hurry, and that probably the other judges 
would yet come, and advised that further proceedings be deferred ; 
whicli was done — deferred until nearly 10 o'clock. During thi^ time 
there was a discussion arose as to the right of those on tlie ground to 
vote forjudges. My impression at the time was, that a large majority of 
those present were from Missouri, residents of Missouri. Some one 
nominated Mr. Bryant as a judge, and he was elected by the crowd. 
The discussion still continued about the right of those to vote, and 
contended ibr very stenuously by some of the leading men from Mis- 
souri. Some one in the crowd had nominated Col. John Scott. It 
was my impression that he resided in St. Joseph. Mr. Bryant came 
to me, and stated to me that Mr. Scott had come to his house the night 
before and engaged boarding for a month, and he considered him a 
resident of Kansas on that ground. 1 still considered him a resident 
of Missouri, and refused to put the vote to the crowd. After some 
discusson. Judge Leonard, of Missouri, stepped forward and put the 
vote himself, and Mr. Scott was elected by the crowd, and he served 
as a judge of election that day. Mr. Scott has never lived in the dis- 
trict since, to my knowledge. I did not again see him in tlie Territory 
for several months. I suppose a majority of the votes cast that day 
were cast by resident settlers of the district ; probably a handsome 
majority. Votes were cast by some I considered non-residents. I 
should give as an approximation that two-thirds, and perhaps more, 
were actual residents of the Territory. There were votes received 
therefrom those I considered non-residents, upon their oath or affirm- 
ation that they considered themselves residents of the district. I 
objected to receiving those votes, but I was overruled by a mnjority 
of the judges. I considered that it was the duty of the judges to ex- 
amine voters with regard to facts only, and then to decide whether 
they were entitled to vote from that expression of facts. Persons were 
challenged and sworn, and I differed from the other judges as to their 
right to vote from their statement of facts. The other judges thought 
they were entitled to vote if they swore that they considered them- 
1 elves residents ; and thus the majority overruled me. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

But one of the judges appointed by the governor, myself, was present 
i ' the time the polls were to be opened. 1 did not undertake to ap})oint 
( her judges. 1 merely nominated one, and put the vote to the crowd, 
; lid they voted him down. I claimed no right to appoint the other 



16 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

judges. I did not call Squire Waterson into a room, and ask him, as a 
justice of the peace, to swear me as judge, that I might therehy have a 
right to appoint tlie other two judges. I undertook to claim the right 
of judging whether those on the ground had a right to vote for judges. 
I did not ask S(|uire Waterson to swear me at all hefore the other 
judges were elected hy the crowd. As an appointed judge of the 
election, I claimed the right, hefore I was sworn in, to judge as to the 
(jualifications of persons present to vote for judges, for I considered 
that a portion of my duty. I had received no private instructions 
from Governor Reeder to that efiect. 1 could not state that Colonel 
Scott, of St. Joseph, declared, publicly or ])rivately, that he considered 
himself a citizen of Kansas Territory. Every man who voted that 
day did not swear that he was an actual resident of Kansas Territory, 
for those whom we knew to be residents we did not require to swear 
at all. I believe all those who were not known to the judges to bo 
actual residents, took an oath that they considered themselves actual 
residents, before they voted. Judge Leonard, of Missouri, and other 
persons, were refused permission to vote because they would not take 
that oath. I asked Major Wm. P. Richardson some questions in re- 
gard to his residence, and he refused to answer me ; stating that Col. 
Scott should question him, and that he would answer no questions I 
might ask him. Previously to his refusing to answer my questions, 
I miglit imprudently have asked him which he considered the head 
of his iamily — himself or his wife. I intended it as a joke, and sup- 
posed it would he taken as such. It was after that that he refused to 
answer any questions put by me. I believe that the same questions 
were propounded to and answered by him, as to and by other persons, 
before he was permitted to vote. The other two judges, I think, 
expressed their opinion that each man was the best judge as to his 
own actual place of' residence. 



Leayenavortii CitY; K. T., May 2-1, 1856. 



B. HARDING. 



A. A. Jamison testifies : 
To Mr. Reeder : 

I have examined the poll-lists of the 14th district for the 29th of 
November, 1854. I found the names of the following persons I 
know who then resided in Missouri. The following is the list: Alex- 
ander Davis, Sidney Tenent, George C. CoUett, Andrew Cox, F. C. 
Hughes^ William Turpin, and Oliver H. P. Craig. 

A. A. JAMISON. 

Tecumseh, K. T., 31ay 6, ISSG. 



Thomas W. Waterson testifies : 
To Mr. Scott: 
I was at the election in the 14th district, at the house of Benjamin 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 17 

Harding on iLe 29tli of November, T854. I v.-as on the ground before 
the judges of election were appointed tliat day. None of the jidges 
appointed by the governor were present there, except BenjamiD Har- 
ding. The hour of opening the polls had about arrived when I got 
there. Directly afterwards Mr. Harding invited me into his Louse. 
I was then an acting justice of the peace, commissioned a shori time 
before. We had a good deal of conversation about the election, and 
he asked me to swear him as one of the judges appointed by the gov- 
ernor. This was before any of the other judges were appointed. I 
told him he had better wait until the other judges had l3een elocted, 
and I ■ would swear them all in at the same time. He stated that 
there were a great many of them who were not entitled to vote for 
judges, and he wanted to be sworn in, that he might decide who were 
legal voters to vote forjudges. I then told him that, in my opinion, 
he had not the right to decide that, according to the proclamation of 
the governor ; that it was for each man to determine for himself as to 
his right to vote ; and, therefore, I declined swearing him in. He 
then asked me what he should do. I told him I thought the best 
plan was to take the law, read it to the crowd, and let every man 
judge for himself; wdiich he did. He also wanted me to serve afi one 
of the judges. I said I did not want to serve; but he put me in nomi- 
nation, and I was voted down by the crowd by a large majority. I 
was an aoting justice of the peace in and for the 14th district of Kan- 
sas Territory. 

T. W. WATERSON. 
Leavenwokth City, K. T., May 24, 1856.^ 



John W. Forman called and sworn. ^ 

To Mr. King : 

I came into the Territory from Missouri about the first of April, 
1843. I removed to Doniphan, where I now live, in 1853. I was 
appointed by Governor Reeder jj^idge of the election of November 29 — 
of the election of delegate to Congress, which was held at the house 
of Benjamin Harding, in the 14th district. When the election came 
on, I v/as just recovering from a long spell of the typhoid fever, and, 
much to ray regret, I could not attend the election. The election was 
held about 14 miles from my house. But few of my neighbors at- 
tended. They were almost unanimously for Whitfield, against any 
other candidate running. 

JOHN W. FORMAN. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 1856. 



J. B. Crane called and sworn. 

1 live on the Fort Riley road, about ten miles from here. I moved 
there from Buchanan county, Missouri, on the 20th of August, 1854. 
I was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854, at Mr. Penscn- 
H. Rep. 200 2* 



18 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

ail's, on vStrangcr creek. T am tolerably Avell iicqiiaintcd in tlie soutli- 
ern part of the district. One Mr. Frasier was one of the judges of 
that election, and I think R. Riddle another; but I do not recollect 
the name of the other. There were a good many ])eople, pretty much 
all strangers to me, at tliat election. ,1 think there were some three 
hundred votes polled there that day. I leit the })lace of election 
about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. I saw one man there — a Mr. Lewis 
Burnes, from Weston, Missouri, that voted. There was some dispute 
about the polls, about the right of Missourians to vote — some saying 
thatanj man having a claim in the Territory had a right to vote, no 
matter Avh ere he lived. I should think, from what I saw and heatd 
about the polls, that not more than one hundred votes could be })()lled in 
that district at that time. I think there were at least two hundred 
vot(^s given that day that were given by non-residenta. There were 
some of my neighbors who were not at that election. From the fact 
that I know that some of the residents did not vote, and from all 1 
can form an idea of, I think there were not more than one hundred 
resident votes given that day. I do not recollect, of seeing any arms 
there, except some few bowie-knives and pistols, and perliaps a few 
guns. 1 saw some of these strangers coming in from towards the river — 
some in carriages and some on horseback. I remained there until 
some of them left, and they came back towards the river. I saw some 
of them vote. I saw no fighting, and no one was nrevented from 
voting that I know of. 

Cross-exa,mined by Mr. Whitfield : 

Mr. Whitfield and Mr. Flanigan wore the two candiaates at thai 
election. I voted for Mr. Flanigan. I do not kiT,ow when he moved 
iiito th^ Territory, and do not know wliere he lived. I never saw 
liim. t do not know whether Mr. Flanigan resides in the Territory 
now or not; but I believe he does not. I do not know when he left the 
Territ'^^rj. I have heard of his being in the Territory since the election, 
but do not know what became of him. I was not acquainted in the dis- 
trict, as a general thing, except in the south and southwest portion — 
perha])s one-tliird of the district. I do not know the size of the district. 
It is a large district, and included Kickapoo. I do not know about the 
town of Atchison. I think the boundary of the district followed the 
military road to the Stranger creek, and then went up the Stranger; do 
not know how far. Some of the strangers I have spoken of might have 
lived in the ])ortion of the district I did not know, but I do not think 
so. They might have lived there. There was plenty of room for . 
them, but I do not tliink they did. I recognised but one man whom 
I knew to be from Missouri. Of late it has been a pretty general 
practice to carry arms in the Territory, but not at first; though a man 
moving in generally had a rifle, but did not carry it about with him. 
There were a good many persons about that time looking out for 
claims in the Territory, but not so much as a short time before; .and 
but few did so where I was acquainted. I heard no complaints at 
that time about a want of an organized government liere in the Ter- 
ritory. 

J. B. CRANE 

Leavenworth City, May 19, 1856 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 19 

Francis M. Potter called and Hworn. 

I live about twelve or fourteen miles iiorthweHt of this, in the 
fifteenth district. I came from Buchanan county, Missouri, to the 
district, on the J 6th day of October, 1854. I was at tlic election at 
Pensenau's on tlie 29th of November, 1854. I think I know Jesse 
Morin — Captain Morin, as we call him. I am not very well acquainted 
in that district. Tliere were quite a crowd of men at that election, 
and I saw Bome from Buchanan county, Missouri. I saw James Elli- 
8on, Samuel Sinf!;leton, Allen Pullen, John Galbraith, and a man by 
the name of Kirk, who has moved into the district since, but I do not 
know where he lived then. I do not recollect about an encampment. 
There were a great many people there, coming on horseback, and in 
wagons, from towards the Missouri river, I should su])po8e there 
were some three or four hundred persons there. I think not more 
than half of the persons there were residents of the district. I did 
not vote that day. I saw some of these people go away towards the 
military road. There were a good many there when I left. I did 
not see any man vote that day. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Grover : 

I am not certain as to the residence of Mr. Pullen. I frequently 
saw him attending on a ferry on the Missouri, and my understanding 
was that he lived on the other side. The ferry was at latan, Mis- 
souri, across the river. The way I got my understanding that ho 
lived in Missouri was, that I always saw him in latan when he had 
nothing else to do. He may have lived in the Territory, but I never 
knew of it. I think there was no settlement on the river opposite 
latan ; if there was, I did not know it. I think Mr. Pullen did live 
a while on this side of the river after that. I do not know as the 
people of Atchison came to Pensenau's to vote. Atchison was a 
small place then. I had been there. Men, in going from Pense- 
nau's to Atchison, would go out towards the military road. I sup- 
pose those also to Port William, Kickapoo, and Salt Creek valley. I 
think probably these points would embrace more than a majority of 
the votes in the district. I cannot tell how many I saw leave Pense- 
nau's to go towards the military road. I could not state whether I 
knew lialf of the resident voters of the distrif-t at that time or not ; 
I may have ; it is likely I did not. I saw no one vote that day. I 
do not know where Jesse Morin was living at that time. A week 
or two before that election I saw Morin in De Kalb, Missouri ; but I 
did not know where he lived then, and I do not know where he lives 
now. The citizens of Kansas frequently went over into Missouri at 
that time ; I did myself. 

F M. POTTER. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3fiiy 20, 1856. 



John W. House called and sworn. 
I live about six or seven miles from here, on the military road, in 



20 KANSAS AFFAIRS, 

the tiftoonth district, and liavo lived there since tlie middle of Septem- 
ber, 1854. 1 was at the election at Pensenau's on the 29th of I^ovem- 
ber, 1854 1 saw some })ersons there from Missouri, and some two or 
three Tote. There was quite a crowd around the polls. I voted that 
day for Mr. Flanigan. I came into this district from Platte county, 
Missouri, where I had lived some ten or twelve years. 1 know Jesse 
Morin, who used to live in Platte City, and I imderstood he lived 
above Platte City some six or seven miles, at the time of that election. 
1 know IraNorris lived in Platte City, and Hugh McKowan. I know 
several John Millers in Platte county, hut none in our district. I 
know S. Johnson, Samuel Dickson, Isaac House, my brother, Leonidas 
Ohlhani. 1 knew a J. B. IMivchell in IMissouri, but knoAv of none in 
our district. I know Henry Debard, about Platte City. I knew a 
Lapp, who lives in latan ; I know of none in our district. I know 
John Grotf, who lived in Platte county, but none in the Territory. 
James Sweeney lives in Platte county. I know a Duncan, who lived 
in the edge of Buchanan county ; he owns a claim here now, but I 
cannot say where he lives. Thomas Douglass lived at latan. John 
Bryan I know, as also Robert Ely. "William Digman, who lives in 
Platte county, and A. W. Hughes, a Mr. Fishe\-, a Dr. Fisher, I 
knew lived in Weston. N. R. Green lived in Platte City. Colonel 
Lewis Burns lives sometimes on one side of the river and sometimes 
the other. I know James Brooks. I do not know any Bowman in 
my district, but I know one in Weston. I know P. Yocum, who 
lived in Missouri. Allen Pullen used to live in Litan. I know 
James ]\Iulky, and James Indton, who now lives in the district. D. 
W. Quiniby used to live in Platte City; he never lived in our dis- 
trict. I know Job Bobbins. Jonathan Lacy lived in the district at 
that time, I think. A. G. Boyd did live in Kickapoo. James H. 
Kessinger and J. D. Pepper lived in Platte county. S. H. Olipliant, 
1 think, lived in Platte City at that time. Samuel Pepper and War- 
ren Blanton lived in Platte county, Phineas Skinner lives in Platte 
county, and is a Avealthy man. He never lived in the Territory to 
ray knowledge. Nathan Newby lived in Platte county, as did George 
Kitchen. Asa Yanaldanham did live at Weston, but lives in this 
city now, I think. I do not know any Staggs in our district. I 
knew some in Platte county. I saw some of these people at this 
election ; among them my brother, and my brother-in-law, Mulky, 
and John Bryan. I had some conversation with them about voting. 
Bryan allowed he had a right to vote, and so did others. My brother 
did not live in the Territory at that time, and has never lived in the 
Territory at all, unless he has moved into it Avithin the last week. I 
saw George Quimby here, and Jesse Morin. There were no persons 
bearing the names I have given living in my district at that time, 
that I know of. Some of these persons have moved into the Territory 
since. I do not know when Groif moved over here. My brother 
made no particular claim to vote, except that they had as good a 
right to vote as those of the Aid Society had. 

Cross-exajnined by Mr. Grover : 

I think 1 saw some persons vote that day ; Isaa? House, James 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 21 

Mulk)'-, and I tbink John Bryan, arirl some others, whose names I do 
not recollect, who came over from Missouri, I voted for Flanigan 
that day. I do not know Mr. Flanigan, and do not know whether 
he resided in the Territory or not. I never saw him but once, and 
did not know it was lie until after he had gone. I heard of Flani- 
gan's coming to the Territory before the election; but whether before 
Lleeder came or not, I cannot tell. There was a general rumor pre- 
vailing that Flanigan came with Reeder. I do not know of any Jesse 
Morin who lived in the district at that time ; though there might have 
oeen, as there were persons living within two miles of me I did not 
know. There might have been a number of persons bearing the 
names I have given, who lived in the district at that time, and I not 
have known it, though I do not think so. I do not know that 
Stephen Johnson and Ira Norris were not at Atchison, and interested 
in the town company there, as I have not been there. I saw Ira 
Norris at the election. I did not know that L. Oldham lived at 
Port William at that time, or that John Grough lived above 
Kickapoo. Some of the names I have given might have been of 
persons who had moved over here, though they used to live in Mis- 
souri, and some of them have iived there since. I heard Digman and 
McKowan say that day they lived in Missouri. I am not generally 
acquainted in the western portion of the district. I never was at 
Atchison and at Port William, and am not acquainted above Kicka- 
poo much. I never saw Flanigan after the election, but heard he 
had gone back to Pennsylvania. 

his 

J. W. -f HOUSE. 

mark. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 20, 1856. 



H. B. Gale called and sworn. 

To Mr. Howard: 

I reside on the military road to Fort Rilej, about ten miles from 
here, and moved there the 22d of October, 1854, from Missouri, and 
have lived there ever since. In the spring of 1854 I came from Mer- 
cer county, Missouri, and went to Buchanan county, and remained 
there through the summer. I was at the election held at Pensenau's 
liouse on the 29th of November, 1854, about six miles from where T 
live, I am pretty well acquainted in the southern part of the district, 
where I live. I voted at that election. I do not recollect the number 
of votes polled. There were some non-residents there I knew to be 
such ; some I knew to be from Missouri, and some came over here who 
said they were from Platte county, about liidgley, who said they 
came to vote, and intended to make Kansas a slave State, and that 
they had claims in the Territory. They mostly came in wagons, and 
I saw a great many vote — mostly for General Whitfield. I think 
Flanigan got some 30 or 40 votes I think Hickory Point was in that 
district at that time, but I am not i)Ositive. I do not recollect how 
many votes Whitfield got that day, I cannot tell how many of those 



22 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

who V(;icil were residents, and how many non-residents. I should 
judge tliere were between 200 and 300 at the election that day. I 
cannot tell how many resident voters were there that day, as I was 
not acquainted in the northern part of the district. There were quite 
a nunilier of persons tliere from Missouri; one I knew, and lived near 
]ne when I was there. I heard some around the polls talk ahout com- 
ing from Missouri. I heard many say they had the right to vote, 
])ecau8C tliey had claims hero, This man who lived near me while I 
was in Missouri, has been livin.g there some time since. I should 
judge there were, of those I heard talking ahout it, 40 or 50 from Mis- 
souri. Tliere were some 30 or 40 I knew to be residents of the dis- 
trict there at the election. I saw no badge at that election. I cannot 
•say that I saw any I knew to be Mis?Oiirians vote at that election. Some 
of those I saw there I knew, were Mr. Burns, of Platte City, aud John 
llamner, from Buchanan county, who told me he voted. I do not 
recollect the names of any others. The town of Atchison, I think, is 
in the district I live in. 

To H. Miles Moore : 

I heard Avhen I got to the place of election that there had been a 
speech, but I do not know who made it. There was something said 
about there being no question of slavery in the election but I do not 
recollect much about it. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

1 saw Mr. Flanigan once, as he calleu at my nouse, out I never saw 
him at any other time. I do not know where he resided. I under- 
stood he came from Pennsylvaivia, but do not know as he said so. 1 
have never seen Flanigan since I think Flanigan' had no circulars 
with him then. I think I have seen circulars put out both by Flani- 
gan's and Whitiield's friends, but I do not remember about i\\o. ques- 
tion of slavery being put in issue. I do not know whether Flanigan 
lives in the Territory or not, but I understood he left immediately 
after the election. I was not well acquainted in the northern ])art of 
that district. It commenced near the Fort reserve here, and followed 
the military road to tlie crossing of Strang(*r creek, and went up the 
Stranger, but I do not know how for. I tliink it included Atchison. 
[ saw but two Missourians there that I knew by name, and did not 
see them vote, and do not know for whom they voted. I do not recol- 
lect of there being any complaint when I came into the Territory be- 
cause it was not sooner organized, though I heard it through the fol- 
lowing winter. The delay was; charged on Boeder. There we-^e 
manv persons coming into the Territory that fall, hunting up claims. 

H. B. GALE, 

Leavenwoetii City, K. T., 3Iay 19, 185G. 



Campbell Logan called and sworn 

To Mr. Scott: 

I resided, on the 29th of November, 1854, in what is now Atcnison 
countv, about two and a half miles from Kickapoo, in this Territory, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 23 

The candiilates at the election of that date, which ^^ as hekl at Pense- 
uaii's, were General Whitfield, pro-slavery ; and some one on the 
other side, I do not now recollect. I was not at the election that day 
at all. 1 have never been at the place where the election was held. 
James Logan, my brother, was not at the election that day. 

[The remainder of the deposition is stricken out, according to 
ruling at Westport, Missouri.] 

CAMPBELL LOGAN. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



John A. Lindsby called and sworn. 

1 was present at the election on the 29th of November, 1854, in 
Leavenworth City. I was not much acquainted with the people here, 
but from appearances believed there were a large number of non-resi- 
dents here. I did not go to the polls to vote myself until the after- 
noon ; but I took several persons up to vote, and tliere was quite a 
crowd around the polls, and it was with great difficulty that they 
could get to the polls. I think that they mostly voted. Right around 
the window where the voting was going on, I think there must liave 
been from Y5 to 100 persons, and the town was full of persons. There 
M'ere then about three or four houses in the town. When I went to 
vote myself in the afternoon, there were some persons who kept in 
front of me. I did not know any of tliem, excei)t a man known as 
Dick Murphy. When I would try to get in, they would pull me by 
the coat, crowd me, and I could not succeed to get through the crowd. 
I then went round and hurralied for General Whitfield, and some of 
them who did not know me said, " There is a good pro-slavery man,'* 
and lifted me up over their heads, and I crawled along on their heads, 
and put in my vote. Then some one who saw my ticket cried out, " He 
is a damned abolitionist, let him down!" and they dropped me. Many 
others that I supposed to be pro-slavery men voted in the same way. 
That was the way of voting by several persons in the latter part of 
the day — by lifting them over the heads of the crowd to the polls, to 
enable them to deposit their vote. I know of no free-State men, ex- 
cept myself, who voted tliat way. All the free-State men on the 
ground, whom I know, tliat day voted by crowding up through the 
crowd, as voters generally h-ad to do, except those who were passed over. 

Mr. Flanigan ran as a Nebraska democra,t and friend of the admin- 
istration. Mr. Wakefield was called " tlie abolitionist's candidate." 
Mr. Whitfield was running as a pro-slavery democratic candidate. 

To Governor Kina; : 

I had every reason in the world to believe that they were not resi- 
tlents There were a great many settlers in the Territory tliat I did 
not know, and such as tliese I could not distinguish from other 
strangers who may not have been residents of the Territory. I do 
not recollect any strangers present that day, that I knew to be Mis- 
sourians, for I never had been in that State but once, and then only 
to stav all night. I have no acquaintance with people of that State. 



24 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I saw no votes p;iven in tliat day that I know to bo illegal. I saw one 
man's vote challenged there, on the ground that he was a non-resi- 
dent. This was the only man I saw challenged or objected to, and 1 
don't know whether he voted or not. I was about the polls tlie fore 
part of the day, but did not vote until the afternoon. The difficulty 
was not at the polls, but in getting to them; and I thought that dilii- 
culty grew out of the political opinions entertained by voters. The 
pro-slavery men were handed over the heads of the people, and handed 
back again without any trouble. I suppose that those persons around 
the polls were persons who had voted, or were there to vote, as far as 
I know. I can't say who voted, or who did not, but that they were 
voting continually. All the houses I recollect of then in this city 
were the hotel, the Kansas Herald office, Stevenson's grocery store, a 
tin shop, and Dr. France's office. Dick Murphy, of whom I have 
spoken, was a resident of this town, I believe; and his conduct that 
day, although it impressed me with the idea that he did not want me 
to vote, yet it was in a laughing Avay ; but he always seemed to be 
right in front of me whenever I endeavored to get to the polls. I tried 
for an hour or an hour and a half, and then retreated. The reason I 
did not get to the polls was a combination of the crowd and Dick 
Murphy. I don't know whether this was a concerted combination or 
not. J. A. LINDSEY 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Blay 29, 1856. 



Dr. James Nodls testifies: 

I was at Leavenworth City on the day of election, on the 29tli of 
November, 1854, and voted there, but not for Gen. Whitfield. There 
was a large number of people here. I do not recollect of seeing any 
one vote but myself. There was a large crowd around the polls, and 
men pushing for the polls. Most of them were Missourians, and 
hurrahing for Whitfield. I tHed several times to get in before I 
could get to the polls. There seemed to be no quarreling, that I 
could see, but a good deal of crowding. 

What I mean "by Missourians is, that they lived over in Missonri. 
I think a majority about the polls, when I was about the polls, 
were Missourians. I saw old man Hunt, from below Platte City ; he 
said he had as good right to vote here as any man, and was going to 
Tote. Pleasant Ellington lived up near Eidgley, in Platte county. 
I do not suppose all the Missourians I saw there voted, for I heard 
one say he had not voted and would not vote. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield: 

I had been living over on Stranger cr«ek some time before that elec- 
tion, but I do not recollect how long. My acquaintance was limited 
in tlie district at that time. I do not know how large the district was * 
at that time, but I uwderstood it was pretty large. I saw no on-e vote 
but myself. The candidates on that day were Gen. Whitfield, Judge 
rianigan, and Judge Wakefield. I do not recollect of hearing the 
name "of Chapman as a candidate. I never saw Judge Elanigan. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 25 

The general rumor was, that FLanigan was from the east, and did not 
reside liere; that Judge Wakefiehl was here with liis family, and 
was a free-State man; that Gen. Wliitfield was a Missourian, merely 
an Indian agent here, and in favor of bringing negroes in liere. That 
was the reason I voted in favor of Wakefield, and against Wliitheld. 
I understood Flanigan left after the election, but I do not know how 
long. 

Two of the judges of election v/cre Neill Burgess and Mr. Twom- 
bley, and I do not recollect of ever knowing the third one. I was in 
town several hours, and sometimes about the polls. I saw no one at 
tlie window, except those I tliought were voting. I do not know as 
tliere were more strangers here than usual. 1 think a great many 
around the polls I knew; some of them I did not know, I saw them 
cutting up antics ; and it was pretty hard to get to the window, but 
I was not frightened at all. 

JAMES NOBLE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



Samuel F. Few testifies: 

I came into this Territory in 1854, from Virginia, and have resided 
here since. I was here on the election of the 29th of November, 1854, 
when Whitfield and Flanigan were candidates. I think I was the 
first man who voted that clay. I then left and went home. I did 
not notice any persons, strangers, camped here that I now recollect 
of. I know only that I voted. There was a gentleman from Vir- 
ginia, his family living in Missouri, who was Avitli me. He had a 
claim here, but had not his family, and immediately after the election 
he went and brought his family here, and has been here ever since. 
I cannot now say that I know of any persons coming fi-om Missouri. 
Many came from the island opposite here, but that is decided now to 
be in Kauvsas Territory. There were many persons here, but I knew 
but few ])ersons then. There were settlers on that island at that 
time. I knew but one man who lived on the island. I liave no doubt 
that there was a majority at tliat time in favor of General Whitfield; 
I thought it was a one-sided affair. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I have no doubt there was a large majority here pro-slavery; that 
there was no need of assistance at that time. I never heard of Mr. 
Flanigan till Governor Keeder came out here. The election came off 
on Friday, the 29th of November, 1854. My family was at Independ- 
dence, Missouri, and I went down shortly after the election, and Plielan 
and Fhmigan went down on the same boat with me, getting on board at 
Kansas City, and I have never seen them since. I liad not got the 
returns of the election at this point, and I heard the final result at 
Kansas, City. Judge Flanigan told me he was coming back to this 
city, proposed to buy my claim, and asked me to be his family phy- 
sician. I told him I was not a candidate for practice as a ])hysician. 
I do not know that I saw any others going back to Pennsylvania with 



26 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

rianigan, except Pholaii. I tiiinlc, if lie liad ever come here to this 
city, I shoukl have seen liim. I heard once that he was on liis waj 
back, but I never heard that he had got liere. I did not talk with 
him about the election. I was tolerably intimate with MaJ<n- Ogden 
and Major Macklin. They wanted Major Ogden to be the candidate 
here for Congress. I knew him to be a shrewd, calculating man. 
I knew that Major Macklin Avas the owner of slaves; and that they 
were not willing to have Major Ogden enter the field if tlie slavery- 
question was to be sprung. 

Major Ogden was regarded as a free-State man. Major Ogden de- 
clined to run if the question of slavery was sprung. Major Ogden 
was then the quartermaster at the fort. I know that Major Macklin 
wanted Major Ogden to run. From all the means of ini'onnation I 
liad, I am positive that on the 29th of November, 1854, there was a 
pro-slavery majority here and I thought there was no need of assist- 
ance here. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I do not recollect the number of voters at that time. There was 
but a small po])ulation on the Delaware lands at that time, compared 
with the present. There was a pretty large settlement on Salt creek. 
I paid but little attention to that election. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

I regarded this as my residence from the time I first came here. 
My family were at Independence, Missouri, till I could build a house 
hei'e. The gentleman from Virginia who was with me on that day, 
was similarly >situated. I think there are now upon the Delaware 
lands probably a population of 5,000. I recollect a,circular put out 
by Flanigan's friends at the time of that election ; but I reccdlect but 
one thing about it — that Mr. Alexander took the stump as the pro- 
slavery advocate for Flanigan. But I do not recolk?ct what names 
were on that circular. Mr. Alexander still lives here in the Terri- 
tory. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I considered Judge Flanigan the Free-State candidate, and Grcneral 
Whitfield the Pro-slavery candidate at that election. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

Mr. Flanigan had no residence in the Territory that I know of. I 
heard that Phelan and Flanigan bought a share in Leavenworth, but 
they have never lived here. 

To Mr. Eees: 

I do not know who circulated the circulars for Flanigan. I only 
know three persons whose names are attached to the copy of the cir- 
cular shown me — Mr. J.M. Alexander, B. H. Twombley, and Charles 
Jjeib. If Doctor Leib is now a resident of the Territory, I do not know^ 
it — certainly not about here. Alexander, I understand, is living at 
Lecompton. Twombley is living near here. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I think Doctor Leib left here soon after he took the census. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 27 

To Mr. Sliennan: 

I think I recollect that a counter-liandbill was got np hy General 
Whitfield's friends, in reply to this of Flanigan's; but I do not recol- 
lect the names. 

SAML. F. FEW. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 1*7, 1856. 



George H. Keller called and sworn. 

I moved my family into the Territory on the 7th of October, 1854, 
and to this place. I kept then the only liotel in the place, up to Jime, 
1855. I have resided here ever since I came here. I came here from 
Platte county, Missouri, near Weston; had lived there for Ifi years, 
except one year that I was absent. I was present at tlie election oi. 
the 29th of November, 1854. The settlement here was com])aratively 
small. The town of Leavenworth was laid out in August and Sep- 
tember^ 1854. Mr. Neil Burgess was one of the judges of that elec- 
tion, but I do not remember the others. I was very busy in my hotel, 
in one room of which the election was held, and was about tlie ])oll3 
at various times during the day. The election was held at my house, 
fr-om the fact that there was no other room in town suitable for that 
purpose. 

There were a great many strangers came into town the day before, 
and on tlie day of election. They were camped all around here, like a 
camp meeting, but I cannot tell how many tliere were. I do not 
know that tliese men were armed. I was very busy, and could not 
pay particular attention to tbeir a])pcarance. They gtmerally camped 
in tents, and part of them brought their own provisions willi them, 
and cooked them for themselves. I think they were camped in com- 
panies, in messes in wagons, probably from 10 to 15 in a wagon. 
There were no women with them generally, as I saw, and none in the 
camp. They had no baggage besides tlieir provisions, that I saw. 
I knew some of these men. It would be hard for me to recollect all 
I knew ; but I can name some of them: Mr. John Wells, Judge Al- 
mond from Platte City, Mr. John Vineyard, Mr. Washburn, Smith 
Calvert, and a great many others I cannot now recollect without 
hearing their names. 

I heard some companies who came in, say they came from Clay 
and Kay counties. . Those that I have named were from Platte coimty, 
and were my old neighbors. They said they came here to vote. 
•Jhey said they had as good a right to vote here as anybody that l 
comes from the east. They claimed to be residents of the Territory, 
from the fact that they were then present. Some of them remained 
liere until the next day, and then left. Some left the day of election. 
I do not know that they said anything about their intention of going 
and returning. I saw some of them vote. I was not there all the 
time; but others, whom I did not see vote, told me they voted. There 
was some excitement during the election, but nothing very serious — 
but a little knock-down — some of our old Kentucky election fights. I 



28 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

know some of the citizens who did not vote, but only _vnow the reasons 
from them. I voted that day for Mr. Whitfield. The following are 
the names of those on the poll-beoks who were resideats iiere at that 
time: Samuel F. Few, A. McAuley, Jerey Clark, James W. Rich, 
Asa Smith, Francis A. Hart, David Brassheld, Nicholas Lockerman, 
G. W. Riley, Green D. Todd, A. Russell, Zachariah Mills, Jeremiah 
Howell, Wm. Dawson, Miles Shannon, Jas. Noble, C. McCrea, Geo. 
D, Stevenson, Stephen Noble, G. B. Panton, L. D. Pitcher, Adam 
Linhart, S. H. Burgess, R. E. Saunders, John Thomas, John P. 
Richardson, H. C. Dunn, H. D. McMeekin, J. B. Hyatt, Eli Moore, 
John Reed, Wm. G. Mathias, J. Hoyt, Wm. Large, A. T. Pattie, 
Wm. M. Bukum, D. Scott Boyle, Hiram Rich, Wm. B. Simmonds, 
R. H. Fielding, Thomas C. Bishop, Wm Wallace, John R. Mize, 
Stephen Sparks, M. F. Conway, R. R. Rees, J. K. France, Thos. S. 
Sloakum, Wm. Sparks, Zach, Sparks, Daniel Creech, J. T. Hook, E. 
K. Adamson, Wm. L. Blair, Hiram Kelly, J. E. Grant, Franlclin 
Keyes, Floyd Shannon, A. Payne, A. Cunningham, Michael Kelly, 
Daniel C. Ames, Wm. Tanner, John M. White, Godfrey Grase, F. 
Engleman, John A. Lindsay, Adam Deitz, Robert. L. Ream, B.L. 
Sellers, John Owens, Wm. Engleman, M. France, H. M. Hook, 
John Wallace, T. B. Silkman, F. E. Bird, Clement Naif, George 
Keller, John J. Bentz, John Keffer, J. H. Day, L. F. Mills, L. J. 
Eastin, Jos. H. Edsall, R. Coakland, Charles Leib, W. S. Yoke, 
Saml. France, G. M. Fisher, Lewis N. Rees, Jones Creach, James 
Skinner, N. Sage, Adam Fisher, Henry Smith, John Smith, (97 in 
all.) 

The following list are the names of persons on the poll-books I know 
to have been residents of Missouri at that time ; the rest I do not 
know, and cannot tell where they belonged : Malcolm Clark, Ricliard 
Stoddard, J. V. Chance, Jarret Todd, Thos. L. Owens, Geilin L. 
Brown, Pleasant Ellington, Wm. T. Yokum, John Moore, John 
Dunn, Thos. Owens, Wm. S. Murphy, J. M. Guthrie, G. B. Red- 
mon, James H. Hull, Robert Todd, Isaac S])ratt, A. Dawson, J. 0. 
Thomson, C. D. Elliott, A. H . Scott, S. J. Johnson, George Young, 
H. H. C. Harrison, John Drew, Robert Maddox, Dugan Fonts, (27 
in all ) 

I do not recollect that these strangers told me whom they voted for. 
They said they came here to make this a slave State. Mr. Vineyard 
told me that he intended to vote, did vote, and would come over hero 
to vote at every election, as he thought it was riglrt; and he wished 
to make this a slave State, and he had the same object in the delegate 
election. Flanigan was considered the Free-State candidate, and 
Whitfield the Pro-slavery candidate. Some of these men came on 
boats the morning of the election, and some in wagons the day before. 
I knew a great many citizens of the district wlien I saw them, but I 
could not call all their names. I was generally acquainted through 
the neighborhood here and at Salt creek, but not so well in oihec 
parts of tlie district. I should think tl^ere were from 100 to 200 who 
were strangers and came over from Missouri. I should not think 
are could poll more than 150 or 200 votes at that time. My house 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 29 

and Captain Eees's house were the first huilt here, and there were 
hut few others here at that time. 

Cross-examined hj Mr. Whitfield : 

I could not tell where all the strangers came from ; some of them 
told me they had come from Missouri. Some of the companies had 
men who were acquainted with me, and who called on me and told 
me they had brought a good company along. The candidates on that 
day were Mr. Whitfield and Mr. Flanigan. I do not kno^v where 
Mr. Flanigan lived then, or lives now. He was here at that time, 
and I understood he was from Pennsylvania. He told me he was 
building a house on Salt creek, but I have never seen it. His nephew, 
I think, occupied it, and occupies it now. He had a son with him, I 
think. I cannot say how long he remained here after the election ; 
not more than a week, I think. I have never seen him in the country 
since. I cannot say whether his son went with him or not, then. 
His nephew, Mr. Phelan, I think, did not go away with Flanigan. I 
cannot say who Mr. Flanigan came with to this Territory, but I saw 
him here at times, for some two or three months before the election. I 
think he was here before October. I cannot say whether he came 
with, after, or before Governor Reeder. I know that he was here, but 
cannot say exactly when he came or whom he came with. There 
were some circulars put out, but I do not recollect the purport of them 
now, as I had no reason to think about them. I do not know of any 
otiicr free-State men who were here and took a prominent part in the 
election and left — except, perhaps, I should hear the names. I do not 
recollect the name of Coates. I recollect a Dr. Leib who was here. 
I cannot think of ©ther free-State men who were here at the time of 
the election, who left immediately after the election. I think likely 
I saw Flanigan's circular that was out, but I have no idea what it 
was, I took it for granted that most of the officers of the fort went 
for you. I tliink Dr. Leib was appointed to carry out messages, but 
I do not (know) what he was doing altogether. I thoagiit very little 
of the man, and therefore paid very little attention to him. 

There were large crowds about my hotel all the time. I was very 
busy, and was in my house most of tlie time, being but occasionally 
out. My business called me a gr^at many times down to the store 
and office, after provisions and goods, and that was the most I attended 
to. The people were encamped just about here in different places, 
where they could get grass and water and be handy to town. I was 
not in the encampment. I do not know who were there, except that 
some of my most intimate neighbors told me that they were camped 
there and had their own provisions, and made apologies for not pa- 
tronizing me. 1 saw wagons there belonging to persons who were my 
neighbors in Missouri. I heard some say that one of their reasons 
for coming here to vote was, that a candidate had been imported here 
upon them, and great efforts were being made to bring voters here 
against them. I do not recollect what hobby Mr. Flanigan was run 
on. I know I did not vote for him. There were at that time many 
persons coming over into Kansas and moving about, and great excite- 
ment about claims, &c. Some of them told me they voted, and the 



30 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

major part of tliem I talked witli told me they had voted or intended 
to vote. 

The companies from Clay and Ray counties told me they voted. I 
do not know whether the majority of those people went back into Mis- 
souri or about in the Territory. I know they left. A great many 
Missourians have settled in this Territory. There were, I think, 
many Missourians who came over that faU, made claims, did some 
work upon them, went back and wintered in Missouri, and then came 
back to the Territory in the spring. I do not know whether persons 
in Missouri along the borders were waiting for the passing of the Ne- 
braska bill, and the making of treaties with the Indians, to come over 
here and make claims. I did not see more fighting here and excite- 
ment at that election, than I have often seen at elections in the west- 
ern country. It is a common thing to have fights at elections. 1 do 
not (know) whether because they are put off till election day or not. 
I think at that first election General Whitfield received a majority of 
the voters of the district that I knew. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I think there were 100 or 200 persons from Missouri. I conversed 
with a great many from Missouri that I was intimate with. Many, a 
great many, who knew me would come in and give me the time of 
day, and we would have a little chat, and then they would go away. 
I conversed with a gentleman who lives in Eock House prairie, in 
Buchanan county. Mr. Jesse Vineyard told me their determination 
to come here and vote on all occasions. That was prior to the passage 
of the Nebraska bill. I do not think they told me about certain 
associations from the east who intended to control the subject of sla- 
very here. Jesse Vineyard told me that if the bill passed, they in 
tended to come over here and stay long enough to vote at any rate, 
and make this a slave State at all hazards. Judge Almond told me, 
observing to me, " George, we intend to make this a slave State, if 
we have to do it at the point of the bayonet." 

G. H. KELI-:p:R. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 17, 1856. 



LuciAN J. Eastin called and sworn. 
To Governor King : 

I reside in Leavenworth City, and came here in October, 1854^ and 
was present at the November election of that year. It was conducted 
IS ordinary elections in Missouri and Kentucky, in which States I 
formerly resided. I saw no one prevented from voting. There was 
a large crowd around the polls, that made it difficult to get to the 
window where the judges received the votes. I heard persons calling 
to others to give way, to let others get in. These calls were made 
by pro-slavery men. I saw no man vote whom I knew to be a Mis- 
sourian, although I saw a good many Missourians here, many of 
whom told me tliey did not vote. There were others among the Mis- 
•sourians who had come over a day or two previous, and said they had 



KANSAS APFATES. 31 

made claims, and intended to reside here, "but miglit not be able to 
remain here during the winter ; a good many of them are lesidents 
of the Territory, who came in the spring following, with their prop 
firty and families. This class of men may have voted, but I do not 
know that fact. 

I had the list of legal voters of that election. The Pro-slavery 
party at that election, as I believe, had a majority of from sixty to 
seventy-five votes in this district, as I was well acquainted with the 
voters, and made out a list with other persons, who knew men that I 
did not know ; and this was the result, after giving all the doubtful 
.-otes to the Free-State party. The last two hours before the polls 
were closed, there were but few persons around the polls, and no dif- 
ficulty in any one giving his vote. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Mr. McAuley, I think, and Mr. Alexander, and some others, as- 
sisted me in making the list. I took the names of such as I believed 
to be legal voters, including some who had made claims in the Ter- 
ritory, of the class I have above referred to, where they had made 
statements to come over, and of having made claims ; we then classi- 
fied the votes between the two parties. I can't state how many we 
gave to each party, as the list is lost. I only remember the majority. 
I can only guess at the aggregate. I can't say how the aggregate 
compared with the poll-books. This list was made out just before 
this election. There were three candidates in the field at that elec- 
tion. Flanigan's position, as he stated it to me, and to the public, 
was tbat of a national democrat, though he preferred Kansas to be a 
free State. Whitfield was considered a pro-slavery democrat. I did 
not see the Missourians, who were over here, vote. They came over 
just to see how the election was going on, as they said to me. They 
were mostly from Platte county — some from Weston, and some from 
just opposite here, and other parts of Platte county. I cannot state 
the number precisely ; but I tbink I saw fifty or more. They rode 
over ; but I don't think they camped. They said they came over to 
see what was going on. I did not want them to come, as I knew we 
could beat the Free-State party, and especially as it was divided 
between Wakefield and Flanigan ; and I think we could have beat 
them if they had been united. My opinion is, if it had been 
necessary to carry the election, they would have tried to vote ; but 
they did not come for that purpose, as far as I know. The majority 
of the judges at that election were free-State men. I did not see any 
of the Missourians vote ; but I can't say whether they did or did not. 
Mr. Twombley, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Burgess were the judges at that 
cL'ction. 

L. J. EASTIN. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 29, 1856. 



LuciAN J. Eastin recallea. 
To Governor King: 
Mr. Flanigan came out here with Mr, P^eeder in October, 1854, 



32 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and soon aunounced himself for Congress in the columas of my paper. 
He was considered as Keeder's candidate, and made no permanent 
residence in the Territory. He was defeated in the election, and left 
immediately for Pennsylvania. He subscribed for my paper, and or- 
dered it sent to that State. He said he was satisfied with Kansas, 
and that it was not the country that he expected to find it. I over- 
heard him say, in a conversation, that he and his friends had no press 
here to defend them, and that their positions were misrepresented. 
Quite a number of his friends, who acted with him and voted for him, 
went away with him, or about the same time. Mr. John Phelan, 
I think, his relative, of Pennsylvania, had handbills printed for 
him, and left with Flanigan. Reeder had proclamations printed for 
the election at my office, and the friends of Flanigan had handbills 
printed at the same time. The friends of the latter took out for dis- 
tribution the proclamations and handbills. Those who took the pro- 
clamations were appointed by Reeder. 

L. J. EASTIN. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., J/a?/ 29, 1856. 



Adam T. Pattie called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I was raised in Eastern Virginia. I reside now in Kansas Terri- 
tory. I first came to Kansas in September, 1854, and have been here 
ever since. I was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854, in 
Leavenworth City. I was generally acquainted with the people in 
this district. I was frequently at the polls on the day of election. 
I voted myself, and I saw how it was conducted, I saw many per- 
sons vote that day. A great many I knew to be residents of the 
district. I saw nobody vote that day who was not a resident of the 
district at that time. I saw some Missourians here that day, and 
heard some of them say that their object was, and the general expres- 
sion of opinion was, that if no non-resident free-soilers were allowed 
to vote, they would not vote. They stated that they came over to see 
a fair election, and not to interfere. The Missourians were armed 
merely with pistols and knives, but not more than it was usual to see 
in this country. I do not think I saw a gun on the ground. I saw 
persons, residents of the Territory, of both parties, with side-arms 
that day, as was customary here for all parties to have. 1 saw no 
violence offered, or any interference with the election ; and I consid- 
ered it as quiet an election as any I had ever seen in Maryland or 
Virginia, There were frequent requests for persons to come up and 
vote ; and I saw no objection to any one going up to vote. The 
prominent candidates at that election were Gen, Whitfield and Judge 
Flanigan, between whom the contest seemed to be. I was not ac-. 
quainted with Judge Flanigan, though I knew him by sight. I un- 
derstood he had been in the Territory but a week or two before that 
election, and never, to my knowledge, had any family in this Terri- 
tory, though I have heard him say he had one in Pennsylvania. He 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 33 

leil in a short time after the election ; bnt I do not think he remained 
here long enough to get the result of the election. I have never heard 
of him since as being in the Territory. Mr. Flanigan represented 
himself to he the Free-State candidate, in opposition to Gen. Whit- 
field, the Pro-slaver J candidate. I never knew of Governor Eeedei 
having a family in the Territory, hut I have heard of his having one 
in Pennsylvania. I know Mr, T. Conway, who was in this place at 
that time, and took an active part in that election. I do not know of 
his challenging any votes that day. He was not a candidate at that 
election, that I know of. I have since become acquainted with Mr. 
Jolly, who was appointed to take the census in the Kickapoo region, 
or the 15th district. Mr. Jolly said he had a family ; that his family 
was in Iowa. I cannot tell how long he remained here after he got 
through taking the census. He had an interest in the town of Grass- 
hopper Falls, aiid I believe has now sold it ; and I do not know that 
he eyer had any permanent abode in the Territory at all, or ever had 
his family here. I am also acquainted with Charles Leib, who was 
appointed to take the census of the 16th district. He said he had a 
family in Pennsylvania. I never heard him say, just before he left, 
that he never had his family in the Territory. I have not seen him 
since then. These census-takers said Gov. Eeeder told them to take 
the census, so as to show where each man came from; and Charles 
Leib said it was so that he could tell their sentiments upon the 
slavery question. I think that in November, 1854, the Pro-slavery 
party had a large majority in this district. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., Maij 27, 1856. 



A. T. PATTIE. 



Thomas Reynolds called and sworn. 
To Mr. Scott: 

I resided at the time of the election of the 29th of November, 1854, 
on what was called '^ Seven-mile " creek, near Fort Riley, and the 
election was held at my house. There were few resident voters — not 
more than five or six not connected with the army — in that voting 
district. All the candidates at that election, we knew of, were Gen- 
eral Whitfield and Judge Flanigan. I do not think any one in our 
neighborhood knew where the election was to be, until the day before 
the election, I was at the fort the day before the election, and Mr. 
Wilson told me who were judges, and that the election was to be held 
at my house the next day. That is the first I heard of it. I had 
been acquainted with Mr. Whitfield, and I voted for Mr. Whitfield 
as the Pro-slavery candidate ; and I regarded Judge Flanigan as the 
Free-State candidate. I think there were some 41 or 42 votes polled 
that day, nearly all of which were given by persons who came from 
about the fort, and were the employees of the general government 
about the fort, and they came from the fort in government wagons, 
with flags flying with the motto of ''Flanigan and Free-State." 
There were seven or eight of these wagons running back and forth all 
H. Rep. 200—3* 



34 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

day. Tnere were many about. Captain Lyon took an active part. 
He told me he was a stockholder in the town of Pawnee, and want€d 
me to take a part in it. I do not know of his voting at that election. 
Dr. Hammond was about, and was the surgeon at the fort. He was 
a stockholder in the town of Pawnee. He voted that day the Free- 
State ticket. Col. Montgomery was in command at that fort. He 
was also a stockholder in Pawnee — was president of the Pawnee Asso- 
ciation. All the baggage-wagons that took the persons to the elec- 
tion from the fort were under his command. The men were drinking 
and hallooing ; and when they got near the house where the election 
was held, the mules in one of the wagons ran off, and broke the wagon 
all to pieces, and hurt several of the men. Two of the judges of 
election belonged to the army; Mr. Lowe, the wagon-master, Mr. 
Mills, head carpenter, and Wilson, a sutler, were those appointed 
by Governor Keeder ; but Wilson did not serve. Nearly all the men 
Yflio came from the fort voted the Free-State ticket. Mr. Lowe, Mr. 
Mills, and Mr. Twombley served as judges ; the two former belong- 
ing to the army. I objected in the morning to the men from the fort 
voting, or acting as judges of election, and they overruled me. Cap- 
tain Lyon said I should not stay in the country unless I would go with 
them. I took it that they meant I must not oppose Pawnee, or hav- 
ing a free State, if I desired to stay in that part of the country ; that 
was the general understanding there. They said Pawnee would be 
the seat of government. I spoke to Gov. Eeeder to call a legislature, 
that we might petition to Congress for a seat of government ; and I 
recommended that plan, and suppose it was the first cause of Pawnee 
heing laid off ; though when it was done, I had no part in it. I do 
not recollect what Eeeder said about a seat of government at that 
time. He said he thought he could do what he wanted without the 
legislature. I had told him we wanted a seat of government, and 
some mail-routes established. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I voted in the evening of that day, after objecting to the election in 
the morning as illegal, because the judges of election were connected 
with the army. I had some hired men there, and some sons who 
were not there, but there were only some five or six legal votes on the 
ground that day. I did not consider those who came to the fort to 
work and not be settlers, as entitled to vote. The carpenter is at the 
fort yet, but never had any claim. I electioneered with some of the 
men from the fort to vote for Whitfield, and they generally said if 
they did they would be turned out of employment ; but I think some 
of the men voted for Whitfield. 

To Mr. Scott : 

Governor E«eder was at the fort several days before the judges of 
election were appointed. I think he staid at Mr. Lowe's house while 
there. THOMAS EEYNOLDS 

Leavefvtorth City, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 35 

C. R. MoBLET called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I resided, on tte 29th. of November, 1854, at Fort Riley, I was 
staying with Lieutenant Polk's mess. 

I was at the election of the 29th of November, 1854. Mr. Wil- 
son, Mr. Lowe, and Mr. Mills were appointed by Governor Reedei 
as judges of election ; but I was appointed by the other judges in place 
of Mr. Wilson, who declined. 

Greneral Whitfield was the Pro-slavery candidate, and Judge Flan- 
igan the Free-State candidate at that election. Dr. Hammond, sur- 
geon of the army at the fort, voted at that election the Free-State 
ticket. The employees of the government at the fort voted that day, 
and voted the Free-State ticket. I handed in the ballots, and they 
generally told what ticket they voted. There must have been three- 
fourths of the votes polled that day polled by the employees of the 
government, and not as settlers. There was a good deal of talk among 
them about claims, but I believe none of them had any claims. There 
were two men who stated that they were from St. Louis, but formerly 
from Ohio, who came the day before the election, voted there the Free- 
State ticket, and left the day after the election. The employee? of 
the government went to the polls in government wagons. Colonel 
Montgomery was in command of the fort at that time, and he and Dr. 
Hammond said they were stockholders in the town of Pawnee at that 
time, as did Governor Reader. 

C. R. MOBLEY. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



H. A. Lowe called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I resided at Fort Riley on the 29th of November, 1854. I was em- 
ployed by the government of the United States as wagon-master at 
the fort. Governor Reeder appointed me one of the judges of election 
on the 29th of November, 1854. I have no doubt Governor Reeder 
knew how I was situated at the fort, as he stopped at my house while 
he was at Fort Riley. Mr. Mills, the boss carpenter of the fort, and 
Mr. Robert Wilson, were the other judges appointed by the governor. 
Mr. Robert Wilson was sutler of the fort at that time. I have no 
doubt that Governor Reeder knew the positions occupied by all the 
judges at the time he appointed them. Mr. Wilson was at that time, 
as I understood, a stockholder in the town of Pawnee ; but Mr. Mills 
and myself were not, and we had no interest in any claims near 
Pawnee at that time. Mr. Whitfield and Mr. Flanigan were the 
candidates at that election — Whitfield the Pro-slavery, and Flanigan 
the Free-State candidate. There was no other question in issue at 
that election, that I know of. Quite a number of men from the fort 
and in government employ, but not soldiers, and not settlers in the 
Territory, were allowed to vote. I should judge about three-fourths 



36 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

perliaps more, of the votes given that day were given by government 
employees, and all, I think, voted' for Flanigan, the Free-State can- 
didate. They were not given to > understand, so far as I knoAV, that 
if they did not vote for Flanigan they would be turned out of employ- 
ment. They went to the poll's. in-<convcyances belonging to the gov- 
ernment. They were principally teamsters, some mechanics, who 
had permission to take the volar ets and go down in them to the polls. 
Colonel Montgomery told me to let these men have these conveyances 
to go down to and return from the polls. He was commandant and 
acting quartermaster of the fort, and a stockholder in the town of 
Pawnee. I saw one flag on one. of these wagons, with the motto oi 
" Flanigan and a Free-State," which came down to the polls about 
the middle of the day. No officer of the army except Dr. Hammond, 
the surgeon, voted that day. He voted the Free-State ticket^ after 
having sworn that he considered himself a citizen of the Territory, 
and that if he was ordered to leave the Territory with the army he 
would resign his commission. The judges thereupon considered him 
entitled to vote. He was a stockholder in the town of Pawnee. 

H. A. LOWE. 
Leavenworth City K. T., May 28, 1856. 



H. Miles Moore called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory to reside in September, 1855, from west- 
ern Missouri, where I had resided for about five years, practising as 
an attorney at law. I had resided in St. Louis a year previous to 
that. I came over to Leavenworth City on the 29th of November, 
1854, to attend the election for delegate to Congress. Arrangements 
had been made throughout western Platte county, and western Mis- 
souri generally, as I have been informed, for the purpose of going 
over there and voting at that election. Messengers had been sent 
from one portion of western Missouri to another, to notify. Meetings 
had been held to make arrangements to come over here on that day 
to vote. For a day or two previous, large numbers had passed 
through Weston to the Territory, on horseback and in wagons, with 
their forage and provisions, from the counties lower down on the 
north side of the river — Clinton, Platte, and Clay counties. I saw 
parties from each of these counties at the hotel ; ^among them, men 
whom I recognised. The companies raised about Weston and PlattQ 
county were generally sent to the back portions of the Territory. 
The lower counties sent men to the precincts near the border. I 
came over myself with a large party from Weston and Platte county 
to Leavenworth ; a large crowd was present then on the ground. The 
election was held at tlie Leavenworth hotel, kept by Keller & Kyle. 
There was a great crowd around the polls all day. There was a gQod 
deal of excitement, and some quarreling and fighting. I remained 
there all day till nearly night. General Whitfield was the Pro- 
slavery candidate; Judge Flanigan was the Free-State candidate. 
All our party from Weston voted for Whitfield. L believe I voted 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 37 

myself tliat day for General Whitfield, but I do not see my name on 
the poll-books. I should think there must have been from 150 to 
200 Missourians who voted there that day. The other Missourians 
who came over said, after they returned, that they went to the 14th 
and 15tli districts, and other districts farther back. I have carefully 
examined the poll-books in the IStli and 16tli districts, and the two 
lists hereto attached, are the names of Missourians whom I know, and 
whose names I find on the poll-books as voting on the 29th of Novem- 
ber, 1854, at the election held in those districts. 

The following is a correct list of names of persons who resided in 
Missouri, and who voted at Leavenworth City, in Kansas Territory, 
at the election held for delegate to Congress at that place, in the six- 
teenth, district, on the 29tli day of November, 1854, as appears by 
a copy of the poll-books of said election herewith shown to me : 

Garrett Todd, John Williams, John Donaldson, James L. Thomp- 
son, W. L. Murphy, William B. Simons, J. M. Guthrie, Eobert 
Wear, Dougan Fonts, Pleasant Elington, Joseph C. Anderson, John 
Moore, Thompson Owens, James L. Hull, J. T. Woodward, Abner 
Dean, C. F. Bedon, Joseph Fonts. 

The following is a list of names who voted as above, as appears 
from the poll-books of said election, on the 29th of November, 1854, 
at the house of Pascal Penconson, in the sixteenth district, said per- 
sons being residents of Missouri at that time: Jesse Morin, Ira Nor- 
ris, W. H. Miller, Hugh McEowen, John Miller, G. H. Layton, S. 
Johnson, Samuel Dixon, Isaac House, Leonidas Oldham, J. B. 
Michell, James Henderson, Henry Debaud, A. E. Oldham, J. L. 
Jenks, Samuel Sapp, Levi Beechen, N. L. Towasen, J. H, Thomp- 
son, James Sweeny, E. F. Duncan, Oscar Bywaters, Thomas L. 
Douglass, E. C. Mason, John Bryant, Eobert Ely, C. B. Hodges, 
William Young, William Dryman, John A. G. Fisher, N. E. 
Greene, Colonel L. Burnes, Craven Colvert, Samuel M. Bowman, N. 
B. Laman, Benjamin Yokam, Allen Pullen, J. M. Mulkey, John 
Cook, James Bolton, Z. J. Thompson, Levi Bowman, William Ful- 
lon, G. M. Quimby, J. B. Crain, Job Eobins, Alfred Allen, Jona- 
than Lacey, James L. Eeisenger, J. D. Pepper, S. H. Oliphant, 
Samuel Pepper, Warner Blanton, Jacob Metice, Phmeas Skinner, 
James A. Burnes, Nathan Nuby, George Kitchen, Asa Yanlanding- 
liam, Henry Adams, E. S. Staggs, Judge H. B. Almond. 

There were a great many names on the poll-books that I do not 
think were residents of the sixteenth district ; but I do not know 
where they were from. I do not know the names of those from 
the lower counties, as a general thing, and they came mostly to the 
border precincts. Since I have moved into the county of Leaven- 
worth, I have become acquainted with a majority of the residents 
here. The men who voted for Judge Flanigan had no chance to get 
to the polls easily, as the mob about the polls kept them away. If a 
man hurrahed for General Whitfield, he would get to the polls easily. 
Mr. Coates, now of Kansas City, was standing near the polls, and 
expressed his disapprobation of the way afiairs were going on, and the 
mob immediately drove him away, threatening him very severely. 
While the voting was going on, the window where votes were taken 



88 KANSAS AFPAIES. 

was broken in by stones being thrown at it. After we got tbrougb 
voting, and the polls were closed, we returned to Weston, Missouri, 
as we came, in wagons and on liorseback. 

H. MILES MOORE. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 29, ,1856. 



Wm. G. Mathias called and sworn. 
To Mr. Scott; 

I came to Kansas Territory, and landed at Leavenworth City, on 
the 23d day of November, 1854, from Maryland ; and I was present 
at the election of the 29tli of November, 1854, at Leavenworth City. 
Not having been in the Territory a great while, I did not know many 
people, or where they were from ; but I saw a great many faces that 
day that I have since recognised as citizens of that county. J. W. 
Whitfield, pro-slavery, and Judge Flanigan, free-State, were the can- 
didates that day. The voting had commenced when I got to the 
polls. There was a considerable crowd about the window, which on 
that account was somewhat difficult of approach. This difficulty was 
experienced by persons of both parties. My position was known by 
men of both sides, and I attempted two or three times to get to the 
window, and was crowded back. Malcolm Clark, and two others, 
were appointed to assist persons to get to the window ; and even then 
it was difficult. I had made my position known, in a discussion in 
the street that morning, and I suppose almost every one on the ground 
knew that I was a Whitfield man. I saw a few men, of both parties, 
with side-arms — not many, however ; and went to the election with 
some six or seven friends of Flanigan, who all had pistols and 
bowie-knives ; but I did not have any myself. At the election I saw 
no unusual disturbance. I saw no attempt to hinder any one from 
voting, whether pro-slavery or free-State. The tickets were of differ- 
ent colors, so that all the votes given could be designated, and I sup- 
pose the crowd were standing around the window to count the votes 
fiven in, and thus see who was ahead. I was introduced to Judge 
lanigan that day. He was boarding at Parson Kerr's, at the fort. 
I do not think I ever saw him after the day of election. Shortly 
after the day of election I went myself to board at Parson Kerr's, and 
Flanigan had left. 

WILLIAM G. MATHIAS. 
Westport, Missouri, Jwne 6 1856 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



39 



December 4, 1854. — The judges of the several election districts made 
return of the votes polled at the election held on the 29th day of No- 
vemher last for delegate to the House of Kepresentatives of the United 
States, from which it appears that the votes in the said several dis- 
tricts were as follows, viz : 



Dlstricta. 










a 


CO 

. s 

a 


K 


t-i 
a; ^ 

S <u 


1 




First.- » 


46 
235 

40 
140 

63 
105 
597 

16 

9 

2 

237 

31 

69 
130 
2,7 
232 

49 


188 
20 

'"21" 

4 


51 

6 

7 


9 


2 


2 


1 


1 


Second . 




Tliird 


1 










Fourth ■ 










Fifth 


15 












Sixth. -- 












Seventh . 




7 












Eighth 












Ninth 




31 

29 
3 

i 

23 
39 
80 
13 












Tenth ._ 












Eleventh 


5 

1 










Twelfth 










Thirteenth 










Fourteenth 












Fifteenth 












Sixteenth 












Seventeenth . .- __.. 
























Total 


2,258 


248 


305 


16 


2 


2 


1 


1 


fet 


-r"^ 



December' 5, 1854. — On examining and collating the returns, J. 
W. Whitfield is declared hy the governor to be duly elected delegate 
to the House of Eepresentatives of the United States, and on the same 
day a certificate of the governor, under the seal of the Territory, issued 
to said J. W. Whitfield of his election. 



First District. 
List of voters at Laivrence, November 29^ 1854. 



1 Stafford J. Pratt 

2 John N. Mace 

3 Theodore J. Wells 

4 Joseph Savage 

5 John Bruce, jr. 

6 H. C. Safford 

7 Luke P. Lincoln 

8 John Levy 



9 Hamsin Williams 

10 Calvin H. Survin 

11 Edward P. Fitch 

12 Otis H. Lamb 

13 Tilly Gilbert 

14 Orin 0. Nichols 

15 De Witt C. Barrett 

16 John W. Carlton 



40 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



17 Horace A, Hancock 

18 David C. Buffam 

19 Kobert Buffam 

20 Ferdinand Fuller 

21 John F. Wilson 

22 James H. Gleason 

23 Robert L. Mitcbell 

24 John 0. Gordon 

25 Joseph McKnigbt 

26 Albert D. Searl 

27 James Tegart 

28 Hugh Cameron 

29 Carnie W. Babcock 

30 Joseph W. Russell 

31 Ellis Bond 

32 Samuel N. Wood 

33 Ayro Hazen 

34 George F. Earl 

35 William Evans 

36 George W. Partridge 

37 Samuel Kimball 

38 James F. Meriam 

39 William B. Lee 

40 Edward Clark 

41 Oliver A. Hanscom 

42 Erastus D. Ladd 

43 Lyman D. Hubbard 

44 Joseph Cracklin 

45 John H. Dean 

46 Rufus H. Waleman 

47 Bryce W. Miller 

48 Samuel N. Simpson 

49 Brainerd B. Track 

50 John Hubbinson 

51 Ira W. Ackly 

52 James B. Abbott 

53 Daniel Lowe 

54 Samuel E. Martin 

55 Lewis L. Litchfield 

56 John Frye 

57 Josiah Miller 

58 Robert G. Elliot 

59 Bernard M. Partridge 

60 William Ricker 

61 Jonathan M. Burleigh 

62 John Mack 

63 William H. Hovey 

64 Robert Hooton 

65 Josiah G. Fuller 

66 Orville D. Smith 

67 Joshua Thaxter 



68 Joshua A. Pike 

69 Sidney B. Dudley 

70 Horatio N. Bent 

71 William Woniken 

72 George W. Reed 

73 Freeman R. Foster 

74 John Armstrong 

75 David Purinton 

76 Frederick Kimbafl 

77 John H. Lyon 

78 David Condit 

79 Leonard G. Higgins 

80 George Tilton 

81 David B. Leif kin 

82 Albert Alverson 

83 Philip Cook 

84 Ansin H. Mallory 

85 Stillman Andrews 

86 John Collins 

87 Hugh Pettingal 

88 Amos Finch 

89 George W. Chapin 

90 John Wilson 

91 Charles Blunt 

92 Samuel Merrill 

93 James A. Corlew 

94 Robert J. Wolf 

95 George Levy 

96 James Whitlock 

97 Daniel P. Hadley 

98 Michael Albin 

99 Jonathan F. Taber 

100 Joseph Eberhart 

101 William A. Gentry 

102 Alfred V. Coffin 

103 Henry S. Eberhart 

104 Lewis J. Eberhardt 

105 Edwin Bond 

106 Jacob Etront 

107 Wilder Knight 

108 Luke Corlew 

109 Fields Bledsoe 

110 Josiah Hutchison 

111 John Pearson 

112 Washington Brians 

113 Carless Day 

114 Enoch Reed 

115 John H. Doty 

116 Daniel Say re 

117 John Pieratt 

118 Frederick W. King; 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



41 



119 Lewis Howe 

120 Thomas C. Still 

121 James M. Still 

122 Orin Pettingall 

123 Solomon Lapliam 

124 Henry W. Feck 

125 Saphi H. Talsom 

126 Jesse Whitrow 

127 Josiali M. Reed 

128 Henry T. Root 

129 Jacob Shidoler 

130 M. Soiley 

131 A. Still 

132 T. Roah 

133 Jolin Renell 

134 M. D. Johnson 

135 Robert McFarland 

136 John McFarland 

137 Sylvester H. Davis 

138 John A. Lowry 

139 John C. Davidson 

140 Chester C. Grout 

141 Henry Bronson 

142 N. Heneck 

143 L. Kibbey 

144 T. G. Muvy 

145 L. N. Dailey 

146 N. B. Blouton 

147 Henry Davis 

148 Robert A. Gumming 

149 Charles A. Gray 

150 Enoch Houland 

151 James D. Pooge 

152 Alexander Sebastian 

153 Ely B. Purdom 

154 Marshall Miller 

155 Abel F. Hutull 

156 Henry G. Young 

157 John C. Mopmon 

158 Frederick Roff 

159 Andrew White 

160 Noah Cameron 

161 Robert Hughes 

162 L. Farly 

163 James L. Stephens 

164 David Eldridge 

165 Clark Crone 

166 John Morehead 

167 Isaac Shoop 

168 Samuel N. Shortwell 
•1,69 iBenjamia Johnsoa 



170 
171 
172 
173 
174 
175 
176 
177 
178 
179 
180 



183 

184 
185 

186 

187 



Solomon Wildis 
Robert Wilkinson 
W. Turner 
James Turner 
W. M. Davis 
Robert Allen 
H. Clarke 

Absalom W. White 
Clarkson M. Wallace 
Joel K. Godin 
James Williams 

181 Alfred Payne 

182 S. J. Willis 
John C. Archabl 
Forester Hill 
Daniel H. Brooks 
Charles Jorden 
T. J. Stone 

188 Ligon S. Bacon 

189 Silas K. Holliday 

190 E. Dizleo 

191 Nathan F. Herrick 

192 Henry D. Graves 

193 William C. Gibbons 

194 Thomas Henry 

195 Clark Tefft 

196 Edwin S. Dexter 

197 Samuel Corner 

198 Samuel S. Snyder 

199 William Hale 

200 John H. Miller 

201 Solomon G. Durkee 

202 Thomas Overfield, 2d 

203 James Reed 

204 Joseph Lovelace 

205 William Feguson 

206 Jonathan F. Morgan 

207 George W. Kent 

208 John Dog 

209 Jared Carter 

210 James Blood 

211 Willard Colboum 

212 Sidney J. Case 

213 John L. Crane 

214 Francis 0. ToUis 

215 Justin Lewis 

216 Charles W. Dow 

217 William Lyon 

218 Albert T. Bercaw 

219 James S. Co watt 

220 Jordan Neil 



42 



KANGAS AFFAIES. 



221 Isom Taylor 

222 Achilles Smith 

223 William Kitchingham 

224 Hiram C. Covill 

225 Chalmers J. Eoberts 

226 Harris Stratton 

227 Silas Wayne 

228 John H. Turman 

229 Clark Stearns 

230 Martin Adams 

231 James A, Pavidson 

232 Thomas J. Ferril 

233 Aohilles B. Waide 

234 Edward B. Johnson 

235 Job Van Winkle 

236 Granville 0. Mitchell 

237 Joseph D. Barnes 

238 George Strohridge 

239 Moses Taylor 

240 Carles Hall 

241 John A. Shafer 

242 Josiah H. Pillsbury 

243 Simon Hopper 

244 John H. Wilder 

245 Charles W. Persall 

246 Napoleon D. Short 

247 Samuel Y. Lune 

248 Charles P. Turnsworth 

249 Edward Jones 

250 Elmore Allen 

251 Stephen Ogden 

252 Norman Allen 

253 Levi Ferguson 

254 William N. Baldwin 

255 John N. Ladd 

256 Calvin G. Hoyt 

257 Henry T. Saunders 

258 John Baldwin 

259 Samuel C. Harrington 

260 John Ogden 

261 C. Howard Carpenter 



262 Joseph K. Tewkshury 

263 Francis Barker 

264 William Corel ■ 

265 Levi Gates 

266 Jackson Sellers 

267 George E. Holt 
288 Edward Winslow 

269 Samuel Kennedy 

270 Theo. E. Benjamin 

271 Harrison Nichols 

272 Asaph Allen 

273 James M. Steele 

274 George L. OBhorne 

275 William Yales 

276 William Matthews 

277 Jonathan — 

278 Charles Eohinson 

279 Franklin Haskell 

280 James S. Griffin 

281 Samuel J. Johnson 

282 John Hopper 

283 William Lykins 

284 Franklin Hopper 

285 Van Eensselaer Morse 

286 Jame^ Correll 

287 David' R. Hopper 

288 John Anderson 

289 Horner Hayes 

290 Ransom Calkin 

291 Caleb S. Pratt 

292 Jeremiah Spencer 

293 Joel Grover 

294 John Mailey 

295 Thomas R. Wells 

296 Charles Stearns 

297 Samuel F. Tappan 

298 Ephraim H. Dennott 

299 Joshua Smith 
800 James S. Emery 
301 Jerome B. Taft 



Second District. 
PoU-loohj Daiiglaa City. 



X William H. Russell 

2 H. B. Lacy 

3 W. H. Hymer 



4 C. R. Barnes 

5 G, L. Potts 

6 R. C. Ewing 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



43 



7 J. J. Peart 

8 C. B. Pearson 

9 J. M. Woff 

10 J. P. Stoueshut 

11 W. H. Trigg 

12 K. Crump 

13 Job Pliillips 

14 W. E. Howard 

15 H, C. Koon 

16 Upton Hays 

17 W. S. Wills 

18 Simon Moon 

19 J. R. Durritt 

20 W. H. Beddoe 

21 S. Hays 

22 T. A. Smart 

23 D. J. Penn 

24 M. Beagle 



25 
26 
27 
28 



J. Kirby 
J, S. Warren 
P. D. Elkins 
J. W. Brooks 

29 W. G. Wickerson 

30 W. B. B. Brown 

31 W. F. Griner 

32 J. Hornbuckle 

33 N. B. Thoors 

34 H. H. Ratliffe 

35 William Proctor 

36 J. F. Berry 

37 S. M. Duncan 

38 William Rice 

39 F. J. Drumond 

40 E. W. Holbut 

41 E. H. McClunnaban 

42 J. L. Hoffman 

43 D. Anderson 

44 R. S. Atkins 

45 B. B. Potts 

46 J. P. Hardy 

47 W. Thatcher 

48 J. A. Barton 

49 S. C. Coombs 

50 W. F. Berry 

51 J. H.Mosely 

52 R. White 

53 A. 0. Bangs 

54 B. J. Taylor 

55 R. S. Lorian 

56 B. F. Sillary 

57 M. L. Crustoe 



58 J. 

59 J. 
|60 0. 

61 J. 

62 J. 
63 

!64 



L. 
J. 



65 H. 

66 G. 

67 a 

68 H. 

69 M. 

70 T. 

71 A. 

72 J. 

73 J. 

74 C. 

75 J. 

76 R. 

77 J. 

78 L. 

79 F. 



80 
81 
82 
83 
84 



85 W 

86 M. 

87 L. 

88 J. 

89 J. 

90 0. 

91 L. 

92 L. 

93 J. 

94 W 

95 D. 

96 J. 

97 F. 

98 J. 

99 D. 

100 F. 

101 H. 

102 W 

103 B. 

104 E. 

105 S. 

106 E. 

107 B. 

108 E. 



V. Webb 

West 

F. Dunkin 

H. Pitts 

Michalson 

C. Haggard 

Landis 

C. Foreman 
W. Walker 
Smith 

L. Simpaou 
J. Codin 
M. Brooka 
Hays 
A. Price 
Showalter 
J. Mericks 
H. Gaines 
J. PongoR 
T. Wright 
J. Adkms 
J. Huffigei' 

F. Hawkins 

D. Kinkado 
Dillard 

H. Wells 
S. Huff 
. P. Boiler 
S. Winn 
J. Winchester 

G. Adkins 
W. Self 
Smith 

F. Robinson 
Adams 
D. Lahay 
. H. Scroggs 
J. Cunningham 
Morgan 
Hatton 
M. Ragan 
Peters 
J. Staples 
J. Higgins 
. B. Mitchell 
T. Brown 
Waller 
D. Hogar 
Dickerson 
F. Thompsou 
T. Crumer* ., 



44 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



109 J. ilockroday 


WJ160 A. Holyclaw 


110 E. S. Cramer 


161 S. Crowait 


111 C. J. White 


162 J. F. Burton 


112 A. J. McCnnnahan 


163 J. W. Carman 


113 L. A. Talbot 


164 J. F. Mills 


114 W. J. Burnett 


165 G. F. Hughs 


115 W. Wirn 


166 F. Myres 


116 a. W. Hall 


167 H. A. Hunter 


117 H. K. Hensliaw 


168 G. W. Clark 


118 A. Collins 


169 J. Emmons 


119 J. K. Burnett 


170 J. Ecton 


120 J. Mason ■ 


171 A. CromptoD 


121 Wm. Leggett 


172 Levi Owen 


122 S. Tilden 


173 D. Maloney 


123 J. Perley 


174 J. B. Nichols 


124 Wm. Nichols 


175 G. Swalsoner 


125 J. F. Neill 


176 J. B. Crandle 


126 H. Morton 


177 A. Kinkade 


127 W. W. Johnson 


178 B. T. Risor 


128 J. P. Bird 


179 W. B. Evans 


129 D. W. Mauley 


180 J. S. Campbell 


130 J. King 


181 J. C. Evans 


131 J. W. Furritt 


182 W. D. Dickey 


132 J. M. Dunn 


183 C. Adams 


133 E. M. Walhert 


184 S. Tyer 


134 L. L. Bennett 


185 Wm. Campbell 


135 F. E. Long 


186 W: R. Thompson 


136 P. P. Laform 


187 Hardy Willis 


137 S. McGaughey 


188 V. Thompkins 


138 F. McMannetry 


189 T. Simmon 


139 J. F. McLean 


190 J; W. Chamberlin 


140 J. A. Winn 


191 Wm. N. Simmons 


141 S. H. Woodrou 


192 A . Rickton 


142 J. Parsons 


193 J. B. Forman 


143 J. C. Coons 


194 Jas. M. Dunn 


144 J. Anderson 


195 R. W: Custwood 


145 J. Breton 


196 Thos. Shaw 


146 N. L. Davis 


197 F. Bushford 


147 G. H. Holbert 


198 Aug.. Smith 


148 A. B. H. McOee 


199 John Scott 


149 G. W. Ellis 


200 C. C. Kummey 


150 R. H. Hix 


201 John Snyder 


161 W. H. Kerr 


202 Thos. Scott 


152 F. E. Lahey 


203 David Simpson 


153 R. H. Holyclaw 


204 G. H. Snyder 


154 J. C, Bethicord 


205 B. Callahan 


155 D. Trigg 


206 J. T. Brady 


156 T. A. Ogden 


207 L. P. Wills 


157 T. J. Smith 


208 H. S. McClemnar 


158 Wm. M. Strait 


209 N. Lydor 


159 W. B. Boggs 


210 W. A; May 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



45 



211 James C. Eanson 

212 T. J. Lockridge 

213 Wm. Justin 

214 J. A. Smith 

215 J. Ai Wakefield 

216 H. C. Addison 

217 H. Alderman 

218 J. H. Murpliy 

219 W. A. Hord 

220 0. W. Smith 

221 H. C. Muzzy 

222 Thos. H. Hensley 

223 H. J. Noland 

224 Jas. Shaw 

225 T. A. Bailey 
22(s Geo. Biddle 
221 Jas. W. Hix 

228 H. H. Connor 

229 H. D. Wakefield 

230 L. Barnett 

231 Wm. Luckett 

232 C. Shoon 

233 Geo. Davis 

234 Wm. Warren 

235 Lidbas Mason 

236 J. J. Hiottom 



237 B: Fendget 

238 W. C. Beatie 

239 Nath. Kamsey 

240 H. Benson 

241 W.D.Hall 

242 E. Bell 

243 0. Sprodling 

244 A. Plendricks 

245 Samuel Jones 

246 E. Doke 

247 J. Jones 

248 T. Lahay 

249 J. W. Hendricks 

250 Wm. Kelley 

251 F. H. Hendricks 
452 Thos. Bond 

253 M. Grant 

254 Wm. Limmerick 

255 W. W: Withers 

256 Geo. W. Ward 

257 P. Ellison 

258 J. T. Cramm 

259 E. Connor 

260 J. Cathor 

261 J. Vance 



Third District. 
List of voters in the third district. 



1 George Holmes 

2 Thomas C. Shoemaker 

3 Thos. N. Stensen 

4 J. W. Hays 

5 G. M. Holloway 

6 Zephaniah Plummer 

7 David Copeland 

8 J. T. Swatzell 

9 W. A. Sublete 

10 John Homer 

11 L. B. Slateler 

12 H. N. Watts 

13 William E. Collins 

14 James M. Herron 

15 M. J. Mitchel 

16 W. Vaughan 

17 Anthony Ward 

18 J. K. Warren 

19 James M'Connell 



20 John Andrew Jackson 

21 James Wiseman 

22 Horatio Cox 

23 John Salivy 

24 Jeremiah Preston 

25 D. L. Crysdale 

26 Eobert H. Matthews 

27 Charles Bougshea 

28 William Matingley 

29 Noble Barron 

30 A. G. Brown 

31 F. A. Wentworth 

32 Jesse Michiner 

33 Preston HufFaker 

34 Will. D. Owens 

35 Stephen Scott 

36 James M. Small 

37 Hiram Dawson 

38 Francis Grassmuck 



46 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



39 D. Updegraff 

40 Thomas Handlin 

41 L. D. Ohilson 

42 Jeremiah. Miccum, 

43 J. Tyler 



44 James N. Steward 

45 Charles Jordan 

46 Osborne Nailer 

47 Alfred T. Byler 

48 A. D. M. Hand 



FouKTH District. 

List of votes given at an election held at the house of Dr. Jerrod Chap-' 
man, in the fourth' district, Kansas Territory, on the 2^th day of No- 
vember, A. D. 1854. 



1 Dr. J. Chapman 

2 J. T. Kriser 

3 Charles White 

4 Wm. P. Hubbel 

5 T. R. Rule 

6 James Price" 

7 W. H. Liguan 

8 Evan Hall 

9 a. W. Withers 

10 S. 8. McKinney 

11 a. W. Allen 

12 L. Kerr 

13 B. C. Moore 

14 a. H. McNiely 

15 R. Hill 

16 James Morrison 

17 H. T. Chils 

18 A. B. Smith 

19 Otho Hall 

20 J. W. Mamron 

21 J. A. Finley 

22 J. P. Withers 

23 John Price 

24 M. Simons 
26 R. P. Wood 

26 J. Campbell 

27 S. P. S. Sitroll 

28 Wm. HuU 

29 John Scudder 

30 W, T.Stewart 

31 John Neil 

32 James Gray 

33 J. M. Reynolds 

34 Thomas Chandler 

35 a. W. Shoemaker 

36 J. S. Dawson 

37 G. Harper 



38 W. H. Russell 

39 T. D. Cooper 

40 AVill. Grant 

41 John Garrett 

42 R. R. Ball 

43 S. S. Bartleson 

44 Charles Rover 

45 H. C. Brooking 

46 W. Hampton 

47 C. A. Moon 

48 L. S. Brandon 

49 R. M. Williams 

50 G. D. Skidmore 

51 G. W. Hilton 

52 H. P. Muire 

53 J. T. Bartleson 

54 Richard McCamish 

55 W. B. Coats 

56 T. J. Brown 

57 W. T. During 

58 L. M. Dehoney 

59 Jesse Davis 

60 W. C. Thruston 

61 A. D. Harper 

62 R. H. Thominson 

63 W. A. David 

64 A. Crouse 

65 Joseph Bradbury 

66 G. Simons 

67 H. Lowery 

68 C. R. Schull 

69 E. Lamples 

70 D. G. Cameron 

71 James Croker 

72 Thomas Turmua 

73 0. H. Ripators 

74 J. Lipscomb 



KANSAS APFAIKS. 



47 



•75 W. M. McKinney 

76 L. West 

77 J. Syme 

78 J. E. McKinney 

79 F. McKinney 

80 N. M. Breman 

81 Wm. Grase 

82 F. 0. Samerland 

83 Champ. May field 

84 Judge Bernard 

85 Thomas Mockaby 

86 A. F. Powell 

87 John Bidy 

88 H. Owens 

89 S. E. Carpenter 

90 Zach. Johnson 

91 Thomas Pemberton 

92 J. H. McNutt 

93 H. Kurtz 

94 J. S. Wood 

95 W. H. Chase 

96 R. S. Nowland 

97 J. B. Townsend 

98 J. B. West 

99 Joel Scott 

100 J. A. Morill 

101 B. Saffington 

102 F. M. Saffington 

103 S. A. H. Townsend 

104 D. B. Wood 

105 0. Thompson 

106 A. J. Miller 

107 J. J. Herrin 

108 A. B. Gillilkand 

109 J. W. Wood .^ 

110 P. Basinger 

111 E. H. Basinger 

112 E. Hill 

113 J. M. Banks 

114 Joseph Johnston 

115 B. J. Bowers 

116 J. Cummings 

11 7 Samuel Bradberry 

118 R. Hackett 



119 R. B. Young 

120 J. B. Davis 

121 J. H. Lockridge 

122 A. Hanner 

123 Wm. A. Durfne© 

124 J. H. McMurray 

125 Richard Benny 

126 Samuel Garrett 

127 E. Bolwurr 

128 E. J. Curley 

129 Cyrus C. Miller 

130 Samuel B. ThompsoD 

131 R. J. Scott 

132 J. Massir 

133 J. P. Barnaby 

134 R. M. Stish 

135 John Curin 

136 W. S. Ewett 

137 0. Ranol 

138 Wm. Moore 

139 E. Moore 

140 S. H. Moore 

141 D. Hendricks 

142 Perry Fuller 

143 Charles Clarke 

144 Thomas Dotry 

145 Geo. Panius 

146 Samuel Nukmon 

147 John Goreus 

148 F. Barnes 

149 R. Watney 

150 Isaac Watney 

151 D. P. Kuzer 

152 Samuel M. Whenug 

153 G. R. Johnson 

154 John Scarce 

155 A. D. Dale 

156 W. G. Lucket 

157 Miller Essex 

158 Robert Talley 

159 David Luttz 

160 Thomas Teach 

161 Thomas Mclntire 



i^ 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



Fifth District?. 



A list of the names of voters who 
T&i^rltoryy w* the 29iA day of 
greii6. 

1 John 0. Northcut 

2 W. P. ^onke 

3 Jouas R. Ketmore 

4 H. C. Hauiiltou 

5 ». Grotf 

6 S. 0. Shields 
t B. B. Broue 

S A. $. Davenport 

9 W. King 
10 C>. AV. 5;>niith 
HE. Smith 

12 S. Kegen 

13 Gr. W. Kemper 

14 Stv^phen Derenport 

15 Joseph Merrett 

16 ^. 0. Mure 

17 Edward McPherson 
IS Lot Coffman 

19 Morgan Gill 

20 Samuel Wade 

21 W. N. Young 

22 T. M. Poundexder 
33 William Muer 

24 W. T. Monro 

25 W. S. Gregory 

26 Stephen Abstem 

27 Cornelius. Canine" 

28 Henderson Bice 

29 Allen Wilkinson 

30 S. M. Bamond 

31 N. W. Mooney 

32 J. S, Weightman 

33 J. M. Gear heart 
^4 H. Steinfort 

35 T. S. Cicom 

36 H. T. Wimaa 

37 Jerome Cone 

38 B. Callin 

39 J. W. Wilsott 

40 Tobias Heath 

41 H. G. Bandall 



voted at the fifth district in Kansas 
NQvenU)er, 1854, for delegate to Oon- 



42 Calvin Randall 

43 Hiram Thorps 

44 Ammon Gote^ 

45 J. Armstrong 

46 M. Marshall 

47 0. T. Cleaveland 

48 John Kenton 

49 Francis Gokie 

50 John Vanhora 

51 B. N. Kensey 

52 S. M. Hay 

53 Adam Case 

54 J. H. Wisler 

55 B. Kirby 

56 T. B. Harris 

57 Albert Woodfin 

58 S. W. Frogg 

59 G. T. Terris 

60 M, Crowcute 

61 John Scuple 

62 W. Chessnut 

63 John Bose 

64 Thomas Joal 

65 J. D. Swift 

66 0. C. Brown 

67 F. Jones 

68 W. C. Childers 

69 David Lockens 

70 W.N. Haskel 

71 W. C. Kink 

72 B. W. SturgeoQ 

73 D. West 

74 P. J. Potts 

75 W. H: Fenley 

76 T. McCoy 

77 B. P. Campbell 

78 T. Totten (oath) 

79 W. W. Tacket 

80 J. Polk 

81 B. Goulding 

82 J. Buflingtoa 



KANSAS AFFAIES. 



40 



Sixth DudTPicx. 



1 

2 
5 
4 

r> 

7 
8 

10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
10 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
2::{ 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
iJ2 
33 
34 
35 
3C 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
4 a 
44 
45 
46 
47 

48 

H 



John Coyle 


49 


P. D. CumujingB 


50 


Kobe j-t M. Ksslinger 


51 


I'liomat! D. Page 


52 


Iwiac >'. Millfci 


53 


J5. F. Wilkerbon 


54 


J amen W. Arnott 


55 


Jacob Miller 


50 


William A. Randoljjli 


57 


ElJbu Fox 


58 


Jeflersou Co]>eland 


59 


F. Hord 


CO 


a. A. Wade 


01 


Jobu F. Detchemorn 


f;2 


Wjlliaiu Kay 


(".3 


Joliu K. Taggert 
G. W. Woukay 


04 
05 


George Hteru 


00 


K. A. Krowa 


07 


W. H. Palmer 


08 


J.J. JatiUKrr 


09 


E. K. CV.k 


70 


H. JJ. Palmer 


71 


George W. Himonds 


72 


J. H. Priuce 


73 


Johu Jauuary, er. 
F. DewJiit 


74 

75 


William K. Wilmott 


70 


Joliu C Hearue 


77 


William Vermillion 


78 


Jame« Kay 


79 


Jamew T. Kay 


80 


Flinlia McKinney 


81 


Jobu Jauuary, jr. 
JeHM; Kay 


82 

83 


Hptuoar U. Kay 
Samuel Beaver 


84 
85 


B. F. Cotfey 


80 


J. B. Fleming 


87 


William Kobiuson 


88 


Alexander Green 


89 


John Tlionton 


90 


Mat hew Kirk 


91 


Andrew Kirk 


92 


David P, Fleming 


93 


William Irvin 


94 


W. T. Pofeton 


95 


W. Au8ton 


90 


. Kep. 200 4* 





John W. Denton 
C. F- Moherlay 
Thomahi Cumins 
T. fS. Pearson 
JeHhte Copelanu 
W. L. Hants 
G. H. Mc Daniel 
William Painter 
William G. Ingrac? 
G. W. Cluck 
Mathew Hellart 
Francis Voik 
Jacob Simons 
John A. McCoy 
I'homas B. Arnott 
James Mc Henry 
William Givens 
Thomas McMillan 
J. F. Brookhart 
T. J. Goodman 
Harribon A«hlev 
T. E. Owen 
J. W. Parkinton 
J. Jj. Orackett 
J. W. Sharp 
W. G. Watkins 
Thomas Jacob 

A. J. Strumbaugh 

B. F. Hill 

K. T. Lindsay 
William Dunlapj* 
Thomas Cummingf; 
E. C. Haskill 
Jacob Fudge 
Alfred Pyhee 
W. W. Salmon 
G. D. Hansbrougli 
Thomas Watkins 
Gnorge F. Koyston 
W. A. Thompson 
H. T. Wilson 
William Barljee 
William Musgravc 
A. B. Sloan 
William Cass 
William K. Morgan 
J. S. Mitchell 
Kichard Beck 



50 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



97 John Brown 

98 George Mosier 

99 William W. S. Burcli 

100 Enos Willson 

101 R. L. Y. Peyton 



102 Henry Vastel 

103 John S. Rodgers 

104 Jeremiah Penack 

105 Joseph Bollinger 



Seventh District. 

List of voters in the seventh district at an election for delegate to Con- 
gress, held on the 22lh day of November, 1854. 



1 James L. Ball 

2 Geo. F. Asberry 

3 W. W. Amos 

4 S. W. Asberry 

5 P. D. Barker 

6 R. B. Smith 

7 J. R. Anderson, 

8 R. Flurnoy 

9 J. S. Glass 

10 F. F. Sheperd 

11 Thos. Cermwell 

12 A, W. Ervin 

13 John G. Agen 

14 John Passock 

15 0. Bound 

16 T. Rogers 

17 J. 0. Washburn 

18 R. Simson 

19 A F. Brown 

20 J. G. Webb 

21 G. W. Smith 

22 J. D. Hinson 

23 Chas. Whiting 

24 E. J. Brown 

25 John B. Bainbridge 

26 J. M. Boswell 

27 Chas P. Bouda--^. 

28 A. L. T :es 

29 John J. Ingram 

30 C. C. Chiles 

31 J. S. Hamilton 

32 E. T. Douglas 

33 S. J. Fitzgerel 

34 M. Ewing 

35 J. D. Edwards 

36 G. W. McGowan 

37 G. A. Baker 

38 W. 0. Clarkson 



39 R. J. Austin 

40 J. R. Warder 

41 J. Fries 

42 J.' W. Lawrence 

43 S. R. Buckle 

44 N. Colson 

45 P. T. Iroine 

46 W. H. Fox 

47 F. 8. Robertson 

48 W. B. Major 

49 E. L. Hord 

50 L. M. Major 

51 R. M. Hudpeth 

52 James Martin 

53 M. King 

54 A. M. i)uham 

55 J. C. McHatten 

56 M. L. Clarkson 

57 J. Willis 

58 R. E. McDaniel 

59 J. S. Roberson 

60 J. H. Stevenson 

61 L. B. Harwood 

62 W. Robertson 

63 L. L. Washburne 

64 W. D. Iluiman 

65 R. J. Hendrick 

66 W. J. Peak 

67 J. F. Ray 

68 W. 0, Shouse 

69 I. J. Jones 

70 S. G. Calron 

71 Wra. Lauderdale 

72 R. L. Bell 

73 J. M. Carter 

74 E. R. Barnett 

75 R. D. Harris 

76 W. F. Burns 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



51 



77 J. Marland 


128 


W. W. Porter 


•78 G. W. Bake. 


129 


M. Whitaker 


V9 J. H. Douglas 


130 


John McFadin, jr 


80 J.. Roberson 


131 


J. M McGirk 


81 E. Booton 


132 


I. James 


82 S. W. Hamilton 


133 


W. Buker 


83 A. G-. Steele 


134 


J. R. Dillard 


84 T. C. Dogging 


135 


J. A. Elware 


85 S. W. Banton 


136 


A. C. Stone 


86 J. M. Grigsby 


137 


J. W. H. Pattom 


87 J. H. Sanders 


138 


B. F. Harris 


88 H. Bright 


139 


J. Johnson 


89 J. R. Brown 


140 


J. Dillard 


90 F. F. Renicb 


141 


R. Ken 


91 8. W. Wbeler 


142 


L. H. Merdick 


92 J. K. Garnett 


143 


J. A. Mahan 


93 J. H. Brown 


144 


D. J, Falton 


94 W. M. Aiken 


145 


J. R. Page 


95 J. Trowside 


146 


J. Gant 


96 A. Street 


147 


J. Graves 


97 W. R. Bernard 


148 


J. Mann 


98 H. B. Elliott 


149 


L. N. Ross 


99 R. W. Land 


150 


S. Justice 


100 J. S. Jones 


151 


J. Dolarson 


101 D. Vanmeter 


152 


H. L. Trundle 


102 a. B. Warfield 


153 


J. Dowty 


103 W. H. Day 


154 


A. Varren 


104 J. H. Clark 


155 


J. H. Brown 


105 J. W. Brown 


156 


E. Price 


106 W. Jones 


157 


J. R. Warren 


107 W. Boatright 


158 


H. Whaley 


108 J. Sinclair 


159 


J. Hogan 


109 a. Gillespie 


160 


J. A. Jackson 


110 J. Ivms 


161 


J. T. Hinton 


111 L. M. Alexander 


162 


C. Dear 


112 B M. Lanford 


163 


R. G. Smart 


113 D. Cornill 


164 


E. V. White 


114 C. E. Strou 


165 


J. M. Major 


115 W. S. Booker 


166 


J. T. Major 


116 J. 0. Bell 


167 


I. J. Major 


117 J. M. Brown 


168 


J. W. Finley 


118 L. 0. Mason 


169 


D. A. Muir 


119 J. H. Fish 


170 


W. Givens 


120 J. Marsh el 


171 


J. Pearson 


121 J. R. Belts 


172 


G. E. Bellis 


122 D. F. Greenwood 


173 


J. Coles 


123 J. F. Parker 


174 


J. 0. Talbott 


124 J. F. Bledsoe 


175 


T. Windsor 


125 C. Harris > 


T76 


J. S. Percival 


126 J. Elley 


177 A. R. Jacobs 


127 G. W. Foster 


178 A. B. Patterson 



52 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



179 a. W. Muir 

180 W. M. Hutchinson 

181 W. D. Kelly 

182 R. E. Sinmions. 

183 J. Flurnoy 

184 R. C. Simpson 

185 D.J. Waters 

186 G. H. Gordon 
18*7 S. G. Campbell 

188 T. J. Ford 

189 C. J. Kentley 

190 W. L. Janny 

191 W. Noland 

192 D. Burge 

193 S. Hill 

194 H. C. Belles 

195 J. H. Crooks 

196 J. B. Shaw 

197 F. C. Varrion 

198 G. Lewis 

199 B. M. Noland 

200 J. Hicklin' 

201 W. M. Bradford 

202 J. Hincle 

203 D. B. McGirk 

204 W. Hall 

205 W. F. Dowden 

206 S. Kenich 

207 J. West 

208 J. M. Fleming 

209 H. Parrish 

210 F. Abner 

211 J. Chin 

212 J. S. Cog well] 

213 J. Munson 

214 J. M. Minesinger 

215 R. A. Barnett 

216 J. Smith 

217 W. M. Cannan 

218 A. Johnson 

219 W. A. Parrish 

220 R. D. Steele 

221 D. L. Hunter 

222 B. Greene 

223 R. B. Bradford 

224 W. C. Yerby 

225 J. B. Rallen 

226 B. T. Lankford 

227 D. Payne 

228 J. B. bevenport 

229 G. L. Pitcher 



230 A. M. Jones 

231 J. Richerson 

232 N. Mangall 

233 J. Lewis 

234 T. Crabtree 

235 F. M. McGee 

236 C. B. Griffin 

237 J. W. French 

238 J. Clatham 

239 W. L. Ballard 

240 P. Woods 

241 W. Smith 

242 W. Lenearay 

243 E. W. Shumacher 

244 H. Hanberson 

245 N. Hinell 

246 G. W. Hinell 

247 J. C. Anderson 

248 F. P. McGee 

249 S. Ralston 
2c J. W. Watts 

251 W. M. Bowring 

252 C. Jinks 

253 P. Wolf 

254 J. H. McGee 

255 C. A. Linkenanger 

256 J. Shotwell 

257 William Parrisli 

258 L. Steele 

259 G. W. Berry 

260 J. Booker 

261 R. S Price 

262 M. Green 

263 William Ish 

264 L. C. Cook 

265 J. W. Brown 

266 M. A. Reed 

267 W. F. Johnston 

268 W. J. Ellis 

269 William Hanley 

270 D. Turner 

271 L. Z. Noland 

272 Robert Turner 

273 William Daly 

274 J. D. Patrick 

275 B. Hinson 

276 R. E. McDail, jr. 

277 William Riley 

278 John Catron 

279 M. W. McGee 

280 T. P. Shroek 



KANSAS A¥FAmg. 



53 



281 F. A. Counsalor 

282 J. J. Flernining 

283 J. Cariiahan 

284 C. B. Maddox 

285 Preston Hoge 

286 A. M. King 

287 C. H. Whitington 

288 T. Worthington 

289 John Raulston 

290 J. H. Merit 

291 William B. Jones 

292 C. a. Bans 

293 James Critser, (rejected) 

294 J. T. Benson 

295 Solomon Allhores 

296 E. G. Walker, (rejected) 

297 William McKinsey 

298 William L. Perkins 

299 A. J. Smith 

300 James Harris 

301 Charles Smith 

302 John Jotte 

303 J. C. Calhoun 

304 Peter Smith 

305 A. H. Major 

306 W. T. L. Smith 

307 H. Clay, jr. 

308 Joseph Smith 

309 Thomas Smith 

310 Henry Buey 

311 Thomas Trigg 

312 A. D. Bell 

313 Thomas Bell 

314 Isaa.c Rice 

315 John Rice 

316 Joseph Hider 

317 John Lingo 

318 John Beli 

319 James McCiz 

320 A. King 

321 H. Smouse- 

322 John Banden 

323 H. Folch 

324 John Christy 

325 John Davis 

326 Amos Gross 

327 Alpha Gross 

328 M. Boswell 

329 Michael Wagner 

330 John Wagner 

331 John Hoffman 



332 Abram Russell 

333 John Hall 

334 William Hill 

335 Edmund Hill 

336 David Rice 

337 L. Buey 

338 D. McBride 

339 Joseph Hall 

340 Martin Wade 

341 Joseph All 

342 George Long 

343 Isaac Rut'ner 

344 John Svvigert 

345 Steven Russell 

346 C. Knott 

347 William Todd 

348 A. G. Hogus 

349 W. Wintersmith 

350 Robert Taylor 

351 Jacob Mitchell 

352 Charles Julian 

353 Rufus Searse 

354 John Watson 

355 Robert Letcher 

356 John Powell 

357 J. Hershherger 

358 J. M. McAustin 

359 M. Barstow 

360 Edward Zeglor 

361 A. Dudley 

362 John Hampton 

363 B. Luckette 

364 James Rupe 

365 James Davidson 

366 George West 

367 James Batchlor 

368 John Temple 

369 Robert Blackborn 

370 A. Pearson 

371 Josepii White 

372 Thomas Shockley 

373 Olajider Brown 

374 Hugh Ferrell 

375 James Judge 

376 David Passett 

377 John Ruyon, (rejected) 

378 M. C. Burgess 

379 C. Hoard 

380 William Bassett 

381 John Balding 

382 William Morand 



54 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



383 John Eailey 

384 Upton Burgess 

385 Worder Earley 

386 Walter Waddle 
38T J. W. Gray 
388 Dan. Rnnion 
3.89 Ned Eoff 

390 W. Todhunter 

391 John Eoff 

392 William Pluey 

393 Andrew Gibson 

394 Adam Henderson 

395 Edwin Dobins 

396 C. Mitchell 

397 L. X. Day 

398 D. Gant 

399 Andrew Floyde 
,400 Ben. Macky 

401 Abner Hoard 

402 M. E. Logan 

403 C. Cruck 

404 James Wilard 

405 D. G. Williams 

406 George Sharp 

407 H. C. Shotwell 

408 F. H. Cirkpatrick 

409 Eli Eeed 

410 E. J. Torpin 

411 B. Bonard 

412 Eansou Jones 

413 John Kirkpatrick 

414 William Mack 

415 M. Gruber 

416 J. V. Dier 

417 Simpson Shernor 

418 Zachal-iah Sherwood 

419 John Harris 

420 Samuel Coons 

421 Peter Brooks 

422 Henry Samuels 

423 George Helm 

424 William Conrad 

425 F. Hantz 

426 Charles WiMiamg 

427 Jacob Gitt 

428 Z. Corre 

429 Ezra Cline 

430 W. Moare 

431 Henry Putts 

432 F. F. Danaway 

433 Wm. Peters 



434 Jacoh Louck 

435 John Brand 

436 W. W. Dillon 

437 Henry Charles 
4S'8 G. H. Charles 

439 Jackson Bluff 

440 Daniel George 

441 M. Garver 

442 D. Steel 

443 Philip Day 

444 W. Jacobs 

445 Munroe.Lore 

446 Goodlow Long 

447 A. C. H. Long 

448 Jefferson Bledsoe 

449 T. C. Ewing 

450 William Epley 

451 Jacoh Barring 

452 Henry Bathurst 

453 G. Eupp 

454 Peter Stone 

455 P. M. Glolin 

456 Franklin Eeeder 
^57 E. Miers 

458 Eandolph King 

459 A. Warner 

460 Charles Warren 

461 Z. Warner 

462 John Lovejoy 

463 A. Estill 

464 W. Dillingham 

465 George Eause 

466 Samuel Barny 

467 Obadiah Hultz 

468 Charles Hultz 

469 Abraham Chamber 

470 S. Metcalf 

471 E. L. Graves 

472 N. A. Milton 

473 Ben.^Eich 

474 J. Hqdg 

475 J. T. Moorehead 

476 Joseph Gale 

477 Frank Davis 

478 J. M. Davis 

479 P. T. Cann 

480 B. G. Powell 

481 W. Brown 

482 William Mosby 

483 John Moshy 

484 K. Moss 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



66 



485 A. D. Benning 

486 John Bangs 

487 Charles Branson 

488 William AVilliams 

489 J. P. Thomas 

490 William Fort 

491 J. McCawIy 

492 John Mason 

493 William Bingham 

494 J. 0. Young 

495 J. W. Wilson 

496 P. Griffin 

497 John Bowman 

498 Richard Hodge 

499 Pen Mahon 

500 Robert Goodlow 

501 James Bennett 

502 John Gilmore 

503 N. H. Marrow 

504 William Tomson 

505 A. Rutherford 

506 W. Green 

507 John Lyon 

508 E. McBride 

509 A. Ridge 

510 A. Noland 

511 A. Bedford 

512 N. Logan 

513 J. Hassell 

514 A. Crump 

515 H. Wallace 
616 E. N. Higgins 

517 R. J. Hause 

518 M. B. Stuard 

519 P. Tyree 

520 John Black 

521 Charles Fox 

522 H. Willis 

523 W. A. Clinton 

524 J. H. Vernon 

525 J. M. Kelly 

526 M. J. Munroe 

527 C. H. Chism 

528 J. McFarlin 

529 D. B. Williams 

530 S. 1). Hunter 

531 G. W. Bledsoe 

532 John Meadow 

533 M. Bliss 

534 S. Brockman 

535 W. S. Caselmau 



536 Thomas Etter 

537 Wily Thomas 

538 John Curby 

539 Charles Curby 

540 Joseph Zeaball 

541 James Holloway 

542 Lewis Green 

543 John Gann 

544 Jonas Marion 

545 James Marion 

546 George Ferrell 

547 Phares Ferrell 

548 J. W. Renich 

549 Jabal Cudiff 

550 F. B. Burrell 

551 R. A. Snead 

552 D. H. Bowring 

553 William A. Gorden 

554 G. C. Adamson 

555 E. P. Lee 

556 J. a Young 

557 D. Bates 

558 J. A, Emerson 

559 J. H. Chin 

560 Jona. Dean 

561 Charles Triplette 

562 Abner Houston 

563 Drury Crews 

564 Benjamin Emerson 

565 W. A. Chausler 

566 Thomas Harber 

567 W. H. Pollard 

568 R. S. Lomax 

569 Kibble Stonall 

570 Richard Lee 

571 Allen Jennings 

572 Alfred King 

573 J. A. HcHatten 

574 E. W. Carpenter 

575 S. Bonham 

576 J. W. Jacobs 

577 B. W. Sowers 

578 M. Arnold 

579 J. E. Myers 

580 F. Myers 

581 J. S. Brown 

582 J. T. Dodd 

583 J. T. Worthington 

584 William Carse 

585 J. W. Mathews 

586 F. J. Thorp 



56 



KANSAS AFFAIK^. 



587 W. M. Liptwich 

588 J. F. Kingcade 

589 A. T. Simmons 

590 John Elmore 

591 Peter Mali an 

592 Philip Cobbs 

593 James Lomax 

594 M. Pollard 

595 E. Slade 

596 J. Arnold 

59*7 Robert Lindney 



598 Charles Pultz 

599 Henry Somers 

600 W. Metter 

601 H. Snotgrass 

602 L. Early 

603 Peter Darby 
6U4 Godlove Coon 

605 S. C. Wear 

606 J. D. Landewald 

607 William Graves 



Eighth District. 



List of votes given at mi election held at the house of Arthur J. Baker, 
in the eighth district Kansas Territory, on the 29^7i day of November 
A. D. 1854. 

1 John Druratt 

2 Charles T. Gilman 

3 Charles H. Hamilton 

4 Allen Crowley 

5 John A. Kelly 

6 Eli M. Sewell 

7 Torrence Brooks 

8 F. M. Crowley 





9 James C. Mothers 




10 John F. Godell 




11 Morgan De Lacey 




12 Mitchell W. Hogur 




13 D. Wright 




14 Thomas S. Huffulor 


15 G. M. Simork 


16 A. J. Baker 



Ninth District. 

List of the voters of the ninth district at the election held at the house 
of Thomas Eennolds, in the ninth district of the Territory of 
Kansas, on the 2*d(h day of November, 1854, /or the election of dele- 
gate to the House of Representatives of the United States. 



1 W. C. Smith 

2 Michael Ragan 

3 David Jones 

4 W. McNelley 

5 W. A. Hammond 

6 H. T. Karr 

7 T. Conway 

8 H. Westcott 

9 James Glenmon 

10 James Marten 

11 George DeBotts 

12 John Rodly 

13 Robert Willson 

14 J. W. C. Pierce 



20 
21 



15 T. Sonnameker 

16 John O'Donnell 

17 N. T. Boal • 

18 S. B. Hoin 

19 S. H. Hackett 
D. R. Perry 
James Seals 

22 Jesse Spencer 

23 D. Ferrow 

24 John Ferrow 

25 T. Rowe 

26 W. P. Widup 

27 W. P. Moore 

28 E. Conndlly 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



57 



29 A. J. Dolph 

30 G. B. Von Ansdale 

31 J. Westover 

32 H. A. Lowe 

33 C. R. Mobley 

34 T. R. Wells 



35 James i)ixori 

36 P. Dixon 
31 T. Dixon 

38 E. F. Mezeck 

39 T. Runnel Is 

40 Wm. W. Karr 



Tenth District. 

.List of voters of the tenth district at the election held at S D. Dyer's, 

November 29, 1854. 



1 Benjamin C. Dean 

2 Enoch Gr. Hinton 

3 Marshallet Garntie 

4 John W. Dyer 

5 Joseph Stewart 

6 Henry Greene, (oath) 

7 William C. Dyer 

8 William Seymour 

9 George 0. Willard 

10 Charlt-s E. Blood 

11 David Stevenson, (oath) 

12 John Wilbour 

13 Israel P Brayton 

14 James Wilson 

15 Henry Hird 

16 Alden Babcock 

17 Andrew Noll 

18 Edwin M. Tripp 

19 Wm. D. Wicks 



20 Seth J. Childs 

21 John Mclntire 

22 Harleigh P. Cutting 

23 S. D. Dyer 

24 Francis Deregon 

25 S. D. Houston 

26 Samuel Whitehorne 

27 Stephen N. Frazier 

28 Zehulon Avy 

29 S. P. Allen 

30 Samuel Knapp 

31 A. G. Allen 

32 Abraham O. Dyer 

33 Moody B. Powers 

34 Hatch Hall 

35 George W. Ewbanks 

36 William Carroll 

37 J. E. Wood 



Eleventh District. 

Foil-lid of the election in the eleventh Congressional district^ town oj 
Marysville, November 29^ 1854. 



1 Jacob Hahen 


11 Levi Rooker 


2 William Hayn 


12 Peter Straub 


3 Jesse Mullen 


13 Robert Beech 


4 David Bois 


14 Edward Buckler 


5 David Jems 


15 John Harny 


6 Samuel Smith 


16 Moses Macgrcro 


7 Marcus Ladd 


17 Henry Van Pelt 


8 Joseph Laner 


18 James Creigh 


9 Joseph Hulster 


19 John Zenias 


10 Abraham Horgus 


20 F. D. Purkins 



58 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



21 Abraliam Patten 

22 G R. Dasldns 

23 Robert B lover 

24 Daniel Foster 

25 David Gilmer 

26 Jolm Fries 

27 John Tompkins 

28 N. B. Tompkins 

29 Y. C. Hoy 

30 James Adams 

31 R. C. Bishop 

32 John Dawson 

33 G. Butcher 

34 Tliomas Horrp 

35 Joseph Davidson 

36 John Jackson 

37 John Leech 

38 James Beal 

39 KSamuel Smith 

40 Thomas Butcher 

41 John Boir 

42 A. W. Hawkins 

43 J. Mitchell 

44 S. Smith 

45 E. Clieny 

46 Y. C. Eron 

47 C. Butcher 

48 B. S. Heart 

49 William Miller 

50 John Givan 

51 William Tucker 

52 John Manning 

53 G. W. Gwin 

54 James Houx 

55 John F. Bigby 

56 Elijah Bennett 

57 J. B. Ritchfield 

58 John Hardin 

59 H. Hunter 

60 Thomas Goodwin 

61 Jacobe Bell 

62 John Si)encer 

63 William Hemingway 

64 James Gordon 

65 Daniel Bowley 

66 W. B. Hubbard 

67 Smith Younts 

68 J. B. Owens 

69 William Neal 

70 D. 0. Allen 

71 Alex. Sloughtenborro 



72 Avery Fielding 

73 Henry Edmonson 

74 Nulton Ferris 

75 David Sterit 

76 Louis Ring 

77 Harris Brown 

78 William Hendly 

79 Thomas P. Smith 

80 William Bruner 

81 Reson Field 

82 Richard Yarry 

83 George W. Bates 

84 John Cumins 

85 Bird Cumins 

86 James Savage 

87 Hiram D. Coalman 

88 B. G. Smith 

89 Samuel Weldon 

90 Michael Stubbs 

91 James C. Sage 

92 James Demeron 

93 Richard Shoates 

94 L. D. Daraeron 

95 D. Sampson 

96 Wilson T. More 

97 B. Neely 

98 Jeremiah Sweat 

99 A. McClelland 

100 Alexander S. Clark 

101 A. G. Woodward 

102 Benjamin Plasters 

103 J. W. Jefferson 

104 S. M. Noy 

105 L. M. More 

106 Jessy Richardson 

107 Jeremiah Tutman 

108 Nathaniel Cravens 

109 James Powers 

110 Marion Stiu^all 

111 B. G. PlK'lps 

112 Charles W. Wood 

113 John Pravis 

114 James Bastrop 

115 William Lock 

116 James Lucas 

117 Simon Buckhanan 

118 W. Read 

1 19 David Weller 

120 Philip Winberger 

121 Henry Ferel 

122 William Booker 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



69 



123 Jessey Hoalman 

124 William Heuston 

125 W. P. Roland 
120 J. S. Talbot 

127 Joliu Sanders 

128 Joseph Brown 

129 J. B. Henderson 

130 Samuel W. Green 

131 Lewis Moody 

132 Steplien Hancock 

133 James Beatley 

134 Johnson Menafee 

135 John a. Blue 

136 Peter Wilson 

137 Sampson Long 

138 Sampson Oliver 

139 Levi Strous 

140 John Yoraan 

141 Ezra Easton 

142 J. 0. Owens 

143 James McCamy 

144 William Sutzeler 

145 William Magar 

146 Jacob West 

147 Ira Grreen 

148 Reuben Fergerson 

149 William Holt 

150 John H. McDonald 

151 Benjamin Cassorn 

152 Patrick Coons 

153 S. H. Bronson 

154 Raley Haydon 

155 Lewis Coats 

156 F. Fowler 

157 James H. Gooden 

158 Reason So wards 

159 Jefferson Lyons 

160 Jacob Butts 

161 Urial Coy 

162 Marion thiekild 

163 B. P. Bell 

164 Heram Brooks 

165 Mack Robertson 

166 John T. Griffith 

167 J. P. Strother 

168 Micager Brown 

169 Joseph Towner 

170 William Longwortli 

171 L. Morton 

172 H. R. Willis 

173 Martin Sexton 



174 Thomas Lee 

175 J. F. Pendleton 

176 John Stodorc 

177 Sirus A. Cunningham 

178 Leander P>asey 

179 Samford Cox 

180 Richard M. Johnson 

181 John T. Burch 

182 J. D. Bullard 

183 E. R. Smith 

184 W. P. Davidson 

185 G. A. Rowan 

186 Ste]>hen Funill 

187 S. Y. Logan 

188 William M. Proctor 

189 Jessey Yearey 

190 David Brown 

191 M. F. Bogan 

192 James Johnson 

193 Benjamin Branin 

194 John R. Black 

195 Sanf'ord Robinson 

196 Eli Lovington 

197 Jones Wiiite 

198 EanezerRobb 

199 P. H. Vaughn 

200 James More 

201 John Dulany 

202 James Gorhan 

203 Rodney Dungleson 

204 Henry Long 

205 Joab Duett 

206 James ]5ernhard 

207 Samuel Gail 

208 John Morgan 

209 James Summonds 

210 Mason Rati iff 

211 Albert Gibson 

212 J. McCartney 

213 James Grason 

214 John Whitaker 

215 Jacob Weher 

216 Jones Fowler 

217 John S. Sursey 

218 Ben. Poe 

219 William Slow 

220 John Scott 

221 William H. Henley 

222 Henry Best 

223 John Mefford 

224 John Swope 



ao 



KANSA3 AFFAIRS. 



225 John Portoll 

226 Joseph Bane 

227 Archibald llmler 

228 Isaac Humphrey 
220 Hieram Alconi 

230 Dulanv Perkins 

231 Solon White 

232 John Hekin 

233 Hieram Hans 

234 John Lay 

235 M. B. White 



236 John Craft 

237 John Medill 

238 John Grayhaui 

239 Telford Todd 

240 Oeoro-e Baxter 

241 Hui;h Baker 

242 S. B. M. H(mier 

243 William Tnllop 

244 George Poal 

245 John Stone 



Twelfth District. 

List of the names of the voters in the twelfth district, taken at the house 
of Mr. B. C. Miller, on Salder creek, Kansas Territory, November 
29, 1854, /or delegate to Congress. 

Peter Nessent 
N. K. Wingorner 
Eron Kennedy 
A. Melner 
W. H. Wells 
Samuel Cummings 
Peter Prudehour 
Louis Ogee (oath) 
Battese Oscum (oath) 

F. H. Contramen 
L. M. C.»x 
Charles W. Bobien 
James A. Gray 
Cass Alley 
W. K. Wanton 
A. A. Crane 
Steph. Ho[)kins 
Charles Dean 

G. B. H. Gi'bbs 
Wash. Gibbs 



1 R. C. Miller 


22 


2 John Walker 


23 


3 Benj. Morgan 


24 


4 John Lennord 


25 


5 F. Trom\)ley 


26 


6 J. J. Miller 


27 


7 Warner IMiller 


28 


8 J. B. Hay 


29 


9 J. Hunk 


30 


10 Louis Vien (oath) 

11 Paul Vien (oath) 

12 Charles Vien (oath) 

13 Jas. Lorton (oath) 

14 J. C. Vanderpool 


31 
32 
1 33 
34 
35 


15 Jacob Mindes 


36 


16 E. G. Boothe 


37 


17 H. McDowell 


38 


18 G. W. Baker 


39 


19 E. M. Sloon 


40 


20 C. B. Eandell 


i 41 


21 Bassel Grumer 


1 



TuiRTEENTii District. 

L^st of voters at the election in the thirteenth district, November 29, 
1854, /o?* delegate to Congress. 



1 C. P. Buding 

2 John De Roche 

3 P. H. ColliD.0 



4 Alexander Rodd 

5 Charles Munn 
^ Nathan Isaao 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



7 J. S. Bruflfield 

8 J. B. Cock rill 

Kemp M. Woodg 

10 J. B. Moore 

11 Elijah W. Mann 

12 JarncH Williarnn 

13 Alexander K. Elliott 

14 iJii^l) Swariey 

15 Alexander Millfl 

16 John 8wany 

17 Elhert 0. Muller 

18 T. H. Bradley 

19 J. C. CV.ckrill 

20 W. a. WilliarnH 

21 (iranville Adkiris 

22 ])aniel F. Tehhs 

23 James L. Taylor 

24 Ilolman I5an field 

25 C. J. Keac^er 

26 Alhro Pemherton 

27 William ifaddix 

28 SilaH M. Gordon 

29 William E. Daniel 

30 Samuel Johnson 

31 JoHe[)h A. Mc Daniel 

32 Arehihald Clark 

33 William r(!mherton 

34 Benjamin Boydston 

35 Charles Kodd 

36 G. M.Dyer 

37 D. M. lUnhj 

38 Wm. H. Tebbs 



39 Henry C. Ciikenville 

40 A. y,vhu'.y Tebbs 

41 Alexander I^ubrick 

42 Mathew Winston 

43 Johnson iln^hes 

44 (Sarrniel \j. Win.ston 

45 William Hinshaw 

46 John Pate 

47 Kiehard Chandler 

48 Sarnn<d I'ludson 

49 Baruck Prather 

50 Thomas P. Chandler 

51 Henry C. Cony 

52 Henry S. Bretz 

53 Elijah Harding 

54 Henry C. Rcul 

55 John Cunniri<;ham 

56 William Arthur 

57 Barton D. McDowell 

58 John Millier 

59 John H. Myers 

60 Samuel Hoy 

61 Benjamin R. Morton 

62 Joseph Walker 

63 JackHon Milhr 

64 Jesse Miller 

65 0. B. Tebbs 

66 John Hunt 

67 G. Spragiie 

68 L. Sliepard 

69 Preston Monel 

70 John D. York 



Fourteenth Distpjct. 
Poll-hxjk. 



1 Hamilton J. Johnston 

2 Andrew J, Doland 

3 Wm. Jordan 

4 Wm. M. Greer 

5 Fleming Ridge 

6 Nelson Abljy 

7 Benja. Dodd 

8 Jarnes H. Merrill 
Sinclair K. Miller 
James Cannon 
Paul Merriinan 



9 
10 
11 



12 John Loveladj 



13 JohnH. Whitfield 

14 Uriah Griffith 

15 Jas. B. Baker 

16 Thos. C. Jlawley 

17 Angu.ste Mo-yne* 

18 Peter O'Roorke 

19 Antoine Tezian 

20 Wm. H. Hinchman 

21 Charles Eggers 

22 Philip James 

23 Jas. F. Forman 

24 Ephraim D. McLelland 



62 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



25 James Grooms 

26 Absalom Grooms 

27 Geo. M. Waller 

28 Chas. Richter 

29 Leaiider McClelland 

30 Benj. B. Kazelwood 

31 Sam''l Kirk[)atrick 

32 Peter Hoover 

33 Aniott Grooms 

34 Colniore Newman 

35 Richard Boulvvare 

36 Green McAfferty 

37 Albert Head 

38 Thomas Minston 

39 John Doyle 

40 Joel Blair 

41 Jesse Brown 

42 Joel Ryan 

43 Jeffi-ey M. Ralmer 

44 Wra. P. Richardson 

45 Mathew Ile^s 

46 James Kendall 

47 Peter Monroe 

48 Tupley Rolph 

49 Eben'r Blackstone 

50 Sam'l Montjjjomery 

51 Wilson U. Moore 

52 Henderson Small wood 

53 Andrew A. Hayes 

54 Carey B. Whitehead 

55 Andrew J. Turpin 

56 Jesse F. ^Gaves 

57 Henry H. Marsh 

58 Squire V. Marsh 

59 John P. Marsh 

60 James P. Haymore 

61 Wm. H. Davis 

62 Frederick Reed 

63 Benj. S. Wharton 

64 Wm. A. Mcintosh 

65 Alexander Davis 

66 Wm. A. Hill 

67 Watson Stewart 

68 John Fisher 

69 Joseph Liceliff 

70 Henry Smith 

71 Robt." McSperran 

72 James Campbell 

73 John Trotman 

74 Walker G. Reed 

75 Cobv C. Gordon 



76 Elbridpje J. Robinson 

77 Wm. Carson 

78 James W. Taylor 

79 James B. 0"l'oole 

80 Fernando A. Burgher 

81 Dan'l Yanderslice 

82 Emerson V. B. Rogers 

83 John N. Granville 

84 Nelson Rogers 

85 Wm. Vanderslice 

86 James Vanderslice 

87 Harvey W. Forman 

88 Lewis C. W. Forman 

89 Hardin Critchfield 

90 John S. Pemberton 

91 Nicholas White 

92 Thomas J. Vanderslice 

93 Frederick Treat 

94 John Copeland 

95 James Carson 

96 Gershom M. Gilhiam 

97 Lasiter Coj>eland 

98 Alfred 0. Rice 

99 Henry Thompson 

100 Jacob Younger 

101 Sidney Tenant 

102 Christine Donivan 

103 George C. Catlett 

104 John A. Van Ausdale 

105 Robt. M. Whitsett 

106 John Smith, sen. 

107 Josiah Morris 

108 G^o. W. StillweU 

109 James 0' Toole, sen. 

110 Thomas W. Waterson 

111 Francis Youpy 

112 Hamilton Osborn 

113 Peter Cadden 

114 Anderson Cox 

115 Charles C. Carson 

116 Luther Dillin 

117 Grandison R. Wilson 

118 Robert Ewing 

119 Geo. W. Gillespie 

120 Jacob Sharp 

121 Ross Hinchman 

122 Jesse R. Sharp 

123 Cliarles Buxby 

124 Edward Seuvey 

125 Jefferson B. Baker 

126 Reuben P. Briggs 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



63 



127 Francis Lasinett 

128 Andrew Dizert 

129 Oliver H. P. Craig 

130 Johnson Carson 

131 Mark Vogan 

132 George Jamieson 

133 Claudius A. Rowley 

134 Francis 0. Hughes 

135 Thomas H. Baker 

136 John D, Armstrong 

137 John Smith, jr. 

138 Aaron Lewis 

139 Aaron Quick 

140 Edwin P. Weaver 



141 Wm. M. Briggs 

142 John S. li.ady 

143 William Shelton 

144 Benj. Fry 

145 Cusi)el Larsner 

146 William Arthurs 

147 Joker Fee 

148 Milton Bryan 

149 James Pw. Whitehead 

150 Benjamin Harding 

151 William Turpin 

152 John W. Stevens 

153 John C. How 



Fifteenth District. 



Poll-boohs and returns of the election held on the 2Wi day of November, 
A. D. 1854, at the house of Paschal Pensenan, in the fifteenth dis- 
trict of the Territory of Kansas, for delegate to Congress, 



1 Jesse Morin 

2 Ira Norris 

3 Dr. Stringfellow 

4 W. H. Miller 

5 Mathias Yocum 

6 John Yocum 

7 Edward O'Reily 

8 Paschal Pensenan 

9 Hugh McKowen 

10 Stanford McDonald 

11 James L. Sale 

12 Cornelius Sale 

13 John Miller 

14 G-eorge W, Layton 

15 N. J. Ireland 

16 S. Johnson, (underprot.) 

17 Wm. Eliott 

18 Samuel Dickson 

19 Wm. L. Stephens 

20 Thomas Dermain 

21 Fred. Freeland 

22 Dan Grover 
,23 J. M. Freeland 

24 A. B. Elliott 

25 Uriel Hickley 

26 Martin Weimar 

27 R. B. Hays 



28 Thomas B. Craven 

29 Isaac House 

30 Leonidas Oldham 

31 Y. K. Bradley 

32 Israel Swan 

33 J. E. Hervey 

34 Samuel Hays 

35 Van S. Graham 

36 J. B. Mitchell 

37 J. Y. Darnell 

38 J. H. Bradley 

39 D. J. Thomas 

40 Thomas Faulkners 

41 George Percy 

42 Joseph Henderson 

43 James Henderson 

44 James Lewis 

45 John A. Beckner 

46 J. W. Anderson 

47 James Browning 

48 James W. Bedwell 

49 Henry Debard 

50 George Million 

51 Adam. Johnson 

52 J. T. Bradley 

53 A. R. Oldham 

54 Joseph McBride 



0- 



64 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



55 J. L. Jenks, (aff.) 

56 Samuel Sapp 

57 0. F. Doroty 

58 Levi Bechien 

59 Wm. Ducy 

60 Marion Estes 

61 Isaac Lincoln 

62 Wm. H. Elliott 

63 G. H. Mitchell 

64 A. B. Davis 

65 J. H. Brown 

66 N. S. Townsend 

67 Jefferson Roney 

68 John Groff 

69 J. W. Thompson 

70 James Sweney 

71 K. F. Duncan 

72 J. B. Duncan 

73 Wm. Daugherty 

74 George H. Smith 

75 Oscar Bywaters 

76 G. Tomlinson 

77 J. Cutter 

78 J. Wecldle 

79 David Howard 

80 Thomas L. Douglass 

81 M. F. Bailey 

82 J. M. Harrison 

83 E. 0. Mason 

84 John Bryant 
8*5 James Cooley 

86 James Potter 

87 Amos A. Gorndyke 

88 H. B. Herrington 

89 Rohert Ely 

90 C. B. Hodges 

91 C. C. Redman 

92 J. S. Hammond 

93 Robert S. Blacygard 

94 J. M. Alexander 

95 Wm. Morton 

96 Jol^n Weiser 

97 H. C. Bradley 

98 John Waddell 

99 George B. Wells 
'100 Wm. Young 

101 James W. Crawford 

102 G. B. Gates 

103 George Carter 

104 Y. Scanlan 
106 Wm. Digman 



106 Thomas Scanlan 

107 Jeremiah McCune 

108 A. W. Hughs 

109 C. H. Grover 

110 Van Buren Hensley 

111 Madison H. Clemens 

112 G. Y. Charless 

113 S. Y. Walter 

114 Sidney Walters 

115 John A. G. Fisher 

116 N. A. Miller 

117 N. R. Green 

118 Col. Lewis Burns 

119 George Wilson 

120 Julius Newman 

121 Craven Calvert 

122 Jolm Amberg 

123 MelzorCole 

124 Wm. Martin 

125 John Galbreth 

126 A. Warmack 

127 Thomas J. Carson 

128 John W. Martin 

129 Charles S. Foster 

130 Jesse Welch 

131 John L. Freed 

132 Mason Hall 

133 John Parker 

134 John Welch 

135 Wm. Welch 

136 Caleb Wright 

137 James Welch 

138 Martin Cline 

139 P. Farrell 

140 Harvey Welch 

141 Wm. Baisely 

142 Thomas Scott 

143 Noah Antony 

144 G. R. Searcy 

145 John Hkmner 

146 James Brooks 

147 Henry Plunkett 

148 Lazarus Yocum 

149 J. G. Downey 

150 Jonathan Congrove 

151 H. H. Williams 

152 R. H. Dyer 

153 R. L. Kirk 

154 Jesse Shephard 

155 Samuel M. Bowman 

156 N. B. Lamar 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



66 



157 B. Yocum 

158 Allen Pullen 

159 Thomas J. Huggins 

160 J. B. Wiley 

161 Wm. Dyer 

162 Samuel Boss 

163 W. D. Bonnell 

164 J. M. Miilky 

165 G. W. Thompson 

166 J. H. Myers 

167 Wm. Sharp 

168 J. W. Foster 

169 John Cook 
no E. Smith 

171 James Bolton 

172 Y. J. Thompson 

173 E. D. Bishop 

174 U. Y. Gennett 

175 Levi Bowman 

176 John Eoberts 

177 Wm. Fulton 

178 K. W. Thompson 

179 Silas Wells 

180 G. S. Davis 

181 G. W. Sharp 

182 K. D. Davis 

183 Martin Short 

184 Wm. G. Mayfield 

185 Joseph Taylor 

186 George Mashens 

187 M. N. Bland 

188 John Taylor 

189 S. M. Taylor 

190 Heber Taylor 

191 Wm. Brown 

192 David Boss 

193 E. M. Hale 

194 Ira Hale 

195 Ruse Bowman 

196 J. S. Philip 

197 Martin Berry 

198 James L. Carter 

199 James Hanley 

200 Dr. J. S. Keller 

201 Wm. Haskell 

202 Benjamin Boss 

203 J. Carson 

204 G. W. Quinby 

205 R. N. Davenport 

206 J. B. Crane 

207 J. S. Thompson 

H. Bep. 200 5* 



208 J. H. Myres 

209 Wm. Cody 

210 G. Clark 

211 A. Cook 

212 Job Robins 

213 John W. Freeland 

214 John Site 

215 Charles G. Sites ^ 

216 John Freeland 

217 Alfred Allen 

218 B. F. Young 

219 James J. Jones 

220 C. P. Allgier 

221 L. Fist 

222 Jonathan Lacy 

223 Henry B. Gale 

224 B. S. Merchant 

225 W. Hays 

226 John House 

227 John S. Bamsey 

228 Henry Williams 

229 David Atkins 

230 P. L. Yervell 

231 John McDonald 

232 Wm. Oburn 

233 J. W. Pate 

234 Dr. Harris 

235 S. W. Tunnell 

236 A. J. Walker 

237 Ottoway Smith 

238 Wm. H. Wells 

239 Bichard Warren 

240 Allen B. Haggard 

241 A. G. Boyd 

242 James H. Keisner 

243 J. D. Pepper 

244 S. H. Oliphant 

245 Wm. G. Marsh 

246 G. W. Grist 

247 Samuel Pepper 

248 Wm. Thompson 

249 Warren Blanton? 

250 David Murphy 

251 Y. D. Killoe 

252 B. W. Fox 

253 Jacob Mortier 

254 BobertYoler 

255 Wm. H. Coon 

256 John Q. Grayson 

257 Phineas S. Skinner 

258 Lewis Sumptei 



G6 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



250 Nathaniel Miller 
2 no James N. Burrus 
2()1 Nathan Nnby 
202 Nathan Shaler 
2G3 Iwaac Atkins 
2G4 Michael Dean 
205 John J. Carter 
200 George Kitchen 

207 James Martin 

208 Thomas Pensenan 

209 John G. Graham 

270 Wm. Blackhy 

271 Jefferson Donohoe 

272 James Harris 

273 Donghass Hamilton 

274 Samuel Morehead 

275 Asa Van Aklenham 
270 Mathew Kobinson 

277 Kohert Loon 

278 John Eamsey 

271) Wiley P. Williams 

280 James M. Davis 

281 Martin Jones 

282 Jonathan Wallace 



283 B. F. Thompson 

284 Wm. Berry 

285 Wm. Johnson 
280 Wm. E. Pitt 

287 Thomas Doddard 

288 Y. F. Golley 

289 Michael AVilkins 

290 Christoper Horn 

291 A. M. Price 

292 Robert S. Kelly 

293 Henry Adams 

294 Enoch Evans 

295 A. C. Hains 
290 Thomas Elliott 

297 David Brown 

298 E. S. Staggs 

299 P. Felix Brown 

300 James Frazier 

301 James V. Buson 

302 H. Y. Green 

303 S. F. Ray 

304 W. A. Lovelady 

305 Wm. Allen 

306 H. B. Jolly 



Sixteenth District. 



roll-hook of an election held on the 2dth day of November, A. D. 1854, 
at the house of Keller d; Kyle, in Leavemvorth City, in the sixteenth 
district of the Territory of Kansas, for the election of a delegate to 
the House of Bepresentatives of the United States. 

Nicholas Lockerman 
Malcolm Clark 

F. M. Tafts 
Jas. Burgess 

G. W. Riley 
John A. Randall 
Richard Stoddard 
David Ken nelly 

20 Randolph Wolfe, jr. 
Greene D.Todd 
A. Russell 
Albert Lander 
Zachariah Mills 
Chesley Fulks 
Charles Hulb 
Jeremiah Howell 
Winfield Numhill 



1 Samuel F. Few 


18 


2 A. Macauley 


19 


3 Jerry Clark 


20 


4 John Boyd 


21 


5 James W. Rich 


22 


6 Asa Smith 


23 


7 Wm. Boyd 


24 


S Samuel D; Preston 


25 


9 James 0. Toole 


20 


10 Francis A. Hart 


27 


11 David Brasfield 


28 


12 John C. Downing 


29 


13 George Leigan 


30 


14 Thomas Stearns 


31 


15 J. T. Moore 


32 


16 George Yates 


33 


17 Joseph Pennock 


34 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



67 



35 Wm. Dawson 


86 


H. C. Dunn 


36 Miles Shannon 


87 Wm. Cummings 


37 James Noble 


88 


Riley Todd 


38 Wm. Freebourn 


89 


Pleasant Ellington 


39 Simon C. McElvaine 


90 


Simpson Parks 


40 Kezin Wilcoxin 


91 


Jeffrey Woodward 


41 John H. Brown 


92 


Jos. C. Anderson 


42 George W. Warren 


93 


W. T. Yokum 


43 C. McCrea 


94 


John Moore 


44 Wm. Warner 


95 


John Dunn 


45 Henry Clay Bishop 


96 


B. M. Crust 


46 Jeremiah Rice 


97 


H. D. McMeekin 


47 R. H. Higgins 


98 


J. B. Hyatt 


48 Simon Pliillips 


99 


James Surritt 


49 J. C. Gr inter 


100 


T. H. Talbert 


50 B. D. Casselman 


101 


Howard Conley 


51 M. N. Talbot 


102 


Thomson Owens 


52 li. S. Godsey 


103 


Eli Moore 


53 D. K. Chapell 


104 


John Reed 


54 George D. Stevenson 


105 


James Foster 


55 Stephen Noble 


lOG 


George Brassfield 


56 A. J. Preston 


107 


W. G. Carson 


57 G. B. Panton 


108 


Wm. S. Murphy 


58 Wm. Greene Woods 


109 


Charles H. Pennick 


59 John Kissinger 


110 


Wm. G. Mathias 


60 T. P. L. Taylor 


111 


J. Hoyt 


61 Calvin Tolson 


112 


Thomas Cuming 


62 S. V. Chance 


113 


Wm. Large 


63 S. D. Pitcher 


114 


John Neely 


64 Adam Linhart 


115 


James H. Fowler 


65 J. L. Evans 


116 


Francis Rasdell 


66 John Williams 


117 


A. T. Pattie 


67 S. PI. Burgess 


118 


J. M. Guthrie 


68 S. H. Mays 


119 


J. M. Artrold 


69 Jarrctt Todd 


120 


Wm. M. Beckam 


70 James Scroggs 


121 


II. T. Dagley 


71 R. E. Saunders 


122 


Wm. Hoy 


72 John Thomas 


123 G. B. Redraon 


73 Samuel Cummings 


124 


Wm. M. Edmonds 


74 John Atkins 


125 


D. Scott Boyle 


75 Thomas S. Owens 


126 


John H. McClintock 


76 Weslev S. Davidson 


127 


Barnabas Gable 


77 Jas. W. McClintick 


128 


J. T. Woodward 


78 John Donaldson 


129 


M. R. Grinter 


79 John P. Richardson 


130 


Thomas Stewart 


80 Wm. C. Webster 


131 


Hiram Rich 


81 R. C. Thomson 


132 


Wm. B. Simmonds 


82 James L. Thomson 


133 


R. H. Fielding 


83 Gideon L. Brown 


134 


Nathaniel Henderson 


84 T. S, Otterbury 


135 


James H. Hall 


85 N. A. Kirk 


136 


Robert Todd 



G8 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



137 Thomas C. Bishop 

138 John Sparks 

139 J. Parkinson 

140 James Fiuley 

141 Isaac Spratt 

142 Wra. Wallace 

143 Philip Zeigler 

144 Jos. Graham 

145 Eohert Ware 

146 A. Dawson 

147 Benjamin Foster 

148 John E. Mize 

149 J. B. Pennock 

150 James Gr. Heck 

151 T. J. Goforth 

152 Stephen Sparks 

153 Lucius Chaffee 

154 Edward Garrett 

155 Garrard Levy 

156 M. F. Conway 

157 K. E. Eeese 

158 Cyrus Garrett 

159 Samuel M. Lyon 

160 Burrell B. Mize 

161 J. K. France 

162 Thomas T. Sloakum^ 

163 Thomas F. Gregg 

164 J. C. Thomson 

165 Wm. Sparks 

166 Henry Stoddard 

167 Zach. Sparks 

168 T. F. Brown 

169 Wm. T. Bartz 
F. Givinner (vote rejec'd) 

170 Thos. A. Gregg 

171 David Creech 

172 Isaac Van Catup 

173 Thomas Eoberts 

174 Travis Brown 

175 Lewis A. Neil 

176 David Gragg 

177 J. T. Hook 

178 E. K. Adamson 

179 Wm. L. Blair 

180 H. Nolan 

181 Abner Dean 

182 James H. Mize 

183 Daniel A. Willey 

184 Strother Hay 

185 John Ussury 

186 Currin Nervil 



187 Wm. Borden 

188 Hiram Kelly 

189 J. E. Grant 

190 Franklin Keys 

191 Ellis Henshaw 

192 Frederick Sprack 

193 Floyd Shannon 

194 A. Payne 

195 A. Cunningham 

196 John Argabright 

197 Eussell Garret 

198 C. D. Ellott 

199 Houston Levy 

200 Wm. H. Long 

201 Nathan Eoberts 

202 Wm. H. T. Parker 

203 Michael Kelley 

204 Daniel C. Ames 

205 Wm. Tanner 

206 John M. White 

207 Godfrey Grease 

208 M. Dobson 

209 S. Phillips 

210 F. Engelsman 

211 Levi Furguson 

212 John A. Lindsey 

213 Carrington Harris 

214 AdamDeitz 

215 Eobt. L. Beam 

216 B. L. Sellers 

217 A. H. Scott 

218 James McDaniel 

219 John Owens 

220 H. Brown 

221 Wm. Engelsman 

222 Neely Harrington 

223 M. France 

224 David Goble 

225 C. C. Harrison 

226 J. H. Golden 

227 H. H. Hook 

228 Eeuben Snellgo 

229 Israel Gibson 

230 C. F. Bredon 

231 G. W. Walker 

232 A. J. Bowers 

233 S. J. Johnson 

234 John Wallace 

235 T. B. Selkman 

236 George Young 

237 Alfred Younr- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



69 



238 P. J. Cuming 

239 Simpson Gobler 

240 T. B. Hart 

241 Hugh L. Campbell 

242 HeniyMize 

243 F. E. Bocld 

244 S. R. Farr 

245 John Hall 

246 Peter McGill 

247 John 0. Newton 

248 John Frazer 

249 0. M. Thomas 

250 Clement Naef 

251 J. F. Wyatt 

252 Wm. R. Roe 

253 Geo. Keller 

254 Jacob Rehm 

255 H. H. C. Harrison 

256 Squier Orton 

257 John J. Beng 

258 John Keffer 

259 J. H. Day 

260 L. F. Mills 

261 L. J. Eastin 

262 Jas. K. Edsall 

263 Richard Conkland 

264 Chas. Leib 

265 Jas. 0. Sullivan 

266 W. S. Yoke 

267 Geo. Leonhard 



268 Nathaniel Higs 

269 Alex. Reed 

270 Edward Zell 

271 Samuel France 

272 W. J. Osborn 

273 G. M. Fisher 

274 Wm. Saunders 

275 Joseph Font 

276 Daniel Smith 

277 Wm. English 

278 C. B. Roberts 

279 Lewis N. Rees 

280 John Drew 

281 Robert Maddux 

282 Jones Creach 

283 Doregon Fouts 

284 Josiah McLain 

285 James Skinner 

286 Henry Beng 

287 N. Sage 

288 Adam Fisher 

289 Adam Corb 

290 Henry Smith 

291 Lewis Schiller 

292 Asa Stewart 

293 T. S. Abner 

294 John Harris 

295 Andrew Thos. Kyle 

296 John Smith 

297 Wm. McDowell 



Seventeenth District. 



List of voters at an election held on the 22fh day of November, 1854, 
in the seventeenth district of the Territory of Kansas, for the election 
of a delegate to the House of Representaiives of the United States. 



1 Rush Ellmore 

2 0. H. Brown 

3 A. S. Johnson 

4 F. M. Coleman 

5 Andrew Monroe 

6 M. C. McGuish 

7 John M. Owen 

8 James Gillpatrick 

9 Isaac Parrish 

10 R. N. Winslow 

11 Frederick Chouteau 

12 Joseph Parks 



13 George Buchanan 

14 Daniel Woodson 

15 John A. Halderman 

16 William Chouteau 

17 F. E. Baley 

18 A. H. Reeder 

19 B. F. Ptobinson 

20 Cyprian Chouteau 

21 Thomas Johnson 

22 James Mathews 

23 Andrew J. Isaacs 

24 William Donaldson 



70 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



25 M. P. Randall 

26 Richard Menenhall 

27 A. Gregory 

28 Peter Croco 

29 William Jones 

30 Charles N. White 

31 Jeremiah Dummer 

32 F. B. Sullivan 

33 John Parks 

34 William Rutlege 

35 E. Evans 

36 Charles Bowls 

37 William Honeywill 

38 R. C. Meek 

39 Daniel Doffamyer 

40 Charles B. Garrett 

41 Joel Walker 

42 Rohert Brown 

43 Calvin A. Kirnatser 



44 John H. Solomon 

45 John Boyles 

46 John Hall 

47 Matthew Hall 

48 L. C. Mathews 

49 Horace Hall 

50 Isaac Long 

51 Philip Brown 

52 John Pond 

53 James Long 

54 Joseph Boyer 

55 Isaac W. Brown 

56 Joseph White 

57 Miller Moody 

58 Ethen A. Long 

59 Augustus Charles 

60 Davis Thayer 

61 John Parks 

62 James Zanes 



To Ms Excellency A. H. Reeder, Goveriwr of Ko.nsas Territory : 

Believing that a large number of the citizens of the State of Mis- 
souri voted at the election of the 29th instant for delegate to CongresH 
representing Kansas Territory, we respectfully petition your honor 
that the entire vote of the district receiving the votes of citizens of 
Missouri be set aside, or that the entire election be set aside. 



H. C. SoiTord 
J. J. Emery 
Edmund Clarke 
Legamus S. Bacon 
C. K. Holliday 
0. A. Hanscom 
J. T. Memmon 
R. G. Elliott 
John Macley 
C. Robinson 
Luke P. Lmkon 
J. M. Benby 
Otes W, Lamb 
J. C. Massmon 
James Crocklen 
W. A. Holmes 
J. L. M. Whilcomb 
Augustus H. Gertt 
C. Thos. Roberts 
Samuel L. Haley 
Naculon Lobiame 
George W. Kent 



C. W. Dow 
James Legart 
W. B. Walling 
William Norriker 
S. J. Wells 
John F. Hefek 
William Lee 

G. W. Reed 
CD. Smith 
Stephen W. Felsom 
L. G. Higgins 
G. M. Chaflfeur 
L. T. Tappan, jr. 
L. Lechfield 
L. T. Lechfield 
A. V. Coffin 
E. Desbro 
G. W. Patridge 
John W. Waite 

D. C. Barrett 
S. G. Johnson 
J. E. Gorden 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



71 



Justin Lewis 
T. Z. Cook 
Samuel Kenneday 
Heron C. Ctjvil 

B. N. Cortenclge 
J. S. Cowen 

J. M. Rukkey 
E. D. Ladd 
Fra. King 

C. Stevens 

S. N. Simpson 
John Day 
George Gilbert 
Joel Grove 
Samuel Kembel 

D. S. Mott 
Calep S. Pratt 



H. N. Hancock 
J. W. Carlton 
Jos. B. Abbott 
A. H. Mallory 

E. M. Pearson 
Frank Niskell 
J. L. Storn 

F. 0. Tolles 
A. D. Surl 

J. W. Hutchinson 
J. M. Jones 
S. N. Reed 
Saml. T. Lewis 
S. S. Snyder 
Dunma Furrow 
John Furrow 



72 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



THE CENSUS 

or 

THE TEllRITOEY OF KANSAS, 

FEBRUARY, 1855; 

THE RETURNS OF THE ELECTIONS OP MARCH gO AND MAY n, 18§5; 

AND 

THE ACTION OF GOVERNOR REEDER THEREON 



The persons apjjoioited by the governor to make an enumeration of inhahi- 
tants and qualified voters in the Territory having made their returns^ 
the folloiving tahle of inliabitants and qualified voters in the several 
dist7'icts is compiled therefrom.'^ 



1 

Districts. 


By whom talien. 


■3 


■3 

a 


S 



a 


1 


J3 

s 

a 





> 
S3 


i 

5 


First 


C. W. Babcocli 


623 

316 

161 

106 

824 

402 

82 

56 

61 

9T 

83 

104 

168 

655 

492 

708 

91 

59 


839 

203 

91 

71 

5S3 

818 

36 

27 

25 

54 

8 

40 

116 

612 

881 

475 

69 

40 


369 

199 

101 

47 

442 

253 

68 

39 

36 

63 

24 

78 

96 

334 

808 

385 

50 

28 


459 

237 
112 
97 
724 
418 
50 
28 
81 
61 
5 
85 
145 

"44s" 
514 
54 
51 


8S7 
505 
215 
169 
1,885 
791 
117 

76 

66 
108 

30 
109 
273 
301 
846 
1,042 
143 

97 


75 

19 

12 

2 

22 

12 

1 

7 

12 

23 

6 

87 

9 

46 

16 

104 

5 

1 






962 






t 

27 
11 
1 

13 
14 


7 
6 
1 

26 
11 
1 
10 
8 


619 


Third 


T W Hayes . 


252 


Fourth 




177 


Fifth 


William Barbee 

do 


1,40T 


Sixth 


810 




J. R. McClure 


113 


Eighth 


(Jo 


83 


Ninth 




86 


Tenth 


do 


151 




B. H. Tworably 

do 


""'1' 

14 
1 

15 
48 
4 


""7* 

14 
85 
15 

as 

23 


86 


TweJfth 


144 




H B. Jolly 


284 




Albert Weed 


1 167 


Fifteenth 


H B Jolly 


87S 


Sixteenth 




1,18S 
150 




• Alexander S. Johnson .... 
B. H Twombly 


Eighteenth 


99 














5,128 


3,883 


2,905 


8,469 


7,161 


408 


151 


192 


8,601 



* Copied from the executive minutes, March 3, 1855. 

PRECEPT 

You are hereby appointed to take the census of the first election dis- 
trict of the Territory of Kansas. The act of Congress requires not only 
an enumeration of the inhabitants, but also of the qualified voters \ 
and as the law commits solely to my discretion the mode of taking 
and returning, I have caused books to be prepared which will exhibit 
many features of our population interesting to the public and useful 
in the way of statistical information, as well to the legislature as the. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 73 

people. In tliis book you will find columns prepared accordingly. 
In noticing the age you write on the proper column for those under 
twenty-one the word ''minor;" for those between 21 and 30 the 
figures 21 ; and for those between 30 and 40, between 40 and 50, be- 
tween 50 and 60 and over 60, write always the lower number. In 
noting males, females, natives of the United States, naturalized citi- 
zens, declarants^ (meaning those who have declared before some proper 
court their intention to become citizens,) qualified voters, negroes, 
and slaves, it will only be necessary to insert a mark or figure on the 
proper column. Those columns of marks or figures you will foot up 
on each page, and at the end of the book you will bring together and 
foot up the several columns of each class, so as to show the aggregate 
of each. You will also ascertain and state the total of each kind of 
occupation, and of each class found in the column of age. The 
columns for occupations will^ of course, be left blank for minors who 
have none and females. In entering the place you will enter the 
State or Territory of the United States, or the foreign country, which 
. was the last place of residence^ and you will ascertain from this column 
and carry to the end of the book the number from each place named. 

You Avill not include army ofiicers or soldiers of the army, or persons 
attached to troops in the service of the United States, unless they in- 
tend to remain and reside in the Territory when not on service, nor 
will you include any Indians or persons of Indian blood. As this is 
an enumeration of inhabitants and not of property, you will enter the 
name of no man by reason of owning or claiming land here, or of his 
intention to remain here, but only those who actually dwell here at 
the time of taking the census. 

In noting the qualified voters you must ascertain from your own 
observation, and the best information you can procure, who are en- 
titled to be thus considered and designated. A qualified voter must 
be free, of white blood, twenty-one years of age, an actual resident of 
the Territory, dwelling here with the bona fide intention of making it 
his home, and a native or naturalized citizen of the United States, or 
a declarant who has sworn to support the Constitution of the United 
States and the act organizing the Territory. 

As it may become necessary, in the formation of representative dis- 
tricts, to divide your district, it will be well to preserve, by notes in 
the blank pages, some information as to the number of the inhabi- 
tants, with reference as to known localities and natural boundaries, or 
at least so as to take the enumeration, that you may communicate to 
me such information on this head as that I may be enabled myself to 
make the necessary notes. 

You will also make a separate alphabetical list of the qualified 
voters in the district and return the same personally to me, with your 
enumeration and classification, on the tenth day of February next, 
when you will be expected to take the oath entered at the end of this 
book. 

Issued this 22d day of January, 1855. 

A. H. REEDEK, 
Governar of the Territory of Kansas. 

W. C. Babcock, Esq. 



74 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



First District. 

List of voters of the first election district of the Territory of Kansas, 
according to the census returns taken by W. C. Bahcoch in the months 
of January and February, 1S55. 



Names. 



Edward Clingman Iowa 

William W. Hull Massachusetts 

William H. 11. fc'ykins Missouri 

James Garvin Illinois 

John P. Wood do 

John Baldwin do 

Paniel li . Brooks Massachusetts 

Samuel 0. Harrington .do 

Samuel N. Hartwell .do 

Calvin II. Sarviu I.... do 

Silas B. Wayne j do 

Edwin Bond .do 

George F. Earle ! . . . .do 

Amos I'^inch Iowa 



Where from. 



Lijarius L. Bacon Ohio 

Justin S. Lewis do 

Clark 'Jiffit Rhode Island. 

Anson E. Alverson New York.... 

Clark Ste[)liens Io\^a 

Francis O. Tollrs X'ermont 

William N. IJaldwin Illinois 

Edward Jones Iowa 

Gerome B. Tafi Massachusetts 

Samuel S. Snj'der Pennsylvania . 

Noah Cammeron New York . . . 

Hugh Cammeron Dist. Col 

Samuel Y. Lam. . . . , New Jersey . . 

John Hutchinson Wiscon>-in . . . 

Albert I). Searl Massachusetts 

Hiram Clark Georgia 

Samuel S. Topan Massachusetts 



Names. 



Charles W. Dorr Ohio 



William ^. G. Soule. 

D. C. Barrett , 

William O. Wood 

A. W. Gleasoa , 

Alonzo W. Moore. . . , 

Thomas Roberts 

James S. Stevens, . . . 
James II. Gleason. . . 

John H. Miller 

George W. Brown. . . 
Phelix P. Powler.... 
Theodoi-ins Johnson . 

Ellmorc Allen 

Normon Allen 

Azuelph Allen 

James S. Cowen .... 
Nicholas Snyder ..... 

Hiram Williams 

Henry Brunton 

Thon)as Burton 

John C. Archibald. .. 
Thomas F. Reynolds 

Robert BufTum 

John W. Carlton.. .. 

David C. Butl'um 

Edward Clarke 



Maine 

Dist. Col 

Massachnsetts 

Pennsylvania. 

...do 

...do 

Massachusetts 

Pennsylvania. 

Massachusetts 

Pennsylvania. 
,...do........ 

New York . . . 

,...do 

....do 

....do 

Ohio 

Minnesota . . . 

Massachusetts 

Ohio 

Missouri 

Massachusetts 

New York. . . . 

Massachusetts 

....do 

do 

New York . . . 



Daniel Lowe 

Charles llobinson 

Samuel C. Pomeroy . . 

Joshua Fuller 

Robert Horton 

Joshua Thoxter 

Jonatlian iVL Burleigh 

William Ricker 

William McReady . . . 

Orville D. Smith 

George W. Reid 

John Mack 

Frederick King 

Otis H. Lamb 

Jonathan Bigelow .... 

George Havens 

Frederick Kimball. . . . 

Samuel Kimball 

Thomas Brooke ...... 

William Lvans 

Mathew H. Sjjittle ... 

Horatio U. Brent 

Stephen J. Willis 

Hiram C. Cavil 

Samuel E. Rlartin.... 

Forester Hill 

John L. Crane 

diaries W. Perril 

Benjamin Johnson , . . . 

John H. Daty 

Eli W. Bennett 

John S])eer 

Robert G. Elliot 

Josiaii Miller 

Charles F. Garrett... 

William D. Atwood . . 

Joseph J . Raise 

Eteber C. Sartbrd 

Caleb L. Pratt 

James S. Emery 

Oliver H. Ilanerom... 

John Mailey 

James F. Morrison . . . 

Erastus D. Ladd 

John L. Mott 

Joel Grover 

Marshal R. Miller.... 

John C. Gordon 

H. D. Graves 

George Carey 

Henry S. MdClelland. 

Charles Stearns 

Edward Fitch , 

.Tohn H. Wilder 

John A. Lowrey , 

F. W.Kinkle 

Calvin C. Kettle 

Geor<'e Brown , 



Where from. 



Massachusetts 

,...do 

....do 



Ohio 

Massachusetts 
Maine 

N. Hampshire. 
Maine 

Missouri 

Ohio 

New York. .. . 
Massachusetts 
New York . . . 
Massachusetts 

Maine 

Massachusetts 
N. Hampshire 
Massacliusetts 
Nev.' York . . . 
Massachusetts 
New York .. . 
....do 



. . .do. 
Ohio . 
...do. 



Massachusetts 

...do 

New York . . . 
Pennsylvania. 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania. 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Illinois ...... 

Ohio 

Missouri 

Ohio 

,...do 



Massachusetts 
New York . . . 
Massachusetts 
, ...do 



Vermont .... 
Wisconsin . . . 
Michigan .... 
New York . . . 
Pennsylvania. 
New York . . . 
N. Hampshire 
New York. . . . 
Pennsylvania . 
Massachusetts 
....do 



,...do 

Ohio 

Connecticut . . 
Pennsylvania. 
Kentucky. ... 



V*''' 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
FIRST DISTRICT— Continued. 



75 



Names. 



Samuel Kenady 

Samuel Foy 

Ebenezcr Disbrow 

Turner Sampson 

Joseph N, Nance 

Samuel Tay ■. . . 

Samuel N. Wood 

John Doy 

Alphonzo Jones 

Owen T. Barrett 

Joseph H. Pillsbury . . . . 

Sidney B. Dudly 

Stillinan Andrews 

Wilder Bright 

Edward F. Knight 

Alexander Knight 

Ephraini H.Bennett... 
C. Howard Carpenter.. 

Alvin B. Bronson 

Henry W. Feck 

Stephen H. Folsom . . . . 
William Warnicker . . . 
William Ivetohingman. 
William A. Holmes ... 

John C. Mossman 

James B. Abbott 

EUisBond 

Philip Cook 

Jerry Whitson 

Josiali Smith 

John Smith 

Henry t-'mith 

Robert Banks 

Michael R. Albin 

George Gilbert 

George Holt 

Solomon Wilder , 

Stafford J Pratt 

James W. Harrison.... 

Daniel P. Hadley 

Alfred J. Payne 

Edward Winslow 

Samuel Johnson 

Ailulis B Wade 

William H.Oliver 

Daniel Sayer 

Martial M. Hammon .. 

.Tohn H. Dean 

Zeno B. Page 

John F. Wilson 

John S. Hopper 

Simon Hopper 

Benjamin F. Hopper. . . 

David R. Hopper 

Napoleon D. Stuart . . . 
Theodore Benjamin . . . . 

Levy Gates, jr 

Anson H. Mallory 

Ira M. Jones 

John H. Fernan 

George H. Hutchinson. 

Simon Cook 

James A. Davidson . . . . 
C. W.Babcock 



Where from. 



Pennsylvania. 
New York. . . . 

Ohio 

Maine 

Massachusetts 

Maine 

Ohio 

New York. . . . 
Massachusetts 
...do 



N. Hampshire. 
Massachusetts 
N. Hampshire 
Massachusetts 
...do 



Massachusetts 

Vermont 

Connecticut . . 
New York. . . . 
Massachusetts 
New York. .. . 
...do 



...do 

Ohio 

Matisachusetts 

Indiana 

...do 



Maine . . . . 
New York. 

...do 

...do 



Names. 



Where frora. 



Massachusetts 
Wisconsin . . . 



Connecticut . . 
Massachusetts 

...do 

Missouri 

N Hampshire 

Ohio 

Massachusetts 

....do 

Missouri 

...do 



Pennsylvania. 

,...do 

Massachusetts 
Pennsylvania. 
Kentucky. . . . 

...do 

...do 



...do 

,...do 

Missouri 

Kentucky . . . . 
Massachusetts 



Vermont .... 
Pennsylvania 
Vermont .... 
N. Hampshire 
Missouri . . , 
Minnesota , 



Louis C. Wilworth... 
Henry D. Huggins. . . 

John F. Taber , 

Rufus H. Waterman.. 

(^alvin Adams 

William Gentry 

William Yates 

Nathan F. Herrick . . , 

Nathan Herrick , 

James D. Po;ige 

LjConard G. Higgins ., 

George W. Kent 

Increase Whitcomb . . 
George S.Leonard... 

George Chapman 

William Keller , 

James P. Carol 

William Carol , 

Joshua Puckctt 

William Mathews .... 
Jonatlian Mathews . . , 

John N. Powell , 

William Tipton 

Henry H. Carol , 

William Hale 

Simartin V. Harnsby , 
Franklin Harnsby . . . 
Frederick Spring .... 

William R. Lee 

Jolm Anderson 

Tliomas Anderson . . . 

Hamer Hayes 

Samuel Anderson . . . . 
Thomas S. Garvin... 

Robert Garvin 

Flemmon Bridges . . . . 

Elijah Pardom 

Thomas Murray 

David S. Wallner... 

Hiram Crane 

S.imuel S. Hanan . . . , 

William Bridges 

David Burton 

Clarkson M. Wallace. 
Archillias Smith .••«. 
John G McClelland.. 
Robert McFarland . . . 

John McFarland 

Thomas McFarland . . 

Isora E. Taylor 

Jurdon Neil 

Moses Taylor 

John A. Chaflers 

Rhodes Tipton 

Jerrett Tipton 

David Purmton 

Ranson Colkin 

Jeremiah Spencer. . . . 

Robert Allen 

John Stewart 

Samuel Stewart 

William Randolph ... 

William Lyon 

Newman Garwood . . . 



Rhode Island. 

Ohio 

Massachusetts 

Ohio 

Missouri 

....do 

Illinois 

Maine 

....do 

Missouri 

Massachusetts 

Wisconsin . . . 
....do 

Massachusetts 

Wisconsin. . . . 

Pennsylvania. 

Virginia 

do 

....do 

Illinois 

....do 

Iowa 

....do 

Virginia 

....do 

Missouri 

....do 

Pennsylvania. 

....do 

....do 

....do 

Illinois 

do , 

....do 

. . . .do 

....do 

Missouri 

Kentucky. . . . 

Iowa 

....do 

....do 

Illinois 

Missouri 

Iowa 

Illinois 

Missouri ..... 

Pennsylvania. 

....do 

do 

Illinois 

....do 

....do 

Iowa 

....do 

....do 

Missouri 

New York . . . 
....do 

Missouri 

....do 

do 

....do 

Ohio 

....do 



76 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FIRST DISTRICT— Continued. 



Names. 



Where fl-om. 



John H. Lyon Ohio 

Joseph D. Barnes Pennsylvania . 

Fredenck RofF Ilhnois 

Thomas B. Wells New York . . . 

Willard Coulborn Massachusetts 

Peter Crockett Missouri 

Andrew J. Crockett do 

Bryce Miller Indiana 

Tlioinas J Farrell Missouri 

Levi Ferguson do 

A. E. Colinan Massachusetts 

Thomas P. Bond do 

Delano Curlew Missouri 

Nathaniel B. Lewis do 

Clark S. Crane do 

Robert A. Cummins do 

Lucas Curlew do 

W'illiam H. Eagon Ohio 

John M. Eagon do 

Samuel M. Salters Missouri 

Napoleon B. Blarston do 

John (Jurtis Indiana. .. 

Arnab. Sod acke Missouri . . 

William Whitlock do 

Henry Binale Indiana. . . 

Joseph Hutchinson Illinois ... 

John Hutchinson do 

James Whitlock Missouri . . 

Phillip T. Hupp Ohio , 

Joel K. Goodwin do 

Carloss M. Day New York 

Ezekiel Boirus j Ohio , 

George Long • — do 

Robert J. Wolfe Missouri . . , 



James Curlew 

Lyman D. Hubbard... 

Harrison Nichols 

Samuel G. Johnson . . 

Albert F. Breeder 

Sylvester FI. Davis . . . 

Rice Mattmgly 

Thomas McBee 

Cuthburt McBee 

Reuben McBee 

William Curry. ...... 

Charles M . White 

A. Cronee 

Jacob Brunson 

Joshua Cummins 

John M. Banks 

George Graves 

Ben .Johnson 

Nathaniel D. Johnson, 

Thomas Emery , 

Lucius Kibber 

Robert Pit'rson 

Maxwell Sarley 

Richard Fierson 

David Ehliidge 

Thomas Hopkins 

Harrison Budily 

Thomas Bruze 

Samuel Plide 



,do 

Now York . . . 
Pennsylvania . 
Massachusetts 

Ohio 

Missouri 

...do 

Kentucky. • • • 
...do........ 

...do 

...do 

Indiana 

Missouri 

Indiana 

Missouri 

Pennsylvania. 

Iowa 

Missouri 

Ohio 

Missouri 

Iowa 

Pennsylvania. 

Missouri 

Pennsylvania. 
Wisconsin .. . 

Missouri 

...do 

...do 

...do 



Names. 



John C. Davidson 

Joseph Ebcrhart 

Henry Eberhart 

Louis J. Eberhart 

James H. Reed 

Mathew B. High tower . 

Benjamin F. McDonnel 

Henry C. Sebastion 

Alexander Sebastion.... 

Robert Wilkinson 

John Morehead 

William Turner 

John Parott 

Jackson Sellers 

David Mencham 

Edward B. Johnston . . . 

Job Vanwinkle 

Fitzhugh Collins 

Charles Link 

Thomas D. Waller .... 

Henry F. Sanders 

Thomas J. Stone 

Stephen Ogden 

Jonathan Ogden 

Charles Jordon 

Amasa Solee , 

Amasa Pettingill 

Hugh Pettingill 

Thomas E. Smith 

Enoch Hobart 

Solomon Lapliam 

John E. Stewart 

John B. Nichols , 

Allen B. H. McGee 

Edmond Ryerley 

James Sullivan 

James A. Jackson 

Chris. C. Furgison 

George Lewis , 

Edward H. Lewis , 

James W. Elserr , 

John Keiser 

John O. Talbot , 

James W. Goddion 

James H. Crooks 

John H . Lewis , 

John S. Perkival 

John B. Farman . . .' 

•Foseph M. Russell 

McGlenn 

William Wallace 

Henry Reed 

Hiram Crane 

S. N. Simpson 

F. A. Bailey 

John Fry 

H. A. Hancock 

Abraham Still 

James M Still 

Jonathan Morgan 

Howland Edward 

E. Howland 



Where from. 



i 



Missouri ..... 
Pennsylvania. 

....do 

....do 

Missouri 

....do 

....do .„. 

, ...do 

....do 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Illinois 

Kentucky .... 

Illinois 

Ohio 

Illinois 

,...do 

Missouri 

Illinois 

Kentucky. . . . 
Massachusetts 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Maine 

...do 

Connecticut . . 

Maii\t' 

...do 

N. Hampshire 
Massachusetts 

Missouri 

Pennsylvania. 
Mississippi . . . 
Virixinia ..... 

Ohio 

...do 

...do 

Virginia 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Kentucky .... 

Ohio 

...do 

Massachusetts 

Iowa 

...do 

...do 

Ohio 

Iowa 

Vermont 

Massachusetts 

Ohio 

Massachusetts 

Missouri 

...do 

Massachusetts 

...do 

...do 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Second Distesct. 



List of voters of the second election district of Kansas Terriiory, accord- 
ing to the census returns taken by 0. H. Browne in the months of 
January and February, A. B. 1855. 



Names. 



Paris Ellison Missouri 

Absolom St. Davis do... 

Geortre W. Jolmson ! Virgini 




Jonathan Crummer Missouri 

Levi Orvins do 

M. Somers do 

Henry White Virginia 

B. Callaghan Missouri 

Edwin Marcy Indiana 

Claude M. Michier Virginia 

Joseph A. Smith do 

George W. Clarke Arkansas . . . . 

Rufus P. Doke do 

C. R. Hillinan Pennsylvania. 

William Daneer Illinois 

Fleming Hatton Missouri 

Willis S. Warder do 

John M. Smith do 

Augustine Smith do 

Beverly Gentry do 

Richard Miller Indiana 

David R. Hopper ] Kentucky . . . 

~ ' - - ■ Iowa 

Missouri 

...do 

...dt) 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Illinois 

Massachusetts 

do 

do 

Maine 

Massachusetts 

Illinois 

Massachusetts 
New York . . . 

do 

Missouri 

...do 

. . .do 

...do 

Massachusetts 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Iowa 

New Jersey . . 

Iowa 

Massachusetts 

Missouri 

Ohio 

Massachusetts 

Missouri 

,...do 



Piobert Hughes. 

Orange Howard 

K. J. Murchison 

John Hockler 

Tipton Robinson 

David Dickey 

James H. Harrison .. .. 

W. W. Randolph 

Ephraim Conner 

William W. Hall 

Henry Muzzey 

Charles Smith 

William Hood 

F. A. Bailey 

Henry H. Conner 

Francis Barker 

Mathew Hall 

John Hall 

James Turner 

Samuel Jones 

Green Swezer 

Joseph Vance 

Milcn Groub 

F. A. Muzzy 

F. C. Muzzey 

Owen Taylor 

John A. "VVakefield, jr. 

Nicholas Snyder 

H. S. McClelland 

David Conner 

Henry B. Lacey 

Thomas Henry 

John B. Nicholas 

Townsend Lahay 

F. E. Lahay 



John D. Lahay .do. 



Isaac Shoop , 

Albert Yates . , 

Kinsey Lanum . . . . ^ . . 

William Justice 

James M. Dunn 

John C. Dunn 

George W. Ward . . . , 

Henry Alderman 

George Stibridge 

Carlos Hall 

Francis Wright , 

James W. Heix 

A. J. Howland 

William Johnson 

James Shaw 

G. W. Riddle 

Lewis 

John W. Chamberlin . 

J. S. Parker > . , 

William K. Ruddall.. 

R.W. Custard , 

A J. Custard 

William M. Harper . . 

Frederick Cook , 

D. H. Heindricks . . . . 

Samuel Cosebier 

Luther O. Sprudling. . 

William Jacket 

Nathaniel S. Ramsey. 

Harrison Burson 

Nicholas Allgain 

William H. Wood..., 
Henry C. Alderman . . 

John Archibald 

Ebenezor Archibald... 
Albin 



William Jesse 

Andrew White 

James S. White 

Absolem White . • . . , 

E. G. Macey 

John Wilter 

David Cosebier 

Daniel Vaniel 

Isaac Davis 

Jonathan C. Cosebier 
Abraham Hendricks . 
James FJendricks.. • . 

Enoch Reed 

James Reed 

Littleton Reed 

D. S. Howe 

William M Davis... 
George W. Brians... 

A B. Collett 

John F. Russell 

William H. Russell . 
Fields Bledsoe 



Ohio 

Missouri 

....do 

,...do 

RIaine 

, ...do 

Missouri 

Illinois 

New York . . . 

Ohio 

Massachusetts 

Missouri 

...do 

Tennessee . . . 

...do 

...do 

New York . . . 

Missouri 

Kentucky. . ^ , 

Illinois 

Pennsylvania.. 

,...do 

Missouri 

....do 

....do 

Iowa 

Illinois 

....do 

....do 

,...do 

....do .- 

Jowa 

Illinois 

Massachusetts 

....do 

Wisconsin . . . 

niinois 

Missouri 

. ^. .do 

...do 

Ohio 

...do 

Iowa 

,...do 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Missouri 

...do 

...do 

...do-. 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...dp 

...do 

...do. 

...do 

...do 



L,M 



78 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

SECOND DISTRICT— Continued. 



Names. 




George R,hodes 
.John Campbell . 
James Campbell 



Missouri . 
Kentucky 
, ...do.... 



Thomas Ovcrfield i Massachusetts 



William Furguson. . • , 

Joseph Lovelace 

John Carroll ■ 

Jacob H. Brown 

Drury Fletcher 

Charles Matingly 

Madison Rule ■ 

James Evans 

Robert Callue 

James Powell 

John Baley 

Madison Kincade .... 

J. S. Bacon 

JohnO. Talbot 

John Kisor 

John O. Talbot 

C. Furguson 

J. W. Goodwin 

L. M.Oliver 

John H. Lewis 

E. M. Kisor 

James Sullivan 

James W. Elred 

A. J. Corbit 

Joel Montgomery . . . • 

Thomas Husley 

Lafayette Barret 

Henry A. Callue.... 

S. J. Wafal 

G. W. Garss 

Evan Todhunter 

John Todliuntcr 

Valentine Todhunter. 

Samuel Hufaker 

Martin Palmer 

James Williams 

William Douglas.... 
Thomas Todhunter.. 



do 

Illinois.. . 

Missouri . 

. . .do 

. . .do 

Tennessee 
Missouri . 

. . .do 

. . .do 

, . .do 

Kentucky. . . .j 
do ! 

Missouri 

, ...do 

Tennessee . . . 

Ohio 

Tennessee . . . 

Missouri 

Tennessee. . . . 

Ohio 

Georgia 

New Mexico. . 

Kentucky . . . . 
do 

Missouri 

....do 

....da 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 



Devoe Toahunter Missouri .... 

Amanus Todiuinter ]. . . .do. 

William H. May j New York 

Jarred Carter i. . . .do. 

John Mason ] Missouri 

George W. Lynn j. . . .do 

John D. Hopkins I Indiana 

Moses McCall ! Missouri .... 

James Kutes .do 

R. W. Dunimer | Illinois 

Caleb Cotrell do. 



John G. McClanahan Missouri 

Thomas Burnett dp 

Westley Garrett do 

William Shirley do 

Jonathan Pratiier do 

Thomas Simmons do 

Wm. R. Simmons do 

Nehemiah Dorrell d(? 

Grant Spurlock do 

Endiott do 

E. H. Hastings Pennsylvania . 

Thomas McConn Virginia 

Shipman Winter do 

Andrew McDonald do 

Wm. C. Roberts Arkansas .... 

John H. Roberts do 

W. H. Blackburn do 

Emily Cline Indiana 

Joseph Lewis Missouri 

Thomas M. Rogers do 

Thomas B. Wisdom do 

A. Pioderique Pennsylvania . 

Samuel J. Jones. . . Virginia 

L. W. Hendricks Arkansas .... 

James R. Davis Missouri 

A. J. Buck do 

Peter Wendell do 

John Howard ..do 

Thomas Piiillips I db 

O. H. Browne .do 



List of settlers on the Kansas half-hreed lands opposite Douglas city, 
as enumerated hy 0. H. Browne.^ 



Names. 



Alexander Bayne 

A. J. Smith 

William F. Bayn 
S. H. Phimmer.. 
Dudley Foley . . . 
James Scaggs . . . 
Thomas Scasrgs. 



Names. 



Harvey Miller. . . . 

George Gray 

Dudley Plunimer . 
Jonathan Smoot. . 
George Williams. 
Samuel P. Jilton. . 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Third District. 



lAst of voters of the third election district of the Territory of Kansas, 
according to the census returns made by Thornton TV. Hays, esq., 
taken during the months of January and Fehruary. A. D. 1855. 



Names. 



Where from. 



Names. 



John Horner • 

L. B. Stateleii 

Morlamer Gilbert 

Dehnalen Ferrel 

William A.M. Vaughan. 

James M. Herrin 

Jesse Mitchner 

Duke W. Hunter 

Thomas N. Stinson 

Jihial Tyler 

Horatio Cox 

Rubin Low 

Fedrick Waltman 

Stephen Scott 

Christopher Coplin 

Joseph West 

Andrew J. Kelley 

Eli D. Stilson 

W. A. Sublett 

M. J. Mitchell .- 

Charles Jordan 

Osburn Nailer 

R. A. Edwards 

Isaac M. Edwards 

Peter Belonza 

Belbord Gilbert 

C. K. HoUaday 

Peter N. Main 

W. C. Liniker 

E. Chase 

Edwin S. Dereter 

H. B. Burgess 

.Tohn All 

Abel Hatwell 

J. Tegart 

11. L. Roat 

Charles V. Gray 

T. J. Case 

Timothy Mclntire 

Jones C. Greenwood 

Thomas G. Thornton.... 

Daniel H. Hounc 

Milton C. Dickey 

M. C. Drink water 

A. A. Ward 

S. A. Clark 

Phillip Briggs 



Virginia . . . 
Kentucky. , 
New York . 
Kentucijy. . 
Virginig, . . . 
England . . , 

Ohio. 

Missouri . . , 

Ohio ; 

New York , 
Kentucky. , 
Virginia . . , 
Germany . , 
Indiana . . . , 
Missouri . . . 
....do 



Ohio 

Massachusetts 
Maryland . . . . 

Ohio 

Virginia 

Illir^is 

,...do 

....do 



Canada 

France 

Pennsylvania . 
Connecticut . . 

England 

Massachusetts 

Maine 

New York . . . 

Maine 

Massachusetts 

Ohio 

Massachusetts 

Maine 

Pennsylvania. 
N. Hampshire 
Massachusetts 

Maine 

N. Hampshire 

, ...do 

Pennsylvania. 



N. Hampshire 
Vermont. . . . . 



W. C. Pickeral 

Jacob B. Chaise 

Charles Larnsworth 

C. O. Nicholas.. 

Elamore Shetter , 

Thomas D. Parker?on . . 

William Godard 

J. R. Warren 

James McConnell 

Robert H . Matthews. . . . 

Francis Grassmuck 

William R. Boggs 

Jerome W. Boles 

J. P. C. Bouche 

James S. Piles 

James S. Small 

Hiram Dawson 

John Piles 

Charles H. Buzzard 

William D. Owen 

F. A. Wentworth 

Charles Matney 

Daniel Turner 

A. P. Turner 

William H. Turner 

William Matney, jr 

James H. Harden 

Solomon Coker 

William A. Simmcrville 

Jones Lacking 

Linsus T. Cook 

James R. Morhan 

William F. Johnson . . . . 

William Dailey 

John W. Brown 

James R. Wisman 

Alfred Byler 

John Taylin 

Richard Cox 

Peter Croco 

H. N. Watts 

T. J. Wells 

John Long 

H. J. Strickler 

Jerre Nevvcum 

S. W. Hays 



Where from. 



Ohio 

Massachusetts 



Pennsylvania. 

iNlissouri 

Pennsylvania. 
Tennessee . . . 
Kentucky. . . . 

Missouri 

New York . . . 
Germany .... 

Missouri 

JMassachusetts 
Pennsylvania. 

Virginia 

Kentucky. . . . 
, ...do 



Virginia . . 

...do 

Kentucky . , 

Ohio 

Virginia . . 
Georgia . . 
Alabama. . 

, ...do 

Virginia . . 
,...do 



Missouri .... 
Michigan . . . . 

Indiana , 

Missouri . . . . , 
Tennessee. . . . 
Pennsylvania . 

Indiana 

Ohio 

Virginia 

Tennessee. . . , 

Missouri 

...do 



Ohio 

Illinois 

Pennsylvania. 
, ...do 



Virginia .... 

Illinois 

Kentucky. . . . 



80 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Fourth District. 

List of voters of the fourth election district of the Territory of Kansas, 
according to census returns made hy C. B. Donaldscni, taken daring 
the months of January and February, 1855. 



Names. 



"Where from 



Racket Illinois 

F. Powell Tennessee . , . 

Bagsinjer Iowa 

H. Bagsinger do 

Farley .do 

S. Cooke Mississippi . . . 

M. Coleman MissQuri 

B. Gilliland Illinois 

Keren Missouri 

J. Miller Illinois 

S. Edie dp 

E. Carpenter - .de^ ^ 

F. L. Bisbee New. York . . . 

"endricks Missouri 

. Mcore Indiana 

'vioore do 

'Ison New- York ... 

. ^..jfield I Illinois 

Mayfield \...A& 

. Young I Virgkiia 

Chapman j Indiana 

. Hannah i . . . .do 

H. Loehridge Miseouri 

Newhinej Illinois 



Names. 



Where from. 



W. S. Ewart Ohio 

D. Pultz Missouri , 

J. B. Davis Georgia , 

D. J. Keser Missouri 

G. Y. Keser ....do.... 

J. M. Bernard j do.... 

J. D. Skidmore ....do.... 

W. M. Haris ....do.... 

J. F. Javens .do. .. . 

P. Fuller Illinois . , 

,...do.... 

Missouri 

,...do..., 



S. Workman 

J. C. Hughes 

C.Clark 

C. Harmony .do 

Y. Doty i Illinois 

F. Barnes ^ j Missouri 

M Carter {. . . .do 

A. Dale |. . . .do 

A. C. Tomberlin i Illinois 

A. Dean | Pennsylvania. 

A. Williams ' Missouri 

Y. Veach Ohio 

H. Lowery \ Arkansas . . . . 



Fifth District. 

List of voters of the fifth district of the Territory of Kansas, according 
to the census returns taken hy William Barbee, in the months of Jan- 
uary and February, 1855. 



Names. 



Where from. 



Names. 



Where from. 



James P. Fox. Missoori .... 

John Medlin , .do 

Lemuel Medlin .do 

Abram Medlin , do 

Wm. Medlin I .do 

Wilson Medlin ] .do 

Piob't Brady ! do 

Francis Marion ; do 

Benj. Ford do 

David C. Finley j Tennessee . . 

Clayton Ellis Missouri .... 

Gwin Ray .. . . . . • .do. . . . * 

John Rese < .do. .... 

Sam'l Dillon do 

James Lucenson do 

John H. Tate .do 

Wm. Turner , ' do 

Middleton Hensley .do 



David Ca^teel 


Missouri 




.da. 


Thos Heath ' 


dOi 


Alexander James 

F. A. Hamilton 


do 

do 




do. 




do, 


G. R. Sands 


do 


Benj . G . Lynch 


Arkansas 


G. B. Donell 


S'lissouB 


Thos. Donell 




Julius Hansbraugh 


do 

do 


John A. Beckett 

Wm. J. Hensley 

Jas. Walker 


do 

do 

do 


Sam '1 Nichols 


..... .do. 


Calvin Ford 


do 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FIFTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



81 



Names. 



Einbrey Nelson 
Levi \Vurd . . . . 
Wyley A kins . . 
Charles Polk... 
Thos. Polk 



Where from. 



Missouri 
llliijois . . 

do., 

Missouri 
.da.. 



Sam'l Brown d 



Sain'l Stanton 

John Bordermast.. , 

Jas. Roberts 

Jas. W. Carmon. . . 

Andrew Tj'Iit 

Fineas T. Glover. . 

Evan Evans 

Jos. Adams 

Solomon Adams. . . , 

Thos. Sears 

Andrew Owens .... 
Wm.Park 

p. F. Park 

Sani '1 Covey 

John Estcps 

Isaac Cliurk 

David Bunch 

Ambers Reslly 

Benj. F. Ford 

Benj. F. Thompson ._ ^ 

Carhaven Tagifent I Jo 

Josiah P. Ford I ^ 



do. . . 

Illinois . . . 
Missouri . . , 

do..., 

do..., 

.....do..., 
Kentucky. , 

do.... 

Missouri . . . 

do. . . , 

do 

do.... 

do. . . . 

do 

do 

do,... 

....do 

do 

do 

Tennessee . 



Hugh L. VV. Reagan ... 

Jno. Hudleston . .~ 

Thos. Reason 

Hiram Hondeshell 

Caleb W. Hartris 

John W. Jameson 

Henry Eidson 

Garret J. W. Holland.. 

Nathan L. Lamarr 

John VV. Elliott 

Jas. Lamarr 

Jas. G. Ptay 

Wm. Doolin 

Chas. Wagoner 

Henry Miller 

Geo."T. Stein .'. 

Jos. Montgomery 

Adam Poore 

Allen Stevvait , , . 

John R. Driskeli ....... 

Thos. J. Duncan 

William Hobson '.'. 

Hardin Coodall 

E. H. Hutchings 

Jackson Long 

Harrison Smith 

Wm. R. Perry "" 

Wm. Pike ',',' 

Jas. Winchesier 

Wm. Bagcr 

Fonts Alexander 

Jas. B. Roach 

Cliflen Ellis 

Joim A. Wakefield 

W.B.Williams I Vl'issour 

Nicnolas Nising-er ( . . do 

H. Rep. 20C 6* ' 



do 

Illinois .... 

do 

do 

Missouri . . . , 

do 

do 

Illinois 

Tennessee . . 

Missouri . . . . 

Tennessee . . 

.Missouri . . . . 

do 

do 

Texas 

Missouri . . . . 

S. Carolina.. 

Iowa 

Missouri . . . . 

do 

do 

Illinois 

do 

do 

Missouri . . . , 

do 

Illinois 

do 

do 

do 

Iowa or Mo . 
Missouri .... 

do 

Illinois 



Name 



Where from. 



Aaron Thompson Kentucky. 

liarry Richardson Mis-ouri. 

Jasper Dingen , L . , .do. '. 

Joseph Oshen j Illinois".*,". 

Isaac StolNm .Jo 

William Murray Missouri 

Joseph Howard I. , . .do. 

Zacharia Roe I. . . .do 

Benjamin Bunch |....do 

Leander Fawts I. . . do 

Ehsha Tucker .'do .'."!.' ." 



.do. 
.do. 
.d<). 
.d«. 



John E. Brown 

Robert Hargrave 

Reuben E. Noel 

Henry Littlejohn 

Jonah Daniel I. . . .do. 

Reuben Daniel I Illinois 

William Daniel ' do. ,*. ! 

John Steel j jVI issoi'ri" '. 

John Broils Illinois . . 

John Robinson I Maryland 

Fergus Graham I. . . .do. . . . 

John Dunigaii | Missouri 

Moses Dunigan I. . . .do, 

Joseph Gasa way i... do..,. 

Ingram Lusk i. . . .do. 

William Moore 1... do 

William Field '....do'*"" 

Mr. Hill i....do..'.'. 

John Par I. , . .cjo. . . . 

Brisco Davis I, . . .do, ,. . 

David Dehoncy j. .. .dc ... 

Hickman Smith '. . . .do. . . . 

Benjamin Crabiree Illinois.. 

Joseph Sanders IViss uri . 

William Cash Illinois... 

James Fox j Missouri. , 

D. S. Ragan '. , , .do, . . ., 

Lewis Klliott |....do. ... 

William Driskeli I do 

George Mallox '. . . .do 

Clabron Burnett 1. . , .do 

L. M. Love I do. ...', 

Richard Graves '. . . .do 

.Tosoph Everhart i. . . .do 

William Sparkman 1. . . .do 

William Goodwin '. , . .do 

Henry McKinney ' do 

.lames Dudley i do....'. 

Lewis Thomas j. . . .do 

John Wikle I . . , .do 

\* iiliam Surman (.,. d« 

William >tephens j. .. .do 

William Ring i. . . do 

Alfred Smith : i do 



Josiah Daniels 

Joseph E. Watk-ns 

Robert M. Daniels 

.Tesse ""ca rs 

James Daniel 

" Rolif-rt Rose Braugh" . . . ,1. . . .do 

William Skidweil I do 

V^iilian) r. Kirk i do 

Robert Cottle. \ Kentucky. 



.do, 
.do. 

do. 

do. 
.do. 



82 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FIFTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



Names. 



Where from. 



William Riel Illinois 

Henderson Rice • • • -do 

John Shoemaker Holland. ... 

Mahlou Morris Ohio 

William S. Furguson ; Virginia. 

James Grant New York . . . 

John T Grant j do 

James W. Greer j Missouri . 

John G. Morse \ do 

Peter Cams i Ohio , 

William Sherman j. . . .do 

Henry Sherman i. . . -do 

Jonathan VVightman 1 Virginia 

Peter Shearman ;• . . .do , 

Freeman Auston i Pennsylvania. 

Adam Carnes ', Ohio 

Joseph W. Moray J New York... 

Joseph H. Morey do 

Allen Wilkerson Tennessee . . . 

Dennis West .- j. .. -do 

Elder Barnolly | Missouri . . . . 

Richard Golden .do 

Washington Jones Iowa 

Theodore Jones New York. .. 

George Patridge i Wisconsin . . . 

M. Patridge do 

Thomas Stolen : Missouri . . . . 

Robert R. Stergeon Virginia 

Robert Long iVJissouri . . . . 

Francis Myers .do 

Valentine Ganarva , • . • .do 

Jonathan S. HutT. | do 

John 1^ itzong ,. . • .do 

Peter Johnston !. . . .do 

Joseph W. Grass ! Illinois 

W. A. Baxter j do 

John A. Eberhart Indiana 

Jeremiah BufSagton , Illinois 

Albert Woodson Missouri 

Chester G. Grant Verniont 

Samuel H Houser | Ohio 

James W. Houser ....do 

Andrew B. Jackson Indiana 

Curtis Jackson j. . . .do 

Edwin Fairbrother i New York . . . 

John Carr j . . . .do 

Joseph Stotts j Indiana 

John Lerpel i New, York .. . 

Thomas Hitchens I . • . .do 

Robert A. Toby j ... .do 

James D. Swift |. . . .do 

Noah W. Round j Indiana 

Lewis J. Wilson j. . . .do 

John Rose j. . . .do 

William C Melvin ! do 

William Chesnut j Conriecticut . . 

Morgan Crokhyte j New York . . . 



Names. 



Where from. 



John Vanhorn Missouri. . 

H. Endricks Iowa 

Samuel Glen .do 

John Freeburt Ohio 

Eli Miller Iowa . . . ., 

Thomas Hurnon .do 

M. Wood Illinois . . . 

O. C. Brown New York 

John Whirl , Illinois ... 

James Goodwin , Ohio 

David Hall ' Iowa 

John Manes Illinois . . . 



Indiana. ■ 
Missouri. 
...do... 
Iowa . . . 
...do... 



do. 

Missouri 
. . .do. . . 



Geor<re Ferris 
William Childers 
James L. Childers 

Georsre Bradbury t. . . .do. . . , 

William Gadling ]. . . .do. . . , 

John Troy i Iowa ... 

William Lossin .' Indiana. . 



James Scott 

John Bradbury 

James Bradbury 

Porter Glen 

Jesse Glen 

Cyrus Shaw , Indiana. . . . 

Noel Shaw .do 

Hiram Hanes .do 

Josiah H. Damson | Missouri.. . 

Benjamin C. Adkins j . . . .do 

James Adkins ;. . . .do 

Bloomer White i. . . .do 

Thomas McAboys .do 

William H. Findley Tennessee . 

Henry Gillespie Vlissouri . . . 

Henry D. Parsons .do 

James Parson do 

James H. Burkhardt , ^' ichigan . , 

Bandan Cordam Texas . . . . , 

Asher P. Wyckoff. ; Ilhnois . . . , 

Fenton .VJ . Bagley ! , 

James Walker 

Henry Younger 

John Hilton , 

John Evans 

Milton Hampton i Missouri... 

Thomas H. Brown ,. .. .do 

C. S. Fleming [ do 

John D. Fleming \. . . .dp 

David P. Fleming .do 

Samuel Fleming .do 

James Fleming do 

James W. Cox do 

Francis Lahardie Michigan . , 

James W. Fehee do 

B. B. Taylor Ohio 

Joseph Brian ' Kentucky. . 

William Brian do 

Robert Brian .do 

W'illiam H. Stanford Missouri . . . 

Ephraim Kincaide .do 

Joseph Hogans | . . .(Jo 

Joseph W'. Gayhart ' Indiana . . . . 

Barnet Hall ! Missouri . . . 

Thomas Vv ilburn ' — .do 

William Ferrill | Kentucky. • 

William Snider i . . . .do 

George R. Yocum |. . . .do 

G. Dunn .do 

John Yocum -do 

Andrew Cary do 

Madison Marshal '. .. .do 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
FIFTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



83 



Names. 



Where from. 



Hiram Beniagton 

Hiram T. Iharpe 

H. >». RiindiU 

O. F. Cleveland 

Jacob Erley 

Alfred Law 

Jacob Barker 

Josiah Smoot 

B. H. Ames 

Calvin Randall 

S. M. Hayes 

John H. Whistler 

Robert A. tiiag , 

Marcus C Rose , 

John B. Scott 

John W . Vickery 

Aaron Case 

Thomas Crabtree 

Frederick Croxcull .... 

John A. Crocaeil , 

J. M. Train , 

Thomas Semple 

Philip Anderson 

John Bledsoe 

John Shannon 

John Hicklan 

Phiio Bali 

Simpson A. Lenrick . . . 

Wihiarn Walter 

P. C. Poole 

H. Z. Turnnel 

G. P. Gordon , 

Stephen Catling 

G. H. Gordon 

M. B. Lankford 

Allen Nichols , 

A. H. Loffan , 

B. A. Dys^dale , 

James H. Waldron . . . . , 

James Reese 

Washinarton Cooper . . . . , 

Thomas Graves 

R. A. Barnett 

John Tuckerraan 

Nathan Corder 

Eweing Baker 

James Goodwin 

JohnC. Clark 

John W. Walker 

Samuel Warren 

Charles A. Brown 

John A. Jackson 

B. G. Steel 

John Holiday 

Jacob Hicklin 

Cleveland Scott . , 

W. C. Barns 

^Villiam Mainord 

John Stergeon 

Eli Moore 

Richard D. Richard ville. 

William Honeywell 

Joseph B. Bourdon 

Lewis Gebeax 



Kentucky . . , 
New York. . , 

Missouri 

Georgia . . . , 
Tennessee. . , 
Missouri . . . , 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Missouri . . . . 



Names. 



•do. 



....dj 

....do 

Illinois. 

Pennsylvania . 

Iowa 

....do , 



Missouri . . , 
Iowa 

lillileis 

....do , 

Ohio 

Arkansas.. , 
Missouri . . , 
....do , 



.0,0. 

.do. 



.do. 



Massachusetts 

Virginia 

Missouri 

Tennessee . . . . 
N. Carolina . . 

Iowa 

Missouri 

...do 



Ke mucky. 

....do 

....do 

....do 

Tennessee . 



. . . .ao , 

New York. . . , 

Maine , 

Tennessee . . . . 

Virginia 

Connecticut . . 

Ohio 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Illinois 



.do. 



Pennsylvania . 

Illinois 

Massachusetts 

Vermont 

Wisconsin . . . 

Ohio 

Tennessee . . . . 

Missouri 

New York 

Indiana 

New York . . . . 

Indiana 

....do 



Thomas Williams 

William Mobley 

James O. Parker 

Peter J. Potts , 

John H Arbuckee , 

Isaac Jacob 

Isaac ci. Hartman 

William A. Haskel 

David Lykins 

Benazh. B. Campbell. . , 

W illiam Clark 

Jeremiah Farmer 

John A. Hix 

William Jones 

Stet,hen vv nite 

John Buts 

Henry L . Lyon , 

John G. Mc Daniel 

James Beets 

Peter J. Potts 

John Jackson 

Daniel L. Percy 

Thomas Curamings .... 

W^illiam Jicob , 

Joseph E. Tindall 

Marcus Gill , 

Lott Coiiman , 

J. W. Parks 

Dudley G. Hausbrough. 

William H. Findley 

William L. H crris 

Francis J. Agriew 

William Jackson 

Henry Davidson 

Joseph Good 

W^illiam A. Austin 

Joseph Black 

Sliade Halcum 

Silas R. Jackson 

Isaac P. Jackson 

I Henry France 

James Hallo way 

Joseph B. Goodwin 

Amos H. Goodwin 

Francis P. Levine 

John H. Cleaton 

Robert Freaks 

Perry Freaks 

William Hunt 

John W. Freaks 

William Shugars 

Robert E. Spotwood.... 

John Robinson 

William Wires 

Henry Devillars 

John W. Lewis 

William Thomas 

Hiram Stephens 

Marion P. Jackson 

John M. Keeton 

Samuel L. Ring 

Champion Reesley 

William S. Gregory...., 
James Wade ., 



Where from. 



Missouri . . , . , 

Indiana 

Missouri . . . . , 
Indiana , . , . , 
.Missouri . . . . , 

....do 

....do , 

V'irginia . . . . , 
Missouri . . . . , 
Michigan . , . , 

Indiana , 

Missouri 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

do 

do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

Indiana , 

Rnode Island. 

...do 

Missouri 

....do. 

....do 

....do 

Michigan . . . . 

....do 

Missouri 

....do 

....do 

....do 

Missouri 

....do 

....do 

...do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

do 

New York ... 

V'irorinia 

Missouri ..... 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

do 

...do 

,...do 



♦ JT 



84 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FIFTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



Names. 



Harris Jackson 

Ennis Mc Daniel. . . • 

James S. K.>igA 

Jesseo R. McDaniel 
William R.. Jones . . 
Juhn R. McDaniel. . 



Where from 



Missouri 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Names. 



Samuel Wade 

Henry Buni.er .. . • 
John Jackson, jr. . . 
Thomas McAvery. 
Edmund L. 'I'ryjjlc 
John C. Brooks . . . 



Where from. 



Missouri 
...do... 



...do... 
Ireland . 
IVlissouri 
...do... 



Sixth District. 



v,i 



List of voters of the sixth district of the Territory of Kansas, according 
to the census returns taken by William Barhee in the months of Janu- 
ary and February, 1855. 



Names. 



Jacob Miller 

John Brown , 

John Barnes 

Joseph Alexander , 

William Alexander 

William Weaver 

Nalhan Arnett 

James Arnett 

Isaac Mills 

Thomas Sumers 

William Painter 

John !5rown 

William Griffith , 

David Gathey 

Joab Shambles 

G. J. Endicott 

John Culton 

John Hix 

Henry Snider 

Jacob Snider , 

Aaron W. Snider , 

John N. Minor 

Miles Fleetwood 

Isaac Fleetwood 

Reuben Fleetwood 

John Finch , 

Porter Davis , 

William Barboe 

John A. Barbes 

Stephen Heard 

James Heard 

Charles Heard 

Lewis Broils 

Benjamin F. Wilkerson. 

John B. Smith 

Francis York 

George York , 

William Younof 

Wyle Patterson 

A. H. Horton , 

John A. Mc'oy 

John W. Denton 

William Vermillion . . . , 



Where from 



Missouri 
...do... 



Names 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



.di>. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



...do 

...do...-...., 

Ohio- 

Pennsylvania . 

..do 

Indiana 

Missouri .... 
...do 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



...do.. 
. . .do. . 
Illinois 
...do.. 



.do. 
.de. 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Arkansas. . 

...do 

Illinois . . . 
Kentucky. 
Virginia . . 



Michael McCann 

Matliew Cellars .... 

Samuel Bearer 

Noah W. Bennett ... 

Hir. T. Wilson 

Thomas B. Arnolt. . , 
William Miirgrave . 
William Walkins . . . 
Henry Watkins. . . . 

F. Deivent 

P. D. Cninminsrs ., . , 
Pliilander S. Moore. 
Jefferson Coapstan. . , 
Emory B. Cook .... 

George Simons 

A. Ward 

William E;inin 

Ricjiard Beth 

William Randolph ., 

Jesse Ray 

.lames Howell 

Enocii Wilson 

Jesse Coa pland 

Mathew Kirk , 

James M. Chany .. . . 

James Upton 

Thomas Pickeral .. . . 

.lames Pickeral , 

Henry Smink 

Charles Mitchell .... 

Samuel Moore , 

Joel Catliing 

J. C. Anderson , 

James Waldron...., 

John R. Wood 

Geo. W. Rennick ... 
Robert T. Reding . . . 
Georoe Rocker.. . . . . 

Joseph M. Sharp .... 

Charles Milam 

Daniel F. Biickliart.. 

James M. Linn 

Samuel S. Gilmore.. 



Wl)ere from. 



Maine .. 
Mis-ionri 
. . .do. .. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



...do 

Kentucky . 



...do 

Tennessee 

Missouri . . 
Illinois . . . 
. . .do 



Mis.sDuri 
Illiiufis . , 



.do. 



Pennsylvania . 

, . . .do 

Tennessee . . . 

Illinois 

...do 



. . .do 

. . .do 

New York 
Missouri . . 

...do 

...do 

?Jew York 
Missouri . . 
...do 



Iowa 

New York 
Ohio ... . 
Tennessee 
Indiana. . . 

Iowa 

...do 



Kentucky . 
Wisconsin 

Ohio 

Missouri . . 
....do 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

SIXTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



85 



Names. 



Jacob Finley 

John T iviis 

Charles Kelley 

George 'I'inker 

Robert W. Getreal.. 

Akin Brant 

Berry Mills 

Francis Twombly . . . 

James Mnitli 

Ckailes Stephen 

Michael .larrand 

Peter >'»tiner 

Joseph Welch 

Washing'ton Jones, . . 
William Godfrey. . . . 

Lewis iNlooyard 

John Thompson 

Joseph Robinson .... 

Peter Lebaim 

Andrew Conville .... 
John B Fleming .. . . 
James H. Heming. . . 

James Harrison 

Adam Ci^sushratte . . . 
William Rosecrant.. 
John A. INlii thews . . . 

James Aiidrian 

Aram Shapeweather. 

Peter Welch 

Samuel Nelson 

Samuel Drennon .. . . 

Ira Giilhereii 

Jermnn Hiilovvay.... 

David Harlan 

Nathan IIo|)kins .. . . 

Danit^l Hopkins 

Joseph Hawls 

Abram Iiodgers 

Robert K.dwards 

Alexander Warfield.. 

Fielder Lewis 

William Liim 

George Butler 

Jerome Moody 

Arthur Ward 

Harrop Ward ....... 

E. B. Cook 

James Turner 

Reiley Morgin 

Thoinns Wilson 

Alfred Oushoin 

James D; e«ser 

William Flaskins .. . . 

Natbar. Vestill 

Lemuel Vestall 

Thomas P. !n<rham .. 
Jeremiah MnNew ... 

Jonath m Evarrs 

Reuben -pratt 

Jesse Fowler 

Enoch Osborne 

B. Piles 

John Simpson 

George Blake 



Where from. 



Ohio 

Indiana. . , 
Illinois . . . 
Missouri . 
Illinois . . . 

...do 

...do 



iMissouri .... 

Illinois 

Missouri . . . . , 
Canada . .> . . 

Oirio 

Missouri . . . . , 

...do , 

...do , 



...do.. 
Indiatia. 
...do... 



Missouri 
...do... 



Indiana 



...do 

New York . . . 
Maryland . . . , 
Kentucky. . . , 
Arkarrsns . . . . 
Kentucky. . . . 
Missouri . . . . , 
Georgia . . . . , 

Missouri 

Geo and Mo. 
[rrd. 'I"er . . . . , 
Georjria 



...do 

Ohio 

Arkansas . . . . 

Missouri 

Massaciiusetts 

Missouri 

...do 

...do 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 



...do 

Massachusetts 
Delaware . . . . 

Missouri 

...do 



Illinois 
...do.. 



Missouri 
...do... 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 



Names. 



John C. Bainos 

Jackson Fields 

(ieorge Price 

David Ward 

Hairs Smidt 

James Smith 

Joseph Smith 

Peter Laherdy 

.lohn Adkins , 

Thomas James 

Dairiel B. James . . . 
Solomon Spears. . . . 
Aaron Thompson.. . 
John Wakefield..., 
.Fames Fawbush . . . . 

.lohn Fawbush 

IJeiijamin Fawbush. 

Charles Smith , 

Adam Boyd 

Reuben Boyd , 

(leorge Wakefield.. 
William Mor-gan . . . 

Daniel Francis 

Thomas 0:-burn . . . . 

John Dobson 

Thomas Dorland ... 

John Fleener 

James Fleener 

John Weston 

George Weston . . . . 

Jesse Trim 

John Williams 

William Williams. . 
James Willi ims. . . , 
Heiijrmin Williams. 
William Young . . . . 
Wrlliam Breese . . . . 

James Ray ., 

lames B. Ray 

William Ray 

L. Janny 

VVillram Janny 

L. McKiney 

Tliram Bledsoe 

Milton Eiieing . . . . 
Ephraim Barnett . . . 

Lewis Davis 

John Grant 

Thomas H. Fox. . . . 

Lewis Sharp 

John Graves 

Thomas Graves . . . . 

Stephen Fisher 

Reuben Parker 

Thomas Carter 

Michael Dawson ... 

Albert Nichols 

James P. Nichols.. . 

John Nichols 

Charles Neet 

Manor Ni 'hols 

VVilliam Gasaway. . 

John Cail 

Cowan Mitchell . . . . 



Where from. 



Indiana 

. . . .do 

Missouri . . . .. 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

Michigan . . . . 

Missouri 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

Illinois 

....do 

....do 

Missouri 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

Tennessee .. . 

Missouri 

Indiana 

....do.... 

Illinois 

....do... 

Tennessee . . . 

Missouri 

,...do 

....do 

,...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...da 

...do 

.. do 

Ohio 

Tennessee ... 

N. Carolina . . 

Ohio 

Connecticut . . 

...do 

Massachusetts 

Kentucky. . .. 

Missouri 

...do 

...<lo 

...do 

Georgia 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Kentncky. . .. 
Georgia 

...do 

Missouri 

...do 



^v^ 



86 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
SIXTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



Names. 



Where from. 



Names. 



Jackson Russell , Missouri James Warren 

Samuel Russell | do E. S. Fishback.... 

Elislia Fly j. • . .do ' Samuel Denurdly . 

Abrer Sooter I. . . -do Henry Humphreys. 

John Gunthey |. . . .do William Underbill. 

James Gunthey |. . . .do ; William Vorehies . 

Jolin Fly j. . . .do John Schoemaker . 

William Sooter j. . ..do Pjrzeglioune Paul . 

John Gates do Theodore Heimer . 



H. W. Jones i Indiana .... 

Andrew Rannay i....do 

Stephen Potter Tennessee. . 

James Marr Delaware . . 

Henry Stephenson j Connecticut 

John Crook i ... .do 

Green Wood Ohio Patrick Phalin . . 

Joseph Jetiries .do Arntziotte 

Saul Benton .do 



John Sheehan 

James Burgess 

John Debryn 

V'anden Heyol Aruld 
Frederick >''^enshap . 
O'Donnel Thorn . . . . 



Where from. 



Ohio . 
....do. 



Virginia 
Missouri 
, ...do... 



Illiuois . , 
Holland , 

Italy 

Prussia . 
Ireland . 
Missouri 
Belcriiim 
Holland . 
Prussia . 
Ireland . 
....do... 
Rome . . 



Seventh District. 

List of voters in the seventh district of the Territory of Kansas, accoo'd- 
ing to the census 7^eturns made hy J. JR. McCliire in the month of 
February, 1855. 



Names. 



here from. 



George Harvey Ohio 

Samuel Harvey do 

Samuel Davaney Tennessee.... 

Henry Harvey Ohio 

Foster Harvey Indiana 

John W. Freel Iowa 

Ithiel Streit Pennsylvania. 

James Stewart do' 

William A. Stewart do 

Josepli Mclntire do 

Johnston Mclntire ^. . . .do 

Joseph McDonald |. . . .do 

M H. Rose t do 

Thomas Russell I , . . .do 

Joiin Smith do 

William Graliam .J. do 

George Bratton '. . . .do 

A. Hoover .do 

David Conduit .do 

Ly ton Smith New York . . . 

Henry Smith do 

Alfonso Prentice Iowa 

John Akins Missouri 

James Akins do 

J. B. Titus Iowa 

Devilla Wright do 



Names. 



Where t>om. 



Samuel L. Adair Ohio 

Joseph Kerr ' New York . 

A. G. Jones New Jersey 

F. McGee Missouri . . . 

C. C. Coots ' do 

J. H. RatclifFe { dp 

Elliott Cusiger '. .. .do 

Matthias A . Reed .do 

William Hanley do 

Ely Snyder do 

John W.Webb do 

William Webb do 

William B. Jones '. . . .do 

William Dailey Illinois . . . . 

Jeremiah Preston . ; do 

Frank Dufrene Missouri . . . 

Robert Turner Illinois 

Jackson Lovelace Missouri . . . 

D. W.Harold Illinois 

Clayborn Lyking Missouri... 

George W. Berry .do 

George VVatnv do 

Charles Watny dp 

John Pierce Illinois .... 

Allen Pierce .Ao 

M. W. McGee ' Missouri . . . 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Eighth District. 



87 



List of voters in the eighth election district of the Territory of Kansas, 
according to census returns taken by J. R. McClure in the month of 
February, 1855. 



\ames. 



Where from. 



Names. 



Jesse Spencer Louisiana . . . . 

Alexander Ferguson Maryland . . . . 

Georsre Swetzer Pennsylvania. 

George W. Butcher Missouri 

Thomas A. Haffaker .do 

John Hogan Kentucky . . . . 

John Hearen do 

Allen Crowlr Missouri 

Monon Crov^'Iv do 

James Monkass do 

George S. Huffaker do 

John RatlitF do 

Lawrance Brook do 

Jacob Reece Pennsylvania . 

W. D. HaM-is Missouri 

John Devort do 

John Horon Massachusetts 

William Delancy do 

George Davis Missouri . . . . . 

G. M. Sincock 



Samuel Griffith 
Jesse Kin? .... 



Where from. 



Kentucky 
Missouri . . 



John A. Kellev \. . . .do*. 



. . . .do. . 

....do.. 

....do.. 
Indiana , 
Illinois . 



Cliarles T. Gillmore. . . . 

Edward Davis 

Thomas Johnson 

Christopher Columbia.. . 

George M. Gillour 

Emanuel Mosen Missouri . . . . , 

Richard Williams '. . . .do , 

Alfred Hyden |. . . ,do , 

A.J. Baker I Iowa 

William H. Hogan I Missouri .... 

Ely M. Sewell '■ Iowa 

James Jebo ' Indiana 

Charles Witchington Iowa 

Rob. Gillispie i Pennsylvania 

Morgan Delacy ; New Alexico . 

John Goodie New York . ., 



Ninth District. 

List of voters in the ninth district of the Territory of Kansas, accord- 
ing to census returns made by 31. F. Conway in the months of Janu- 
ary and February, 1855. 



Names. 



Where from. 



James Lennon I New York . . . 

Robert W ilson M issouri . . . . 

Robert Higgins Ohio 

Edward \ ezick Maryland. • . . 

Jeremiah Lamb Ohio 

Thomas Conway da 

Stephen L Ham dq 

J. R. Mills do 

Robert Kloutz Pennsylvania . 

J. R. McClure Indiana 

Edward M. Tripp Massachusetts 

John Westorer Pennsvlvania . 

William Cuddy New York . . . 

C. R. Mobley Kentucky 

S. A. Treat Ohio 

John N. Dyer Missouri . . . . 

Lemuel Knapp New York . . . 

Henry Green do 



Names. 



Where from. 



r 

William H. Moore , Indiana 

William A. Lowe , Missouri . . . . 

William Price ; Ohio 

William A. Hammond ' Pennsylvania. 

•Martin F. Conway j ^''aryland. . . . 

G. B. Pen Arsdale New" York . . . 

Joseph Seals Kentucky.... 

Jdmes Marten ■ Pennsylvania. 

Fred. Sonnamaker .! Missouri . . . . 

' John F. Price ' Kentucky. . . . 

I Edward Gleason Illinois 

John Welch '. . . .do 

Patrick Dixon .do 

James Dixon '. . . .do 

John Dixon 1. . . .do 

Thomas Dixon .do 

Thomas Renolds Maine 

John Renolds ! . . . .do 



-ii 



bb KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Tenth District. 

List of voters in the tenth election district of the Territory of Kansas^ 
according to census taken hy 31. F. Conway in the months of January 
and February, 1855. 



Names. 



Where from. 




George \^'. Evvbanks j Missouri .... 

Henry ^'!ecll!lnan ■. . , .do 

Henry Shuiiff I . . . .do 

Jacob Slieaeir j . . . .do 

Lewis Sanders |. . . .do 

Gustave Stahl '. . . .do 

James I iO w r y .do 

David Stevenson [ovva 

AseJ G. Allen '■ Massacliuselts 

Tunis Roscie j Missouri .... 

Saniiiel D Dyer '....do 

W. C Dver ' do 

Alvan D'" er | do 

Charles B Blood ^Illinois 

Benjimin D JJaldwin |....do 

Marshall A. Garrett i iVJissouri . 



Where from. 



Samael P. Allen .. 

J. E. Wood. 

Zebu Ion Avey 

Samuel Wliitehorn 
Israel P. Bray ton.. 

John Nebber 

Alden B:ibcock.. . . 

Josej)h Hayes 

Samuel Hayes .. . . 



,...do 

Ohio 

Kentucky . . . 

JVIicliigan . . . . 

Massachusetts 
....do 

...do 

iViis^ouri . . . . 

...do 



George I). Butts 1 Pennsyh 



James Bisliop-! 

Aborn iVIarlin 

Seth L. Child 

Isaac S. Hascall 



Missouri . 

...do 

Illinois . . . 
New York 



H. P. Cutting Ohio 

John Mclntyre Illinois 

Hoy Hall Maine 

Moody B. Powers do 

Amos H Powers do 

Horace A. Wilcox Rhode Island. 

J. W. Ressell | Maine 

John L. H amble t i... .do 

Joseph Stevvarl [ Missouri .... 

Enoch G. Hinton ....do 

Georire Clopinan , 

William D Wicks ' Kentucky.... 

J. W. Leland ' Massachusetts 

William Seymour Ohio 

W illiani S. Seymour do 

Rob. A'elson Indiana 

James Wilson do 

John B. Trapp Iowa 

Mitchell Mathew Illinois 

Antony Tasseer Missouri 

Francis Brognon Iowa 

I f enry Rummell Missouri 

Washington Gibbs j Kentucky. . . . 

Charles Wallerts j. . ., 

Andrew Nail j Louisiana ... . 

Jacob H. Hard ' California .... 

Hmry Ebert j Pennsylvania. 

Michael Flf>is I Missouri 

Mathew Flois I. . . .do 



Eleventh District. 
List of voters in the eleventh district of the Territory of Kansas, accord- 
ing to census returns made hy B. H. Twomhley in the months of Jan- 
uary and February, 1855. 



Names. 



John E D. Avis 

Julias Berger 

Robert Berger 

George Munt^ely .. 
Robert C. Bishop.. . 
George t'. Hubbard 
"Willi im Hubbard.. 

Jerry Sweat 

John Donaldson.... 
William P. McCuse. 

Daniel Bowly 

Francis J. Marshall 
A. G. Woodward .. 
John G. Clarke . . . . 



Where from. 



Missouri 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 



Virginia 
Missouri 

, ...do... 
...do... 

, ...d«... 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



.do', 
.do. 



Names. 



Where from. 



.Tohn Jones, sen. . 

Daniel Jones 

David Evans 

Willium Evans.. . . 
Edward Jones. . . . 

David Jones 

Samuel Jones. . . . 
-'. N. R. Holmes.. 

James Lucas 

E S. Bishop 

Agnes McClelland. 

John Robbens 

Oliver Jesse , 

C. D. Stockwell. . . 



Missouri 
...do... 
...do... 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 



•do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Twelfth District, 



89 



List of voters in the tivelfth election district of the Ttrritory of Kansas, 
according to the census taken by B. H. Ticomhletj in the montlis of 
January and February, 1855. 



Names. 



Tousant Tromble 

John L. lobars 

Ellunne P;i[)in 

Lewis C;ittii» 

Lowe P.ipin 

Andrew Lecnmiite. . . . 

Andrew Frong.in 

Joseph Verlef'eille . . . . 

Moses B. llinure 

Antona DcsLoiis 

Jonallian Mituhel 

Delos Allen 

Alfred Mut!iers 

Peter Dessiiit 

Charles Saidoii 

Peter Ruiilioinme 

John Blouchard 

R. C. Miller 

A. A. Crane • 

George L Young- . — 

Olie Oldson 

L. M. Cox 

Armetstead Meliier... 
Frederink Countearner 

Joseph Ogee 

Marcelliis Bucli 

E.M. Sloan 

S.S.Linton 

Joseph P.ipeii , 

Reuben P. Haas 

Udlem Alley 

Nathaniel Wiiigordnie 

James Yattle , 

Eron Kenedy 

Samuel ' 'ummings . . . 

Wesley Hopkins 

Geo. W. Baker 

Bowlen Baker 

Enoch Stepliens 

Lewis M. Kennedy... 

J. B.Mei^e 

J. B. Diierinck 

John Sclniltz 

Maurice Gellond 

Andreas Mazzulli 

Daniel Doneen 

John Pali on 

Sebasiian Sehlmger . . 

Peter Karleskind 

James Slesin 

Augustus Broaly 

Lewis Wilson 

E. G. Booth 



Where from. 



Illinois . , 
Missouri 
...do... 
...do... 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



....do 

Virginia . . 

Wisconsin. 

Virginia . . 

France . . . 

France . . . 

Missouri .. 
....do 



....do 

Ijouisiana 
Missouri . 

, ...do.... 

0!iio 

...do 



Names. 



Canada 

....do 

Indiana 

Missouri .... 

Ohio 

Missouri .... 
Pennsylvania 
Missouri .... 

Ohio 

Wisconsin . . ' 

Illinois 

New York . . 

Iowa 

Illinois 

Missouri .... 
Arkansas . . . 

Iowa 

Missouri .... 
Kentucky. . , 

Illinois 

Missouri .... 

Iowa 

Missouri .... 
Kentucky. . . 

Ohio 

Missouri .... 

do 

Pennsylvania 
Missouri .... 
do 



Where from. 



Missouri . 
Michigan 
lovva . . . . 
do. . 

Indiana. . , 



Oliio 

1 wa 

Michigan . 
Indiana. . . 
Canada . . . 
New York 
Indiana. . . 

Iowa 

do... 

New York 

do... 

do... 

do... 



Perry Polk 

Olsa Iligbee 

Thos. McCartney 

Ale.x. Peltier 

Claude Milo 

B.issel Grimore 

John Leonard 

William Mortell 

D. K. Palmer 

John D. LasKe 

Baptist Dutcliame 

Fox Boothc 

Joseph Truck 

Bassil Deplois 

Baptist Ogee 

Charles Dean 

Oscar B. Dean 

Stephen Hopkins 

Lydia Dean 

Augu,stus Becher j Iowa 

Henrie Ilolieiib(jch \ Missouri., 

Oscar Minirer j Ohio 

Theckia Mniger do. . , 

Benj;imin Dean I New York 

Joseph Fox j Misspuri . . 

Isaac Sweallond ; Illinois . . , 

John Eldridge ! do. . . 

Sanniel M. Bartlett ' <lo. . . 

Benjamin Poleet ! Kentucky 

George Maulpy j Wisconsin 

John O'l.oiigiilin I Iowa 

James O'Laughlin ■ .do. . . 

Joseph Malliews I Missouri . , 

James Mathews ' .do. . . 

John Belon ! Illinois . . . 

Samuel J. Cramer \'irginia .. 

Thomas J. B. Cramer ' do. . . 

John Fett 

Perry Glenn 

Walter D. Beels 

Richard Clency 

W. W. Moore 



do. 

do. 

Missouri 

Old 

Mi.ssouii 
Geo H Baker [ Indiana. 



Isaac Meller New York 

Jesse Adamson Indiana . . . 

Geo. B. Rey Illinois . . . 

Benjamin Foster ' Oli,io 

Sam'l Crozeer { Missouri .. 

William Purkitt j do. . . 

Benjimin Winkle I 'ib. . . 

Geori-e Winkle ' do. . . 

John Witdde do. . . 

John Newton do. . . 



c ^\^ 



90 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Thirteenth District. 



List of voters in the tJiirteenth election district, Territory of Kansas, 
according to census returns made hy H. B. Jolly, taken during the 
months (^January and February, 1855. 



Names. 



Where from. 



Alexander Lobeck England . . 

James Domfrey Iowa 

George Cook .do 

M. D. Wade Illinois . . . 

Aaron Cook Missouri . . 

W. C. Lewis j Iowa 

Charles Rod I Michigan . 

John Cunningham j iVjissouri .. 

William Artiiur j. . . .do 

Henr}' Seals [. . . .do 

Henry Bretz do 

Benjamin Bogston do 

John Miller do 

Joseph Rodgers England . . 

O. B . Herbert Kentucky . 

Silas Oilman do 

James Kirkendall Missouri . ■ 

William Kirkendall do 

J. H. Clemmons. do 

M. E. Riddle do 

Robert Slieely Ireland . . . 

Charles Cpsy Missouri . . 

William Nations do 

G. M. Dyze do 

John Davis do 

William Jibbs do 

Holman Boniield do . . . . , 

F. John do . . . . . 

M. Walker do 

John A'yzes. Germany , 

Edward Pox Ireland . . , 

E. Boisly Illinois . . . 

John Boisly do 

William Carpenter do. . . .. 

Smith VVhite Missouri. . 

Georsfe White do. . . ., 

Hubbard Holder do. . • ., 

H. C. Cora Indiana. . . 

Ezra Cora do. . . ., 

John Brown do. . . .. 

Henry Fisher Iowa . . . . , 

Isaac Kimes do. . . .. 

Smith Banker do 

Louis Hoover Indiana. . . 



Names. 



Where from. 



Indiana 

N. Carolina. , 
Illinois 



Walker William 

J. D York 

William Tillotson 

Elijah Harding England . . . . 

A. J. Whitney Maine 

James Frazier j Indiana 

A. J. Morrow i .Vlissouri. . . . 

Robert Riddle Pennsylvania 

T. D. Jolly Illinois 

H. B. .lolly L...do 

J. B Ross 1 Missouri.... 

Thomas Mooney .do 

Henry Len Switzerland . 

James Dikes Kentucky... 

S.J. Scantling do 

W. H. Trap Missouri 

E. B Trap 

James Gardner 

May Barton 

Albro Pemberton 

Joseph Elliott 

Phelix Braden 

James Piles 

Shelby Piles 

Franklin Browning ]. . . .do 

J. B. Worit Germany . 

J. H. Front ."do 

Riciiard Chandler Missouri . . 

Prater Chandler do 

John Mear .do 

J. W. Pate do 

John Bradshaw j England . . 

James Chandler M issQuri . . 

Adam Post : . . . .do 

Robert Carter , . . . .do 

Thomas Carter .do 

James Atkinson .do 

John Evans I. . . .do 

Richard Joivt i. . . .do 

James Jont [ . . . .do 

James Hopewell .do 

Napoleon Hopewell j . . . .do 

W illiam Hunter ' . . . .do 



.do., 

.do. 

.do. 

.do. 

Ao. 

.do. 

.do. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



91 



Fourteenth District. 

List of voters of the fourteenth district of the Territory of Kansas, 
according to the census returns made hy Albert Weed, esq., taken 
during the months of January and February, A. D. 1855. 



Names. 



Where from. 



William Michaels iVIissouri. . 

James Michaels do 

Peter Cadue ' Michigan . 

Robert Evvin I Missouri . . 

Samuel Anderson Ohio 

Winburt F. Chudys j Missouri.. 

Charles V'inson I Arkansas . 

J. C. Wibley .! Virginia . . 

Calvin Luuis Missouri . . 

Sandy \'inyard i Indiana . . • 

James Vinyard i. . . .do 

Calvin Newman ■■ Kentucky. 

Whitson G. Tate | do 

Bonard Brady | iVIissouri. . 

John Landies !. . . .dor .... 

William O. Robertson i Kentucky . 

Elisha H. Rosill i do 

Joseph W. Batie ' Missouri . . 

John W. Foreman ....do 

James L. Foreman j ... .do 

Lewis C. W. Foreman .do 



James W. Holland do. • • 

S. K. Miller do... 

Aaron Gibbons do. . . 

John P. Cordineer do. . . 

John Carson do . . . 

James Morrison ■. . . .do. . . 

Elys Hamilton I . . . .do . . . 

Zedock Martin ;. . . .do. . . 

William Smith | . . . .do . . . 

Washmgton F. Martin I . . . .do . . . 

James M. Holland | Indiana. 

Amos Rutledge 1 . . . .do. . . 

Silvester Madison i Missouri 



Richard Henderson 

Thomas Sweeten 

Isaac Martin 

Joshua Sanders 

Calvin N. Newman 

Richard Tuck 

Daniel Shoop 

Jonathan Alexander \ Illinois 

Richard Rest i Missouri. 

Samuel Collins |. . do. . . 

Paris Dunning j. . . .do. . . 

John Stanton ! . . . .do. . . 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
Ohio 



William M. Peopers. 

W. AV. Huddle 

John C. Manuel 

Norman Alexander.. 
Michael "^.icCormac. . 

Robert Clory 

John Clory 

John Donley 

Dennis ^Millen 

Jameh O'Connell .. . . 
H. N. Beauchamp. . . 
Jacob Acord, sen.... 



...do 

...do 

Kentucky . 

Missouri . . 
....do 

...do 

,...do 

....do 

,...do 

,...do 

, ...do 

Illinois . . . , 



Names. 



Eli Acord 

Jacob Acord, jr 

William K. Shaw 

J. W. Collins 

Anderson Co.x 

Anderson Cook 

Jacob Goshon 

Matt lie w Fitzpatrick 

John Grace 

William Gains 

Edward Deacon 

Henry Moore 

Parker A. Hooper 

James C. Ditymore 

Melchior Brown 

Joel Byron 

Peter Mintcer 

Isaac Craig 

Milton Nett 

Josephus Nett 

G. R. Wilson 

A. G. Rice 

George Gay 

Charles M illaman 

Harvey W. Forman 

Daniel Vanderslice 

Thomas J. Vanderslice. . . . 
William T. B Vanderslice 

Harden Crichfield 

W illiam Vivis 

William >ugg 

Francis Bushnell 

Nelson Rodgers 

Anthony Gravil 

Joseph Better 

John Hullen 

John B. Roy ^ 

Samuel M. Irvin 

Cornelius McClain 

James D. Irwin 

Henry Buch 

E P. Richardson 

J. S Pemerton 

Oliver Bealer 

Jackson Bealer 

Charter Searles 

Thomas Davis 

Eli Galbard 

John McKauler 

John Edward 

John Greenfield 

Daniel Million.. 

Nicholas White 

E. W. B. Rodgers 

Silsas Stone 

L. H. Pendleton 

Uriah Griffith 

Thomas W. Matterson. . . . 



W here from. 



Illinois . . . 

...do 

Missouri . . 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

,...do 

...do 

,...do 

...do 

...do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....dp 

Alabama . . 

Ohio 

Missouri . . , 

,...do 

....do 

, ...do 

....do 

....do 

Kentucky. 
....do...".. 
....do 

Iowa 

Missouri. . 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

,...do 

....do 

....do 

Ohio 

Missouri . . 

....do 

....do 

,...do 

....do 

, ...do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

,...do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do..... 
....do 



VI. 



92 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FOURTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



Names. 



JaniPs Vattersun 

R. W. VYitsett 

Williim Viathews 

Geor^^e H. Breyoii .... 

Mathew Use 

Samiu'l Piles 

Riley Clnpfi 

William S'ewiiian 

Jesse Blown 

David Huuard 

A. Jiimisoii 

G. H Jamison 

William Hliddes 

Geo.-ire Rhodes 

Charles VI. Stewart. . . . 
Jaco!) Driessi Inner .... 

D. B. Weldincr 

Robert VlcSpiring , 

Aaron Barnes 

Hamilton J. Johnson .. 

Nelson A bhy 

John M Trapy 

James Sraffield 

Willi nm H. Hyo 

Charles Ritcher 

Charles Eu'ji'ars 

James Keniiell 

>ami)p| Kirkpatrick . . . 

John Copland 

John'Cook 

Laster Copland 

Q. Lewis 

Will lini Chamberlain.. . 

Patrick Wiio-lii 

Jonathan Fliirt 

Cary B. Whitehead.... 

G. B. Jones 

William Vloirpan ; 

Ep'.iraim V'cCleland ... 
Leander McClchmJ . . . . 
John G. VlcCleland ... 

Stephen N. Bell 

Ainett Gromes 

Ab. Gromes 

James v^romes 

Joseph H.Cisliiee 

Newton R. Carter 

Nason S"^. Moss 

Mirah Curtis 

James Cam])liell 

Mark V'ogin 

M . T. Sweeny 

John Dryle 

Franklin Kream 

William P. Richardson 

Benj imin nniieaii 

John W. Stevens 

Edw^ird -ehmifler 

William Skellon 

John mith 

Anderson Gliddin 

Snyhurn Gladdin 

Henrj' Dohm ,. 

Benjamin Todd 



Where from. 



Missouri .. . . 
....do , 

Kentucky. . . 

Missouri . . . . 
,...do , 

...do 

Indiana. . . . . 

Missouri . . . . 

....do , 

....do , 

....do , 

....do 

....do , 

....do 

Indiana. . . . . 

M issouri . . . , 
, ...do 

...do , 

...do 

...do 

...do , 

....do , 

[owa , 

Missouri . . . . 

...do 

...do , 

Illinois . . . . . 

Missouri . . . . 

...dp 

(V. Carolina. 

Missouri .. . , 

...do , 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Vermont. . . . 

Missouri . . . , 

...dcs , 

...do 

...do , 

...do , 

...do 

...do 

...do , 

, . . .do 

...da 

...do 

...do 

...do , 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...dg 

...do 

,...do 



Names. 



Polete Levsee 

Obadiah Nermier.. . . 

Doctor Wills 

P. T. Transaway 

William H. Allen ... 

James Sollers 

Mathias Rapp 

John .VI. Hartman... 

Robert Rody 

Charles '^chilmer . . . , 

Ri< hard Baber 

Joseph Ashley 

Bertus Fryer 

Henry Lashiena 

Edward viaron 

Joseph Peters 

Hezekiah Jackson... 
James B. Anderson.. 

Frederick Trent 

William Jordon 

John VV. Smith, sen. 

Josepli Crippen 

Philip James 

William Sharper..., 

Charles Rodgers 

Benjamin H. Brock . 
Sheron Lawhorn .... 

James Lawhorn 

Henry Wilson 

James Craft 

Robert L. Morris. . . . 

Q. W. Davis 

E. S. Stinsjn 

^. E. Morris 

T. M. Morris 

Richard .Morris 

James Lovell 

Lias Roark 

Henry Moore 

Madison Osbourn.... 

.Morjr m Osborn 

James N. Miller 

Garnett Kelley 

A mot Trib!)le 

i'homas Howell 

William Miller 

Jackson Feihls 

Kdward Gilliam 

John H. Gilliam . . . . 

Henry Adams 

Donland Marrow.... 

Elijah Merril 

.lames Gabriel 

Richard Ward 

Rnssel Hazelhanan . . 

Pleasant Hanan 

Riclnid '^hankes . . . . 
' homas Duvanet. . . . 

Jacob [ng-|ehart 

Andrew I'ribble 

James P. f-larper.. . . 

Robon Shannon 

.James Boston 

Pat. Tindle 



Where from. 



Missouri 
...do... 



.do. 



.do. 



.do. 



...do 

...do 

...do 

,...do 

... do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Kentucky. 

Missouri . . 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 



10. 



...do 

...do 

...do 

. . .00 

...do 

...do 

Kentucky. 



Missouri 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

T I n\ a ... 

Missouri 

Illinois.., 

...do... 

Missouri 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do .. 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do. .. 

...do... 

...do... 



^1^ 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FOURTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



93 



ISaraes. 



Daniel Tindle 

John Wallace 

Sayburn P. Sollers. . . 

B. Gardinner 

John Bolen 

Jefrev M. Palmer. . . . 

Joel P. Blair 

William D'-ys 

James R. W hitehead 

John H. VVJiitehead . 

James M. Merril .. . . 

Daniel Montgomery. 

Henry S. Creal 

Thomas \\i!lbahan.. 

Peter Hover 

Henry Tho pson . . . 

Luther Dillon 

W eaver 

Benjamin H ardin . . . . 

Albert Head 

Tassney Ralph 

E. Blackston 

'A. Hayes 

I A. Hall 

I James B O' loole . . . 

James O ' Toole 

I William Arthur 

Jacob Yonder 

I John I. Bradv 



Where from. 



Missouri . . , 

do 

....do 

...do 

...do 

....do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Ohio 

Missouri . . . 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Xew Jersey 
Missouri . . . 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 



I Henderson Smalhvood |. . . .do 

Anderson Hill 

(Milton E Bryant 

^ JohnTrotman 

Ant wise 'I ere 

'William McGicer 

|Williara Palmer 

jGeorge Palmer 

William McGrew 

Henry Rhodes 

Uohn Wise 

'William Lanforgey 

/George Keukade 



...do. 
...do. 
...do. 
,...do. 
...do. 
...do. 
...do. 
...do. 
Ohio . 
...do. 
...do. 



Xames. 



Where from. 



Robert Myres Missouri 

1 illman Gulp j Oii o 

George ^tillwell .do 

Archibald Willis Vissouii 

Lewis Fay Ohio 

Evans Smith j Indiana 

Nathan White Iowa 

Joseph Randolph ! PeiiiisylpaDia. 

William Brittain Missouri 

Calvin Mourey Ohio 

Nicholas 1 homas { Illinois 

Benjamin Sprowl .1. . . .do 

William Sprowl do 

James tmilh ;. . . .do 

Joshua Smith I. — du 

Qiiincy Ball I Indiina 

John Chapman .do 

John D. Noble j Alissuuri 

Jacob 'harp i. . . .do 

Francis Flanigin do 

JeSVey Landon :. . . .do 

Benjamin Fry j. . • .do 

Andrew B. Armstrong .do 

John Armstrong i. . . .do 

Green McCafferty I. . . .do 

John B McCafferty j do 

Osborn Huiing .do 

James Riley I. . . .do 

Constance Poena '. .. .do 

Eli Copeland .do 

William Copeland ..do 

John C. Copeland .do 

W illiam Rhodes .do 

George P. Rhodes .do 

Henry J. Chumley I N. Hampshire 

Hamilton Osbourne I iViissouri 

Benjamin Haglewood .do 

John Lovelady i. . . .do 

Elijah Lovelady j. . . .do 

H.P. Ruscal I do 

Winston Thomas . .do 



FiFTEENTn District. 



lAst of vnfers in the fifteenth election district of the Territory of Kansas, 
according to census returns made by H. B. Jolly, in the montJis of 
January and February, 1855. 



Names. 



James Brooks 

Jonah Lacy 

Horace Haley 

rMartin Glockes 

Calvin Browu 

p. A. N. Grover 



Where from. 



Missouri 
...do... 
...do... 



Germany 
Missouri . 
. . .do. . . . 



Names. 



Cliarles Grover . . 
William Dyse. . , 
J. M. Martin... , 
Jos3ph Finly.. . . 
William Finly .. 
J. P. Basket . . . 



Where from. 



Mi>s=ouri 
...do... 
. . .do. . . 
Ireland . , 
...do .. 
Missouri 



'.>4 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FIFTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



Names. 



S. W. Tunnel 

N. J. Shaler 

Edward Oakley . . . 

A. G. Boyd 

A. J. Walker 

A. C. Havne 

E. S. Wi'lhite 

D. Suell 

H. P. Cady 

J. H. Maxwell.... 

A. M.Price 

W. S. Blanton.... 

E. H . Evans 

Isaiah Austin 

J. C. Ellis 

J. H. Large 

Kyle Evans 

J. W. Freeland . . . 
John Freeland .. . . 

B. F. Freeland.. . . 

Uriah Higby 

Thomas l)earnier.. 
William Novel.. .. 
John Lumpkins . . . 

H. M. Story 

E. R. Zimmerman. 
William liraham . . 
J. W. Atkinson. . . 
E. M. McComas . . 

James Knox 

M. Hall 

J. R. Caslle 

Thomas Corny . . . . 
William Kirkman . 

Robert Joler 

Charles exton.... 
A. A. Haggard.. . . 
Washington Haze. 

C. Bishop 

James Bengle 

E. D. Bisliop 

J. W. Golden 

W.H.Wells 

R. H. Phelon 

J. A. Lindsey 

John Norton 

R. M. Foster 

R. W. Thompson . 

John Cook 

E. J. Myers 

M. Elliott 

G. W. Thompson . . 

G. W. Myers 

M. B. Myers 

G. S. Davis 

Richard Davis 

J. J. Thompson . . . 
J. S. i hompson. . . 
John Rranscome. . . 

J. F. Sapp 

Daniel Sipp 

Allen Henson 

John Jones 

Samnel Bowman . . 



Where from. 



Missouri 

New York, . . 
Pennsylvania 
iVJissouri .... 

...do 

, ...do 

,...do 



...do 

Wisconsin 
Illinois.. . . 
Missouri . . 
, . . .do 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Kentucky. . . 
Pennsylvania, 
Missouri .... 



.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



...do 

Kentucky. . . . 

Illinois 

Pennsylvania. 

Iowa 

Missouri 

Ohio 

Missouri 

Pennsylvania. 

Ohio 

N. Hampshire 

Missouri 

...do 



Iowa . . . 
Georgia 
Missouri 
...do... 



• . .do 

. . .do 

Pennsylvania. 

...do" 

...do 



...do... 
Missouri 
Iowa . . . 
Missouri. 



.do. 
-do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Iowa . . . 
M issouri 
...do.., 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. , 



Names. 



Jonathan Smith 

James Douglas 

B. Douglas 

Robert Smith 

H. C. Bradley 

George Speek 

John Bailey 

Franklin Goddard 

Thomas Goddard I . . . .do 

Allen Pullen do 



Where from. 



Missouri 
...do... 
...do... 
...do... 
...do... 
Georgia 
Missouri 
...do... 



David Hunt do. . . 

j John Cotter Ireland . , 

I Edward Cotter do . . . 

j Benjamin Wallace Missouri. 

i E. Downing do . . . 

\ William Downing. do. . . 

J. M. Medel Indiana-. 

] James Smith Missouri. 

J. H. Kisinger.. do. . . 

John Light do . . . 

1 Levi Rob.ns '. . . .do. . . 

I Job Robins I. . . .do. . . 

Peter Wade I . . . .do . . . 

James Cronens ..'... .do. . . 

William Konce ! . . . .do . . . 

] Francis Stutz \ . . .do. . . 

Barbery Dowry i . . . .do. . . 

J. O. Hawley L . . .do. . . 

1 J. B. Perry i do... 

! George B. Wells |. . . .do. . . 

William Wade I do . . . 

William Pennick .do. . . 

James Frily i . . . .do. . . 

Stephen Frily j. . . .no. . . 

Jesse Frily .do. . . 

Francis Noyes {. . . .do. . . 

Jim Johnson j . . . .do . . . 

George Sharp .do. . . 

William Sharp .do . . . 

Robert Isaacs .do ... 

Silas Snoddy .do ... 

Silas Willa .do. . . 

John Snoddy j. . . .do. . . 

R. M. Lisby do 



.do.. 
....do.. 
Ireland 
J. McCune ♦. ! . . . .do . . 



Jamds Cunningham . 
James Losten. . . . 
Thomas Scantlin. 



George Ilollingsworth 

George Caton 

L. Yokem 

Grafton Thoniason . . . 

William McCerea 

George Soars 

S. Dickens 

David Pennick 

N. J.M^yficld 

N. J. Allen 

A. Newman 

M. A. Branfidd 

Jesse Shepard 

H. H. Williams 

J. D. Durony 

Andrew Cheny worth. . 



Missouri . , 
England ., 
Missouri . , 

,...do 

Ireland . . . 
Kentucky, 
Missouri . . 

...do 

Illinois . . . 
Missouri . . 
German}' . 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FIFTEENTH DISTRICT-Continued. 



95 



Names. 



Where from. 



Jonathan Congreve Missouri 

G. F. Ghallas .do. 

John Parker .do. 

Johp Flannery .do. , 

J. S. Wiser .do 

A.H.Allen l....do. 

J. H. Stririgfellow 1. . . .do. . 

James Donnel do 

W. D. Adams I. . . do" 

R. S. Kelly I do .' 

J. ScantJin ! Ireland" 

Ira Norris 



Names. 



Where from. 



H. F. Power I Missouri 

John House .dt 



Samuel Bixler 

O. R. Davis 

Daniel Fisk , 

S. F. Kay 

Alexander Cotterel 

M. Coale J. .. .d 

J. B. Crane Iowa . .. .' 

H. B. Gale Missouri . 

C. S. Foster | New York 



Mississippi 

New York. 

Missouri .. 

do 



William Hensler .^q. 

Charles Eckles do 

Michael Wilkin I" .' .* ]do! ! '. '. 

Robert Buzzard I Ireland' \' 

James Buzzard I . , .do. 

Martin Jones I* Mi'ssouri' .' 

J. T. Sampson j Kentucky 

Narvey Missouri . 



^^I'^f "" \l- ^: Jones ; ; ; ."I Missouri 



E. J. 



J. J. Brown | do 

M.A Pinllips fimnoi;': 

O. B. Graham Missouri 

Wilham Morton ...do... 

George Nations I Illinois'! 

Henry Snider | Missouri 

John Taylor I.... do... 

Joseph Taylor I .* ! .' .'do .' ." 

George Clogsholder 'Germany 

Patrick Hancock Missouri 

Lph. Farwell 

John Snider 

F. L. Stutz 

Christ. Harn 

B L. Rich 

J. H. Gilbert 

John Chandler .. . 

David Fiser 

Luther Dickerson 

William McVay. . 

Dudley McVay . . 

F. M. McVay 

Joseph Mc-Vay... 

Patrick Boyd .... 

B. J. Hamilton.. . 

Weal Higby 

Bond Thomas 

Daniel Thomas . . . 

John Large 

Harvey Large 

William Crawford I m~^'"'""'N 

OAU^^t Ai r , Missouri 

UiJbert Miilford do 

Thomas Picklon '. ,^r^' 

PIj„j CIO. 

Keed / » i 

A„.„„ n Arkansas 

Aaron Borrows ' ni,;,. 

. Oulver ivr- 1 • 

T_- T>^ , Michigan 

Ira isoolman qj- 

John Bootman 

M. Moony 

"1; £';:,'/.::::::■•••••••! '■'T^'™""" 



....do.... 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Iowa 

...do 

...do 

...do 

...do 

Kentucky , 
...do..... 
Missouri . . 



William Dilla 
James Henderson 
Samuel Wallace. 
J. M. Wallace .. 

J. M. Sales 

Cor. Sales 

Reese Bowman.. , 
G. W. Laber . . . , 

John Miller 

Johnson Adams . . 

J D. Adams 

John Thornbury. . 

Pleasant Thornbury ' ... .do 

William Cummino-s }. , , do 

I John Waddle. . . .° I. . . .do 

James Cooly I . do 

J. M. McBride ! ! . . ! !do 

Abner Henson I , . do 

F. M. Potter '.!!!.! !do 

Y. B. Gates do 

M. T. Baily " "do 

J- W. Baily .'L.'i.'do! 

Wilham Baily .do 

O. Wainmack .do, 

Allen Wammack dn 

T. T.Kelly 

J. A. Henderson 

James Lewis 

J. M. Freeland 

F. M. Stanly 

N.W.Hodges 

Thomas Sumpter 

J. B. Passly 

Robert Parks 

J. E. Beckner 

J. D. Carban 

Jones 

Martin Rickle 

John Norton 

M A. Jones 

J. M. Dean 

J. M. Lay ton 

'^. S. Lay ton , . 

C. E. McDonald 

Nathaniel Stephens. .... 
M. A. Stephens 



....do.., 

do.., 

do... 

....do... 
....do... 
....do... 
....do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 

...do... 
...do... 
...do..., 
...do..., 
...do..., 
•do.... 



William Boon |. .. .do, 

H. C. Boon do. 



96 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Sixteenth District. 



List of voters of the sixteenth election district of the Territory of Kansas, 
according to the census returns made hij Charles Leib, taken during 
the months of January and February, 1855. 



Names. 



Isaac Munday 

Rezin Wilcox 

S. K. Mcllvaiiif... 
Henry S. (Jodsoy..". 

James Find ley 

John Parkinson . . . . 

Moses Griiiter 

Jas. Grintor 

Mieluiel Russell 

Israel I laff 

Myron Sani])son ... 

John G. I'ralt 

Albert Daman 

Augustus Russell.. . 

Julius Fairfiold 

John Rand ill 

Benj. fl. Tw'omblev 

Charles l,i ilj 

David Dodiie 

Jos. P. Diniliam. . . . 

John iJunliam 

Caleb Dniili.iin 

David Z. Smitii 

P. Richseeker 

Samuel Kider 

John Luck 

Geo. D. Stevenson. 

John J. Ccrrj' 

Jac. Ileini 

Lewis Grohe 

Henry, ((jeriaan) . . 

L. R. Ph.rr 

Jolin P'aiTrlJ 

John Kieffor 

V/m. ICnif lerrim. . . . 
Fred 'k Krigloman. . . 

.lohn M While 

John Ow.^ns , 

J. Ilowrtkl 

C. F. Rreilow , 

Wm. II. Adams 

Hy. Smith 

L. J. Easliii , 

L. N. Rend 

R. R. Reed 

Wm. Saunders 

John 1\!. Tayhir. . . . 
J. M. AMe.xander ... 
Thos. J. Slocum .. . 

D. S. Bovie , 

H. M. Ilouk 

N. Siiffe 



Where from. 



Names, 



Virginia .. . 

do. . . . 

Ohio 

Kentucky. . 
Missouri . . . 

Iowa 

Kentuckj'. . 
..... .do. . . . 

Pennsylvania . 

Ohio 

Michigan .... 
Massacimsetts 

do 

do 

VeimoHt 

Pennsylvania . 

Missouri 

lovva 

Missouri 

do 

do 

do , 

Pennsylvania , 

do , 

Ohio 

Missouri .... 
Scotland .... 
Germany . . . , 

do , 

do , 

do , 

.Missouri ..... 

Ireland , 

Germany .... 

do , 

do 

I'ennsylvania 
England .... 
Missouri .... 
Germany ... 
Missouri .... 

.do 

do 

do 

do 

Ap 

Kentucky. . . . 
Pennsvlvania . 

do 

Maryland . . . . 
Pennsy-lvania . 
Michigan . . . . 



Rowers ' do. 



T. E. Bird.... 
Jos. Me A leer . 
P. H. Robnrt--. 
Ed. Saunders . 
John K. Franc 



Iowa 

Pennsylvania 

Wales 

Missouri .... 
Indiana 



'^amuel France 

Geo. H. Keller 

A. T. Kyle 

Jas. Kirkpatrick 

Geo. Carsons ■ 

Wm. Philips 

Thos. H. Uoyle 

John C. Posey 

A. Macarsley 

J. II. Day 

Thos. Bishop 

W. H. Levy 

A. T. Pattee 

J. T. Hook 

A. Wilson 

B. L. Sellers 

Michael Kelley 

J. E. Grant 

John Smith 

Jas M. Lyle 

J. P. Richardson 

John Monfort 

Geo. Brubaker 

Geo. Russel 

J. W. Skinner 

Adam Fisher 

(Jco. M. Fisher 

Wm. I'ierce 

F. S. Abney 

John Harris 

Isaac Williams 

Isaac Fnrguson 

.Alvah Gregory 

S. Scruggs 

C. Naef 

D. C Ames 

David C'ulver 

James McGinty 

A. Foster 

O. M. Thomas 

Augustus Parker 

Robert L. Ream 

Levi Wilson ", .. . 

L. F. Mills 

R. C. Card 

Charles Mundee 

G. B. Pantou 

S3muel Phillips 

C. L'lcas 

R. K. Wade 

Williiim McEwen 

Tlieodore M. Mix 

John Fenkheim 

Christian Beck 

William M. Matthias. 

Hiram Rich 

James Rich 

John Iliggins 



Where from. 



Indiana.. 
Missouri 
do. , 



Minuesota 
Germany . 
Illinois . . . 



Alal)ama 

Iowa 

Minnesota . . . 

Illinois 

Ohio 

iSIissouri 

Iowa 

Ohio 

Minnesota .. . 

Ireland 

Kentucky . . • ■ 

Ohio 

Kentucky. . . . 
Michigan . .. . 
Kentucky. . , . 

Missouri 

.Minnesota .. . 
i'ennsylvania . 

Illinois , 

, do , 



Missouri 

do. 

do. 

do. 



Kentucky. 
Missouri . . 
do. . . 



Germany 
Illinois . . 
do.. 



Ireland 

Minnesota . . . 
New York . .. 
Minnesota . . . 
Wisconsin . . . 
Pennsylvania. 

Illinois 

Oliio 

Hurg.ary . . . . , 
Connecticut . . 
Maryland . . . . 
Hunirary. . . . , 

Miirvlmd 

Sr-otland 

Kentirky. . . , 
Germany . ... 
Denmark . . . , 
Maryland . . . . 
Missouri .. . . , 



Ireland . 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

SIXTEENTH DISTKICT— Continued. 



97 



Names. 



L. A. Wig'g'ins , 

A bner Hoyt 

Tliomas JJlakelv 

P Dwyor ■ 

G. Gladdon 

Michael Fallon 

.Tolin Wilson 

Patrick Woods 

.Inc. Mc Winders 

Hainiiel Reno 

William Martin 

Jacob Minute 

David Robinson 

H. Bradlers 

Issac Dyer 

Riley Todd 

Squire Overton 

Isaac Buehler 

P. IMcGill 

W. Brown 

.?. Hoyt 

William William::! 

A. Moses 

S Pvutlege 

JobnSperry 

.f. O. Sullivan 

William Mor^e 

Tlionias Barrett 

John Entz 

George Lenhart 

Edward Zarl 

Adolph Horn 

Franklin Gaibor 

John Ruffner 

F. Leitzurger 

Beverly Beck 

E. H. Smith 

S. B. V'ar.ssyckle 

W. T. Marvin 

Benjamin Luer 

Tolburt f.uer 

R. C. Thompson 

A. Reed 

William Blevins 

Daniel Smith 

Joseph Fant 

Henrv Burap 

H. Wells.! .'.'.[ 

Julius Schiler 

Jacob Peterson "...'.'] 

J. W^hite 

Clark Trite .*.■.".'.■. 

D. Brown 

Cole Melend 

Charles Jeromnx 

Isaac Cooly 

Daniel Wiley 

C. P. Dunn. \', 

Altred Young 

George Young 

John Tyler 

Joseph McGee 

W'illiam Large 

William Meloy 

H. Rep. 200- 



Where from. 



Missouri .... 

Ohio 

iVlissouri . . . . 

Ireland 

Missouri . . , . 

Ireland 

Maine 

Ireland 

Mi-jsouri .... 
Pennsylvania. 



Names. 



Where from. 



Nathan Ames ! Illinois.. 

A. C. Fulks I Missouri . 

Daniel Brasfield do. . . . 

James Mann I Scotland . 

R. M. Devenport \ Kentuckv 

James Davis '< Missouri". 

Washington Gobcl Iowa .... 



Denmark . . . 
New York . . 
\ irginia . . . . 
Louisiana . . . 
Misso'iri . . . . 

'llinuis 

Maryland . . . 

Ireland 

Illinois 

New York . . 

....do 

England .... 

Ireland 

Illinois 

Ireland 

England .... 

Irel.ind 

Germany . . . 
Pennsylvania, 
Germany . . . , 
...do 



....do 

Switzerland . 

...do 

Denmark . . . 

Illinois 

Peimsylvania . 

Iowa 

...do 



Virginia 

•Scotland 

Pennsylvania. 
Wisconsin . . . 
Germany . . . . 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 



Kentucky. . . . 

Missouri 

Minnesota . . . 

Iowa 

France 

Iowa 

Illinois 

Massachusetts 

Iowa 

...do 

Missouri 



.do. 



.do. 
.do. 



.do. 



low; 



."Simpson Gobel 

Thomas S. Rolus 

Jackson Goble 

W. H. H. Goble 

George Goble |. . . ,do 

H. B. Mize | Missouri . . 

John C. New 'on |. . . .do 

Thomas Bates j Ohio 

Asa 8tnith Missouri .. 

R. Mo.vley .do 

Francis Brown Tennessee , 

John Brokham j Kentucky. 

Alexander Russell I Missouri... 

John Mire j. . . .do 

C. F. Ham'Tiond 

H B. Kelley 

George Leigjran 

Thomas A. Minard 

D. McMickle 

William Sparks 

W'llliam Gaberts 

Joseph Waddill 

J. R. Munson 

Isaac Just , 

B. F. Thompson 

S. A. Dunn 

C. LinviUe 

James Hutchings 

Willin,m Rose ' lowr 

John Wilfley , .1 . . .do 

Peter Sillaley | ... .do! .'!,".' .* 

Joseph Hix." j Missouri ... 

Salem Pitman Towa 

Goodwin Howell .Missouri . . . . 

John iVioore i . , . .do 

J. Kin fro w , !. . . .do 

Hud. Scott . . ! do! .'!!. !.' 

Christ. Schrinpv ; Germany ... 

S. M.Hickman : Missouri ... 

S. Pankake [ do 

W. Bohart j do.'.*.*.'.'.'.', 

John Haxwell. .do , 

William Staley I Pennsylvania. 

Samuel Staley . . .do. 

M. Heiilland ] Germany..,, 

Thomas Scott | M issouri . . . . 

E Forsythe Indiana 

F. G. Bradin j Missouri . . , , 

James Pyle .do 



. . . .i;o 

....do 

....do 

Iowa .'.... 
Illinois.. , . 
Missouri . 

....do 

...do..'... 
Canada . . . 

Towa 

New York 
Ireland . . . 
Missouri . 
.do 



John H. Micher do. 

Joseph Elliott .do. 

Francis Browning do. 

S. McMurtny do. 

Thomas Tritt j do. 

William Pierson I . . . .do. 

Thomas Wright 1. . . .do. 

George S. Winn '. ...do. 



98 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

SIXTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



Names. 



Where from. 



li 



Names. 



Where from. 



jMontgomory Giernn < Missouri 

Michael Levinn . . .do. . . 

Lew. SU'ps U . . .do. . . 

J. Wayiiiiers Iowa ... 

Kli Haiiliii Missouri 

Stephen Sparks .do. . . 

J no. S>parks do. . . 

StepluMi Sparks, jr !. .. .do 

Jinob .Adainson .do . . . 



Frank Goisoin .. . 

Jac. Goisoin 

J.UMCs Bradley .. . 
James C. Brown ., 
Isaac V. Camp.. . 
Joseph Litigan.. . 
James O. Toole. . 
H. D. McMt-ekin 
William Bukam. . 

Adam Dietz 

G. Knase 

F. A. Hart 



Germany . 

,...do 

Missouri . 

...do 

Iowa . . . . , 
Germany . 
Ireland . . . 
Kentucky 
Missouri . 
Germany . 

, . . .do 

Missouri , 



William Tanner ; Indiana 

D. A. Mitclieli ' Missouri 

Williiim Wallace j Kentucky....' 

James E. Wallace j....do 

Joel Hyatt j Indiana 

N. Heiiderson .do 

A. Payne i Missouri . . . . 

S. D. Pitcher j do ! 

Edward Rankin :. . . .do 

Lawni Rankin do 

O. Register |. . . .do ' 

Charles C. Hood ^ Germany . . . .1 

Joremiaii Clarke Missouri . . . . 

Jolin Harris |. . , .do 

J. R. Pcnnock j Pennsylvania. 

J. Pennock ;. . . .do ' 

Charles H. Pennock [. . . .do ' 

H. S. Stoufter j Ohio \ 

AVilliam Dawson Pennsylvania.] 

Sol Snyder Ohio i 

Miles Sliannon i ' 

Hudson Howland Missouri .... 

B. M. Crust do 

George Dallas .do 

David Creek ,...,,. .do 

D.ivid Shearin , , .do 

Jacob Copplc Indiana 

John Copple do 

D. H. Chappell Ohio .... 

William Cummings Pennsylvania. 

Samuel Cummings do 

James Mam Missouri .... 

Jesse Salisbury Illinois 

Benjanrin Willey .do 

J. Willey do 

William Large Missouri .... 

C. C. Harrison do 

R. P. Briggs ....do 

F. A- Roberts ....do 

CharJes H. Allc. do 

J M. Tyner i do 

J. G. Henderson .do. ....... 

John Kiesiugsr J. . ..do ; 



Joseph Scaggs j Missouri .... 

James Wells j. . . .do 

Andrew Skaggs j. . . .do 

Thomas Stearns ]. . . .do 

John Allen j. . . .do 

Jacob Fisher | Iowa 

James Noble Missouri 

Thomas H. Noble, jr .do 

M. Wells I New York . . . 

W. P. Drummund Kentucky. . . . 

A. L. Downey i Missouri 

Iddings I . . . .do 

Wilkinson ; . . . .do 

.'^sa Stewart | Indiana 

Matt. France j. . . .do 

Fred. Sprecht | Germany .... 

Philip Frederick ] . . . .do 

Christ 'm Galsler j France ...... 

P. Smith j Prussia ...... 

Philip Zeigler \ Pennsylvania . 

Merrill Davis | Missouri 

John Ilartsell |. . . .do 

William Davis |. . . .do 

Joel S. Moore >. . . .do 

G. Redmund i. . . .do 

George \V. Thompson |. . . .do 

D. Tliompson | . . . .do 

William Hooper 1. . . .do 

J. Shilby Pvle I do 

W. O. W'ebster i Indiana 

James G. Hcick .do 

Henry Stoddard Ohio 

Thomas C. Bishop Missouri 

F S. Arterberry do 

James H. Garntt do 

Joseph Bowls do 

George W. Walker do 

John Markham j Kentucky .... 

Barrett .Markham I. . . .do 

George Fleming | England 

A. M. Cunningham ; Wiiiconsin . . . 

Thomas Lockerman i Illinois 

Thomas Laige . .1 Missouri 

W. Heipple ] Wisconsin ... 

James Easell |. . . .do 

William Coomuan , Missouri 

F. Paffct |. . . .do 

E. F. Stafford ^ j do 

Nath. Talbot i Arkansas .... 

Justus Clark i Iowa 

John H. Dennis Missouri 

William H Osborn < New York ... 

William H. Goode , Indiana 

Philip Good do 

H. C. Norton Missouri 

Abelard Guthrie Ohio 

Georjje B. Northup Missouri 

.Tohn S. Ladd Ohio 

Charles Garrett :. . . .do 

A. P. ],eary Missouri 

D. Dotflenger Iowa 

Lucius Chatey ; Oliio 

N. Richards , ' Indiana 

S. Philips ' Missouri 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
SIXTEENTH DISTRICT— Continued. 



99 



Names. 



Where from. 



Stephen Hunt Missouri ... 

Christ. Karlo do 

Will G. Woons i do 

George F. Cokley '....do 

Solomon Tlionias do 

Robert Roofers do 

A. Brady. ^ do. . . . 

W. H. llawsoii do 

C Baker New York . . 

Alfred txirt Missouri . . . . 



Names. 



Where from. 



.Tolm Remnedj' ' New York . . . 

.Jonathan Hall : Missouri 

Roberts Natiian ;....do 

George B. White ,. . . .do 

Nathan Adams .do 

W . W. .Terterson do 

W. A. ^^cDonell do 

Israel Gibson do 

Adam Lenhurt Pennsvlvania . 



Seventeenth District. 

List of I'ofos in the seventeenth election 'district of the To^i'itory of Kan- 
sas, according to census returns made by Ale.vander S. Johnson, esq., 
in the months of January and February, 1855. 



Names. 



Where from. 



A. H. Reeder Pennsylvania. 

Daniel Woodson Virginia 

S. D. Lecompt Maryland . . . . 

John A. Haliiermon Kentucky . . . . 

Thomas Johnson Missouri 

Alex, .loknson Kansas Terr'y 

J. Dumnier Missouri 

R. C. Meeks ...do 

Robert Brown !. . . .dp 

John Lemon ; Louisiana . . . . 

Augustus Charles ' Missouri 

William Donaldson do 

Joseph Akin do 

Samuel Cornatzer N. Carolina . . 

C. Cornatzcr do 

John Boles | Missouri 

Samuel Ganett .do 

Perk. Randall do 

John Owens .do 

Doctor Buchhauman |. . . .do : 

Isaac Panish .do 

C. Chouteau i. . . .do < 

L. Chouteau do. ., 

Charles Boles i do. . . 

James Mathews do . . . 



Names. 



John MeClaeken .., 

Joseph Fager , 

Henrv 1. Kaut'mon 
C. B. 'Donaldson... 
Charles Snider.. . . 
S. B. Dusser 



Where from. 



Penn-sylvania . 
Missouri .... 

...do 

Illinois , 

Missouri . . . . , 
...do 



O H. P. Reppta I do 



-do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 



E. F. Buckman 

Talton Bhiss 

William Rutlidge 
B. F. Robinson . . 
Judge Bouton. . . . 
James B. Bornette 

John Elbert j. . . .do 

Daniel Frazuer |... .do 

George Bagan . 
James Gladden. 
Horace Hall. . . 
Francis Berrv. . 
Dares Thaver. . 



....do 

....do 

New York 
Missouri . . 
Ohio 



i| 



Cyrus Rodgers Indiana 

Miller Woodey I. . . .do 

Richard Mendenhall j,. . .do 

A. Gregory Iowa 

Francis Booker ' Massachusetts 



100 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



ss. 



United States of America, 
Territory of Kansas. 

On the ITtli day of February, A. D. 1855, before the undersigned, 
chief justice of the Territory of Kansas, personally appeared Alexander 
S. Johnson, esq., Avho being duly sworn deposes and says; That the 
foregoing enumeration or census of the seventeenth district of said 
Territory is just and correct, to the best of his knowledge and belief; 
that he has not intentionally omitte 1 or erroneously classified any in- 
habitants or qualified voters ; that he has inserted the name of no 
j5erson except those legally entitled to be inserted, and that he has 
made the said enumeration and classification of the said inhabitants, 
and the designation of qualified voters, truly and correctly, as directed 
in the foregoing precept, to the best of liis judgment and ability. 

A. S. JOHNSON. 

Sworn and subscribed, February 17, 1855, before me, 

SAMUEL D. LECOMPTE. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 101 

ELECTION OF MARCH 30, 1855. 



PROCLAMATIO^^ 
United States of America, Territory of Kansas. 

To the qualified voters of the Territory of Kansas: 

I, Andrew H. Reeder, governor of the said Territory, by virtue of 
the act of Congress passed the 30th day of May, 1854, entitled "an 
act to organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas," do by these 
presents proclaim, order, and direct that an election be held in the 
said Territory on Friday, the thirtieth day of March, A. D. 1855, for 
thirteen members of council and twenty-six members of the house of 
representatives, to constitute the legislative assembly of said Terri- 
tory ; and the qualified voters of the Territory are hereby requested 
to meet on said day, at the places of holding elections in their several 
districts and precincts, as hereinafter specified, to vote by ballot for 
the number of candidates hereinafter apportioned to the respective 
districts ; and the said election shall be conducted in the manner here- 
inafter prescribed. 

List of Election Districts as heretofore erected. 

First District. — Commencing in the Kansas river, at the mouth of 
Cedar creek; thence up said river to the first tributary above the town 
of Lawrence; thence up said tributary to its source; thence by a direct 
line to the west side of F. Rolf's house; thence by a due south line to 
the Santa Fe road, and along the middle of said road to a j^oint due 
south of the source of Cedar creek; thence due north to the source of 
said Cedar creek, and down the same to the place of beginning. 

Second District. — Commencing at the mouth of Big Spring branch, 
on the south bank of the Kansas river ; thence up said branch to its 
furthest source; thence by a southerly line crossing the Wakarusa 
river, on the east side of the house of Charles Matnej^^ to the middle 
of the Santa Fe road; thence along the middle of said road to the 
line of the first district; thence by the same, along the west side of 
the house of F. Rolf, to the head of the first tributary of the Kansas, 
above the town of Lawrence; and thence by the same tributary to the 
Kansas river, and up the south bank of said river to the mouth of Big 
Spring branch, the place of beginning. 

Third District.— Commencing at the mouth of Big Spring branch, 
on the south side of the Kansas river ; thence up the same to its fur- 
thest source; thence by a southerly line to the north bank of the Wa- 
karusa river, on the east side of the house of Charles Matney ; thence 
up said river and its main branch to the line of the Pottawatomie re- 
servation ; and thence by the southern and western line of said reser- 
vation to the Kansas river, and down the said river to the place of 
beginning. 

Fourth District. — Commencing at the Missouri State line in the 
middle of the Santa Fe road ; thence alono^ the middle of said road to 



102 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Rock creek, near the 65th mile of said road ; thence south to the line 
of the late Shawnee reservation ceded by the treaty of 1854 ; thence 
due east along the south line of said reservation and the north lines 
of the existing reservations of the Sacs and Foxes, the existing reser- 
vations of the Chippewas and Ottawas, and the late reservations of 
the Piankeshaws, Weas, Feorias, and Kaskaskias, to the Missouri 
State line ; thence up the Missouri State line to the place of beginning. 

Fifth District. — Commencing at the Missouri State line at the 
southern boundary of the fourth district ; thence east along the same 
to the northwest corner of the Sac and Fox reservation ; thence due 
south along the western line thereof, and due south to the south branch 
of the Neosho river, about seventy miles above the Catholic Osage 
Mission ; thence down said river to the north line of the reserve for 
New York Indians, and east along said line to the headwaters of Little 
Osage river, or the nearest point thereto; and thence down said river 
to the Missouri State line, and up said line to the place of beginning. 

Sixth District. — Commencing on the Missouri State line in Little 
Osage river ; thence up the same to the line of the reserve for the New 
York Indians, or the nearest point thereto; thence to and by the north 
line of said reserve to the Neosho river, and up said river and the 
south branch thereof to the head ; and thence by a due south line to 
the southern line of the Territory ; thence by the southern and eastern 
lines of said Territory to the place of beginning. 

Seventh District. — Commencing at the east side of the house of 
Charles Matney, on the Wakarusa river ; thence due south to the 
middle of the Santa Fe road; thence westwardly along the middle of 
said road to Rock creek, near the 65th mile of said road; thence due 
south to the north line of the Sac and Fox reservation ; thence along 
the north and v/est lines thereof, and due south to the Neosho river; 
thence up said river to a point due south of the mouth of Elm creek ; 
thence due north to the mouth of Elm creek, and up said creek to the 
Santa Fe road, and thence by a direct line in a northerly direction to 
the southwest corner of the Pottawatomie reservation ; thence along 
the southern line of said reservation to the headwaters of the Waka- 
rusa river, or the point nearest thereto; thence to and down the said 
river to the place of becriunino;. 

Eighth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Elm creek, one of 
the branches of Osage river ; thence up the same to the Santa Fe road ; 
thence by a direct northerly line to the southwest corner of the Potta- 
watomie reservation; thence up the western line thereof to the Kansas 
river ; tlieuce up said river and the Smoky Hill Fork, beyond the most 
westerly settlements ; thence due south to the line of the Territory ; 
thence by the same to the line of the sixth district ; thence due north 
to the head of the south branch of the Neosho river ; thence down 
said river to the Ime of the seventh district; thence due north to the 
place of beginning. 

Ninth District. — Commencing on the Smoky Hill Fork, beyond the 
most westerly settlements ; thence down the same and the Kansas 
river, to the mouth of Wild Cat creek; thence up said creek to the 
headwaters thereof; thence due north to the Independence emigrant 
road ; thence up said road to the north line of the Territory ; thence 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 103 

west along the same beyond the most westerly settlements ; and thence 
due south to the place of beginning. 

Tenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Vermillion river ; 
thence up the same, beyond the house of Josiah D. Adams; thence 
due west to the Independence emigrant road ; thence up the middle of 
said road to the line of the ninth district ; thence by the same to the 
head of Wild Cat creek, and down said creek to the Kansas river ; 
thence down said river to the place of beginning. 

Eleventh. District. — Commencing in the Vermillion river, opposite 
the north side of the house of Josiah D. Adams; thence up said river 
to the head of the main branch ; thence due north to the military road 
from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearnej^ ; thence along the middle ol' 
said road to the crossing of the Vermillion branch of the Blue; thence 
due north to the northern line of the Territory; thence west along 
said line to the Independence emigrant road ; thence down said road 
to a point due west of the north end of the house of Josiah D. Adams, 
and due east to the place of beginning. 

Twelfth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Soldier creek^ in 
the Kansas river ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch ; 
thence due north to the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort 
Kearney ; thence along the middle of said road to the line of the ele- 
venth district ; thence due south to the head of Vermillion river, down 
Vermillion river to the mouth, and down Kansas river to the place of 
beginning. 

Thirteenth District. — Commencing in the Kansas river, at a point 
three miles above the mouth of Stranger creek; thence in a north- 
wardly direction by a line corresponding to, and three miles west of, 
the several courses of said creek, to the line of the late Kickapoo re- 
servation ; thence by the southern and western lines of said reserva- 
tion to the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney; 
thence along the middle of said road to the line of the twelfth district ; 
thence due south to the head of Soldier creek, down Soldier creek to 
the mouth, and down Kansas river to the place of beginning. 

Fourteenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Independence 
creek; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch, and 
thence due west to the line of the late Kickapoo reservation; thence 
north along said line and the line of the late Sac and Fox reservation, 
to the north line of the Territory ; thence along said line eastwardly 
to the Missouri river, and down said river to the place of beginning. 
Fifteenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Salt creek, on the 
Missouri river; thence up said creek to the military road, and along 
the middle of said road to the lower crossing of Stranger creek ; thence 
up said creek to the line of the late Kickapoo reservation, and thence 
along the southern and western line thereof to the line of tlie four- 
teenth district ; thence by the same, and down Independence creek, to 
the mouth thereof, and thence down the Missouri river to the place of 
beginning. 

Sixteenth District. — Commencing at the mouth of Salt creek ; thence 
up said creek to the military road ; thence along the middle of said 
road to the lower crossing of Stranger creek; thence up said creek to 
the line of the lata Kickapoo reservation, and thence along the same 



104 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

to the line of the thirteenth district, and thence by the same along a 
line corresponding to the courses of Stranger creek, and keeping three 
miles west thereof, to the Kansas river ; thence down the Kansas river 
to the Missouri, and up the Missouri river to the place of beginning. 

Seveniecnth District. — Commencing at the mouth of the Kansas river, 
thence up the south bank thereof to the mouth of Cedar creek ; thence 
up Cedar creek to its source, and thence due south to tlie Santa Fe 
road, ak)ng the middle of said road to the Missouri State line, and 
along said line to the place of beginning. 

Eighteenth District. — Commencing in the military road at the cross- 
ing of the Yerniillion branch of Blue river; thence due north to the 
line of the Territory; thence east along said line to the line of tlie 
fourteenth district; thence due south along said line to the aforesaid 
military road, and along the middle of said road to the place of 
beginning. 

Precincts^ places for polls, and judges of election. 

First District. — The election will be held at the house of W. H. R. 
Lykins, in the town of Lawrence. 

Judges. — Hugh Cameron, James B. Abbot, N. B. Blanton. 

Second District. — House of Harrison Burson, on Wakarusa river. 

Judges. — Harrison Burson, Paris Ellison, Nath. S. Ramsey. 

Tliird District. — H;ouse of Tlios. N. Stinson, in the town of Te- 
cum seh. 

Judges.— Fvew L. D. Stateler, Rev. H. B. Burgess, Rev. H. N. 
Watts. 

Fourth District. — House of Dr. I. Chapman. 

Judges. — Perry Fuller, David Pultz, E. W. Moore. 

Fifth District. — This district is divided into four voting precincts 
as follows, viz: 

Bull Creek Precivct. — Commencing in the Osage (or Marais des 
Cygnes) river, opposite the termination of the dividing ridge between 
Pottawatomie and Middle creek; thence by an easterly line, running 
north of all the settlements on the waters of North Sugar creek to the 
Missouri State line; thence up said line to the line between the fourth 
and filth districts ; thence east along said line to the line between 
the Peoria and Ottawa reservations ; thence south along the same to 
the Osage river, and down said river to the place of beginning. 

The election will be held at the house of Baptiste Peoria. 

Judges. — John J. Parks, J. J. Clark, Stephen White. 

Pottcnvatomie Creek Precinct. — Commencing in the Osage river on 
the line of the Peoria and Ottawa reserves ; thence down said river 
to a point opposite the termination of the dividing ridge between Pot- 
tawatomie creek and Middle creek; thence along said dividing ridge 
beyond the head waters of said creeks, and thence by a line due south- 
west to the line of the sixth district ; thence by the lines of the sixth, 
seventh, and fourth districts, to the line of the Peoria and Ottawa 
reservations, and down the same to the place of beginning. 

Election at the house of Henry Sherman, on Pottawatomie creek. 
Judges. — William Chesnut, Allen Wilkinson, 0, -F. Cleveland. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 105 

Big Sugar Creek Precinct. — Be<]?inning in the Osage river at the 
Missouri kState line ; thence up said river to the mouth of Big Sugar 
creek ; thence up said creek to the mouth of Little Sugar creek ; 
thence along the dividing ridge between Big and Little Sugar creeks, 
heyond the headwaters of both ; thence by a due southwest line to 
the line of the fifth district; thence along the same to the Pottawato- 
mie Creek precinct ; thence by the line of said precinct to the Osage 
river ; thence by an easterly line, running north of all the settlements 
on the waters of North Sugar creek, to the Missouri State line, and 
down the same to the place of beginning. 

Election at tlie house of Elisha Tucker, at the old Pottawatomie 
mission. 

Judges. — James M. Arthur, Elisha Tucker, John E. Brown. 

Little Sugar Crech Precinct. — Commencing at the mouth of Little 
Osage river ; thence up the same, and along the line of sixth district, 
to Big Sugar Creek precinct ; thence along the line of said precinct 
to Osage river; down Osage river to State line, and doAvn State line 
to ]dace of beginning. 

Election at house of Isaac Stockton, at crossing of Little Sugar 
creek. 

Judges. — William H. Finley, Alfred Osborne, Isaac Stockton. 

Sixth District. — Election at the Ilosjutal building at Fort Scott. 

Judges. — James Ray, sen., William Painter, William Godefroy. 

Seventh District. — Election at the house of J. B. Titus, on the Santa 
Fe road. 

Judges. — Eli Snyder, John W. Freed, Dr. Harvey Foster. 

Eighth District. — Election at the Council Grove mission house, near 
the Santa Fe road. 

Judges. — A. J. Baker, Emanuel Mosier, T. S. HofFaker. 

Ninth District. — Election at the house of Robert Klotz, in the town 
of Pawnee. 

Judges.— K. D. Gibson, S. B. White, Robert Wilson. 

Tenth District. — This district is divided into two voting precincts, 
as follows, viz: 

Blue Eiver Precinct. — Commencing at the upper mouth of Black 
Jack creek ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch ; 
thence due north to the Independence emigrant road ; thence up the 
middle of said road to the northern line of the Territory ; thence by 
the northern, western, and southern lines of the district to the place 
of beginning. 

Election at the house of S. D. Dyer, on Blue river. 

Judges. — Joseph W, Russell, Marshal A. Garrett, Joseph Stewart. 

Bock Creek Precinct. — Commencing at the upper mouth of Black 
Jack creek ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch ; 
thence due north to the Independence emigrant road ; thence down 
said road, and by the continuous easterly and southerly lines of the 
district to the |dace of beginning. 

Election at the house of Robert Wilson, on Rock creek. 
Judges. — Francis Bergerow, Henry Rammelt^ James Wilson. 
Eleventh District. — Election at the trading house of Woodward & 
Marshall. 



106 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Judges.— Tv. J. Marshall, R. C. Bishop, W. P. McClure. 

Iwelfth District. — This district is divided into two precincts, as fol- 
lows, viz: 

Silver Lake Precinct. — Commencing at the mouth of Cross creek; 
thence up tlie same to the head ; thence due north to military road 
leading from Fort Leavenwortli to Fort Kearney ; thence by the con- 
tinuous northern, eastern, and southern lines of the district to the 
place of beginning. 

Election at the store of Sloan & Beaubien, on Silver lake. 

Judges. — Nath. Wingardner^ E. M. Sloan, Evan Kennedy, 

St. Mary's Freclnct. — Commencing at the mouth of Cross creek; 
thence up said creek to the head ; thence due north to the military 
road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ; thence by the northern, 
western, and southern lines of the district to the place of beginning. 

Election at the store of B. F. Bertrand, at St. Mary's mission. 

Judges. — Dr. L. R. Palmer, Charles Dean, Rev. J. B. Duerinck. 

Thirteenth District. — Election (except as hereinafter stated) at the 
house of Samuel J. Hard, at Hickory Point. 

Judges. — H, B. Cora, James Atkinson, J. B. Ross. 

Fourteenth District. — This district is divided into three precincts, 
as follows, viz : 

Wolf Elver Precinct. — Commencing in the Missouri river one mile 
east of Mosquito creek; thence by a line corresponding to, and one 
mile east of, the several courses of said creek and the main branch 
thereof; thence by a line due south to Cottonwood spring; thence 
along the Pottawatomie road to the dividing ridge, two miles from 
the crossing of said road at Independence creek ; thence due west to 
the line of the district, and by the westerly and northerly lines of the 
district to the place of beginning. 

Election at the house erected by Aaron Lewis, on Wolf river. 

Judges. — James M. Irvin, Joel Ryan, E. W. B. Rogers, 

Doniphan Precinct. — Commencing on the Missouri river at the south 
line of Cadue's reserve ; thence by the same, and along the dividing 
ridge between Cadue's creek and Lewis' creek, to Cottonwood spring; 
thence by the line of the Wolf River precinct, and the western and 
southern lines of the district to tlie Missouri river, and up the Mis- 
souri river to the place of beginning. 

Election at the store of John W. & James Foreman, in the town of 
Doniphan. 

Judges. — M. K. Shaw, Parris Dunning, W. L. 'Chudys. 

Burr Oak Precinct. — Commencing on the Missouri river at the 
south line of Cadue's reserve ; thence by line of Doniphan precinct to 
Cottonwood spring ; thence by line of Wolf River precinct to Missouri 
river, and down said river to place of beginning. 

Election at house of Milton E. Bryant, on St. Joseph and California 
road. 

Judges. — Ebenezer Blackstone, Cary B. Whitehead, Osborne Hulen. 

Fifteenth District. — Election (except as hereinafter stated) at the 
house of Charles Hays, on the military road. 

Judges. — Thomas J. Thompson, E. R. Zimmerman, Daniel Fisk. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 107 

Sixteenth District. — Election at the house of Keller & Kyle, in the 
town of Leavenworth. 

Judges. — Matthias France, J. C. Posey, David Brown. 

Seventeenth District. — Election at the Shawnee Methodist Church. 

Judges. — Cyprian Choteau, C. B. Donaldson, Charles Boles. 

Eighteenth District.— 'Eieciion at the house of William W. Moore, 
on St. Joseph and California road, at the crossing of the Nemaha. 

Judges. — Jesse Adamson, Thomas J. B. Cramer, John Belew. 

Instructions to judges of election. 

The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes with a slit 
for the insertion of the tickets, and will assemble at their respective 
polls at or before eight o'clock a. m. of the day of election, and will 
make and subscribe the duj)licate copies of the printed oath which will 
be furnished them. This oath must be administered by a judge or 
justice of the peace, if one be present ; and if not, then the judges can 
mutually administer the oath to each other, which they are hereby 
fully authorized to do. In case of the absence of any one or two of 
said judges at nine o'clock a. m., the vacancy shall be filled by the 
judge or judges who shall attend ; and if any vacancy shall occur 
after the judges have been sworn, it shall be filled in the same man- 
ner. In case noneof the judges appointed shall attend at nine o'clock 
a. m., the voters on the ground may, by tellers, select persons to act 
in their stead. The judges will keep two corresponding lists of the 
names of persons who shall vote, numbering each name. They must 
be satisfied of the qualifications of every person ofi'ering to vote, and 
may examine the voter, or any other person, under oath, upon the 
subject. 

The polls will be kept open until six o'clock p. m., and then closed 
unless voters are present offering to vote ; and in that case shall be 
closed as soon thereafter as votes cease to be offered. 

When the polls are closed, the judges will proceed to open and 
count the votes, and will keep two corresponding tally lists, on which 
they will simultaneously tally each ticket as it is called by the judge, 
who will open and call out the tickets, which must be done without 
handling or interference by any other person. When the votes are 
thus counted off, and the tally lists shall agree, the judges shall pub- 
licly proclaim the result, and shall fill up and sign the duplicate cer- 
tificates of return which will be furnished them. They will then 
carefully replace the said tickets in one or both of the ballot boxes, 
together with one copy of the oath, one of the lists of voters, and one 
of the certificates of return, and will seal up and preserve the same, 
to be produced if called for. The remaining copies of the oath, list 
of voters, tally list, and certificate, will be sealed up, directed to the 
governor of the Territory, and delivered by one of the judges in per- 
son to the governor, at his office at the Shawnee Methodist mission, 
on or before the fourth day of April, A. D. 1855. 

In the fifth district the several return judges will meet on the day 
after the election, at the house of Henry Sherman, on Pottawatomie 
creek, and select one of their number, who shall take charge of and de- 



108 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

liver the returns of all the precints. The return judges of the tenth will 
meet at the house of Robert AVilson, on Rock creek ; and those of the 
fourteenth at the house of M. E. Bryant, and will make their returns 
iu the same manner. 

All persons are absolutely forbidden to bring, sell, or deal out, in 
the immediate vicinity of the election ground, any intoxicating liquors; 
and the judges of election, whenever they shall deem this regulation 
violated, so as to interfere with the pro2:»er conducting of the election, 
may order the same to be removed ; and if the owner shall fail to 
comply with such order, may direct constables, or other proper per- 
sons, to take charge of such liquor till the polls are closed ; or, in case 
of resistance, to destroy the same at once. 

The constables of the territory will attend at their respective polls, 
and will hold themselves subject to the orders of the judges for the 
preservation of order at the polks, and securing free access for the 
voters ; and, for this purpose, may call upon any citizens present to 
aid them in the performance of tbeir duty if necessary. 

Qual-ifi cation of voters. 

By the territorial bill it is provided as follows : 

''That every free white male inhabitant above the age of tn-enty- 
one years, who shall be an actual resident of said Territory, and shall 
possess the qualifications hereinafter prescribed, shall be entitled to 
vot^ at the first election : Frovided, That the right of suftrage and of 
holding office shall be exercised only by citizens of the United States, 
and those who shall have declared on oath their intention to become 
such, and shall have taken an oath to support the Constitution of the 
United States and the provisions of this act : And provided further. 
That no officer, soldier, seaman, or marine, or other person in the 
army or navy of the United States, or attached to troops in the ser- 
vice of the United States, shall be allowed to vote or hold office in said 
Territory, by reason of being on service therein." 

By the term "white," as used in this and other laws of a similar 
character, is meant pure unmixed white blood. The man who has 
any mixture from the darker races, however small the proportion, is 
not regarded as a white man. This has been repeatedly decided, and 
may be regarded as settled. When a voter has only declared his in- 
tention to become a citizen, he must be sworn by the judges of election, 
or by a judge or justice of the peace, to support the Constitution of the 
United States and the provisions of the act of Congress, passed May 
30, 1854, to organize the territories of Nebraska and Kansas. 
When so sworn, the word "oath" should be marked opposite his 
name on the list of voters ; and a voter who has had this oath once 
administered, will not, of course, be required to repeat it. 

It will be seen that the act of Congress is drawn with much care to 
exclude non-residents from the polls. It ]u-ovides that a voter shall 
be an "inhabitant" and "an actual resident." A voter must dwell 
here at the time of offering his vote ; he must then have commenced 
an actual inhabitancy, which he actually intends to continue perma- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 109 

nently, and must have made the Territory his dwelling-phxce to the 
exclusion of any other home. 

The meaning of the last proviso, relative to the army and navy, is, 
that the persons designated in it shall not vote if their inhabitancy in 
the Territory is referable only to the performance of their duties. Lik 
all other persons, it is not enough that they should be in the Territory 
but they must dwell in it as their permanent home ; and the officer or 
soldier who would vote must have a residence here^ irrespective and 
independent of his presence here under orders. 

Every voter must vote in the election precinct where he resides, and 
not elsewhere. Experience has demonstrated this to be a wise regu- 
lation, and it has been adopted in nearly all the States as a necessary 
provision against error, confusion, and fraud. 

Contested elections. 

In case any persons shall desire to contest the election in any dis- 
trict of the Territory, they shall make a written statement, directed to 
the governor, setting forth the particular precinct or district they in- 
tend to contest, the candidates whose election they dispute, and the 
specitic causes of complaint in the conduct or return of the said elec- 
tion ; which complaint shall be signed by not less than ten qualified 
voters of the Territory, and with affidavit of one or more such voters 
to the truth of the facts set forth therein. Such written statement 
must be presented to the governor at his office on or before the fourth 
day of April, A. D. 1S55 ; and if it shall appear that the result of 
election in any council district might be changed by said contest, a 
day will be fixed for hearing the same. 

Apportionment of memhers of the legislature, and list of districts. 

APPORTIONMENT. 

The entire number of qualified voters in the territory, as appears 
from the census returns, is two thousand nine hundred and five. The 
ratio of representation in council is two hundred and twenty-three, 
and in the house of representatives one hundred and eleven. 

COUNCIL DISTRICTS. 

The first, fourth, and seventeenth election districts, containing four 
hundred and sixty-six voters, shall constitute the first council district, 
and elect two members of the council. 

The second election district, and so much of the thirteenth as is em- 
braced in the Kansas half-breed lands, containing two hundred and 
twelve voters, will constitute the second council district, and elect one 
member of council ; and the voters thus detached from the thir- 
teenth will vote at the place of election fixed for the second election 
district. 

The third, seventh, and eighth election districts, containing one 
hundred and ninety-three voters, will constitute the third council dis- 
trict, and elect one member of council. 

The fifth election district, containing four hundred and forty-two 



110 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

voters, will constitute the fourth council district, and elect two mem- 
bers of council. 

The sixth election district, containing; two hundred and fifty-three 
voters, will constitute the fifth council district, and elect one member 
of council. 

The nintli, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth election districts, contain- 
ing two hundred and one voters, will constitute the sixth council dis- 
trict, and elect one member of council. 

The Wolf river precinct and Doniphan precinct of the fourteenth, the 
whole of the eighteenth, and so much of the fifteenth election district 
as lies north of Walnut creek and its main branch, and a due west 
line from its source, containing two hundred and forty-seven voters, 
shall constitute the seventh council district, and elect one member of 
council ; and the voters who are thus detached from the fifteenth will 
vote at the Doniphan precinct. 

The Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district, containing two 
hundred and fifteen voters, will constitute the eighth council district, 
and elect one member of council. 

The residue of the fifteenth election district, containing two hundred 
and eight voters, will constitute the ninth council district, and elect 
one membercof council. 

The sixteenth and residue of the thirteenth election district, con- 
taining four hundred and sixty-eight voters, will constitute the tenth 
council district, and elect two members of council. 

REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS. 

The seventeenth and fourth election districts, containing ninety- 
seven voters, shall constitute the first representative district, and elect 
one member. 

The first election district, containing three hundred and sixty-nine 
voters, shall be the second representative district, and elect three 
members. 

The second council district shall be the third representative district, 
and elect two members. 

The third election district, containing one hundred and one voters, 
shall be the fourth representative district, and elect one member. 

The seventh and eighth election districts, containing ninety-two 
voters, shall be the fifth representative district, and elect one member. 

The sixth election district shall be the sixth representative district, 
and elect two members. 

The fifth election district shall be the seventh representative dis- 
trict, and elect four members. 

The ninth and tenth election districts, containing ninety-nine voters, 
shall be the eighth representative district, and elect one member. 

The eleventh and twelfth election districts, containing one hundred 
and two voters, shall be the ninth representative district, and elect 
one member. 

The residue of the thirteenth election district, containing eighty- 
three voters, shall be the tenth representative district, and elect one 
member. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Ill 



The seventh council district shall be the eleventh representative 
district, and elect two members. 

The eighth council district shall be the twelfth representative dis- 
trict, and elect two members. 

The ninth council district shall be the thirteenth representative dis- 
trict, and elect two members. 

The sixteenth election district, containing three hundred and eighty- 
five voters, shall be the fourteenth representative district, and elect 
three members. 

P -, Witness my hand and seal of said Territory, this eighth 
L^- ^--l dav of March, A. D. 1855. 

A. H. REEDER, Governor, &c. 

Attest : DANIEL WOODSON, Secretary. 



9 
10 

11 

12 

»13 

14 



tl5 

16 

17 

tl8 



5 
3 

3 

6 
6 
6 
6 

10 

7 



10 



Table of election districts, &c. 



9 ^ 



9 
9 

10 

12 
13 

14 

1 
11 



Precincts. 



Counties. 



Towns, townships and 
precincts. 



Bull creek \ 

Pottawatomie creek. 
Big Sugar creek. . . . 
Little Suffar creek . . 



Big Blue... 
Rock creek . 



Silver lake. 
St. Mary's. 



Wolf river. 
Doniphan . ■ 

Burr Oak . . 



Douglas . 

Douglas . 
Calkuun . 
Shawnee. 
.Johnson . 
FVanklin. 
Lykens . . 
Lynn . . . , 



Bourbon . 
Shawnee. 
Davis .. . 
JVtadison.. 
Riley 



Marshall. 



Jefferson.., 
Atchison.. 
Doniphan. 



Doniphan . .. . 

Brown 

Atchison 

Leavenworth. 

Leavenworth , 



Johnson 
Nemaha 



Franklin 

Lawrence 

Willow Springs. 
Lecompton 



Tecumseh 



Fort Scott. 
"110".... 



Council Grove. 



Marysville 



Wolf river 



Burr Oak. 



Shannon 

Kickapoo 

Alexandria 

Delaware 

Leavenworth . .. . 

Wyandott , 

Shawnee Mission. 



* Part of 13 (in Kansas half-breed lands) voted in 2d district. Grasshopper and Mount Pleasant townshids 
ki Atchison. 
I Part of 15 voted at Doniphan, .SO men. 
tParl of nth, 12th and 13th districts. 



112 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



PROCLAMATION. 

United States of America, I 
Territory of Kansas. ^ 

To the citizens and inliabitants of the Territory of Kansas : 

I, Andrew H. Reeder, governor of the said Territory, do hercbr 
procla,ini and make known, that, under and by virtue ot the autliority 
conferred, and the duty enjoined by the thirty-fifth section of the act 
of Congress passed the thirtieth day of May, A. D. 1854, entitled 
'•'An act to organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas," I have, 
until otherwise provided by law, defined the judicial districts ot the 
said Territory, and assigned one of said districts to each of the judges 
appointed for said Territory ; and have also appointed the times and 
places for liolding the courts in the said districts, as foUows, that is 
to say : 

All of said Territory embraced within the following bounds shall 
constitute the ^first Judicial district, to wit : Commencing at the mouth 
of the Kansas river; thence up the Missouri river to the northern line 
of the Territory : thence along said line west to the line between the 
eleventh and eighteenth election districts ; thence down said line to 
the military road leading from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ; 
thence along said road to the line between the twelfth and thirteenth 
election districts ; thence down the same and the waters of Soldier 
creek, along the western shore thereof, to the Kansas river, and down 
the same, on the southern shore thereof, to the place of beginning, 
including the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and eigh- 
teenth election districts : which said district is assigned to Chief Jus- 
tice S. D. Lecompte, and the courts thereof shall be held at the town 
of Leavenworth. 

All of said Territory embraced within the following bounds shall 
constitute the second judicial district, to wit : Commencing at the 
mouth of the Kansas river ; thence up the same, ahmg the southern 
shore thereof, to tlie western line of the Pottawatomie reservation ; 
thence along the western and southern lines of said reservation to the 
headwaters of the Wakarusa, or the nearest point thereto, and thence 
directly to and down the northern shore of the same to the east side 
of the house of Charles Matingly ; thence due south to the middle of 
the Santa Fe road ; thence westwardly along the middle of said roa4 
to Rock creek ; thence due south to the north line of ihe Sac and Fox 
re.servation ; thence along the north and west lines thereof, and due 
south, to the Neosho river; thence up the southern shore of said river, 
and of the north branch thereof, to the head ; thence due south to 
the line of the Territory, and thence by the south and east lines of 
the Territory to the place of beginning, to include the tirst, second, 
third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventeenth election districts. The 
Siiid district is assigned to Hon. Rush Ellmore. and the courts thereof 
shall be held at the town of Tecumseh. 

The residue of the Territory, comprising the seventh, eighth, 
ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth election districts, shall constitute 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. iio 

the third ittdickd disfricf • wlnVh i"> o>.;^„ i ^ tt 

of OetoSr""""- ™ '^' '"""^ "^^'"^ »f ^P"l -^ third Hondav 
26,h davot March nW^'InfarFiwB: J^TSv^th^^l'T; *'^f 

Is.^s, esq., the United States district attorner ' *" ^^^ ^• 

^ Ir o/^el;::^;:^. t ^^^ *^^ -id'Territ^r,, this twent,- 

A. H. EEEDER, Governor, dr. 
'^^^^'*- I^^^'L- y^^^OmOS, Secretary. 

PROCLAMATIOX. 

UxiTED States of America, I 
Territory of Kansas. ^ 

To the citizens and qualijied voters of the Territory of Kan^os ■ 

:^^^*<'rs^^<^:^:^:^i^^::^^^j^'^ The puceof 

; the St. Joseph road crosses the XemnL ^"''"'' "''^"^ 

4he^:itf<ie:ji;;' dV'tHrthe J:.'^' ■*""^" "'^ ^'^^™'- -<< "^dded to 

iBegmniug in fte Ve „ i on Ive '^Uhf ^"^^^ 1/f"^'^' '^^ ^"* ^ 

H. Rep. 200 S* ' "^■-"s'nS of the Indepeadence 



114 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

emigrant road ; thence up said river beyond the house of Josiah G. 
Adams ; thence due east, along the northern side of the said house, 
to the said road, and down said road to the place of beginning. 
Witness my hand and the seal of the said Territory, this 24th day 

of February, A. D. 1855. 

A. H. REEDER, Governor, dc. 

Attest : DANE. WOODSON, Secretary. 



First District. — Laiurence. 

Eawrence, Friday, April 25, 1856. 

Erastus D. Ladd, being duly sworn, deposed as follows: 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into this Territory late in September, 1854, and have ever 
since resided in this town and district. I was here on the 30th of 
March, at the legislative election. 

On the day previous to the election a number of teams and wagons 
loaded with armed men, and men on horseback, came into town. 
They were strangers here ; they came in from the south and south- 
west, and were preceded by two or three men, one of whom was sub- 
sequently called or passed as Colonel Samuel Young, of Missouri, who 
appeared to be the chief in command. I think "colonel" was his 
designation. They proceeded through tlie town, down on the bank 
of the river, and looked around for a time with the intention, as they 
stated, of encamping there that night. They had tents, and were 
armed ; I saw private arms, and I saw rifles and other arms of that 
kind, double-barrelled shot-guns, revolvers, and knives. I saw them 
encamped, and partaking of their provisions or refreshments ; but 
whether they brought them with them or not 1 do not know. The 
strangers continued to come in during the evening, and next morning 
there had been a very large addition made to their number. 

I went to the jilace of voting in the morning, and was there at the 
opening of the polls, and remained all day, e?:cept time for dinner. 
A very large company came from the camp in the ravine to the place 
of voting and surrounded it. There was some difficulty in the or- 
ganization of the board, and delay in commencing the voting. ^ Mr. 
Abbott, one of the judges, resigned. A vote was offered, which I 
saw, and a question of the legality of the vote was raised and was 
discussed some time. During" the discussion Colonel Young said he 
would settle the matter. He crowded up to the front, the place being 
thronged with people. The other vote was then withdrawn and he 
offered his vote. The question was raised as to the legality of his 
vote. He said he was ready to swear that he was a resident of the 
Territory. He took such an oath, but refused the oath prescribed by 
the governor. But one of the judges appointed by the governor wasf 
then acting. His oath was received. He then mounted the window- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 115 

sill and proclaimed to the crowd around tliat the matter was all set- 
tled and they could vote. I cannot repeat his exact words, hut that 
was the sentiment ; and they proceeded to vote. E A Cummins 
was appointed m the place of Abbott. At noon I went to their camp 
and passed along the ravine from one extremity to the other and 
counted the number of wagons and conveyances of different kinds 
then on the ground and in sight. They had then commenced leaving 
1 counted very near one hundred conveyances, such as wagons and 
carnages There were, besides, a large number of saddle horses I 
estimate that there were then on the ground about seven hundred of 
the party ; in the estimate I do not include those who had left for 
other places or for home. 

[Here the witness was asked to detail declarations made by the 
strangers, at the time of their voting, as to their intention and object 
in voting, and as to where they came from. 

To this Mr. Oliver objected. The objection was considered and dis- 
cussed by the committee, and overruled ; and the witness was allowed 
to statue all that was said or done by any of the party of strangers who 
voted.] -I ^ o 

Witness resumed : Some of these men were on the ground when I 
went there, before the polls were opened ; they came in bodies of per- 
haps, one hundred at a time, and voted. The voting was prosecuted 
^^ rm r?-^^ circumstances would permit, and continued all day. 

[Mr. Oliver objected to the witness being allowed to tell whether 
any person voted, unless he told their names and their places of resi- 
dence.] 

Witness : _ Generally speaking, these men were quiet and peaceable • 
they proclaimed at all times the right of every person to vote with 
the^ rest. They were situated very compactly about the place of 
voting, which was very much crowded during the forenoon, so much 
that most of the voters, and for a long time all of them, were obliged 
to pass over the roof of the house, by climbing upon the window sill 
and then being hoisted up on the roof. After a man voted he was 
hoisted up on the roof, as he could not get back through the crowd 
It took myself— and I usedmy best efforts— about an hour to get from 
the outside of the crowd to the place of voting. There was a passao-e- 
way tor a short time, formed of two lines of persons, through which 
voterspassdd to and from the polls. During another porti'on of the 
time, in the afternoon, they were formed in procession and approached 
the polls two by two, passing along in front of the window and off as 
they voted. 

There were a large number who had arms at the polls ; some few 
had shot-guns or rifles, but mostly revolvers and knives durino- the 
most of the day. ° 

About five o'clock there was a company of voters proceeded from 
the town over to the polls in a body, perhaps a hundred, residents of 
the town The large number of persons who had been about the 
polls, and who were from Missouri and abroad, had left the polls and 
they were comparatively clear. Most of those in teams had left the 
place during the afternoon, though many still remained. When these 
residents were coming over I was by the polls, and I saw some start 



^jLg KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

come on ; then they Lk their larger arm. and came on 

yyuii.oo:>. j. ,• „ „ii/^i.f rlic-f-nripp fvoiii wliere i stooa, aiia 

?? T.:^^:^ ^t:si""eo^ntTsi:f :S *itS:t.hnt 

V.^,lt •• &e He ran for the hank of the river, and the crowd fo - 
S hit During the running I think one or two shots were fired 
When he got to the tank of the river, he sprang off out oi sight. 
Thev rushed to the hank, and guns were pointed at him wh le helow^ 
Bu? the cry was raised to let lUm go, and he was permitted to go on 

"'"efo&fi^stance occurred in the latter part of the day. Mr 
Wmis who wasThen a resident of this town, was on the ground, and 
' oT v»;Tprl tl i^t he was one of the men concerned in ahducting a 
bSwir:t"eh there had been some difficulty in the town 
.shorrtine previous. Several men raised the cry to hang him. Some 
wSrl hoSack, and some were on foot. Movements wei-e made 
r„w,.rd: him hy strangers armed with rifles -^ smaller ams. The 
cry «s^repea^ed hy ^^^:^S^i:^^Z:i I'efl fh™r'ounl. 
^■"'Oiei- How'm^n^y'-^iti.ensof tke district voted on that day t. 
*"l.^rm;vnhii:c:?crtorfeg:lHyofthat,uestion. and objection 

sustained until the witness stated his means of mformation.J 

' mw I was tolerably well acquainted, P''>: i-^^ariy ™.th th s 

portion of the district, but not particularly acquainted with the lowei 

'1nT™uet"rSions which I had with different peisons of the 
narVdurn" the Uy,thev claimed to have a legal right to vote m 
Sie TeiTitey, and that they were residents by virtue of t^eir being 
ine Lc^'j^'^ J 5 ■' . , ,, ^j.g^ iQ confess that they 

fame frotSo^ 'th JtZ^tefS Missouri, and voted as Misson- 
^is. S nfe claimk that.they had been in the Territory and made 
c a ms and therefore had a right to vote. But they did not claim to 
be Residents in the Territory, except that they had a residence heie 
ft.ATTi hpino- at that moment in the Territory. 

They ad mostlv left before sundown, I think. There were some 
here the next day, who were said to have come in from some other 

'""Thev left during the afternoon, in single bodies, continuously one 
after rtie other but not in a compact body. It seemed to he their 
CO rse when a 'wagon-load bad voted, to get in their-wagons and st«t 
away C town. "They commenced moving before or about noon. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 117 

Mr. Eeeder stated that he was throiigli the direct examination. 

Witness desired it to be understood that when estimating the num- 
ber of strangers here at 700, he judged at the time he counted the 
wagons^ but did not mean that that was all that had come here. 

In reply to Mr. Sherman : 

I cannot state who fired the pistols at Bond. The cry "shoot him" 
came from just immediately about the men who came here from Mis- 
souri to vote. The citizens were not generally armed. There were a 
few, I think, who had revolvers with them, but I saw none exposed. 
The general claim made by the Missourians was that they were resi- 
dents of the district and consequently had a right to vote. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

I cannot give the names of any others than Col. Samuel Young 
that voted from Missouri. I do not remember the names of any others 
that I learned ; I was present and saw the names of others recorded. 
I cannot say how many — possibly 50 or 100. No effort was made on 
the part of any person from Missouri to intimidate the people and 
drive them from the polls, except the personal conflicts I have named. 

As I have stated, a cry was raised at the first movement, " there is 
the Lawrence bully," and a rush was made towaras him. I did not 
understand that it referred to any name which had been presented at 
the polls. The difficulty with Mr. Bond occurred about three or four 
rods from the polls. I did not understand that the object was to pre- 
vent his voting. 

I understood the difficulty with Mr. Willis had no reference to his 
voting. The only hindrance to voting that I saw during the day was 
the crowd pressing round so as to prevent many from voting ; I heard 
of no threats with direct reference to voting ; it was frequent!}' re- 
marked by those present that all had a right to vote. I heard it said 
that they had as good a right to vote as many who had arrived from 
the east and were voting. 

There were people arriving all the time. There may have been 100 
arrived at this place within two weeks prior to the election ; I will 
not state definitely, because my mind is not clear upon the subject ; 
there may not have been so many. So far as I know, persons particu- 
larly interested in this election were looking anxiously for the ar- 
rival of persons from the east and north in view of the election. I 
cannot name any of those persons who voted. Some of them came 
under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society. There were persons 
arriving at that time, both before and after the election. I am not 
clear as to how many arrived before the election. 

I did not understand that the Missourians referred exclusively to 
those who had just arrived, but to all who had arrived. The procla- 
mation that all had a right to vote was made in conversation ; they 
announced that as their opinion as individuals. 

Colonel Young's vote was received ; and I understood, as I stood 
near the polls, that he took an oath that he was a resident of the Ter- 
ritory. He stood on the window-sill and said it was all right, that it 
was all settled, and they could vote. I do not recollect that I under- 
stood him to state that he took the oath ; I saw what I thought was 



XI 8 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

the taking of an oath; the movements so indicated, though I did not 
hear him take it ; I supposed such was the case from appearances. 

I am aware of the fact that some did leave who had recently arrived 
hefore that election; I cannot say whether they ever returned and be- 

came residents. , . , , •+ ,„„ 

The candidates looked anxiously for these emigrants hecause it was 
expected an invasion would be made into the Territory by voters from 
abroad, and, also, that as large a free State vote should be pol ed as 
possible. I am not prepared to say that the latter was the chiet con- 
sideration. I understood from these persons that their purpose m 
coming to the Territory so early in the spring was that they came out 
here to settle, and that they might be present at the day ot the elec- 
tion I know of some of those who had recently arrived who voted , 
I can only approximate their numbers; I should think there were 
from 50 to 60. I think there were some who had arrived withm 48 
hours ; I cannot say as to whether they made settlements m the lern- 
tory in that time. I know that some objected to voting these for that 
reason, that they had made no settlements. I cannot say that those 
who voted had made no settlements, nor can I say that any who 
actually voted returned east. Many of those who were m this vicin- 
ity when I settled here, a year ago, are now m other parts of tlie ier- 
ritory There were a large number who arrived m this part ot the 
Territory under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society last season 
who returned, but I cannot tell how many. .. ^ . , , , .. , • ^ 
There was a disturbance in progress, if I recol ect right, at the time 
the Bond disturbance originated. It was m relation to Mr. Stearns 
of this place, who was on the ground, it was said, taking notes which 
he intended to publish in the New York Tribune. This disturbance 
was not in reference to his voting, or of anybody e se. So iai as 1 
observed all of the Missourians were armed at the polls, but not all ot 
them with their larger arms, but with their side arms, revolvers, and 
knives. I think some of the citizens of the town had arms. 

Bv Mr. Sherman: , . • j--^„ 

Judging from the conversations referred to m my cross-examination, 
the persons who came here from the northern and eastern States came 
here to become settlers, so far as I know. I can state from my own 
knowledge that some of them returned because they were dissatisfied 
with the country, and disappointed in the circumstances that existed 

^Tthink there were citizens kept from voting by the condition and 
surrounding of the polls. I was told on the day of the election that 
there were S large number here to vote who came from HicKory roint 
who returned in a body without voting. I saw some who resided 
there. I did not see any of them vote. I cannot state what number 
of legal resident voters did not vote on account of the troubles, witb- 
out examining the poll lists and census rolls. 

To Mr. Oliver: . . ,, , ^^, 

They were kept from voting only m consequence ot the crowd ana 

the difficulty in getting to the polls. . 

ToMr. Reeder: ^ ... , , ; +i • :„+n„ I 

The Missourians did not claim to be residents here from then inten-i 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 119 

tion to remain here, but that their mere presence created their resi- 
dence. I do not remember that I heard any of them say that they 
were here with the intention of remaining. I do not know of any 
man who came here from the northern States for the mere purpose of 
voting, and I never heard of one. 

The side arms of these strangers from the camp were exposed, some 
of them openly exposed, others partially so. There did not seem to 
be any careful attempt to conceal them. I want to qualify a little 
what I said in regard to men coming out here under the auspices of 
the Emigrant Aid Society. I do not know of my own knowledge that 
they so came out here, but it was so reported commonly and in the 
public prints. That is the extent of my knowledge. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I think I heard some of them say that they did ; that they came out 
as members of certain parties that left Boston at such and such a time 
under the auspices of such a society. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I can merely state what I have heard, that the Emigrant Aid Society 
has an office in Boston, with an agent, to give information by means 
of which companies are organized for settlement in Kansas. The 
action of that agency, in addition to thus collecting them together, 
consists in sending an agent with the companies to make arrange- 
ments with the different lines of travel, by which their expenses are 
somewhat reduced, and they are furnished with mills and other mat- 
ters to assist them. But they pay their own expenses out here, and 
these mills are not furnished gratuitously, but merely built by the 
society. I mean by '''organized for settlement" that the organization 
simply has reference to economy in travelling out here, but not to any 
continuance after they got here. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I am not aware that it is made a condition of the Emigrant Aid 
Society that those who come under its auspices should be free State 
men. I know of one individual who is said to have come out under 
these auspices, who is now understood to be a pro-slavery man. I do 
not know what he was when he came. 

E. D. LADD. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 25, 1856. 



Mr. E. D. Ladd recalled. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I have examined the poll books of the election of March 30, 1855. 
My means of knowing the legal voters are, that I have been a resident 
here from the first settlement of the place ; I had started a private 
post office in town for the convenience of the country about, and in 
that way had become familiar with the names of those here, and also 
through the medium of being register of claims. 

Question hy Mr. Sherman: Please take the poll book for this district 
of the election of March 30_, and furnish us a list of those whose 



120 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



names are on tliat poll book who were at that time residents of this 
district. Please designate also those who were here when the census 
was taken from those who came here to reside after that time and 
before March 30. For this purpose examine carefully the census rolls 
in connexion with Mr. Babcock, who took it, and Mr. C. S. Pratt, the 
clerk of the election. Take time to prepare the lists and attach it to 
your testimony before it is signed. 

Ansiver. In connexion with Mr. Babcock, who took the census, and 
Mr, Pratt, the clerk of the election, I have examined the census re- 
turns and poll lists of March 30, 1855, and from these and our 
knowledge of the residents, we find that of the residents who were 
here when the census was taken, 177 voted. The list marked "A," 
contains their names. There are 192 settlers, whose names are in 
the census list, who did not vote, or, at least, their names are not in 
the poll lists. We find in the poll book the names of 55 resident 
settlers in this district, but who came after the census and before the 
election. This list, marked "B," contains their names. There are, 
perhaps, 50 others, and perhaps more, who came into the Territory in 
the spring of 1855 as settlers, and who are now residents of different 
]iarts of the Territory, many of whom we know. The others in the 
poll list were not residents, as I believe. 

E. D. LADD. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 1, 1856. 



A. 

Names on census-roll and poll-hook, (District No. l,)/or March, 1855. 



Stillman Andrews 
Samuel Anderson 
Ellmore Allen 
Norman Allen 
Asaph Allen 
William D. Atwood 
Calvin Adams 
Eobert Allen 
John Baldwin 
Lazarus S. Bacon 
William N. Baldwin 
George W. Brown 
Henry Bronson 
David C. Buff'um 
Jonathan Bigelow 
Horatio N. Bent 
Eli W. Burnett 
Ellis Bond 

Theodore E. Benjamin 
C. W. Babcock 
Napoleon D. Blanton 



Albert F. Bercaw 
John M. Banks 
Thomas Burge 
Thomas Brooke 
Noah Cameron 
Hugh Cameron 
Hiram Clark 
James S. Co wen 
John W. Carlton 
Edward Clark 
John S. Crain 
C. H. Carpenter 
Simon Cook 
James P. Corl 
William Corl 
Henry Corl 
E. A. Colman 
Clark S. Crane 
R. A. Cummins 
Luke Curlew' 
William Curry 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



121 



Joshua Cummins 
James H. Crooks 
Jolin Doy 
S. B. Lindley 
Jolin H. Dean 
James A. Davidson 
Carlos Day 
S. H. Davis 
John C. Davidson 
George F. Earl 
William Evans 
James S. Emery 
Thomas Emery 
L. J. Eberhart 
Ed. P. Fitch 
S. H. Folsom 
J. H. Firman 
John Fry 
James Garvin 
James N. Gleason 
Joel Grover 
John C. Gordon 
H. D. Graves 
George Gilbert 
Levi Gates, jr. 
Thomas S. Garvin 
George Graves 
S. 0. Harrington 
John Hutchinson 
0. A. Hanscom 
M. M. Hammond 
G. W. Hutchinson 
N. F. Herrick 
William Hale 
Franklin Hascall 
John Hutchinson 
L. D. Hubbard 
AVilliam A. Holmes 
Thomas Hopkins 
H. A. Hancock 
John S. Hopper 
Simon Hopper 
B. F. Hopper 
D. B. Hopper 
F. Hill 
Edward Jones 
Tlieod. Johnson 
Benjamin Johnson 
Alphonso Jones 
Ira M. Jones 
S. G. Johnson 



E. B. Johnston 
Charles Jordan 
James A. Jackson 
Frederick Kimball 
Samuel Kimball 
Samuel Kennedy 
William Kitchingman 
Wilder Knight 
G. W. Kent 
Otis H. Lamb 
E. D. Ladd 
John A. Lowry 
George S. Leman 
William B, Lee 
William Lyon 
N. B. Lewis 
Samuel Y. Lune 
George Long 
George Lewis 
John H. Lewis 
Daniel Lowe 
John S. Mott 
H. S. McClelland 
John C. Mossman ^ 
Jonathan Matthews 
Thomas J. Murray 
John H. Miller 
John Mack 

B. F. McDonald 
J. F. Morgan 
Harrison Nichols 
J. B. Nichols 
William H. Oliver 
A. C. Pomeroy 

C. W. Persall 
Caleb L. Pratt 
G. B. Page 
David Pennington 
Hugh Pettiugill 
S. J. Pratt 

A. J. Payne 
John Perott 
J. S. Percival 
Thomas F. Eeynolds 
Charles Robinson 
G. W. Reed 
William Randolph 
James H. Reid 
Albert D. Searl 
Nicholas Snyder 
0. D. Smith 



122 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



John Speer 
John Smith 
Henry Smith 
N. B. Short 
J. E. Stewart 
S. M. Salters 
Thomas J. Stone 
J. E. Stewart 
James Sullivan 
S. N. Simpson 
Ab. Still 
Daniel Sayre 
Clark Taft 
Francis 0. Toller 
J. B. Taft 



L. F. Tappan 
John C. Wood 
William C. Wood 
Harrison Williams 
S. J. Willis 
J. H. Wilder 
S. N. Wood 
J. J. Whitson 
Sol. Wildis 
Ed. Winslow 
A. B. Wade 
J. F. Wilson 
James Whitlock 
William Wallace 
Kufus H. Wateman 



B. 



Names of those on poll-list and not on census-7'oll ivliom we Imoiv to 
have voted at the election of 30^/i March, 1855. 



James Christian 
Sam. Merrill 
G. W. Deitzler/ 
H. E. Babcock 
Thos. Still 
John Wallace" 
Clark Stearnes 
Oscar Harlow 
J. W. Ackley 
James Coyle' 
C. G. Hoyt 
Martin Adams 

E. A. Landon 
Horatio Dunbar 
0. T. Bassett 
Geo. Churchill 

F. B. Ackley 
C. F. Doy 

J. A. Ladd 
E. H. Dennett 
Increase Whitcomb 
George Perrin 
A. B. Perrin 
Sam. Keynolds 
J. L. Baldwin 
Abram Wilder 
Joshua Smith 
Chas. S. Campbell 



Jacob E. Strout 
Adam Weilhart 
L. Litchfield 
Chas. L. Wilber 
Geo. 0. Willard 
P. K. Brooks 
David Brown 
Lyman Allen 
Jos. G. Fistler 

E. F. Knight 
H. W. Taber 
Abner Davidson 

F. P. Vaughan 
S. B. Sutherland 

G. W. Goss 

E. S. Sciidder 
John Lyon 
J. Curlew 
Wm. Harris 
Chas. Harrington 

B. G. Livingston 

C. F. Keyes 
Amos Trott 
Jos. C. Miller 
Chas. Dickson 

F. J. Locke 
Wm. Yates., 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 123 



C. W. Babcock recalled. 

I assisted Mr. Ladd and Mr. Pratt in making out the lists of 
voters from the poll-lists and census rolls, and whose lists referred to 
in Mr. Ladd's testimony are correct to the best of my knowledge. I 
have heard his statement in regard to them and concur in it. 

C. W. BABCOCK. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 1, 1856. 



C. S. Pratt recalled. 

I assisted Mr. Babcock and Mr. Ladd in making out the lists of 
voters from the poll-books and census returns, as referred to by Mr 
Ladd in his testimony. Those lists are correct to the best of my 
knowledge. I have heard the statement of Mr. Ladd in regard to these 
lists and concur in it. 1 was one of the clerks of the election of the 
30th of March, 1855. 

CALEB S. PRATT. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 1, 1856. 



Norman Allen called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into this Territory about the last of September, 1854^ and 
settled in the town of Lawrence, and have resided in this district ever 
since. I was here on the 30th of March, 1855. Several days pre- 
vious to that time it was currently rumored here that there were 
bodies of men organizing in the State of Missouri, for the purpose of 
controlling the elections here. On the 28th of March it was reported 
that a body of about 600 men were encamped on the Wakarusa, 
about six miles below here. On the 29th companies were con- 
stantly arriving here, consisting of strangers, some on horseback 
and some in wagons, from three to a dozen in company. Some of 
them came into town ; others passed through to the second ravine, 
west of the town, and there encamped. There were a large number 
of strangers in town, who said they came for the purpose of voting 
and controlling the elections. Many of them told me this in con- 
versation with them. They said they considered they had a right 
to do so from the law, which gave residents the right to vote, and that 
they were residents while they were here. I went out to their camp 
on tlie night of the 29th, and strolled around from one camp-fire to 
another, and had some conversation with persons there. At one of 
the camp-fires they asked me what county I came from. I told them 
I was a resident of Lawrence, and they would converse with me no 
further. As I passed on, the cry of " spy " was raised. A few 
moments after a person cried " Oyez, oyez; all the companies are 



124 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

requested to meet at Captain Jackson's camp fortliwith on important 
business." I followed them in that direction. A company from one 
of the camp-fires came, headed by music ; a man beating a drum came 
in. After they had all congregated, there were several speeches made 
by some of the strangers whom I did not know. One of them I recog- 
nised as Colonel Young, but I never heard his other name. They 
said they were satisfied that the citizens of the town and vicinity were 
not going to offer any resistance to their voting, and that they had a 
larger number of men than was necessary to control this election, 
and they wished about 200 of the young men ; the old men being 
fatigued with the travel, would volunteer to go to the next district. 
Quite a number volunteered while I was there, and when I left and 
came away they were making up a company. 

The next morning I went to the place where the election was to be 
held ; I went about 8 or 9 o'clock. I found a large body of men 
assembled there — many of them with guns, and most of them 
armed in some way. There was a dense body of men against the 
side of the house, near the window where the votes were to be received. 
I got as near to the window as I could by crowding in, and found that 
there was a delay occasioned by one of the judges, Mr. Blanton, fail- 
ing to appear, and they were selecting another in his place. I believe 
Mr. Pt. A. Cummins was chosen. The man that I recognised as 
Colonel Young then offered his vote, which the judges refused to re- 
ceive, considering him a non-resident, unless he would swear in his 
vote. I could not understand all the conversation, but I understood 
enough of it to learn that he refused to take the oath prescribed by 
the governor. I thought he took an oath; and afterwards, in speak- 
ing to those who were present, he stated that he had taken an oath. 
I heard Mr. Abbott, one of the judges, questioning him ; he asked 
him if he intended to make this his home, and the reply was that it 
was none of his business ; that he was a resident of the Territory, and 
that was all the law required. After he had voted he got up into 
the window and made a short speech, stating wliat kind of an oath 
he had taken — simply that he was a resident of the Territory. He 
said other things which I do not now remember. 

There was such a crowd at the polls that it took me nearly an hour 
to get to the window to offer my vote, though I was assisted very 
much by jieople leaving the window at the time of .the disturbance 
connected with Mr. Bond. At one time two lines were formed ex- 
tending several yards from the house, under the superintendence of 
Colonel Young and Captain Jackson. They stated that they wanted 
the old men to go in first, as they were tired and wanted to return to 
the camp. As I was in a hurry, T went in with the old men. I was 
ordered out, but did not leave, and went in and deposited my vote* 
After the men had voted, a large number decamped, and I saw them 
passing through town that afternoon on their return towards Wa- 
karusa. Some three hundred, I think, remained in camp that 
night, and left the next morning in the same direction. I saw none 
after 10 o'clock the next day. I cannot tell how many wagons 
there were, but I should think there were over one hundred in all. 
I counted as high as twenty coming in at one time in a string. They 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 125 

were generally armed witli rifles and shot-guns, and many of them 
had belts with bowie-knives and revolvers exposed, though some 
were somewhat concealed by coat-skirts, I saw a large number vote 
who came in this way, and were principally strangers to me., I do 
not remember of seeing but one who was a resident of Missouri vote 
whom I knew. His name was Mr. Cole, from Kansas City, Missouri. 
I do not know as I should remember his name if he had not dared me 
to challenge his vote. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

I do not know the name of but one from Missouri who voted that 
day. He was Mr. Cole, the only one I knew, that I saw vote. I 
should think there were some 400 or 500 at the polls w^ho were armed 
with shot-guns and rifles. They made no demonstration with their 
weapons. In conversation with them the night before, and on the 
day of the election, they stated, generally, that there would be no dif- 
ficulty unless citizens tried to interfere to prevent their voting, but 
they were determined to vote. I do not remember hearing them say 
that there were many here who had recently arrived from the east- 
ern and northern States who had no right to vote. I heard Colonel 
Young say, particuarly, that he was anxious to have the citizens vote 
so as to give the matter a look of fairness. I saw no force used to 
restrain or intimidate the citizens from voting. I do not know how 
many persons had arrived recently from the eastern and northern 
States ; but I think that, a day or two previously, a party of some- 
thing like one hundred persons arrived here. None of them voted so 
far as I know. I do not remember any disturbance connected with 
the election, excepting those already stated. Judging from conver- 
sations with different members of the parties encamped here the night 
before the election,, I should think there were from 800 to 900. I 
should think there were nearly one hundred camp-fires. There were 
but three whom I. know : Claiborne F. Jackson, Mr. Cole of Kansas 
City, and Mr. Waful of Westport. Mr. Coles and Mr. Young were 
the only ones I saw vote. The Missouri ans said they expected assist- 
ance here, but were satisfied that none would be ofiered. 

Question hy Mr. Sherman. How many on the poll-book, of which 
here is a copy, are there of residents of this town before your name, 
which is No. 58? 

Answer. K. A. Cummins, Hugh Cameron, J, B. Abbott, C. S. 
Pratt, J. Christian, Lucas Corlen, Mr. Sullivan, John J. Lowry, and 
D. Parrington, are all I see. 

My occupation was a merchant. I am from Missouri here. Two 
years before, I came from New York. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I knew of some recent arrivals from the east, who returned after- 
wards. They were constantly arriving and returning, both before 
and after the election, for several days, and one company returned 
about eight o'clock the morning of the election, before the polls were 
opened. I think that not more than one half who came out that 
spring remained here. I think that perhaps three hundred or four 



126 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

hundred came into this district last spring, about half of whom ;^left 
before and after the election. 

ToMr. Keeder: 

I think that no residents of this district got to the polls readily and 
easily while I was there. Those who appeared to be leaders then 
made lines reaching from the Avindow on each side, so that they could 
allow such persons to go up to the polls as they wished. Mr. Claiborne 
F. Jackson stated that they wished the old men to vote first, as they 
were tired, and wished to return to the camp. I do not know whether 
Mr. Cole voted in his own name or another ; I simply saw him pass in 
his vote, when he was then lifted up on the roof the building, and passed 
out that way. I think there were from eight hundred to nine hundred 
Missourians in camp before the two hundred were detailed for the 
second district. I should think there were about one hundred persons 
arrived from the east shortly before the election, who came here for 
the purpose of settling. I should think about one half left here — some 
the day they arrived, and others in a longer time afterwards. Some 
left before the day of election, and some the morning of the election, 
before the polls were opened. The accommodations here for emigrants 
were not very good — not equal to their numbers, and many complaints 
were made because they did not find things as they expected, and 
they left, many to settle in other parts of the Territory, and others to 
return to the east. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I am not able to state definitely the number of females who came 
in the emigration of last spring. I should think there were more 
than one lady to ten men. I saw some companies consisting of men 
with their wives and families ; one from Pennsylvania, of fifteen to 
twenty teams. 

To Mr. Reeder: 

It has been frequently the case that men have first come here, made 
their selections, sometimes built houses, and then returned for their 
families. In the earlier days of the settlement of this Territory a 
smaller proportion of the settlers brought their wives with them than 
is the case now. I have known cases of families returning, but do 
not recollect the number. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

I did not see any women with the company of Missourians who 
encamped here the day before the election. 

NORMAN ALLEN. 
Lawrence, K. T., April 25, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 127 

William Yates called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into the Territory in August, 1854, and settled in this dis- 
trict^ where I have resided ever since. I came from Illinois, stopping 
two or three months in Cass county, Missouri. I was here on the 
day of the election of the 30th March, 1855. On the evening hefore 
the election there was a large number of persons who came in on 
horseback and in wagons, and encamped across the ravine and remained 
until after the election. On the evening of the 30th of March, along 
towards night, a great many of them started back down the country. 
There were encamped there, as near as I can guess, about six or seven 
hundred. There were some two hundred detailed in the evening — so 
I was told in the camp — to go to another district, as report said they 
wanted help there, and they sent them. I heard them say this in the 
camp. I went into the camp, and heard them say that they came up 
from Missouri purposely to vote. Some in the camp I was acquainted 
with. I was acquainted with one man particularly, whom I knew by 
sight, that I fell in with a year or eighteen months before, coming up 
from New Orleans, who lived in Howard county. I did not know his 
name, but recognised him, and he recognised me; and he told me he 
still remained in Howard county. There was another man, named 
Snowdy, who lived in Carroll county, and others that I knew by sight 
but not by name. They said nothing more about their intention than 
that they came here to vote. 

I did not see any but what had a bowie-knife, Tevolver, shot-gun, 
rifle, or something of the kind. As far as I knew they brought with 
them the fodder for their animals. There was a lot of provisions de- 
posited in a building used as the old post office, that was said to be 
for their use. It was the house of William Lykins.J 

I was at the election on the 30th. I cannot say whether all the 
men from the camp voted or not. There was a great crowd around 
the window all day until an hour by sun, or perhaps later. I did not 
go to the polls until perhaps nine or ten o'clock. They were crowding 
around, but I did not see all of them vote. It was very difficult for 
me to get to the polls. I made one or two eiforts, but did not get 
there, and declined voting at all, but was over-i:)ersuadcd by some of my 
friends here to vote, and staid around until late in the evening, until 
the crowd had dispersed, and then voted. 

I saw none in the companies that had encamped there that were 
settlers in the district at that time. I believe I knew almost every 
man in the district. This large body of men were all strangers. 

They had music, but I do not remember about the flags, though 1 
am of the opinion that they had some. They had a drum and a fiddle ; 
a black boy was playing the fiddle, and some man beating the drum. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver: 

I could not tell how many I was acquainted with. I knew some 
ten or a dozen by sight, and some by name. I could name several, 
though I did not charge my mind with them: I could perhaps name 



128 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

more upon sight now, I knew Mr. Snowdy and Mr. Robinson, from 
Jackson county, I think, and Mr. McGee, from Jackson county. 
These are all that come to my memory now, with the exception of 
Colonel Youuf^, whom I knew by sight. I had conversation with 
some of these gentlemen. They said they came here for the purpose 
of voting. They said it was for the purpose of electing a legislature 
to suit themselves. I think they did say that they had understood, 
and believed, that there were a number of persons not entitled to vote 
who would vote to establish principles different from those they de- 
sired to have established in this Territory. 

I don't think anything was said in camp that night about legal or 
illegal voting. They said there were a great number of persons here 
from tlie east and north who wished to elect a legislature here they did 
not desire. They said they would elect a legislature to suit themselves, 
because the peo])le of the Territory would not elect a legislature to 
suit them. 1 don't state tliis as a fact, but as near as I can recollect. 
I think they said they had as good a right to vote as men who came 
from other States. I heard them say there were men here from the 
east and north who came here to vote. They said that these men had 
come here for no other purpose, and that they had as much right to 
come here and vote as the others had ; and that was the reason they 
gave for coming here. 

They wci-e armed. There was no violence offered, but crowding 
and pushing. There was a larger crowd there than I had seen in the 
Territory before. I don't think I ever saw quite so much crowding 
and pushing at any other election in other places. I did not see any 
violen*ce used or weapons drawn. 

Mr. ShcrviOM. Look at this poll-book and state the number of your 
vote. 

Witness. It was 881. I do not live in town ; I live in the country. 
I am a farmer, and raise stock. My means of knowing the people 
here was that the country was thinly settled. I had considerable 
stock, and was riding through the Territory a great deal, meeting 
persons here and there. 

¥/M. YATES. 

Lawrence, K. T., Ainil 25, 1856. 



Wm. B. Hornsby produced and swoVn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

[ came into the Territory about the 17th day of August, 1854. I 
resided formerly in Johnson county, Missouri. I settled on the Califor- 
nia road, one and a half miles west of here, in this district, and have 
resided in this district ever since. I was here on the 30th of March^ 
1855. On the 28th and 29th of March there were about one thousand 
oa,me into this district from Blissouri, they said; some came in wagons, 
some on horseback. I do not know who their leader was, but believe 
it was Claiborne Jackson. A great many of them were armed — the 
principal part of them. They were all men, in my 6pinion. They 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 129 

had drums, and fiddles, and flags. I saw no artillery or cannon. 
They encamped across the ravine near here — at Wade's. I was in a 
part of their cam]) — a small portion of it. 1 saw there Lewis Glover, 
who lived in Lafayette county, Missouri, Redman Robinson, of Jack- 
son county, Missouri. There were a good many others tliere I knew, 
but I cannot now remember their names. They were from Missouri. 
I was pretty well acquainted with tliis district at that time. None 
of the men I saw there lived in this district, so far as I knew. They 
said they had come here to vote ; scimc of them said they did vote. 
That was said after the election. They said they had a right to vote 
here; that this country belonged to Missouri, and tliey would vote. 
I heard no speeches made in the camp. A detachment was sent off 
the night of the 29th to a district above here. They said there was 
not enougli v^^ent up there to carry the election in that district. I 
saw the same men at the election voting. I was not in the camp 
till the morning of the 30th. I saw a great many of them going up 
to the polls with tickets in their hands ; they said they were going to 
vote. They left here, part that evening and 2>art the next morning. 

To Major Oliver: 

I am not acquainted with Claiborne Jackson ; I am not sure that 
he commanded the company ; I heard it said that he did ; I resided 
since August, 1854, in this district ; I had conversations only with a 
few ; I liad knowledge of some of them. I conversed with Calloway 
Adams ; don't remember only part of what he said ; hesai'l he did not 
come here to vote — he was not old enough. That is all that I con- 
versed with ; only a few words to others, that I don't remember. I 
think it was said that there were about a thousand ; I saw the men ; 
did not count them ; T merely spoke to Lewis Glover ; had no conver- 
sation with Redman Robinson. I saw some of them giving in their 
tickets ; did not see Robinson, nor Adams ; I was out in the crowd 
about the windows ; was not old enough to vote ; don't know who they 
voted for. I said, that they said they had come here to vote. I heard 
them say their reasons for coming was that they had a right to vote ; 
I heard them say at the polls that they had as good a right to vote as 
others that had recently come into the Territory from other States ; 
they said that persons from the east had no right to come here and 
settle, and no right to vote ; does not remember who made the remark 
that Kansas Territory belonged to Missouri ; heard it in camp. My 
age is twenty-two years now. 

Re-examined by Mr. Reeder : 

It was said that Jackson was the leader ; I do not recollect when ; 
I heard the expression from several, I don't know how may, that per- 
sons from the east had no right to come here and settle, and no right- 
to vote. 

WM. B. HORNSBY. 
Lawrence, K. T., April 25, 1856. 

H. Rep. 200 9* 



130 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

F. P. Vaughn produced and sworn. 

To Mr. Eeeder : 

I came into the Territory of Kansas on the 26th of March, A. D. 
1855, and into this district on the 27th of the same month. I have 
been here ever since. Previously I resided in Macon county, Missouri; 
had lived there about fourteen years. I saw some stir about some- 
thing before I left home ; saw some persons going round about the 
county seat, taking certain persons out and speaking privately to 
them. On my way to Kansas I stopped a few days in Lynn county, 
Missouri ; there seemed to be a good deal of excitement there in rela- 
tion to Kansas elections. I saw several persons from Macon county 
there ; they said they were on their way to Kansas. I passed on to- 
wards the Territory, and as I travelled along I saw different individ- 
uals whom I knew. Stopped a few days in Kay county, Missouri ; 
there was more excitement there than in the other counties through 
which I had passed. I then came on to Clay county, Missouri, and 
saw a young gentleman, who said he himself was coming up to Law- 
rence — that there were a company of three hundred others coming to 
vote ; said they certainly would vote if the Yankees were allowed to 
vote, and that if any resistance were offered, there would be a fuss ; 
that the slaveholders of that county had oifered to pay the expenses 
of three hundred, and that he was one of those who had been engaged 
to come ; and that this three hundred would be sufficient for hfteen 
hundred votes, if they did as they had done in former elections of the 
Territory ; that he knew of several. men who, at former elections, had 
voted fourteen or fifteen times apiece, by changing their hats and 
coats and voting in the name of their neighbors ; that all of them had 
voted four or five times apiece. 

I crossed the river the next day with about a dozen men. One of 
them seemed to be a leader ; said my ferriage would be paid if I was 
coming to vote. From that time until I got up to this district there 
were crowds of persons coming up in carriages, wagons, and on horse- 
back, and some walking. I passed some words with some of them. 
Jn coming out this side of Westport I was challenged to know where 
.1 was from. The person with whom 1 was speaking said that they 
were from Independence, Missouri, and we are going up to vote — ive 

I stayed all night at Mill creek ; there was a c^mp of Missourians 
there, as I understood ; they were hallooing and keeping up a noise 
all night. Next morning I had a conversation with one person, whom 
I supposed to be of the same camp; he said he had laid a claim in the 
Territory, and that he had a right to vote, although his family were 
not there. I was here on the day of the election, on the 30th of 
March, 1855. I saw several men that I had previously known ; they 
were the Rev. Mr. Uysart and Mr. Morrow, of Macon county, Missouri, 
and a Mr. Mayo, of Randolph county, Missouri, and Mr. Hunson, or 
Huston, of Carroll county, Missouri. I saw these men at the place of 
voting, in Lawrence. I was not in the camp. It is about two hundred 
miles from Macon county to this place, but not so far tcf Carroll county. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 131 

I saw the liodj of men that caraped near this town. I have never since 
seen the men from Macon, and Carroll, and Randolph counties. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I do not know the name of the young man whom I saw in Clay 
county ; his father lives on the road from Liberty to Raadolph. I do 
not know that he voted, but he was present at the polls in Lawrence 
on the day of election, on the 30th of March, in company with the 
Missourians. When we crossed the Missouri river, at Randolph, the 
one I took to be the leader said the ferriage bills would be footed by 
the persons sending out the company. I do not know who the head 
man was ; the company did not, to my knowledge, pay ferriage, but 
a list of their names, or their number, was given to the ferryman. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I think the young man before alluded to lived about six miles from 
Liberty ; his father lived in a weather-boarded house ; there was a 
small room north of the main building, and a passage between. I 
came to this district to look around, and stay if it suited. Some ex- 
citement prevailed in Linn county. I understood the cause of the 
excitement in those far-off counties to be that they were fearful Kan- 
sas would become a free State. But when I reached Ray county I 
understood this to be the cause of the excitement. It was reported 
that large numbers of eastern men were coming on the boats to Kan- 
sas Territory, to be present at the elections on the 30th of March. I 
understood several to say that they would vote, if the Yankees or 
northern men voted. 

I heard some of the people of Missouri say that they were willing 
to leave the whole question to be settled by the bona fide settlers of 
the Territory ; others expressed a different feeling. A great many 
persons in Missouri are opposed to the Missourians coming here and 
meddling with the elections of Kansas. 

F. P. VAUGHN. 

Lawrence, K. T.^ April 25, 1856. 



Gaius Jenkins produced and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I was coming up from Kansas City, on the morning of the 31 s^ 
March, 1855. After leaving Westport, about two and a hojr miles 
from there, I began to meet crowds of men, and as I approached the 
timber this side of the Baptist Mission I was frequently detained as 
much as fifteen minutes, allowing them to pass in the road ; a good 
many of them were quite wild and uproarious, and seemed to enjoy 
themselves, frequently asking if I had seen Governor Reeder. 
Some of them said that if he did not sanction that election they 
would hang him in the first tree, or something like that. I heard it 
so frequently, I cannot give the precise words ; it was a general _ re- 
mark from the wagons at Ham's. At Mill creek they had been nooning; 



132 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and then there was a prettj' (general expression, asking if I had seen 
Governor Reeder ; tliey said tliey were going into tlie Mission. I told 
them that I sup]Hisod lie was at the IMission ; they said they were going 
in, and if he did not sanction the i k^-tion, tliey wonhl run him np to 
the first tree, God damn him ! They had heeu drinking ; tliey stated 
that they had been at the election ; they stated that they had elected 
Chajmian to the council, and nau\cd one or two others that I was not 
acquainted with. I recognised dde, as one I was acquainted with ; it 
was he that made the remark that they had elected Chaj)man. I 
Teco2;nised others as heing from Jaek-!on county, as persons I had seen. 
These persons were armed ; some had g^ius in their hands — no side- 
arms as I remember. Chapman was a candidate in this district. The 
party was chietly in wagons — more than half — the rest on horseback. 
After leaving Mill creek, there was very little said to me ; but I con- 
tinued to iniss them until four miles this side of Mill creek, some eight 
miles in all ; and straggling parties to Fisher's, some thirteen miles 
further. 

Cross-examined : 

1 did not know these men ; I recognised but could not name them ; I 
saw Mr. McGee as one of the party, but heard him say nothing — the 
one that lives in the brick house beyond Westport ; his first name I 
think is Allen. 

GAIUS JENKINS. 

Lawrence, K. T., Ajpril 25, 1856. 



George "W. Deitzler produced and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I saw two persons here from Glasgow, Missouri, on the day of the elec- 
tion ; tliey came on the day before ; one was Thomas Crews, keeper 
of the Glasgow house ; his father keeps it ; the name of the other 
I do not recollect. Mr. Crews called on me the day before the election 
and talked over matters ; he tiild me the boys were coming to vote ; 
1 told him I thought it was wrong ; he said that was no considera- 
tion with them — that they weie bound to make Kansas a slave State, 
or there would be trouble. 1 asked him whether he intended to stay 
here ; he said no, he might at some future day go over to Kansas. He 
^.old me their party were from Missouri ; there were only six from 
^'^ liter. a;o\v. Hctold UR' alioutfour liuudred were on tlio Wakarusa ; 
this was when he came in the day before. 1 said, suj)pose the judges 
refuse to receive your votes? lle'^said, in that case, damn theni, they 
would choose othert<. I said there might be trouble. At this time he 
tonk my hand and said 1 should not be hurt ; that he would be 
around. I did not see Crews vote here ; I saw him with a party of 
Mis.sourians tliat afternoon, and I saw him the next morning with'the 
party at the polls ; with the other persons I had very little'conversa- 
tion. I asked him what brouglit him up here; lie said he came 
with the boys. I asked him what for. He said he came to vote. 
I also met Mr. Linney here, who was introduced to me on board 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 133 

the boat as a member of the Missouri legislature. I don't know of 
my own knowledge he was a member ; he was introduced to me by 
Colonel John Doniphan, of Weston ; I saw him hereon the morning 
of tlie election. I told him, from what I had seen, I expected a great 
many up, hut had no idea I sliould see him liere. Oh, said he, we 
came here to teach you your interests. 

The first party of Missourians encamped on tlie bank of the river, 
close to town ; they afterwards collected on tlie ravines ; next morn- 
ing they came in thick. I came to town rather early, and found the 
place where the election was to be held surrounded by these strangers ; 
I know them to be strangers from the fact that they wore white rib- 
bons in their button-holes. Very few citizens were about at that time ; 
they did not seem to disguise their intentions, but spoke very freely 
about it all day. I talked familiarly with them about it ; one of them, 
to show that he was a citizen, took off his boots to show that he had 
some Kansas dirt in it ; he said that made him a citizen ; they said 
they were citizens of Kansas, all of them, when asked the question. 
When asked where they were from, they said fr(jm Missouri, different 
places. I returned to the polls about ten o'clock ; found it very much 
crowded, so that it was almost impossible to get to the window. After 
much difficulty, I deposited my vote. They asked me to pass over the 
roof of the house ; that I could not get back out of the crowd. I refused 
to do so, and then they asked me to get down and crawl through 
their legs and get out. I told them 1 should do no such thing ; that 
I walked in, and should walk out. I fought my way out, I might say, 
and was a long while doing it. I had had equal difficulty to get in. I 
should suppose there were between seven and eight hundred at this 
point; most every one had a gun, and all had revolvers and bowie- 
knives, and took occasion to expose them, to let us see that they were 
armed. »Some of them left on the afternoon of the election ; and 
others, the majority, staid till next morning. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

Mr. Crews told me that one of the reasons of the people coming into 
this Territory was by endeavoring to justify their course, by referring 
to emigrant aid societies in the east, which he understood were or- 
ganized for the purpose of sending persons into Kansas to vote at that 
election, and, as he understood, to vote at the 30th of March election, 
and coming up the river for that purpose. 

a. W. DEITZLER. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 25, 185G. 



Carmie W. Babcock called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came here in September, 1854, previous to the proclamation of 
Governor Reeder for the election of the 30th of March, 1855 ; there 
was some talk about the Missourians coming here. I took the census 
of this district, and as I was travelling about I often heard it said that 



134 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

tlie Missoiirians would be here at the election. It was currently re- 
ported here, for some weeks before the election, that the Missourians 
were preparing to come up here, and had organized what thej called 
a Blue Lodge for that purpose. I was intimately acquainted with 
several p"o-slavery men in this immediate vicinity, who were reported 
to belong to that lodge^ and whom I had every reason to believe did 
belong to it, from conversations with them. The first thing I ob- 
served that made me think they were coming was this : I had just 
opened our post office here in a little log building witii a partition in 
it ; the building was owned by a young man named William Lykins, 
who was deputy postmaster ; we occupied but one-half of the building. 
The rats and mice made considerable noise in the other part of the 
building, which was unoccupied, and I inquired of Mr. Lykins what 
they were up to. He took me in there and showed me a lot of pro- 
visions, consisting of a large quantity of bacon, some corn, and I think 
some flour and meal, though I will not be certain about that. I do 
not know when the provision was brought there, though I was told. 
This Mr. Lykins was from Missouri, though a resident here at that 
time ; he is now in Kansas City, Missouri. 

On the evening of the 29th of March, 1855, a large crowd of men 
came in and encamped in the ravine just beyond the post office ; I 
should think there were in that first company some five or six hun- 
dred ; I was boarding then at Mr. Chapman's, just above the creek. 
That evening, about 10 o'clock, I think, a party left the camp, and 
started for the California road, and it was reported that they were 
going to the second district ; soon after, another company left. 
I did not talk with any of them, and only heard it reported where 
they were going. The first company went in the direction of Douglas 
district ; the last company in the direction of Hickory Point. There 
were to be elections at both places. I should think there were near 
two hundred in each party. 

On the morning of the day of the election, a little after sunrise, 
another company commenced coming in. I was standing by Mr. 
Chapman's house, and saw them in the distance over the hill, and 
watched them until they passed the house and went into the camp 
with the others. 

I was in the camp on the evening before the election and on the 
morning of the election, and was introduced to several persons there, 
I heard them talking among themselves, stating that the Howard 
county boys were located in such a place, the Clay county boys in 
another place, the Cass county boys in another place, the 8aline boys 
in another place, and called over a number of otlier counties that I do 
not now recollect. I was introduced to a man named Davidson, Mr. 
Wade's father-in-law, who now lives in this Territory. I also saw a 
man named Coles, from Kansas City, I think ; Allen McOee, of West- 
port, who introduced me, I think^ to Colonel Samuel Young. I will 
not be positive about that, but I was introduced to him afterwai-tls. 
My impression is that Mr. McGee introduced me to him on the morn- 
ing of the election. 

Nearly all these men had guns of some description ; ehot-guns and 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 135 

muskets. Most of them liad revolvers, and a great many liad bowie- 
knives. They had several tents and some flags and music. 

When they arrived, theprovisions in Mr. Lykins's house were taken 
out and given to them. On once occasion a young man came up to 
the house and asked for the provisions. I asked who they belonged 
to, and he said they belonged to the company, and he wanted some ot 
them. He took off a sack of corn for the horses. I delivered but that 
one sack ; Mr. Lykins delivered the rest. I do not know what became 
of the rest of the provisions. Mr. Lykins wanted to clear out that part 
of the house for the election to be held in, and he set out several sides 
of bacon and some corn, and I saw persons come up promiscuously 
from the camp and get them. 

I heard Col. Samuel Young make a speech on the morning of the 
election. I heard but a part of it. as he was about closing his remarks 
when I came up. This was at the polls. He was cautioning the boys 
to keep good order, as they would all be allowed to vote ; they must 
not be noisy, must not disturb property, and he would see that all 
had a chance to vote. 

I was sitting in the office, with the windows up, as they came up to 
the polls. There did not seem to be any military organization ; they 
came up in little companies as they had camped. Most of them had 
guns, gome carrying them on their shoulders, some in their hands. 
They made a great deal of noise and very much of a rush. 

I talked with several of them and was introduced to many of them, 
but do not remember their names. Tliey said that their intention was 
to vote ; that they wanted to do it peaceably ; did not propose to pre- 
vent others from voting ; were willing for us to vote, but they would 
vote too, as they had just as much right to vote as we had. That was 
the general tenor of their conversation. They left about four or five 
o'clock on tlie day of election. 

Before they put in their votes I heard several of them take the oath. 
I was in the next room and heard Col. Young swear that he was a 
bona fide resident of Kansas Territory. He did not say he was a resi- 
dent of this district, so far as I recollect, but that he was an actual 
and bona fde resident of Kansas Territory, and owed no allegiance to 
the State of Missouri. He told the judges that it was unnecessary to 
swear the rest of the men, as they would all swear the same thing. 
He was not a resident of this district when I took the census, and was 
not a resident at the time of the election. I should have known it if 
he had become a resident. I do not believe he has ever become a re- 
sident of this district. I do not recollect that the judges asked him 
any questions about his residence here when he took the oath. 

I was in the other room, and looked through the cracks in the par- 
tition when they changed the election board. Mr. Blanton being ab- 
sent, Mr. Benjamin was put in his place. Mr. Abbott resigned, and 
Mr. Cummins was elected in his place. This was when the board first 
met. It is the duty of voters present to fill the vacancies in the elec- 
tion board. The politics of Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Cummins were the 
same as of those who had camped liere. That party was supporting 
Thomas Johnson and E, Chapman for the Council, and A. B. Wade, 



136 KANSAS AFFAIRS. . 

James AVhitlock, and, I think, John M. Banks for the House of Ee- 
presentatives. 

A few of this party remained in camp until the morning after the 
election, hut the most of them left in the evening hefore. 

In taking the census I followed, as near as I could, the directions 
laid down in the precept. It was a correct return, to the best of my 
knowledge, of all the voters in the district at that time. 

I did not notice any mottoes on the flags of this party. I do not 
think they had their tickets printed here, but brought them with them» 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

I was personally acquainted with but few of the men who came 
here from Missouri. Mr. Allen McGee was the only person I was 
acquainted with that I conversed with concerning their objects in 
coming here. He informed me that they had come here to vote ; that 
there was a large number of persons coming here from northern and 
eastern States to be at that election, and the Missourians were coming 
here to counteract that movement. I had a conversation with Mr. 
Davidson, of Missouri — I think he was from Pleasant Hill, in Cass 
county. He said he did not approve of their coming up here, and 
that he would not vote ; did not believe that he had a right to vote 
here. He stated that he did not want to come up here at all, but his 
son-in-law was a candidate, and the people were all coming up, and 
he came along ; but he would not vote, as he did not approve of it. 
In conversation in camp I heard some of them say that this Territory 
belonged to the Missourians, and that these eastern men had no busi- 
ness here. That was the drift of their conversation. I heard others 
say that they were coming here to vote against these eastern men, re- 
ferring, I suppose, to recent emigration, though they did not say that. 
I conversed with several, and told them I did not think they had any 
right to vote here. They said that all these men at Lawrence had 
been sent out here with their families for the purpose of voting, and 
they had as much right to vote as those men had. 

There were some arrivals in the Territory after the census was 
taken. There were, J should think, near one hundred here from 
northern and eastern States, but I do not think all staid in this dis- 
trict ; some of them went above. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

All the first part of the day, as fast as persons voted, they put thepa 
up over the house, because there was so much of a crowd and rush in 
front of the polls that they could not get back. The building was a 
very low log building with a flat roof. The post office was open at 
the windows at the time of the election, though the door was shut. 
A great many ot our citizens came to the window and complained 
that they could not get near the polls and could not vote. 

Some time before noon, as I was in the office, I heard a gun dis- 
charged. I came out and saw a crowd rushing towards the bank of 
the river. I went down with the rest of them, and saw Mr. Bond, a 
citizen of this place, come up from below the bank. They said they 
had shot at him, and he had jumped oif the bank. They said there 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 137 

had been some conversation with him, and then some one called him 
a damned aholitionJKt, and then the mob pitched on him. I did not 
see any other difficulty. 

C. W. BABCOCK. 
Lawrence, K. T., Jj^ril 26, 1856. 



Lyman Allen called and sworn. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

I came into the Territory about a year ag;o the 24th of March last. 
I settled here, in Lawrence, and have resided here ever since. I am 
from the State of New York, I was here on the 30th of March, 1855. 
In coming up the Missouri river I stopped at the various landing 
places, and, when we got up as far as Glasgow, we noticed persons 
who commenced coming aboard. We came up on the '' Sam Cloon." 
They said they were coming here to vote, as a fund had been raised 
for that purpose. Tliey, with myself, landed at Kansas City, I think 
between the IGth and 21th of March, 1855. I immediately came 
through to this place, and on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of March, the 
emigration was very flush. On the 2'Jth, I think, there were not less 
than from six to nine hundred came here. Most of them encamped 
on the Wakarusa over night. I came here the next day. I stopped 
with my brother, about four miles from here, near the Wakarusa ; and 
in coming here, I saw a hirge j)arty pouring up the Wakarusa. There 
was an election to be held in Bloomington that day. Several gentle- 
men came into town, and seemed to be prominent men in this party. 
They came from below to see if they would be allowed to vote, with- 
out resistance. They said they were coming here to vote in sufficient 
numbers to accomplish their object, and would vote — peaceably if they 
could, forcibly if tliey must. They claimed a right under the organic 
act to vote here. They said it gave them that right although they 
were citizens in other States, because, according to that act, citizens 
and residents were not synonymous ; they were residents wherever they 
happened to be, but citizens where their families were. They consid- 
ered it unfortunate that such an oversight had crept into the bill, but 
they would claim the benefit of it. I came in town about 7 o'clock on 
the morning of the 30th, and immediately went over to the place of 
election. 1 remained there until dark, except when away for dinner. 
I think these men had a darkey who drummed for them, and one who 
carried a flag. They were generally armed, though many had no 
guns. Colonel Young seemed to be the leading man. He had told 
me, in conversation with him previously, what I have already stated 
as to their idea about their right to vote. He said he sliould vote 
here, though that disfranchised him in Missouri. The men who came 
up to vote, refused to take the oath prescribed by the governor. Col. 
Young said he would offer his vote, but would not take that oath. 
He would make that the test ; and if he was allowed to vote without 
taking that oath, the rest would probably be allowed to do so ; if not, 
they would vote by force. 



138 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I did not liear what oath he did take. When he came out, it was 
said that he had perjured himself. He dechxred he wouhl like to 
find the man who said so, and he would dispatch forty such men. 
Mr. Ahhott, one of the judges, resigned, hecause those who voted, 
refused to take the oath prescribed by the governor, and the other 
judges received their votes. Hugh Cameron was one of the other 
judges, but I cannot say whether the other was Mr. Benjamin or Mr. 
Cummins. After Mr. Young had voted, about two hundred men 
left here for Bloomington, as it was said they were not needed here. 
The leaders in the matter then undertook to expedite the voting, as 
it was impossible to vote from the crowd ; those who had voted being 
compelled to crawl over the house, which was a low one, to get away. 
About that time, Charles Stearns was found on the ground with a 
hook in his hands taking notes. He was surrounded by a company of 
men, who said they would have no notes taken. They became very 
much exasperated, and threatened to kill him, but Colonel Young got 
him out of the crowd without his being injured. About 11 o'clock 
the leaders of this company placed guards along from the window, 
forming an alley^ so as to allow persons to vote according to counties 
as they came up — according to the counties from which they came in 
Missouri. The oldest men were given the preference. I saw one 
young man living in this town walk into the alley and go up towards 
the window. He was asked what ticket he voted, and he said it was 
his own business. The crowd gathered around him and threatened 
him, but his friends got him away. I think he voted at that time. 
Not long after, Mr, Edward Bond was talking with some gentlemen, 
when he got into some difficulty. An attack was made upon him, 
and as he was jumping off the bank of the river I saw a revolver 
fired at him. I did not know the man's name at the time. He was 
not a citizen of this district. I have been told his name since, but 
do not recollect it. 

Colonel Young stated that he was a citizen of Missouri, though a 
resident of Kansas for the time being. I found a great many young 
men who took the same ground as Colonel Young did; they had every 
appearance of being educated men. After dinner, about two o'clock, I 
attempted to vote ; there was a very large crowd, all bracing towards 
the window, and about two hours afterwards I got there. There was 
a crowd from every direction ; but our side was the strongest, and we 
pushed the others away. It seemed to be a contest with the "Free- 
Soilers" and Clay county boys. I was with the latter, and they came 
in ahead. No one asked me my politics. I went in and voted, and 
was then taken by the boys and lifted upon and went over the house. 
I saw during the day some of the company that came up on the boat 
when I did ; I saw them vote ; I heard them say frequently they 
were coming here to vote. I have since recognised several persons 
as citizens of Jackson county, Missouri, whom 1 saw vote that day. 

About four o'clock the ground was somewhat cleared, and the old 
men began to leave, and they began to decamp. Some of the boys had 
got considerably intoxicated, and we kept a guard about here during 
that night. About half of those persons left I think before midnight, 
and early in the morning ; the rest drove off in the direction from 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 13^ 

■whence tliey came. There were several persons in the crowd when I 
tried to vote — not very rugged persons — who became faint and wem 
taken away. It was very laborious getting up to the polls. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I think these men had their tickets printed in the " Free-State" 
office in this place, at that time under the charge of Miller and Elliott. 
Those nominations were made after they got here; they voted for Mr. 
Chapman and Mr. Johnson for Council, and Mr. Whitlock and Mr. 
Banks for House of Kepresentatives. I think there was one McGree, 
who was with the committee, who came up from the Wakarusa camp, 
but I am not certain about that; I think Colonel Young was most of 
that committee. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

These persons also said, though not generally, that the position 
they sustained towards the Territory made it necessary that this 
should be a slave State. Their interest in the question was so much 
greater than any other, that they had a right to vote here in sel^ 
defence. I heard Colonel Young's speech ; I do not remember of his 
spying that they had as much right to vote as others who had 
come here within two or three weeks previously. He stated that the 
North and East had formed societies to send emigration here to make 
this a free State, and they would beat them at their own game. I 
think I heard them say they approved of the principles of the Kansas- 
Nebraska bill, and were willing for the bona fide settlers in this 
Territory to settle the question of slavery for themselves. There 
were two young men I got acquainted with in coming here, and they 
admitted in conversation that this thing was all wrong ; but as the 
North had commenced it, they would come in under the same plan. 

These two were some of those to whom I have referred in my exam- 
ination in chief as having given reasons for coming here to vote. I 
was with the persons who were here all day, but not in their camp, as 
they were not in camp during the day. I do not recollect that I heard 
any one say that they had as much right to vote as emigrants recently 
from the north or east, but they claimed a general right to make this 
a slave State, as the North had sent men here to make this a free 
State. These reasons, I think, were given by the more moderate of 
the party, who, I judged, came along as peace-makers ; the general 
tone was different. I do not remember that Col. Young in his speech 
Baid that there were a number of persons in this district who were 
from the north and east, and if they were allowed to vote he would 
claim that he and his party should be allowed to vote ; and if allowed 
to vote peaceably it would be all right, but they would vote forcibly 
if necessary. I had just arrived in the Territory, and voted at thatt 
election. I do not know how many from the north and east who 
had just arrived voted at that time. 

When I was on my way here, a party from the east passed me at 
Buffalo, and when I reached here a part of them were going back, 
and persuading all to go back they could. Some of them went up 
the "Big Blue" and settled what is now called "Manhattan." 



140 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Some of our own party got as far as John Ham's, on " Mill creek," 
about fourteen miles from Westport, and being obliged to sleep on 
the floor, they got up the next morning and started back. I believe 
about that time it was common for some to come here and stay over 
night, and start back the next day. I do not think I could tell defi- 
nitely how many voted of that spring's migration, except njyself, as 
they were mostly strangers to me. The most of the party I came out 
with went back. I had been here but eight or ten days before the 
election. I brought my wife with me. It was the common practice 
to take persons by the legs and hoist them up to the roof of the house, 
as they could not get out any other way. It was not understood to 
be any indignity or rudeness, and voters on both sides were treated in 
the same way. When the crowd was thinned out, persons left the 
polls in the ordinary way. This was the case alter about three or 
four o'clock, but the crowd was dense belore that time. 

LYMAN ALLEN. 
Lawrence, K. T., April 26, 1856. 



Samuel N. Wood called and affirmed. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

I first came into the Territory in June, 1854, from the Siate of 
Qhio. I settled in July, 1854, about five miles from here, in thia 
district, on the California road. I have resided in the district ever 
since. I was here on the day of election of the 30th of March, 1855 ; 
it was on Friday. On the Wednesday evening before, I saw some two 
or three hundred men encamped on the ravine bottom near the ford, 
who said they were from Missouri, and were going above to some place 
to vote, and there would be about 1,000 more to vote at this place. 
The next day, Thursday, they commenced coming in hereto Lawrence 
an horseback, on mules, in wagons and carriages, frequently in long 
processions ; they camped over most of the town, I think on Wade's 
claim. I was all over their camp the night before the election. I 
was introduced to Doctor Lomry ; he said he was from Missouri. I 
was introduced to Col. Claiborne F. Jackson, who lives at "Arrow 
Rock," Missouri. I do not recollect whether I first saw Col. Young 
that night or the next morning. I recollect seeing a Dr. Earl, from 
Westport, who was postmaster there. When I first came out here, I 
also saw a man by the name of Cole, from Kansas City. There was 
quite a procession came on the morning of the election, with flags 
flying, from towards the "Wakarusa," I think from where Mr. 
McGee lives ; I saw two McGee's in the party. When the polls were 
opened, Mr. Blanton, one of the judges of the election, was absent ; 
there was considerable trouble in choosing a judge in his place. 

Colonel Young assumed to manage for the Missourians. It took 
us at least an hour, I think, to settle on the third judge. Colonel 
Young claimed that the people here had two of the judges, and there- 
fore it was nothing more than riglit that the Missourians should have 
one to attend to their interests. They finally agreed upon Mr. Cum- 
mins. Mr. Benjamin was appointed in place of Mr. Abbott, after he 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 141 

resigned. It was found pretty difficult, when the polls were opened, for 
any one to get to the window to vote, after the judges had voted. I think 
Colonel Young was the first who offered to vote. One of the judges 
asked him if he was a resident of the Territory^ and he said he was. He 
was asked to be sworn, and he was sworn, and again said he was a 
resident of this Territory. They formed two lines of them near from 
the window out on the prairie, some three or four rods, standing 
some six feet apart, and those who voted had to enter in at the outer 
end of these two lines, walk up to the window, and vote ; and for a 
time they were put up over the house to get out. After some voting 
they formed another line from the window to let them out. Soon 
after the voting commenced I heard quite an excitement a little to the 
left of where 1 was standing. I supposed at first it was a kind of 
what we call a side row, got up to get people away from the house, so 
that others could vote. I saw a man running from the house towards 
the river, and as many as a hundred running after him. I started 
after them, and I was perhaps a rod from the man when he jumped 
ofi" the bauk ; and I saw it was a Mr. Bond, of this place. There were 
some two or three pistol-shots fired after him. There was considerable 
excitement on the bank. Several of them said they must drive all the 
damned abolitionists off the ground. I remarked that it would be 
difficult for them to do so, as there were men there who would be 
willing to have their bodies riddled with bullets before they suffered 
that to be done. Colonel Young came up to me, and said that he 
wished no difficulty, and if we would keep our men quiet they would 
not allow any of us to be injured ; that they wanted to vote, and would 
vote, at all hazards. I heard as many as fifty persons say that, I 
think. One of the judges objected to Colonel Young's vote being 
received, and when it was received he resigned. They appointed Mr. 
Benjamin in his place ; Mr. Benjamin was a resident of this district, 
I think. 

These Missourians had almost exclusive control of the polls until 
late in the afternoon. This Benjamin had a claim near town, but I 
do not know whether he was living on it or not. I recollect that a 
man named Willis, who lived in this place at that time, came up about 
the middle of the afternoon to vote, when about half of these Missou- 
rians had left. When he came up they raised a cry that he was a 
damned abolitionist, a negro thief, &c., and hallooed "^ Kill him I" 
'' Shoot him !" &c. There were several of our men on the ground, 
and they told them if they wanted to commence that game they could 
do so, and that they would find the matter would not end here in 
Kansas Territory; and they quieted down very much. I think 
Willis voted. These men ran him. A Mr. J. 0. Shelby, who I 
think lives in Berlin, Lafayette county, Missouri, took dinner with 
me that day. He said there were fifty who came from his neigh- 
borhood with him to vote, and they were going to vote. He said 
that if he had to swear that he lived in this Territory he would not 
vote, as he did not live here, and never expected to live here, nor did 
the men who were with him ever expect to live here. I do not know 
as I can name others who voted. I recollect of seeing E. M. McGee, 
who lives between Kansas City and Westport. I also saw a number 



142 'KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

whom I had seen in Missouri, in Westport, Kansas City^ Independence, 
and other places, whose names I do not know. I think there were two 
McGees here, hut I do not recollect the name of the other one. This 
Shelhy stated that there were ten thousand Missourians in this Terri- 
tory, and one thousand of them were detailed to this place. When I 
was in the camp the night hefore the election I recollect there was a 
messenger came in to inform them that there were not men enough in 
Bl0f)mington — a district above this — and they must have two hundred 
more men there. I heard this Lomry and Jackson talk ahout it, and 
they agreed that night to send two hundred men. Quite a number 
of the party left the next morning, about the time the polls were 
crpened here, and went off above somewhere. The majority of these 
men, 1 think, had revolvers in sight. They had bowie-knives, I sup- 
pose, though I do not know enough about them to tell whether they 
were bowie-knives, though they were large knives ; and they also had 
rifles and double-barreled shot-guns. They had drums and flags^ 
though I do not recollect what kind of flags they were. I think I 
knew perhaps nine-tenths of the settlers in this district at that time. 
These men who came here were all strangers to the district. After 
the election they left, and I should think they were all out of the dis- 
trict by noon the next day. They said they came here to vote, and 
were going to vote. I heard the remark frequently that if the people 
here made no opposition, and allowed them to vote, there would be 
no trouble; but if there was any opposition they would drive them all 
out of the neighborhood, or kill them, as they were going to vote 
anyhow. I recollect, among others, seeing Mr. Owen here, who lives 
near Lexington, Missouri. lie had formerly been in the Territory, 
and had a claim over north of the town. He was here at the first 
election at Basyager's, and had a difficulty with a Dutchman, and shot 
him. He then left the Territory, and had not been seen here since 
until the day of the election of the 30th of March, at which he voted. 
His claim was some twelve or fourteen miles from here to the south, 
and I think in the district below here. I recollect that about a dozen 
men who were strangers to me, but who said they were from Missouri, 
took me one side on the day of election, and made inquiries about one 
of their candidates. They said they were afraid he was not altogetlier 
"sound on the goose question." They used to know him down in 
Kansas City, but were afraid of him, and wanted to know if he had 
not expressed some rather Free-soil sentiments up here. Colonel 
Young, however, vouched for him^ and they concluded to vote for 
him. I tried to find out their candidates when I was in their camp 
the night before the election. I should think I asked a hundred men 
about them ; but the universal cry was, that they had no tickets, and 
did not know who were their candidates. They said their leaders 
would fix that up in the night, and get their tickets, and they would 
know in the morning. 

I was about the polls pretty much all day, with the exception of 
about one hour at dinner time. These men from the camp voted. I 
think I saw one man vote four times. They changed their coats or 
their hats, and came up to the window again and voted. I do not 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 143 

know about the names they crave. I asked them if they were going 
to keep on and vote the whole season. 

Lawrence_, K. T., April 26, 1856. 

[Mr. Oliver objects to the witness stating anything the supposed 
illegal voters may have said in regard to the election of the 30th 
March, 1855, and insists that they, the alleged illegal voters, would, 
if present, be competent witnesses, and that they should be subpoenaed 
to appear before the committee to testify of their knowledge touching 
ihe said election, and their connexion with the same. That the mode 
of examination now pursued is in violation of the well-established 
rules of evidence, as recognised by the standard authors.] 



Edward Chapman sworn. 
To Mr. Eeeder : 

I came into the Territory on the 28th day of December,. 1854, and 
settled in this district, and have resided here ever since, I was here 
on the 30th of March, 1855. I saw a large body of men come in on 
the day of the election, and encamped in the ravine below my house. 
I suppose there were six or seven hundred of them before they sent off 
the detachments, as near as I could judge. They were strangers, not 
residents of the district at the time ; that is, a majority of them were 
not. They participated in the election at the time. Most of them 
left the day of the election — from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon. A 
small party were here I believe the next morning, and left that day, 
the 31st of March. I was in their camp. There was no gentleman 
there with whom I was acquainted but Claiborne Jackson ; I was in- 
troduced to several. There was one gentleman to whom I was intro- 
duced before, by the name of Harlow, and I was introduced to him 
again on that day. I did not see any of the McGees there whilst 
encamped. I saw Mr, McGee while they were assembled around the 
election house — Allen McGee. I saw Mr. Coles, of Kansas City, at 
the polls that day ; they both live in Missouri — Coles in Kansas City, 
and I suppose McGee too — but McGee said he had a claim on the 
Wakarusa. 

Some time in the early part of the day, on the 30th, one detach- 
ment was sent off to Hickory Pointy in the neighborhood of one hun- 
dred and fifty or two hundred, or more may be. Another detachment 
followed, and that shortly — they were destined for the second district, 
Bloomington — I should conclude from one hundred and fifty to two 
hundred of them. They told me they came here to vote. They 
claimed that they had a right to come here and vote ; all they asked 
was to vote here peaceably, and if they could not do it peaceably they 
must resort to some other means. Most of them had double-barreled 
shot-guns, and guns of various descriptions, and most of them had 
side-arms. I saw a couple of pieces of artillery. Mr. Miller and my- 
self went over to Mr. Wade's ; after Miller had finished his business 
we came through a part of the camp ; they were distributed in various 



144 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

parties. We crossed the ravine, and came very near tlie house of the 
election. Some gentleman hallooed to me ; I went back, and we got 
into conversation about tlie matter. He asked me if I thought there 
was any prospect of difficulty here? I told him I thought not. He 
said he was in hopes there would not be. I told him if there were 
citizens enough in the place to give them a iair fight they would do 
it. He thought there would be no use in doing that, and invited me 
to go down a short distance with him. "We went to a wagon, and he 
lifted up a cloth and some blankets, and remarked to me that there 
was a couple of "buU-ddgs" they had, loaded with musket-balls. 
They were all covered up in the hay, with the exception of the rims of 
them ; they were a couple of brass cannon. I then left tliere, and 
went up to the house where the election was held. I suppose I was 
voted for by them for member of council on that day. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

Those leading gentlemen, Mr. Jackson and others, said they came 
here to vote to counteract the votes given by those men who were sent 
here under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society ; who had come 
that spring, and were still coming to vote at that election — the 30th 
of March. I heard Mr. Allen McGee say, that he would never have 
brouglit his company here, but for his understanding that there were 
a number of ])ersons from the northern and eastern States C7i i^oute on 
the Missouri, to reach here and vote at the 30th of March election. I 
heard that remark made by Mr. Thompson, of Clay county, and others, 
and by most of those whom I heard speak of it at all. They thought 
the whole thing wrong and irregular on both sides, and were only act- 
ing in self-defence. They meant that the North and East had sent 
persons here for the'purpose of making this a free State. They claimed 
that they had as good a right to come here and vote as men from the 
east or northern States. They further stated that, if it was not for 
this eastern and northern emigration, they would not have come here 
to vote. They claimed tliat the North and the East had formed what 
they called Einigrant Aid Societies, whose puipose was to send men 
here to vote. Mr. Allen McGee told me that lie had reliable informa- 
tion that there were between tour and five hundred on a boat between 
St. Louis and Kansas City, of eastern and northern men, to be at this 
place and other j)oints in the Territory at that election. Some of the 
same gentlemen said that they were willing ami would abide by the 
principles laid down in the Kansas-Nebraska bilT, and were willing 
that the actual settleivs of the Territory should determine the question 
of slavery. They claimed that they had reason to believe that there 
were a number ot persons froui the north and east who were not actual 
settlers, who proposed to vote at that election. None of these men that 
I conversed with at that time claimed to be actual settlers, except 
Allen McGee. I have been told by several ot them that they would 
not have interfered with the election at all, were it not that these men 
coming from the north and east were not actual settlers. None of 
these leading men, whose declarations I have given in my examina- 
tion in chief, made any threats that they would use violence on any 
of the citizens of Lawrence. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 145 

To Mr. Reeder: 

The first declaration stated by me in the cross-examination was 
made on the day of the election and the day before. Men that they 
said were coming were said to be on the river on boats. I am ac- 
quainted with the distances and modes of travel between this point 
and Kansas City, on the 31st of March, 1855. It is as many as 45 
or 50 miles. We had no public conveyances at that time. It gener- 
ally took emigrants from a day and a half to two days with loaded 
teams. They could come v/ith light vehicles in a day. 

E. CHAPMAN. 

April 2G, 1856. 



George Churchill affirms. 

To Mr. Reeder: 

I came into the Territory on the 1st day of October, 1854; settled 
at Lawrence, and have resided here ever since, except three months, 
during wliich time I lived in Independence, Mo. I formerly resided 
in New York; knew none of the men by name that were here on the 
30th of March, from Missouri, but recognized the countenances of 
several. I was present here on the 30th of March. I recollect of 
seeing a young man here that day that brought me into the Territory; 
he lived in Westport ; and also several that lived in Independence, 
Missouri. 

GEORaE CHURCHILL. 

April 26, 1856. 



R. A. Cummins called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder: 

I came into the Territory, camping at Blue Jacket's, in August, 
1854. I settled three miles southwest of here, in this district, and 
have resided here ever since I came from St. Louis here. I am a Vir- 
ginian by birth. I lived in Missouri before I came here. I was here 
on the 30th of March, 1855. I was not appointed one of the judges 
of that election by the governor, but was selected by the crowd in place 
of N. B. Blanton. I was selected the day before the election as a suit- 
able man for judge. I had no objection to serving my country in any 
way. I was spoken to by Allen McGee, of Westport, now to act as 
judge. He pretended to live here at that time. I suppose he did. I 
entered on the duties of my office and discharged them conscientiously, 
to the best of my abilities. Most all who were here were strangers to 
me, as I was living in the country at that time, and knew but few 
persons. I should think there were over one thousand votes polled 
that day. Some from my neighborhood did not vote then. I was 
not in the camp of persons here. I knew that there were camps, but 
H. Rep. 200 10* 



146 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

was not in them, as I was on duty from early in the morning till 12 
o'clock at night. A man by the name of Colonel Yoimg came up to 
vote. I had no personal acquaintance with him. He Avas sworn, and 
made oath that he was a citizen of the Territory, and would not vote 
anywhere else but here for twelve months. He did not say in what 
part of the Territory he resided. My opinion is, that it was no busi- 
ness of the judge to inquire ; that he had a right to vote if he had been 
here but an hour, I do not recollect many of the particulars. I saw 
one man vote who said he lived at Lexington. His name was Holli- 
day^ but I do not know his given name. He said he lived in Lexing- 
ton, Missouri, or somewhere in that vicinity. Allen McGlee, when 
he asked me to act as one of the judges, said something to me. I do 
not know as I can swear positively to what he said, as it was a gen- 
eral conversation. I don't think he told me anything about persons 
coming here from Missouri. He had a house two miles west of where 
I lived. He was there, and had a black woman cooking for him. 
There were others there — some fifteen or twenty others — who were 
strangers to me. Mr. McGee kept a kind of family grocery store there, 
with plenty of provisions to sell, at enormous rates. He kept a kind 
of hotel there for a few days. He had a large stock at the time of 
election, but I do not know as it was larger than usual. He kept 
groceries there for several months. He had a young man for clerk. 
I have no doubt that Allen McGee was just as good a voter at that 
time as I was, as hp lived there. The only difference was, that I had 
no other home and he had. I do not know where his other home is. 

Cross-examined by Col. Woodson : 

I know that McGee had been here at the time of the election, and 
built a double log house — a one story house — and had a black woman 
here, and was very anxious to bring his wife with him, but she was in 
delicate health and could not come. He often spoke to me about that. 
He has since sold out. He had built this house prior to the election 
of the 30th of March, 1855. He had himself only been here a week 
or two at that time, but frequently before that; He had been here 
the fall before, at the election of a delegate to Congress. I often 
heard of his being here. I was not acquainted with him the fall be- 
fore. The house he built was about as good a house as there was in 
the Territory at that time. He had made a claim here before I came 
here, in May some time, I think, but did not build here until after I 
did. He had a log cabin on his claim in the fall, where he usually 
stopped when he was up here. 

Re-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

He sold out his claim a few weeks ago. 

Re-examined by Mr. Reeder : 

Mr, McGee came there with his cook a few days before the election, 
I cannot state positively when. I do not know when these strangers 
came there. I think McGee himself went home in a day or two after 
the election. I do not think the others were there at all after the 
election. He had a clerk in his house to attend to -his store before 
he came up prior to that election, but there was no family there. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 147 

The same clerk lived there for some time after McGee returned, after 
the election. The clerk cooked his meals there for himself. The 
store was occupied along in November or December, 1854, but I could 
not state exactly when it was. The clerk occasionally had a hired 
man living there with liim. No one else lived there that I know of 

ROBERT A. CUMMINS. 
Lawrence, K. T., AprU 28, 1856. 



Robert Elliott called and sworn. 
Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I was residing in Lawrence on the 30th of March, 1855, and was 
one of the proprietors of a printing office at that time. I saw a large 
number of men who said they were from Missouri, who visited the 
office. They said they were coming here to vote. I was not in their 
camp, but saw it at a distance. I saw large numbers of them arrive ; 
they came in wagons and on horses. Most of them_, I think, had 
arms ; some of them had large clubs. I did not see any banners or 
flags. I heard music at a distance, but did not see them when para- 
ding. When they came to the printing office the night previous, 
they said they merely came to see an abolitionist, as they had never 
met one, and had understood that the "Free State" printing office 
was conducted by abolitionists. Mr. Whitlock, one of the candidates 
for the legislature, came to the office on the day of election, just before 
noon, and spoke about tickets He was the only one that I remember 
of coming to the office. I think that Mr. Wade spoke to my partner 
and myself about tickets. He was also one of the candidates. I 
think Mr. Chapman spoke to me about it. He was a candidate for 
council, and was of this place. I do not know that any persons from 
the party in camp spoke to me about those tickets. They stated they 
had got their tickets printed before they came here^ but had a larger 
vote than they had expected, and wanted more tickets. Mr. Whit- 
lock, Mr. Wade, and Mr. Chapman were running on the same ticket. 
We printed three hundred of those tickets. Mr. Whitlock paid for 
them, and, I think, took them away. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

This Chapman, Wade, and Whitlock, lived in this vicinity; had 
families with them; but I do not know about Mr. Whitlock. 

To Mr. Reeder: 

I learned the names of three or four of those strangers here. A 
man named Colonel AValton, I think, a proprietor of a "hotel" at 
Lexington, Missouri, was introduced to me, and called at the office, I 
think, once; also a Mr. Graves, and a gentleman named Shroder, 
who introduced himself as from Liberty, Missouri ; another gentleman 
named Sullivan was here that day ; I was acquainted with him the 
all previous; came up the river with him as far as Lexington. He 
tated that he had made some seven claims on "Salt creek," near 



148 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Leavenworth; he resided near Lexington, ]\[issouri, when I got ac- 
quainted with him, the fall helbre the election; he said on the hoat 
that he had taken seven claims on "Salt creek," in the vicinity of 
Leavenworth, hut not with the intention of settling in the Territory, 
merely for the right of his friends, and to keep aholitionists otf ; he 
stated that he resided in the vicinity of Lexington, Missouri. It was 
about the 20th of November, 1854, that this took place. 

To Colonel Woodson : 

In this conversation with Sullivan nothing was said about any ex- 
pedition here. It was an independent conversation on the subject of 
claims. 

R. G. ELLIOTT. 

Lawrence, K. T., Jjyril 28, 185G. 



N. B. Blanton called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Keeder: 

I came into the Territory the last of September, 1854. I settled 
on the Wakarusa about five miles south of here, and have lived there 
ever since; I came from Jackson county, i^Iissouri; I was appointed 
one of the judges of the election of March 30, 1855 ; I was down in 
Missouri about two or three weeks before the election ; I was sick 
there, and started up home just before the election ; the first day after 
I left there I stayed at Donaldson's, and the next day, the 29th of 
March, I met a party of men coming up here; I did not know any of 
them ; they told me they were coming up to Lawrence to vote ; some 
two or three I talked with told me where they came from ; some said 
they came from Boonville, and one gentleman told me he was from 
Columbia, Boon county. 

After I had travelled on about ten miles, and they had found out 
that I was one of the judges of the election, they wanted to know if I 
would let them vote without swearing. I came about fifteen miles 
with them ; I do not know how many there were in the company, but 
I should suppose there were about one hundred ; a good many asked 
me — first one, and then another — if I would let them vote without 
swearing. I never saw any of them before that day, but saw some of 
them up here afterwards at the election of the oOtli March. I told 
them I could not according to the oath I would have to take as judge 
of the election, as they were not citizens of tlie Territory. They 
argued that all the citizens of the United States had a right to come 
here and vote if they wanted to ; they got to trying to persuade me to 
let them vote without swearing, saying the oath the governor had 
prescribed was not right and legal. Alter a while one of these men — 
an old man — said to me: "Go on, sou, and act as judge, and let us 
vote, and we will pay you for it." Two or three more spoke up and 
said, if I did not let them vote without swearing that their men 
would get enraged, and maybe hang me; and that I had better 
resign. I did not then resign, but left them, and' resigned on the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 149 

mornin{^ of the election. I was here in town, close to the polls,, 
though I (lid not go to them. I did not go into their camp here; one 
of their camps was on the Wakarusa, close to where I was huildin^ a 
bridge, ahout five miles from here. They came there the morning 
before the election ; they came over here to Lawrence the day of the 
election; they started before I did, but I saw some of them here; 
there were about fifteen or twenty in that camp. 1 have looked over 
a part of the poll-list; I saw several there I knew were citizens of 
Missouri — Mr, lianly and Mr. Dexter — I cannot give their first names; 
a good many of them T cannot recollect, though I knew them. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

I did not know the men with whom I had the conversation ; I did 
not know that they were speaking for the company, except when they 
said their men would get enraged, and maybe hang me, if I would 
not let them vote without swearing. They said their object in com- 
ing here to vote was, in the first place, to get a legislature to suit 
them, and then make Kansas a* slave State. I think the emigrant 
aid societies were mentioned several times, but I do not know as they 
gave that as tlieir reason, only tliat every citizen of the United States 
had a right to vote, that tlic emigrant aid societies were sending men 
to vote, and they had as good a right to vote as these men had, 

I did not see as only one was hindered from voting here, but I saw 
them run one man off over the banks of the river. I saw the man 
running, but did not know when the difficulty commenced; I did not 
know the'raan's name then, but have understood since that it was Mr. 
Bond. 

N. B. BLANTON. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



C. S. Pratt called and sworn. 

'"'Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I was one of the clerks of election in Lawrence, in March, 1855, 
Mr. Abbott and Mr. Cameron, two of the judges, were present after 
opening the polls. Mr, Blanton was absent. There were about ten 
or twelve persons inside of the polls, strangers to me; they nominated 
Mr. Cummins to serve, and he did serve. There was no conversation 
in reference to the oath. Some said it was not necessary to swear to 
the prescribed form, but to perform the duties of the office to the best 
of their abilities, Mr. Cummins, to the best of my recollection, 
swore to perform the duties of the office to the best of his abilities ; 
I do not know how the rest swoie. They then began to receive votes. 
After they had opened the polls, a man, named Page, came forward to 
vote. The judges asked him some questions, and two of the judges 
were for allowing him to vote ; Mr. Abbott objected. 

Before it was decided. Colonel Young told the men to step back and 
allow him to come forward. He handed in his ballot, and the judges 
commenced questioning him as they had the other man. Mr. Abbott 
told him he could not consent to take his vote from information he had 



150 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

got from himself. Colonel Young stated that he himself was compe- 
tent to decide whether he was qualified or not. Mr. Ahbott said he 
considered it the duty of the judges to decide that. The other two 
judges decided to take his vote, whereupon Mr. Abbott resigned. 
After he resigned a man was sent in from the outside — Mr. Benja- 
min — whom the judges consented to receive as a judge. I do not re- 
collect about his being sworn. After that they commenced taking 
votes, without questioning more than one man in eight or ten. They 
would ask them they did question if they were residents of the Terri- 
tory and would swear to it, and they did so. I do not think more 
than one eighth or one tenth of the men were sworn. I do not recol- 
lect whether Colonel Young was sworn or not. I was inside of the 
house, and heard Colonel Young say that he had been forward and 
voted, and all could vote without difficulty. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

I do not recollect whether Colonel Young was sworn or not. 

CALEB S. PRATT. 
Lawrence, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



Thomas Hopkins called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I came into this Territory in June, 1854, from Carroll county, Mis- 
souri ; I came to Missouri I'rom Kentucky ; I settled in this Territory 
some nine miles south of this, in this county ; I made my claim the 
first of June, moved my family on it the tenth of August, 1854. I 
have resided there ever since. I was at this place at the election of 
the 30th of March^ 1855. I was a stranger in this place, but when I 
got here that day I met a good many of my acquaintances from Car- 
roll county. I found them about the polls and in their camps. Col- 
onel William Austin, William Austin, again^ cousin of the other, 
Robert Dunde, John Snoddy, from Carroll county. They stated that 
two others I was well acquainted with, Clarke Lindsey and James 
Wagnier, had gone up to Douglas. There was a Mr. Roy here, I 
heard — I do not recollect his first name. They told me there was 
about twenty-five of my old neighbors and acquaiutances there. Car- 
roll county, I should suppose, was from one hundred and twenty-five 
to one hundred and thirty miles from here. It is twenty miles below 
Lexington, on the other side of the Missouri river. 

They told me they had come here to vote, and intended to vote. 
They stated that they were afraid if this became a free State they would 
lose their property ; and, moreover, that, if it was necessary, they 
would come back again at the next election. They told me there 
were supposed to be between seven hundred and one thousand from 
Missouri at this place. They also told me there would be, from the 
best information they could get, between five thousand and ten thou- 
sand voters from Missouri, in this Territory, at that>election. I do 
not know as I recollect particularly anything further that they said. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 151 

Cross-examined by Colonel Woodson : 

It was said in this company that the Emigrant Aid Society were 
sending on men here to vote ; that I heard before I left Missouri. 
They said, also, that they had come in to aid the pro-slavery settlers 
here^ and to elect members of their own party. I think they did not 
tell me that the first inducement to come here and vote was to coun- 
teract this emigrant aid movement. I had heard it spoken of, but do 
not know as that was their first inducement. 

I am not able to say about that ; I did not hear it spoken of here upon 
the day of the election, though I had heard it spoken of in Missouri. 
They were voting Avhen I got here ; there was one little skrimmage, 
but I do not know the cause ; I do not think any free State man had a 
chance to vote while I was on the ground, owing to the crowd of others 
at the poll. I reached home before night, some nine miles from here ; 
I reached there a half an hour or an hour by sun. I suppose it was 
later than two o'clock when I left — I do not recollect what time I 
went to the polls. As well as I can recollect, it was about one o'clock ; 
they had commenced voting when I got here in the morning,' and had 
been voting ever since. I saw no violence offered at the polls. I sup- 
pose there were some free State men voted that day, but not any while 
I was here, that I knew. I voted that day here. 

THOMAS HOPKINS. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



Jordan Davidson called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Eeeder : 

I moved into the Territory in September, 1855, and settled about a 
mile and a half from here in this district. I came from Cass county, 
Missouri. I moved from Jefferson county, Missouri, into Cass county, 
about the first of November, 1854. I moved from Franklin county 
into Jefferson county in 1842. I moved from Kentucky to Franklin 
county in the spring of 1836. 

I came here with my neighbors to the election of the 30th of March, 
1855, and voted here in this district, I should suppose there were 
nine hundred or one thousand, though I did not count them, in that 
company. I saw very few here from Cass county. I saw some said 
to be from Jackson and Lafayette ; some from Jefferson, Howard, and 
Saline counties. I saw some said to be from several counties, but I 
do not recollect about others. I saw no arrangement by counties, 
but, while they were in camp, they seemed to be intermixed. 

The arrangement was to meet at Cold-water Grove, near the south 
part of Cass county. But not all met there — not a general meeting. 
A great many met there and left ; but I was not at a general meeting 
until I got to camp. The most general meeting was at the encamp- 
ment at Bull creek, as there seemed to be an understanding about the 
meeting at Cold-water Grove. 

The company that were here in this precinct returned home, some 
on the evening of the election, and some the next morning. Colonel 





152 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Young appeared to be the principal leader. I do not remember wliat 
county he lived in, and was not acquainted with him until I saw him 
here. I was told he was a Missourian. 

The companies generally had arms for that occasion. I had none 
myself. I think each individual bought and borrowed his own arms. 
So far as I am acquainted with the arrangements in my own county, 
Cass county, some who did not come put in provisions, some wagons; 
and each one put in what he wanted for himself, provisions, wagon, 
&c. I put in provisions in a wagon for myself, and fodder for my 
horse. 1 missed my wagon and provisions at Bull creek, and from 
there I got provisions of other companies till I got here, when I lived 
off provisions belonging to my son-in-law, A. B. Wade, who was a 
candidate at that election for the house of representatives. He was 
voted for by our party. The first I knew of his nomination was from 
a letter he wrote me at Pleasant Hill, Cass county, saying he was 
nominated. There was no confirmation of that nomination in Mis- 
souri, to my knowledge. From there w^e all put out to support the 
pro-slavery ticket. I do not know of money being raised. Men that 
had not means to come could come with the provision wagons, and 
were fed there. I became acquainted with Claiborne F. Jackson at 
the Wakarusa. He was of the company here, and I thought he was 
in the position of a lieutenant. The party from Bull creek went I 
do not know where, after I left them, the evening before the election. 
I left them and came here by myself. At Bull creek I did not see 
them altogether at one place, but I should think there might have 
been between seven hundred and one thousand there in one encamp- 
ment. Those at Bull creek did not come here. 

There was another encampment there I did not go to see. I under- 
stood there were many in that other encampment, but I do not know 
how many there were in it. The encampment was not in sight, but I 
understood there was another there. I do not recollect of seeing any 
here that I left at Bull creek ; but I think, probably, there were some 
of them here. I started on horseback from Cass county, and expected 
to overtake the provision wagon, but did not do so. I Overtook a com- 
pany at Wea, but that one had merely stopped there for dinner ; they 
formed a portion of one of the companies at Bull creek- Bull creek 
is somewhere from 40 to 45 miles southeast from here, and is a branch 
of the Osage river, I do not know what district the encampment was 
in, but it was south of the Independence and Santa Fe road ; I should 
think, from a rough estimation, 25 miles. It was near Baptiste Fa- 
cia, in this Territory. I did not see Colonel Young at B ul creek, 
but saw him first here, on this ground, I first saw Claiborne Jack- 
son on the Wakarusa, eight or nine miles from this place, the day 
before the election ; J took dinner with him that day, on my way up 
from Bull creek. There was a large encampment there, the third one 
I had seen. I do not know how many there were there^ as a large 
portion had come on to Lawrence when I got there, and I think the 
balance came on that evening, I came on here after dinner. There 
•were some expresses came here the evening before the election, that 
there were so many wanting at Douglas and Tecumseh^ and perhaps 
at One Hundred and Ten. There were three detachments of volun- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS 153 

teers sent off ; some started, I think, to go up on tlie river here some 
twenty miles. There was one place where it was pretty hard to get 
volunteers to go on the morning of the 30th, as they were tired of 
riding. Colonel Young made a speech, and urged that, as an old man 
had volunteered to lead them, they ought to volunteer to go. I do 
not recollect whera that detachment was to go ; there were some, I 
think, sent to Tecumseh and Douglas, and probably some elsewhere. 
I understood that, of this encampment, some were from Jackson, La- 
fayette, Clay, and Carrol counties ; and I saw a small company from 
a small county way down in the State, where I have an uncle living. 
I had a conversation with one, who lived close to my uncle. The 
county my uncle lived in was Howard county, I think. I saw some 
from Ray county, I think. I knew some men who were in the en- 
campment at Bull creek. There were a great many men who left 
Cass county, but I do not know where the}'' went; I saw but few in 
the encampment at Bull creek who were from Cass county. 

I heard of some cannon being along in the Lafayette company, but 
I did not see them. I may have heard after I came into the Territory 
that there was a cannon along, but I do not recollect by whom I heard 
it ; I heard of the cannon at Pleasant Hill. I rode with a gentleman 
from the head of Bull creek, where I stopped on the Wednesday night 
before the election, who told me that there was a cannon along. 

Cross-examined by Colonel Woodson : 

We understood in Missouri that Governor Eeeder had sent to the 
east and mustered up a large force to come here, and we came here to 
vote, too, though that was not all the inducement. We intended to 
vote first here, and after we had got through we were willing to let 
anybody vote who wanted to. I do not know of any persons coming 
here to vote the free State ticket and then returning to the east. I 
saw some men as I was going down home, who said they were return- 
ing to the east. They hired my son and my son-in-law to carry them 
on. I do not recollect that I saw them here at Lawrence. I heard 
some conversation in that company about the election, and some two 
or three said they had not voted. I did not hear the rest say anything 
about it. There were free State men voted^ but I do not think any 
were hindered from voting except, perhaps, Mr. Bond, who got into 
a fuss and went off and did not come back again. He was run off 
the ground, but I do not think it was to prevent him from voting. 
He got into a personal difficulty, I understood, and they run him off 
to the river. Just as he jumped down the bank a pistol was fired at 
him, the contents going perhaps six feet over his head, though I do 
not think it was aimed at him. The cry was "kill him," "kill 
him." I do not know of any free State voters being brought hereby 
the Emigrant Aid Society. 

By Governor Reeder : 

We did not understand that Governor Reeder had brought on voters 
from the east, but that he made the day of election known there 
before it was known here, in order to induce voters to come on here. 
The other inducement we had for coming here was to extend slavery 
into Kansas Territory. The general talk among our people who came 



154 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

here was that they had a right to vote here. I contended myself that 
I had a right to vote here. 

JOED AN DAVIDSON. 
Lawrence, K. T., Ajyril 29, 1856. 



William Lyon called and sworn. 

Examined hy Mr. Reeder: 

I resided in this district on the 20th of March, 1855, and saw the 
hody of strangers encamped here participate in the election, and had 
some conversation with some persons as I passed through the edge of 
their camp on the day of election, and also with Mr. Shelhy, here in 
town. He told me he came something like one hundred miles to vote, 
and I understood that he lived near the Missouri river. I asked him 
how many of his party, citizens of Missouri, would vote here that 
day, and he said ahout seven or eight hundred. In answer to my re- 
mark that I supposed they would not lose a vote in Missouri in conse- 
quence of their voting here, he said they would, as they would not 
vote in Missouri for one year. That was their place of voting here, I 
understood. 

Cross-examined hy Colonel Woodson: 

Mr. Shelby said that he would not care whether there was slavery 
in Kansas or not, if they could have security for their property, hut 
they were sure they could not. The conversation that I had in 
coming through the edge of their camp had nothing to do with the 
election, I thought it was not safe to say anything ahout it. I saw 
persons there armed with shot guns, pistols, and clubs, but no one 
harmed me. Mr. Shelby named the place he was from, but I do not 
recollect it now. 

To Mr. Reeder: 

He gave his name and address to the editors of the Kansas Tribune, 
to which he subscribed. 

WILLIAM LYON. 
Lawrence, K. T., Jjyril 29, 1856. 



J. B. Abbott called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder: 

I was one of the judges of election in this city on the 30th of March, 
1855. We got together at the time appointed, and Mr. Blanton had 
resigned. After about another hour we chose another judge and 
opened the polls. The first man who offered his vote was, I think, a 
man named Page, and took the oath that he was a resident of the 
Territory. I inquired of him if he had a home in any other place. 
He said he had; that he lived in Missouri. I inquired if he intended 
to make this Territory his home. He said he did not ; that he ex- 
pected to go back after the election. I told him I could not consent 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 155 

to his voting, and referred him to the rest of the board, Mr. Cameron, 
noe of the other judges, had also stated that if he intended to go back 
to the State of Missouri after he had voted, he could not permit him 
to vote. He asked him one question further; if he was a hona fide 
settler of the territory. He said he was, and Mr. Cameron tlien said 
if that was the case he did not think he could prevent his voting. 

Before we had got through with him. Colonel Young came forward 
and requested Mr. Page to withdraw his vote and allow him to vote. 
Colonel Young said^ the manner in which he should present his vote 
would be the manner in which all his people should present their 
votes, and that if he was permitted to vote all the rest could vote. 
He was then put upon his oath. I questioned him as to his residence. 
He stated he was a hono^ fide resident of the Territory. I inquired if 
he had any home in any other State. He said it was^^^none of mj 
business or anybody's else. He said that if men swore they were 
residents it was my business to receive their votes as legal voters of 
the Territory. T told him it was the business of the board, as I un- 
derstood it, to inquire and satisfy themselves as to that, and not let 
voters decide as to their own cases. He refused to answer any other 
question in any other form, except that he was a hona fide resident of 
the Territory; but finally, in arguing the case, he said that in voting 
here men would disfranchise themselves in his State for one year. He 
said he could not and should not attempt to vote in Missouri for one 
year after he had voted here- In asking him some other questions he 
said he considered them impertinent, and that he was incompetent of 
perjuring himself; and stated that if any one insinuated that he had 
perjured himself, or was competent to perjure himself, he would tear 
their heads from their shoulders. I told the colonel his threats would 
probably make no difference in the minds of the judges, but they 
would try to satisfy themselves as to the right of the voters. The 
question was then taken upon his right to vote, and two of the judges 
decided he had a right to vote, and his vote was received. I told the 
board if they were going to permit men to vote upon such evidence as 
that, I would have nothing more to do with them, and I resigned. 

I came over the evening previous to the election, and had a consul- 
tation with Mr. Cameron. There was a number of gentlemen at the 
"Free State" office, at that time, from the camp; and one of them 
came to us and advised us to resign, as our position was a dangerous 
one ; and that if we knew the crowd that had come up as well as they 
did, he did not think that they could be induced to sit as judges. At 
that time both of us agreed we would go to the polls, let the conse- 
quences be what they might. During the conversation with Colonel 
Young, he told me he lived in Missouri, and also the county he lived 
in, but I do not remember that. 

I have resided in this district since the first settlement of it, and I 
have never seen Colonel Young here since that time. From my know- 
ledge of this district, I think he has never resided here. During the 
consultation in the morning about Colonel Young's vote, Mr. Cum- 
mins agreed that all persons who were here at that time were resi- 
dents, and consequently legal voters. 

JAMES B. ABBOTT. 

Lawrence, K. T., 3Iay 2, 1856, 



156 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Ira W. Ackley called aud sworn. 

Exaiuiuod by Mr. Reedcr : 

I came into the Territory on the IGtli of September, 1854, from 
Cataraui^'us county, New York, and settled in tliis district, and have 
resided here ever since. I was hereon the 30th of ]\Iarch, 1855. I 
saw a party of strangers come in liere, wliich I heard estimated from six 
hundred to eight hundred or one thousand, and 1 should think there 
were about that number. I think the most of them encamped in a 
body. I saw their camp. They attended the election that day and 
voted. They were armed ; the most that I noticed had rillos and shot 
guns, and a great many had revolvers and bowie knives ; some of 
them had clubs. There was music — a drum and life — and they had 
flags. They marched once, I think, with music to the polls, and fired 
their guns. I tried to get to the polls a great many times during the 
forenoon, but could not succeed ; and many who voted had to go over 
the top of the house, as there Avas such a crowd they could not get 
back. In the afternoon they formed in a column two by two, and 
went up by the window. They stated their object in voting here was 
to carry the election, and have slavery here. A good many of them 
said that they would have slavery here, or dissolve the Union, or die. 
After the election they left. I saw in the afternoon, after the line 
was formed, some of them would vote and pass back to the end of the 
line, and pass up and vote again. I noticed three do that, and thought 
there were many more. 

Cross examined by Mr. Oliver : 

I do not remember tlie names of any of those who made the declara- 
tion I have mentioned. One told me lie lived near Jeiferson city ; I 
bought some Osage orange seed of him. I heard some declare there 
were numbers here from the north and east who had no more right 
to vote than they had. I do not remember of hearing them say that 
there were societies in the north to make this a free State, and they 
would beat them at their own game. I heard them say that they un- 
derstood a number from the northern and eastern States, who had 
recently arrived, were going to vote, and they had the same right as 
the otliers. 

IRA W. ACKLEY. 

Lawrence, April 2G, 1856. 



Points of objection by Mr. Oliver, toucldnq the mode of examininq unt- 
ness, d'c, ^filed April 2S,lS5ib. 

As a member of the "Kansas Investigating Committee," the un- 
dersigned makes the following points of objection to the mode of ex- 
amining witness, as now pursued by the committee ; and, to the end 
of rendering his points manifest, he, in the first place, begs to advert 
briefly to the resolutions defining the powers and jurisdiction of said 
committee. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 157 

The first resolution provides, among other things, that said com- 
mittee "shall proceed to inquire into and collect evidence in rofard 
to the troubles in Kansas generally, and particularly in regard to any 
fraud or force altempted or praclined in reference to any of the elec- 
tions which have taken place in said Territory, either under the law- 
organizing said Territory, or under any pretended law which may be 
alleged to have taken effect therein since." 

Under this clause of" the resolution, the undersigned maintains that 
the only points, in regard to whick the committee are authorized to 
take evidence at all, are, as to whether there were any fraudulent or 
illegal votes given at any election, or any other acts done in fraud of 
the ballot box ; as, for example, force employed or used, or attempted 
to be employed or used, in reference to any election in said Territory, 
and wliich was intended to constrain, restrain, or intimidate voters ; 
and also in regard to the troul)les in Kansas generally. Then as to 
the affirmation that illegal or fraudulent votes were given, the under- 
signed maintains that the names of the persons alleged to have cast 
illegal votes should be given, and that all such, being competpnt wit- 
nesses, should bo subpci^naed to appear before the committee to give 
evidence touching their alleged illegal voting ; and the undersigned 
objects to, and enters his solemn [)rotest against, allowing witnesses to 
state what they heard certain persons say on the day of or before the 
election, or any of them, as to tlieir having voted and not being resi- 
dents of the Territory ; especially, when the witness is unable to give 
the names of the persons of whose declarations he testifies. He in- 
sists that this species of evidence (hearsay) is never allowable in courts 
of law or equity ; and that to allow such evidence in regard to the 
subjects of tlie committee's investigation would be, and is, unjust to 
the parties whose rights or interests are to be affected by it ; and that 
such evidence would be, and is, violative of the well established rules 
of evidence, as recognized by all standard works on evidence, and es- 
pecially Gi'cenleaf, on that branch of jurisprudence, whose works on 
evidence tlio committee have, }>y agreement, adopted as the standard 
autliority in tlieir investigations; and the undersigned insists on the 
application of the rules as laid down by that eminent author. 

As to the affirmation that force was "attempted, or practised in 
reference to any elections" in the Territory of Kansas since its organ- 
ization, the undersigned maintains that these allegations should be 
proven as any other facts ; and the only proofs that can legally be 
admitted are to the effect that actual force was employed, or attempted 
to be employed, to force and control the voters at any of said elections ; 
and that the mere presence of persons, in great or small numbers, 
armed, at or about the polls would not be sufficient, unless such per- 
sons actually employed their power directly to control the ballot box, 
or that tlicy directly attempted to do so. Relying upon the foregoing 
points, the undersigned maintains that the evidence should be limited 
to the i)ropositions of force employed or attempted to control said elec- 
tion, by violently anl forcibly interfering with voters in reference to 
the election and their right to vote. 

The undersigned d.sires this paper to be filed. 

M. OLIVER. 



158 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

John C. Davidson recalled. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder: 

I was here at the election of March 30, 1855. I moved into the 
Territory in July, 1854, from Carroll county, Missouri. I had moved 
to Missouri from Virginia in 1839. I saw a large body of strangers 
encamped here on the day of election in March, 1855. I was at one 
camp composed of men I knew in Carroll county when I lived there. 
I had conversation with two of them upon the subject of their being 
here. I do not recollect that they told me how many were here from 
Carroll county, or from Missouri. They told me they came here to 
vote ; that they considered they had a right to vote here ; that accord- 
ing to the way the Kansas-Nebraska bill was drawn up they had a 
right to vote here while they were residing here, and they were resid- 
ing here while they were here. They said they came here to vote and 
intended to vote, and would not be driven from the polls ; that each 
man of them was prepared to go eight rounds without loading and the 
ninth round with the butcher knife. They said they had come into 
the Territory some two or three days before the election and intended 
to go back as soon as the election was over ; the}^ said they did not 
intend to settle here. The men I talked with said they came from 
Carroll county. I saw men here from Lexington that I was acquainted 
with, but had but little conversation with them. I do not recollect 
of seeing any men from other places I was acquainted with. 

By Mr. Woodson: 

The men I was talking with said that eastern men were coming up 
the river with pasted on the front of their hats, in large letters, that 
they intended to make Kansas a free State, and that they considered 
they had as good a right to come here and vote as the eastern men. 
I did not hear any other reason given. 

JOHN C. DAVIDSON. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 3, 1856. 



Dr. John Doy called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

About two weeks previous to the 30th of March, 1855, I renewed 
an acquaintance with a person who went by the name of Red Robin- 
son, from Missouri. I asked him his business. He took me into 
where the post office was then held, in Lykin's log house, on the other 
side of the ravine, and I saw a great quantity of provisions, bacon, 
flour, meal, corn, and oats, &c. He said that we were going to have 
a number of boys shortly to help us to vote and this was to provision 
them. In looking around I saw that the provisions seemed all arranged^ 
the bacon in a pile ; the flour in a pile ; the corn meal in a pile, and the 
oats in bags in a pile, and the corn in bags in a pile. Before he had 
told me what the provisions were for I had bought some corn and 
meal from him. At the time of the election I saw Robinson and 



KANSAS AFFAIRS 159 

William Lykins deal out the provisions to the companies here en- 
camped in the ravine. 

I saw among the different companies little flags with inscriptions 
on them^ such as "Clay county hoys," &c. I was with Mr. Bond 
and Mr. Stearns when Mr. Bond was driven off the ground and shot 
at. Mr. Milt. McGee, a Missourian, came up and pointed at Mr. 
Bond, and said there was a Lawrence bully. Some four or five persons 
made at him then, as I was standing close to him, and he ran round 
the end of the building down towards the river. I heard a shot, then 
Mr. Jackson Bush shoved aside a rifle that was levelled at Bond. 

The same party came back, with an addition, with Colonel Young 
with them, to where Mr. Stearns and myself were still standing. 
Stearns was pointed out as an abolitionist, and Colonel Young took 
him up in his arms and asked them if they intended to injure such a 
little man as that, as he weighed but 125 pounds, balancing him in 
his arms at the same time. After some preliminaries. Colonel Young 
took Mr. Stearns away, off the ground. They then came back to me, 
headed by George Thornton, of Independence, who pointed me out as 
an abolitionist. He said he knew it by my discussion with him the 
night before in the streets, against their coming here to take away our 
political privileges, &c. 1 asked him if my time had come now, as 
they had driven off Mr. Bond and Mr. Stearns. His lips began to 
tremble, and he asked if I had intended to insult him by what I had 
said the evening before. I said he knew I did not by the way we dis- 
cussed the subject. He then turned round and said, "if you will say 
you did not intend to insult me by what you said, that is sufficient." 
He then requested the men to leave me and walked off himself. I did 
not get an opportunity to vote until in the afternoon, towards night, 
when I voted. 

By Mr. Woodson: 

This Jackson Bush lived in the Territory at that time, about three 
miles from this place, and was a farmer. He came from Missouri into 
the Territory, and formerly from Kentucky. He is living here now. 
William Lykins I have spoken of is the son of Dr. Lykins, of Kan- 
sas City, Missouri. 

JOHN DOY. 

Lawrence, K. T., 3Iay 3, 1856. 



A. B. Wade called and sworn. 



To Mr. Kinsr: 



I went into the Territory and made my claim on the 5th of June, 
1854, and settled in the town of Lawrence. I was a candidate for 
the legislature on the 30th of March, 1855, and was elected. There 
were a great many emigrants came into the district from the time of 
taking the census up to the election, and greater in the month of 
March than at any time before, and as many as at any time since. 

I did not canvass tliut district much, and there was very little can- 



160 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

vassing done. At the time of the election, from all I could know, 
believe the free State party had a majority at that time, but not so 
great as they themselves represented. The free State party were 
divided, and many ,of them would not vote for their candidates. 
I endeavered myself to get the candidates they nominated in order to 
make this split, Mr. C. W. Babcock was a candidate for nomination, 
but he was got to resign at the nominating convention. The pro- 
slavery men were at that meeting, and we got them to nominate S. 
N. Wood, who was known to be one of the rankest abolitionists there, 
dnd we voted for him and for Mr. Gooden, so as to have the free State 
party divided, and they were nominated. I know a great many free 
State men who voted that day the pro-slavery ticket, I saw them vote 
myself, and a great many came to mp and got our tickets. 

Dr. Kobinson had been gone east, so I was told, several weeks, and 
he returned to town the evening of the day of election, and the first 
I saw of him was coming across from Lawrence to the place of elec- 
tion with fifty or one hundred men, quite a string of them marching 
up to the polls. He marched them right up to the polls and they voted 
the free State ticket, and then he marched them back. They were all 
strangers to me, and he had just come in with them that day, I 
knew most of the free State men residing in the district at that time. 
From my knowledge of the district, and the way the free State men 
voted, I think if all the votes of the Missourians and these strange 
eastern men had been thrown out, we would have had the same result. 
I believe our ticket got a majority of the legal voters according to the 
census. I saw nothing to intimidate the free State men from voting, 
and all were invited to come up and vote, and they came in line with 
the pro-slavery men and came up and voted. 

The Missourians who came there said they came to rebut the illegal 
votes they believed were coming from the east. I heard several of the 
jirincipal men say if the eastern men kept away they would not molest 
the election. They were referring to the statements made about the 
eastern men on the day of the nomination. Mr. Brown, the editor of 
the Herald of Freedom, stated on the day of the nomination, that 
there need be no fear about their being beaten, as he had just received 
a letter from Mr. Slater, of St. Louis, informing him that there were 
between six and eight hundred eastern men on the river on their way 
up, and would be up on the day of election, and three hundred 
would be at Lawrence. This thing was well understood, and the Mis- 
sourians heard of it. 

A great many Missourians came tliere in the evening before the elec- 
tion and camped, and on the next morning some two" hundred went ofi" 
in squads in different directions, some saying they were going to Te- 
cumseh, and others to different points. I think I heard the Missou- 
rians express themselves in this way: that if the emigrant aid socie- 
ties would let the Territory alone they would let the settlers settle the 
question themselves. 

Cross-examined by Mr, Sherman : 

I think all the hundred men who came up and voted with Robinson 
were eastern men, and all were strangers to me ; they voted in a body 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 161 

together, one after the other. I know that the following were old 
residents there : C. W. Babcock; I know several Nichols and three 
Aliens, a Mr. Forman, John Hutchinson, a Mr. Morgan, S. N. Simp- 
son, H. Bronson, Ellis Bond, M. M. Hammond, S. J. Willis, J. A. 
Ladd, a Mr. Lowe, Charles Robinson, a Mr. Johnson (but not his 
given name,) also a Mr. Kimball, Edward Clark, S. C. Pomeroy, but 
not S. 0. Pomeroy. These names that I have given were settlers at 
that time. I do not think these men were in that crowd of a hundred. 
I do not know where Robinson had been, and I do not know that he 
returned from Tecumseh that day. I do not know that Robinson voted 
with that company that time or not, but he went up to the polls with 
them. I do not know that Mr. Babcock headed that company ; he 
may have done so, but I do not recollect of seeing him about the polls 
that day. There was quite an increase of the population in one dis- 
trict that spring, and a great many pro-slavery and free-State men 
came in. I think from all I could learn by inquiry, that the two 
sides were pretty nearly divided ; there may have been more free-State 
men than pro-slavery men ; I lived in Lawrence, and saw more free- 
State men as they passed that way. 

To Mr. King: 

The names I have given without their given names, I do not know 
whether they were the men on the poll-books or not. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

I do not know whether they left the next day. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I saw this company come up, and the greater majority of them were 
strangers to me ; as they came up it was asked who they were, and 
it was said they were Robinson's company, and had just come in. I 
was in town the day before and heard nothing of him then. 

A. B. WADE. 

Westport, Missouri, June 9, 1856. 



John M. Banks called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I moved into the Territory of Kansas about the middle of Septem- 
ber, 1854, at what is called Hickory Point, on the Santa Fe road, in 
the first district. I was a candidate at the election of 30th of March, 
1855, and was at Lawrence on the day of election. I was tolerably 
acquainted with the relative strength of the two parties in that dis- 
trict. I thought the two parties were pretty nearly balanced, but 
that, in a lair vote of the district, the pro-slavery party would have 
the majority. I did not canvass the district very much ; I was in the 
different neighborhoods, but made no general canvass. 

When I got to the place of holding the polls one of the judges ap- 
pointed by the governor had resigned, and they were about choosing 
H. Rep. 200 11* 



162 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

one in liis place. The appointment was made, and the polls were 
opened, and the people commenced votin<2;. 

There were a great many people around the polls, quite a crowd 
about the window. I saw some gentlemen try to make a passage 
through for the voters ; got ropes to do so, but could not ; and then 
they got poles and put down there, and thus formed a passage, so that 
men could come up and vote and then pass along out. 

At first it was so crowded that I saw some men lifted up over the 
house, and some crawled along over the others' shoulders. There 
were Missourians there, and I saw some of them voting. 

Whether they had mnde claims before that I do not know; I know 
that a good many of them had claims. Some five or six came over 
and laid claims and have worked on them and resided on them since, 
in my own neighborlmod. There was a good deal said there that day, 
but 1 do not recollect of hearing any of the Missourians say they had 
come to counteract the votes of the eastern aid emigrants. I did not 
know many; some four or five, who were not entitled to vote, had no 
claims, and have not seen them in the Territory since. There were 
four young men who were in my neighborhood some eight or ten days 
before the election and made chiims, but have not been back to tliem 
since. I did not know all the people there, and cannot say that I 
know any one personally who voted there who had no pretence to a 
claim, but were voting illegally. Almost every one I spoke to that 
day either said they had claims or were going to make claims and 
live in the Territory. I saw no man kept from voting that day. 
All were privileged to get to the polls if they could get to the polls 
through the crowd. I saw free-State men and pro-slavery men there 
in the crowd together pushing up to the polls. There was a pro- 
slavery man from my neighborhood who would not push through the 
crowd, and after waiting till about an hour before the polls were 
closed, without getting a chance to vote, he went home witliout 
voting. 

About an hour before the polls were closed, when the crowd was 
pretty much all gone, a gentleman came along, I do not recollect 
who he was, and said Robinson was just coming into Lawrence with 
a hundred men. I suppose it was a quarter of an hour after that 
I saw a parcel of men come across from Lawrence towards the house 
where the polls were held. They came forward and marched up to 
the window and voted and went back to town without making any 
halt. I counted between sixty and seventy ot thenl, and there might 
have been more of them. I did not count all of them, but turned 
and walked away. There wi;re between sixty and seventy of them 
marched up in one column. 

I do not recollect wliether I saw Dr. Robinson at that time, though 
I had seen him during the evening some time. I had seen none of 
these men about Lawrence before, and they were all strangers to me. 
No one objected to their voting. 

S. N. Wood and 1 were talking, and he said: "There are some 
arrivals as well as Missouri arrivals." That was all I heard about 
them. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 163 

I think there were illesjal votes on both sides, hut I thought that 
there were more from Missouri than on the other side, until these 
sixty or seventy came up in the evening, and then I eouhl not tell 
how it stood. I entered into no arrangement by which illegal votes 
were to be brought there to secure my election, and did not desire to 
be elected except by legal votes. The increase of emigration between 
the taking of the census and the day of election was greater than 
ever before, as that was a good country and emigration seemed to be 
directed there, both free State and pro-slavery. I know a good many 
who had been there during the fall and winter and made claims, who 
were not there at the time of taking the census, but came in before 
tlie day of election. Some of them had taken their families to Mis- 
souri to spend the winter, and others had gone down there after their 
families. 

The governor ordered a new election in that district, but the candi- 
dates of the pro-slavery party would not pay any attention to the 
election, and their friends did not attend the polls. I do not know a 
pro-slavery man who went to vote at the second election. 

I am acquainted with Mr. Babcock, and knew him at the time of 
the 30th ot March election, but have no recollection of seeing him at 
the head of the party of sixty or seventy who came up in the evening. 
He might have been in that company, but I did not see him. I 
never saw any of the sixty or seventy strangers afterwards that 1 
know of, though I might have done so. I was told that some of them 
had returned to the east. I thought that the majority of those that 
came in after taking the census and before the election were pro- 
slavery men. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I cannot say how many came in during that time. They appeared 
to be taking claims all over the country during the month of March. 
I never saw the like of it before. There were a great many of them, 
but 1 could not say hov^^ many. They became residents, and I think 
a decided majority of them were jjro-slavery men. I do not refer at 
all to Missourians or others who came on the day of election, but to 
those who took claims and became actual settlers between the taking 
of the census and the day of election. 

To Mr. Howard : 

At the time ot election I lived at Hickory Point, near the Santa Fe 
road, about ten miles south of Lawrence. I was pretty well acquainted' 
in Lawrence. The country was newly settled, and we were all 
strangers to each other. I did not know all in Lawrence and its vi- 
cinity, but I think 1 knew a majorty ot the business men and men who 
lived there. 1 do not think I knew a majority of them who lived on 
claims within five miles around Lawrence. I was in the habit of 
going to Lawrence quite olten, but I cannot say that I went on an 
average of once or twice during the month of jkarch, but I think I 
did. I was travelling around considerable, but did not travel the 
same road all the time. I do not know whether 1 knew ten of the 
Toters in the district or not by name, but I think I knew more than 



164 KANSAS AFFAIRS. ' 

that by siglit. We Mvere all strangers, settling in tlie district together, 
and we did not know each other very well. I suppose that betwixt 
two and three hundred settlers moved into the district after the census 
was taken and before the election, and a majority of them were pro- 
slavery men. I think they, as a general thing, became actual settlers 
and are living there, or have sold their claims and gone to other por- 
tions of the Territory, as is customary. I think the time I saw Dr. 
Eobinson was of this party of sixty or seventy that came up to the 
polls. He was towards the back part of the line and went up to the 
polls, but I do not know whether he voted or not. I saw him just off 
the crowd, talking to some one about fifty j^^ards from the polls, and 
then he went back to Lawrence. I understood that he was coming 
from Kansas City that day with the one hundred men ; I did not see them 
on the road, and not at all that day until I saw them coming across 
to the polls. I heard the person who told me that Eobinson was 
coming with one hundred men say that there were two or three hun- 
dred more behind at Kansas City who could not get conveyances up. 
I do not know who the man was who told me this, and whether he 
was from the camp of the Missourians or not. I was standing talking 
with some one else when he came up and told us this, 

I think between two and three hundred actual settlers came in the 
district during the month of March, but I do not know as I can give 
many of their names. There was one near me by the name of Wm. 
Cummins, and there were George Mermion and Perry Kipetos, who 
moved into my immediate neighborhood. I cannot think of any more 
now. I know one family, a widow lady with some five or six young 
men in the family, by the name of Hopper, who moved in in March 
or the last of February, and settled about two miles from Lawrence. 
The Santa Fe road was the line between the first and fourth districts. 
I do not know h'>w many voters there were in the Hickory Point 
neighborhood. I supposed there were seven or eight hundred voters 
actual residents in the first district at the time of the March election. 
I do not recollect of going into the camp in the ravine back of the 
town where the election was held, though I saw several wagons and 
one or two tents over there. 

I recollect of seeing one man carrying a shot-gun on his shoulder, 
and that was all the arms I saw going there that day. I know Colonel 
Samuel Young when I see him, and I saw him there that day, I am 
positive there were more than one hundred pro-slavery voters in the 
first district at that time, though I do not know how it is now. I 
counted up something over forty near Hickory Point, and there was 
quite a settlement on the Wakarusa, many of whom were pro-slavery 
men, and I think there were some in the vicinity of Lawrence. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I believe there were three hundred pro-slavery voters in the district 
at that time. 

To Mr. King : 

The man I refer to said that Robinson had come into Lawrence with 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 165 

one hundred men, and there were two or three hund ed down to 
Kansas City who coukl not get up. I did not pay much attention to 
what he said, and shortly afterwards I saw those sixty or seventy 
coming up. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I moved into the Territory from Pennsylvania. I never attended 
any election in the western country, except those in the Territory. I 
did not know anything about the habits of the people here in carry- 
ing arms to elections. 

To Mr. King : 

T know Mr. Thomas Mockbee who keeps a store at Willow Springs. 
Mr. Mockbee was keeping store there when I went into the Territory, 
in September, 1854. His house is on the south side of the old Santa 
Fe road, but there is a road that is travelled during the summer 
months which is north of his house. We understand the old Santa 
Fe road to be the dividing line between the two districts. His store- 
house is on the same side of the road with his house. 

JOHN M. BANKS. 

Westport, Missouri, Jvmq i, 1856. 



James Whitlock testifies. 

To Mr. King : 

I was elected at the 30th of March, 1855;, election, (at Lawrence,) a 
member of the house of representatives of the Kansas Territorial 
legislature. I have resided three miles south of Lawrence since Octo- 
ber, 1854. I was present on the day of election. I did not canvass 
the district at all, as I was sick most of the time after my nomination 
and before the election. A great many I saw on the ground on the 
day of election were strangers to me, but many of them I have since 
found to have been citizens of the district. I do not myself know of 
any votes cast there that day except by residents of the district. 
There was, I think, a very great deal of emigration into the district 
after the census was taken, and before the election. I believed from 
the time I got the nomination that I v/ould beat my opponent. This 
I believed from what my friends told me, for I was not out of my 
room for three months before the election. It was rumored that the 
free-State men would vote for the pro-slavery candidate, and from the 
vote given I should think they did so. I do not know as any illegal 
votes were given that day. It was said that some right fresh emi- 
grants voted that day. Late in the evening of the day of the election 
there was a noise among the multitude that stood around the polls, 
that some emigrant aid men who arrived that day were going to vote. 
The election was held a little west of the town. I saw some seventy- 
five or eighty men, walking in double file, coming from the town to 
the place of election. There was a gentleman they told me was Gen- 



166 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

eral Pomeroy, whom I have p:ot acquainted with since, at the head of 
this party. He is known in Lawrence as the agent of the Emigrant 
Aid Society. Some of the bystanders were in favor of not letting them 
vote, for the reason that they were said to have just Landed in the 
Territory, that morning at nine o'ck^ck. I told them this, and it was 
the only thing I said during the day about voting : "^ Let them vote ; 
1 want to see every man here vote, if he is entitled to vote." The 
party went up and acted as if they were voting, and it was understood 
that they voted. I do not know what ticket they voted, but it was 
believed by the people that they voted the abolition ticket. 

There was among the people a feeling of difference between what 
they call free-State men and abolitionists. I understood that the free- 
State party tried to nominate their candidates, and were defeated by 
the abolitionists,, and would not support their ticket, and my opinion, 
founded upon rumors, is, that they did not support the abolition 
ticket. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I had no knowledge of the strength of the parties in the district, 
except from my attending an indignation meeting some months before 
the election. My opponents were considered mostly abolitionifits. At 
the time of the election I considered, if there were no illegal votes 
on either side at the election, that our party could beat the other par- 
ties easy. 

From all the information I have, I think General Whitfield is and 
has been very popular among the pro-slavery party in that district, 
and would poll a very fair vote of the party there at any election. At 
the last election I think there was some other person spoken of as a 
candidate for Congress, but no one was run but Wbitfield. At the 
time of his first election I do not think there was any division in the 
pro-slavery party, but they voted for General Whitfield. 

To Mr. King : 

From the time of Whitfielcfs first election down to the election of 
the 30th of March, 1855, I should think there was an increase of resi- 
dents in the district of four to one. When I built my house I could 
not see but one house from mine; now I can stand in my yard and 
see forty or fifty houses around me. At the time of Whitfield's first 
election there were but two or three houses between my house and 
Lawrence. At Whitfield's last election, as he had no opposition, I 
do not think there was a general turn out of the pro-slavery ])arty, as 
I know of some who did not go and vote. I was at the election, and 
I do not think there was a general turn out of the pro-slavery party. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

There was no interest taken in the election, as there was no oppo- 
sition, and the pro-slavery party thought there was no use in their 
going to vote, as Whitfield would be elected any how. 

JAMES WHITLOCK. 

Westport, Missouri, June t, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 167 

Horatio Owens testifies : j 

To Mr. King : 

I have resided in tlie first district, Kansas Territory, at Hickory- 
Point, since June, 1854. I was at the election, at Lawrence, of the 
30th of March, 1855. I am the oldest settler now at Hickory Point ; 
the two who settled there hefore I did left. About the time of the 
Maich election there was quite a heavy settlement around Hickory 
Point. There were more came in during February and March than 
I knew of before. The emigration in March was heavier than at any 
other time. A great many came in before the 30th of March, 1855. 
From ^he best information I could learn about the first district, at 
that time, the pro-slavery men had the majority. I was not much 
about Lawrence, but when I was over there at the election I got in- 
formation that many were settling in and about [jawrence both before 
and after the election. I lived twelve miles south of Lawrence. I 
saw nothing that day like trying to prevent any man from voting. 
I saw a number of men there I have never seen before or since. All 
were strangers to me, except those who were from my immediate 
neighborhood. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I voted that day. 

HORATIO OWENS. 
Westport, Missouri, June 6, 1856. 



H. W. Buckley called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I moved in March^, 1855, to about three and a half miles from Wil- 
low Springs, in the first district, and have lived there since. I was 
on the ground on the day of election, on the 30th of March, 1855, at 
Lawrence. There were a good many Missourians there that day, and 
a great many eastern men, who were strangers, persons I had not 
seen there before, I think, in the latter part of the day, something 
near one hundred of these eastern men voted the free-State ticket. I 
did not know any of the free-State men in this party of a hundred. I 
was not well acquainted at that time in Lawrence, and had never 
"been there before the day of election. I think there were some 300 or 
400 Missourians there that day^ but there were a great many who did 
not vote at all. 

H. W. BUCKLEY. 

Westport_, Missouri, June 9, 1856. 



168 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Second District — Bloomington. 

Harrison Burson called and sworn. 

I settled in the Territory on the 27th of September, 1854, in the 
second district, and have resided there ever since. I was there the 
30th of March, 1855, and was one of the judges of election in that 
district, ai)pointed by the governor. The judges met on the morning 
of the 30th, and after being sworn, the polls were opened, as near as 
I can recollect, about half-past eight o'clock We proceeded to re- 
ceive votes, and had taken some fifteen names, when a company, as 
near as I can recollect, of three hundred and upwards, came marching 
up with flags hoisted. I believe they were generally armed. They 
came to the polls and demanded to be allowed to vote. My reply was, 
that if they were legal voters they should have that privilege. I told 
them that as the most of them were not known to me, the oath re- 
quired by the law would have to be taken by them. This man Jones, 
known now as sheriff Jones, appeared to be the leader of the gang, 
and replied that they would not take the oath. His name is S. J. 
Jones, and is now acting as sheriff. I rei)lied that except they did 
take the oath they could not vote. Jones replied that they had come up 
from Missouri to vote, and they would vote, and they intended to make 
Kansas a slave-State. They stated, also, that if they could not vote 
by fair means, they would by foul. Jones, and others of the party, 
whose names I do not know, said this. They also stated ttat no man 
should vote there that day that would take the oath. Some men who 
were about the window, and had not voted when this crowd came up, 
upon attempting to vote were taken up and carried back by the mob. 
They then requested us to resign, if we would not let them vote. Our 
reply was, that we should not do it. They then stated that if we did 
not do so they would tear the house down and kill us. They made a 
rush, and stove in the window and sash together, fixed pries to the 
two corners of the house, and pried up the building some distance and 
let it fall back. It was a log house. At that moment one of the 
judges, Mr. Ellison, gathered up the ballot-box and rushed to the 
door, and said that if we did not close the polls there would be one 
hundred shots fired in here in less than filteen minutes, and we would 
all be killed. He opened the door and ran out into the crowd, taking 
the ballot-box with him, and hurrahed for Missouri. At that mo- 
ment numbers rushed in the door as fast as they could come in, with 
revolvers and drawn bowie-knives in their hands. They now filled 
the house ; and Jones, one of the first who came in, requested us to 
resign ; that if we did not resign they would kill us. Jones drew 
from his pocket his watch, and gave us five minutes in which to re- 
sign or die. He held the watch until the five minutes expired ; and 
as we did not resign, he extended the time one minute longer. About 
the expiration of the one minute, I was called out to see Mr. Wake- 
field, telling Jones I would give him an answer about resigning when 
I returned. After I got out of the house, my friends out there think- 
ing it was dangerous for me to remain there any longer, judging from 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 169 

the state of tlie crowd, and the number intoxicated there, persuaded 
me not to go back into the house. Before I left the house, I had se- 
cured the poll-books by putting them into my pocket. After consult- 
ing, we concluded to go across, some quarter of a mile, to Mr. Kam- 
say's, one of the judges, and wait to see if the rage of the crowd would 
not cool down. This Jones made an attempt to take from me what 
he thought was the poll-books, before I left the house. He seized 
them aud pulled them from me, but they were nothing but some 
blanks. Finding that they were not the poll-books, they despatched 
a company in pursuit of me. Upon my being informed of what they 
wanted, I put the poll-books in the hands of one of my friends for safe 
keeping. We both started off together from Mr. Kamsay's. Mr. 
Umberger was the one I gave the books to. We saw a number of the 
mob pursuing us. I told him to go on home, and I would take down 
the other way, and as they would pursue me he could secure the 
books. They missed me and pursued Umberger, and caught him just 
before he got to the house, and made him prisoner. They searched 
him and took the poll-books from him by force. I was in sight and 
saw all this. They asked him where I was. I was close enough, con- 
cealed in a hazel thicket, to hear their conversation. He told them he 
did not know ; but pointing the way I was going, said the last he saw 
of me I was going down that way. Jones then took Umberger behind 
him on his horse, and carried him back to the place of election. By 
this time it was about 12 o'clock, and we went across to a neighbor's 
for dinner ; I mean Mr. Jesse aud myself. I saw the election going 
on as I was standing at Mr. Wood's house, near the place where the 
election was going on. Some time in the afternoon a detachment of 
between sixty and eighty, as near as I could judge, started for Willow 
Spring. I saw them leave after they got through voting. I knew 
some of the party in the mob who were citizens of the Territory, but 
not many of them. The Lehays — two, if not three, of them — were 
there. I had seen in Missouri some of the strangers. Mr. Jones 
lived in Westport at that time. I came here to this Territory from 
niinois. 

Cross-examined by Col. Woodson : 

I did my trading at Westport, and frequently saw Mr. Jones there. 
I heard him say, on the day of tlie election, that he came up from 
Missouri ; but heard him say nothing of his residence. He was not 
a resident of this Territory previous to his being appointed sheriff 
here. Mr. Wood's house, I should judge, was about four hundred 
yards from the polls. I was at a nearer point than that at one time, 
but not to the polls. I saw them voting, handing in their tickets at 
the window, but did not know them. I saw different persons voting. 
I could not recognise them from my place ; but I could tell they were 
not citizens. I knew there were, several citizens present who had not 
voted, and had left the polls before I did. I could distinguish be- 
tween the Lehays and the strangers by their dress. I did not see 
any citizens vote at that time. What I mean by voting is, that I 
saw them handing in their tickets. I had walked up where I was, 
about two hundred yards from the polls. There were one or two 
persons with me ; Mr. Jesse was one. I am not positive that there 



170 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

were any others. I understood these strangers were not residents, 
because I knew most of the residents of the district. When they 
first came up they said they came from Missouri, and I recognised the 
crowd voting as the same crowd. I came to the Territory the fall 
before the election, and by that time knew most of the persons in that 
district. It was said there were many emigrants coming in that 
spring, but not many in the district where I lived. Most of those 
there were from Missouri and Illinois. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

This election was held in Bloomlngton, on the Wakarusa, some ten 
or twelve miles from Lawrence, southwest from here. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I do not know who has the poll-books of the second district. Mj 
means of learning the residents were from travelling over the district 
and laying down the lines. I knew the greater part, except men 
who had just come in. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I had been appointed and was acting as a justice of the peace. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

The citizens were not armed, as far as I knew. 

H. BURSON. 
Lawrence, K. T., April 28, 1856. 



Harrison Burson recalled. 

I have examined the list of voters for the second district for the 
29th November, 1854. I find somewhere in the neighborhood of 
thirty persons on that list who were residents of that district at that 
time. I examined the list in connexion with the census returns. 
There were two hundred odd votes polled at that election. 

H. BURSON. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 28, 1856. 



Nathaniel Ramsay called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory on the 27th of September, 1854, from 
Illinois. I settled on Wakarusa, in the second district, close to 
Bloomington, and have resided there ever since. I was appointed 
one of the judges of election for March 30, 1855. The polls were 
opened about half-past eight o'clock, and we proceeded to take tickets 
till about half-past nine o'clock. Some twenty-five or thirty tickets, 
I think, had been polled up to that time. Some four or five of them 
were not known to the judges as residents, and were sworn. A large 
number of men then came up in wagons and carriages, d,nd on horse- 
back. I should judge there were between two and three hundred of 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 171 

tliem. They were strangers to me. I was tolerably well acquainted 
in the district. They were mostly all armed with revolvers and 
knives. Some few had double-barreled guns. There w^ere several 
flags in that company. Most of the company seemed pretty much in- 
toxicated. They came to the polls to vote. We requested them to 
prove they were actual residents of the Territory, or swear to it. 
They refused to be sworn, and said if we did not let them vote peace- 
ably, they would vote otherwise. There were several men they 
called captains and lieutenants, whom I was not acquainted with. I 
saw Mr. Jones, the sheriff now, with the company. Claiborne Jack- 
son was there. I do not know where he resided. They would not 
be sworn to vote, and they said no man should vote that day who 
was willing to be sworn ; and while I was sitting as one of the judges, 
they would let no man be sworn. They hurrahed around there, and 
ran one or two men from the polls who said they were willing to be 
sworn as to their residence. They then broke in the windows, and 
pried up the house a little ways, and h^t it fall back again. Mr. 
Ellison then took up the ballot-box, and ordered the polls to be closed 
for the day. He carried the box with him out of doors to the C(^tnpany 
around the house, and cried out "Hurrah for Missouri!" He then 
walked back to the door, and called for the election of two otlier judges; 
A company of some six or eiglit men then rushed in the door, with 
knives and revolvers, and called upon us to resign, which we did not 
do. Mr. Jones then took a watch from his pocket, and gave us five 
minutes to resign in or die. The time expired, and he limited us to 
another minute. At this time the company in there had their re- 
volvers ready to shoot, and their knives in their hands ready to stab. 
I then left the house with Mr. Burson, and ])roceeded to my own 
house, about a quarter of a mile distant. Mr. Burson left my house, 
while I remained there. A ])arty of about fifteen men rode up, 
demanding the poll-books. I told them the poll-books were not 
there. They then asked where Burson was. I told them he had 
started off west from the house. They proceeded that direction. It 
was some ten minutes before they returned. They stated, when they 
returned, that they had found the poll-books, and taken Umberger as 
prisoner. They arrested Wakefield at my house, and took him off as 
prisoner. There was a company of about twenty-five ; some fifteen 
were on horseback, and there was a wagon-load besides. I do not 
know how many. When they came up and demanded Wakefield 
from a company of men who were there, who refused, they said they 
would take him dead or alive. They said if he would go back with 
them, and explain somethinji; — I did not hear what — there should not 
be a hair of his head touched. They were all armed with revolvers. 
They took him away with them. Wakefield returned in a short 
time. I did not go back to the election ground that day. The resi- 
dents left about the time we did, and went home. These strangers 
said no man should vote that day, unless he would vote an open ticket, 
and who was "right on the goose." They stated, at my house, that 
the 30th of March was a very important day with them, as Kansas 
was to be made a slave State on that day. I did not hear them say 



173 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

where they came from. The greater part of them were strangers to 
me. I was tolerahly well acquainted in that district. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson: 

They came to my house and told me this was an important election. 
There were some fifteen of them. Mr. Jones was with them; and 
they said they must have the poll-books, as that was an important 
election with them. Umberger was a jirisoner with them. 

NATHANIEL EAMSAY. 

Lawrence, K. T., Jpril 28, 1856. 



James M. Dunn called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory about the first of November, 1854, from 
the State of Maine. I settled near Bloomington, in the second dis- 
trict, and have resided there ever since. I was at the election of the 
30th of March, 1855 ; I went to the j)olls very early in the morning. 
We had heard that there was a great number of teams between Bloom- 
ington and Westport, coming up from the States. After I got there, 
teams arrived in such large numbers as to surprise me ; they continued 
to arrive until near nine o'clock, I counted the teams, and made out 
70 — two and four-horse wagons. There were 150 mules and horses, 
saddled, hitched there after they arrived. At the opening of the polls, 
all was quiet for some time. The wagons were pretty well filled, and 
contained from four to six each, and, in some cases, as many as eight, 
I should think, ''^hings remained quiet for a time. This party went 
to the west side of the house, and held a little caucus by themselves 
awhile. Some twenty or more votes were polled. They then came to 
the window where the voting was done, and went there to give in 
votes. The judges of the election were not satisfied they were resi- 
dents of the Territory, and wanted them to take the oath prescribed, 
which they refused to do. The judges contended that they could not 
act according to their instructions without doing so. The other party 
said that, if they had been here two minutes, it was as good as two 
years, and they had a perfect right to, and would, vote. The judges 
still insisted upon their being sworn. They refused, and said they 
would shoot any person who would swear. They then, to a great ex- 
tent, left the window, and went to another spot, perhaps some fifty 
feet distant, when a gentleman made a speech to them, I asked who 
the gentleman was, and I was told he was Mr. Jackson, from Jackson 
county, Missouri. He said, in his speech, that all knew what they had 
come there for. They had come there to vote. " We will," said he, 
"peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must." That was the sentence 
he used. The mob then went to a large wagon, hauled there by eight 
oxen, and handed out a great many arms ; I did not count how many. 
They were mostly revolvers that I saw. They tied a white tape or 
piece of cloth in the button-holes of their coats, when those arms were 
given out. They then came back to the window, with declarations 
that they would vote, and demanded that the judges should resign im- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 173 

mediately. After a good deal of noise^ confusion, and threatening, 
tlie judges left the house. I was not in the house, and do not know 
what was said in there. I heard those outside of the house say that, 
if they did not resign in five minutes, they would cut their throats. I 
tried an hoiir and a half to get to the window to vote. They would 
not let me vote without showing my ticket, which I did. They then 
crowded me away by force, and I could not vote. My ticket was for 
Wakefield for council, and Macey and Davis for representatives. The op- 
position candidate was McDonald, I think, for councilman, G. W. Ward 
and 0. H. Brown for the lower house. They were willing we should 
come and vote after they got control of the ballot-box. Most of the 
citizens went home ; but a few remained, though I know of none who 
voted. I saw one man of this mob take a small man by the collar and 
tell him he might vote if he would vote the ticket with McDonald, 
Ward, and Brown on it. He would not vote that ticket, and they 
thrust him out over their shoulders, as there was such a crowd he 
could not get out any other way. One man said he was hired to come 
there and vote, and by God he would vote. While these scenes were 
being enacted, they were accompanied with a great deal of noise, con- 
fusion, and swearing. These people were intoxicated more or less. I 
knew S. J. Jones in Wesport; he was a very prominent man on the 
day of election, and took a very active part. I considered him a leader. 
I had been in the post office at Westport, and took letters out there 
when he was postmaster there. I had never heard of his moving into 
the Territory, and had no doubt he lived in Westport. I lived in 
Westport some two months before I moved into the Territory, and he 
tended the post office there, where my letters were usually directed. 

I w^as on the ground the principal part of the day of election. I be- 
lieve I was about the first man there. I went home at noon, about 
one mile, for dinner, and came back and remained until it became dark. 
This party brought Mr. Wakefield back to the polls. I could not say 
how many there were in that party ; there were from fifteen to thirty- 
five, and they were armed. I do not know who headed the party. I 
had lived in the district from the previous November. We were fre- 
quently called together in the district to erect log-cabins for one 
another and for strangers, and by that means became acquainted. 

This party who came there, upon inquiry of a number of them, con- 
fessed to me that they were from Missouri. I asked one of them what 
he would do if we were to go to their election and act as they did, 
and he replied, "We would whip you out." I heard this gentleman, 
who made the speech, tell his party what they came for, and, for one, 
he was not willing to go away till it was accomplished. They gave 
him three cheers when he closed his speech. I staid on the ground 
till the last of this party left. They went away the road they came, 
toward Westport, Missouri. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : ' 

I was acquainted with this man Jones before I moved into the Ter- 
ritory. During the winter before the election I did not see Mr. Jones, 
and do not know where he resided, only as report said. I suppose he 
resided at Westport, as he kept the post office there. I do not know 



174 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

the time he was postmaster, but have taken letters from the office 
while he was there. 

The wagons came in companies of two, five, and ten along the 
road, and all arrived in the couise of two hours. They had colors fly- 
ing, but not in martial order. Some of them of whom I inquired 
told me they were from Missouri. I supposed they were all from Mis- 
souri ; because I asked them where they were from, and they told me 
so. I do not know how many I asked that question of. It was usual 
to ask every one, actual residents and all, where they were from; but 
we knew nearly all in the district. I think I inquired of twenty or 
thirty men, who told me they were from Missouri. Some who came 
in that crowd did not vote, and said they would not have come had 
they known the conduct there would be thus. 

I do not recollect that I personally know of Mr. Jones acting as 
postmaster at Westport between the time I arrived in the fall and this 
election. After the election I was in the post office and he handed 
me my letters. I cannot be certain in regard to the time. 

By Mr. Sherman: 

I did not converse with any one that said he had come through 
Lawrence, or had been there. Mr. Jackson, in his speech, did not 
mention the place where they came from as I recollect. 

JAMES M. DUNN. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 28, 1856. 



J. N. Mace called and sworn. 

By Mr. Keeder : 

I came into the Territory about the 1st of September, 1854, I set- 
tled first in Lawrence. I moved into the second district about the last 
of February, 1855, and have resided there ever since. I was at the 
election of the 30th ot March, 1855. I reached the polls somewhat 
late, having seven miles to go. There was a very large crowd around 
the window there, so that it was very difficult of access. I heard 
cries from the crowd that "no damned Yankee should vote there that 
day; that the first man who took the oath, they would rip his guts 
out." Those were the words they used. I went arOund the house, 
as I could not get to the window from the eastern side. I attempted 
to get through the crowd so as to put in my vote. After a struggle 
of perhaps an hour, I got near the window. A man was at the win- 
dow attempting to vote. The judges required the oath of him; he 
was willing to give it, but the persons on the outside told him if he 
did so, they would instantly kill him. He then left, saying they had 
lost one good vote, as he was "right on the goose." I then stepped 
forward to the window, when a man on my right took hold of my 
arm and said, "Unfold that vote and let me see it." I told him I 
came there by the United States law to vote, and that law gave me 
the right to vote by ballot; and if I could not vote so, 'I would not 
vote at all. They then asked me if I should take the oath. I told 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 175 

them if tlie judges required the oath, of me, I should take it accord- 
ing to law. An old gentleman with a white string in the button-hole 
of his coat then stepped up. They asked me to give way for him to 
vote, as he was an old man ; and I did so. After he had voted, I 
stepped forward, put my hand inside the window, and gave my name ; 
when, at a word, from one of the two men who stood one on each side 
of the widow, I was seized by the people in the crowd, and dragged 
from the polls through the entire crowd. They made shouts of "Kill 
the damned nigger-thief," "■ Cut his throat," and many cries of that 
kind. I saw revolvers cocked and bowie-knives drawn, all around 
me, at that time. After I had been dragged out of the crowd I 
regained my feet. I had a small American flag under my arm. 
When I got to my feet, I uni'urled it and held it over my head. I 
told them that we were here, and had no law to protect us, and I 
sought protection under the American flag, which was universally re- 
spected in foreign countries, and I supposed it would be here. The 
crowd did not seem to understand what it meant, and they let me 
alone. Some of them asked what it meant ; and some one of their 
party said they had better not kill a man when he was under the 
American flag. I heard some voices say that flag was false, and 
pointed to a flag waving over one of their wagons with one star in it, 
and said that was the true flag. I then said, " Who calls this flag 
false are traitors." One man who had a large cloak on^ threw it off 
and came up to me, and, thrusting his fist in my face, asked me if I 
called him a traitor. I said, if he called that flag false he was a 
traitor. Then another man stepped up to me, and told me to take 
that back, at the same time opening a clasp-knife, and put it so it 
touched the breast of my coat. Another man had a revolver, which 
he held close to my ear. Another man struck at me with a club, and 
a friend of mine turned it ofl" with his arm, and it struck somebody 
else. At this instant, a fight, or row of some kind, was got up at 
some distauce, which attracted their attention, and they left me. I 
then walked around the building, and saw some individuals with a 
large lever attempting to pry up the house, so as to take the logs out. 
They did not succeed, as they could not lift the logs high enough to 
take one from under the other. While they were looking for a large 
fulcrum, a man came out of the house with a bundle of papers in his 
hand, and held them up, saying, " We have got the documents." 
1 saw Mr. Ellison come out with the ballot-box, holding it up over 
the crowd, and hurrahing for Missouri; that is about all I saw. I did 
not know any of the crowd, or any there, except those Avho lived in 
the district. I should think I did not see more than twenty residents 
of the district in the crowd, the rest beiug foreigners. I did not hear 
any of them say where they came from. I heard some of them say 
they came there to vote, and they would vote in spite of the Presi- 
dent, the governor, the laws, and the devil. I think 1 staid there till 
about 12 o'clock — about three hours. I did not know S. J. Jones at 
that time. 1 know him now by sight. I could not say whether he 
was there or not. Almost all the people there had white strings in 
their button-holes. The one of whom I spoke I knew by sight ; h« 



176 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

lived in the Territory. There were seven that went to the polls in 
company with me, and we all came back without voting. 

J. N. MACE. 
Lawrence, K. T., April 28, 1856. 



J. C. Dunn called and sworn. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

I came into the Territory in the month of December, 1854, and 
settled on the Wakarusa, near Bloomington, and have resided within 
the vicinity of Bloomington ever since. I was at the election of the 
30th of March, 1855. I was one of the clerks to take down the names 
of those who swore. I was on the ground about as soon as any one 
there. All this crowd got there in about two hours from the time 
they commenced to arrive. I supposed them to be people from Mis- 
souri. I thought there were from 500 to TOO of them. They came 
on horses and in wagons. They were principally armed with re- 
volvers. There was a large wagon drove up in front of the door ; it 
contained Colt's revolvers and a great many double-barreled shot- 
guns. I saw that their arms were all capped and loaded. After 
Ellison was called to the door, he went out and returned directly, and 
stated there would be one hundred shots in less than fifteen minutes 
if we did not leave. There was a cry outside not to shoot, as there 
were two pro-slavery men there. At that time I was sitting by the 
window as a clerk, and there was one on the outside who called out 
for the crowd to get away from the window until he shot the God 
damned white-headed abolition judge. The judges were given five 
minutes to leave the house, or they would be shot and their throats 
cut. The five minutes expired and they had not left ; and as I sat 
by the window, I could hear the revolvers cocking in almost every 
direction. They had another minute given them to resign. During 
this time there was a lever or pry rigged under the corner of the 
house. The judges left and closed the polls, and said there would be 
no election. At that time a man I took to be Jones came in and took 
a package of papers off a box, and took them out and shook tliem and 
hallooed "Hurrah for Missouri!" After the judges left they then 
proceeded to elect two other judges, and continued the election. I 
was around there all the time, and was there the whole day. After 
they had driven the judges from the house, they seemed to rejoice over 
their victory. One of them said to another, he was hired to come 
there to vote, and by God he would vote. They said that Tom 
Johnson was their governor, and they swore vengeance on Governor 
Eeeder. I do not recollect of hearing what they were going to do 
with him ; but they said, for one thing, they would like to cut his 
heart out. 1 do not think that I saw Ellison do anything with the 
ballot-box, though I have some faint recollection about it. They 
wanted Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsay to receive their votes without 
swearing, as Mr. Ellison was willing to do. They said they would 
not do it, but were going to discharge their duties according to law. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 177 

I heard some man making a speech, but do not recollect what he 
said, or what his name v/as. I saw one man there who was a doctor 
and kept an apothecary's shop in Westport, on the corner in front of 
the Harris house. I do not recollect his name, hut think I would if 
I heard it. He recognised me, and came up to me and shook hands 
with me. (Upon being asked) I think it was Dr. Earl. These men, 
in my opinion, v/ere strangers. I know that many of thera asked me 
the way to the precinct. I knew that the most of them were not resi- 
dents of the district, because at that time I knew the greater part of 
the residents by sight. I saw these men go away ; they all left within 
two hours, I should think, from the time they started. They took 
the road towards Westport. 

Cross-exa,mined by Mr. Woodson : 

I was not acquainted with all the persons in the second district. I 
do not know that there were more moving in there than usual. There 
were some moving in, in the neighborhood of McGee's, and they laid 
out a town there. 

I think at that time I knew more than one-half of the residents 
of the district by sight. These men I did not know to be residents 
of Kansas, and some of them I did know to be residents of Missouri. 
I heard them say, at different times, among themselves, that they 
had come from Missouri to vote. I refer to those of the election of 
the 30tli of March. I should think there were from five hundred to 
seven hundred came there, and from appearance they voted pretty 
generally. I do not say that every man voted^ but they were voting 
there for a great length of time. I heard two or three say, if they 
had known what kind of people inhabited that place they would never 
have been cauglit there, and would not be in such a muss again. As 
far as I could ascertain, I should think the principal leader of the 
gang was Steel, of Lexington, Missouri. 

JOHN C. DUNN. 

Lawrence, K, T., April 28, 1856. 



Andrew White called and sworn. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

I came into the Territory and selected my place, where I now live, 
on the 5th of June, 1854-. I came from Missouri. I was formerly 
from Morgan county, Missouri. I moved my family out here in the 
fall, after having built houses on my claim here. I was at the elec- 
tion in Bloomington on the 30th of March, 1855. I got there about 
nine or ten o'clock, going up with the Missouri company who were 
passing by at that time. I was acquainted with some of them, though 
I do not know as any of them came from Cass county. I knew Clai- 
borne Jackson, and had known him since he was a boy. I lived in 
Missouri for thirty-five years. I do not know how many there were 
in this company I went up with. They had been passing my house 
for an hour, and the road wn« full as far as I could see, back and 
H. Eep. 200- — 12* 



178 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

before. They said they were going to vote at the election. I had 
not much conversation with them on the road, hut I talked with 
them right smart after I got up there. I asked some of them their 
reasons i'or coming up in our country to vote. They were young men 
I was talking to. They said they were hired to come up, and got a 
dollar a day. I stated tliat perhaps they would not he allowed to 
vote. They said they had come to vote, and they would vote, or die 
there. Those I was talking with, judging from their conversation, 
were from Jackson county, or from the edge of the county east. I 
knew him by sight, but do not recollect his name, I had no conver- 
sation with Claiborne Jackson. I heard his speech. He got up and 
said that they had come there to vote, and he thought they had as 
much right to vote when they had been there five or ten minutes as 
a man who had been there four or five years, and they would vote 
before they left there, or die. The crowd cheered him when he got 
through speaking. I think he ordered them to form into companies 
of fifteen or twenty, and form around the window, and let no man 
vote who was willing to swear. They did so. I heard Steely's name 
called more than any other man's there. I should know him if I 
should see him again. 

About the time they formed themselves they got the white ribbons 
or strings in their coats. As they formed around the window the 
crowd was pretty strong there, and they got a big rope and wound it 
around them so as to let no one get in there with them. They swore 
they would let no man vote there who was willing to be sworn. All 
this time they were arguing with the judges, and threatened to 
destroy them if they did not either resign or take their votes without 
swearing them. At last they said they would tear the house down^ 
and fixed a pry there, and pried the house up right smartly, but did 
not get anybody out. In a few minutes they threatened if they did 
not resign or let them vote, they would fill the house full of shot in 
five minutes, I believe. The next I noticed was, I understood the 
judges would close the polls and give them an answer directly. The 
polls were closed, and the judges came out and went off. I went 
down under the hill. I went with them. Burson expected they 
would be after him for the poll-books. He gave them to Umberger, 
who took them and went off. I went up to Mr. Eamsay's, and saw 
nothing more of Burson until the evening. Directly after I got up to 
Eamsay's they came back with Umberger and the poll-books, and 
took them to the polls. They then came back and said they had 
orders to take Judge Wakefield back with them. There were several 
of us who said they could not take him, and they swore they would 
have him, dead or alive. Some two or three got off their horses. 
Judge Wakefield was in the house, and said he would not be taken 
by any such set of ruffians as they were, and I think he seized a gun. 
They stated that they did not want to hurt him, and he should not 
be hurt at all if he went with them peaceably. He told them if they 
would give their honors he would not be hurt while he was there, he 
would go with them if they had any business with him. He went off 
with them, and returned back after being gone some time, not very- 
long. The company of residents then broke up, and mostly went 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 179 

liome. I went to tlie polls and staid tliere till niglit. Ellison con- 
tinued to act as judge, but I do not believe I know the others who 
acted as judges. I saw these people go away the same road back that 
they came.- They started two or three hours by sun. A party of 
some thirty or forty were left about the house to guard the polls until 
six o'clock. They were armed with revolvers and double-barreled 
shot-guns. The rest went away when they had voted. I believe all 
had arms. I did not notice any of them without. They formed around 
the wagon about the time they said they would tear down the house, 
and formed in small companies, and took rifles and shot-guns out of 
the wagon. I did not look into the wagon. I think there were some 
ox teams, but they were generally two-horse and four-horse teams, 
and mule teams. They had some flags, but I did not notice them 
very particularly, except they were common flags, such as armies 
have. 

Cross-examined by Mr, Woodson : 

It was from these men I learned their residence. I inquired of a 
dozen or so ; all I talked with told me they were from Missouri. I 
should think there were five -or six hundred altogether. Some of 
them I knew by sight, but not by name, as I lived in Missouri for a 
year, and had seen them near Westport and Independence. They 
spoke it out publicly in conversation. There was no public speaking 
•except by Claiborne Jackson. I resided in Cass county, Missouri, on 
what is called the High Blue, near Little KSanta Fe. I formerly came 
from Morgan county, Missouri, and have lived in Cooper county, 
Missouri, 

To Mr. Reeder: 

I was well acquainted in the district. I do not think there were 
more than half a dozen — there might have been a dozen — in this com- 
pany who were residents in th-e district. 

his 

ANDREW -f- WHITE. 

^ mark. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 28, 1856, 



Dr. E. G. Macy c-alled and affirmed. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I came into this Territory about the middle of November, 1854, and 
settled in the second district, and came from Butler county, Ohio. I 
have resided in the second district ever since. I was at the election 
of the 30th of March, 1855, at Bloomington. The first thing that 
attracted my attention after I got there was a large body of strangers, 
who were holding a formal election in the front of Esquire Burson's 
house. I heard the name of Thomas Johnson announced as our gov- 
' ernor. The polls were then opened, and there was a general rush 
around the window. Two men, who were strangers, placed them- 



180 KANSAS AFF^URS. 

selves one on eacli side of the ^vindow, and acted as foremen, and dic- 
tated more or less to tliose ayIio came up to rote, and told them they 
shonld not qnalify according to the directions in the proclamation. 
The crowd that snrronnded the polls was, I should think, some lifteen 
men deep. It was impossible for me to get to the polls. I crowded 
in for half an honr, and did not get more than half way to the polls 
from the outside of this hody of men. I was recognised by some one 
in the crowd, wlio cried out " There comes an abolitionist." I went 
back out of the crowd, by their lielp, a lieap quicker than I got in. 
Soon there was an announcement that Claiborne Jackson would address 
the congregation. He took an elevated stand, and addressed the 
people by saying that a few minutes' residence in the Territory gave 
them as good a right to vote as though they had been in years. He 
said tliat that was the order at California, and it should be so here ; 
that Governor Eeeder had no authority to issue any such orders as 
were in his proclamation ; that they had come here to vote, and they 
would vote. He then called upon the people to form themselves Id 
companies of fifteen men each, or somewhere of that number; they 
proceeded to do so ; they had white strings and ribbons tied in their 
coats. Immediately after those orders, %I saw numbers of them over 
the grounds, loading double-barreled shot-guns. A committee of 
three, I think, was then appointed to wait upon the judges, to demand 
that they should resign. After live minutes had expired, some gen- 
tleman — I do not know who, as they were all strangers — took out 
his watch, and said " We will give you one minute more ; if you do 
not resign in that time, this house will be torn down." At that 
period there was quite an excitement in the crowd — a great many 
oaths and threats. I saw a lever placed under one side of the house^ 
and I think the logs were raised some two or three inches, and let fall 
in their places again, without doing much damage. 

During this excitement, I heard a crash in the window, and saw a 
confusion at the front door and a rush in the house. I passed around 
where the front door was, and saw a man they called Mr. Jones come 
out with a bundle of papers in his hands, and held them up and lial- 
looed "Hurrah for Missouri !" I lieard somebody call me, and I looked 
around, and Esquire Burson, Judge Wakefield, and some others were 
some fifty or sixty yards north of the house. I went to them, and we 
went down under the bluff". There were some four or five of us, as 
near as I can recollect. We concluded, after a short conversation, to 
go to Mr. Ramsay's house. Esquire Burson had the poll-books in hi» 
pocket. About that time we saw a crowd on horses and mules coming 
towards Mr. Ramsay's, Avhere they came and called for Esquire Bur- 
son. Judge Wakefield told them positively he was not there. They 
Avere told the poll-books were not there. I saw these men ride down 
across the prairie very rapidly, and they soon returned with George 
Umberger, a neighbor of ours^, behind one of them. They came up to 
Mr. Ramsay's house, and demanded that Judge Wakefield should go 
up to the polls with them. He refused to do so ; when they drew re- 
volvers, some of them cocking them and swearing that he should go, 
dead or alive. The old man declared he would not g©, and if they 
took him there,, they would take him dead ; but finally they pledged 



KANSAS AFFAIBS. 181 

their lionor, if he would go, he should not be hurt. He walked up, 
and they followed him on their mules shouting. I and one of the 
iudi^es followed them. Just as we got there, the judge came down off 
i stand, or out of a v^-agon, where they had had -him up making a 
flpeech. He had a badge in his coat. I then left. I did not converse 
with any of these strangers. 

E. a. MACY. 
LAWEEiTCE, K. T., April 28, 185^*. 



F. E. Lauy called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I v/as one of the officers in the f-econd districl election on trii; oOth 
>f March, 1855, after Mr. Burson and Mr. Kamsay left. I was ap- 
pointed by the people on the ground. There were a crowd of people 
'.here. I was sworn by Mr. Ellison, one of the judges. I do not re- 
collect that I signed an oath attested by Mr. Taylor. I signed an 
oath sworn to before Mr. Ellison. I did not swear before Mr, Taylor. 
I was not there, as I remember, when the others took the oaths. I 
was one of the judges of election. I saw the oaths, but do not recol- 
lect that they were attested by Mr. Taylor. He was one of the clerks 
while I was serving. After the election 1 took charge of the duplicate 
papers not f;ent to the governor's office. They were afterwards put in 
Mr. Waful's hands, one of the judges. I kept the books until the 
legislature convene*? at Pawnee, of which I think Mr. Waful was one 
of the clerks. Mr. Waful took them up there then, and brought them 
back some five or six months ago. I have not these papers now. 
They have been lost, destroyed, or something, while I was from 
home — some time last November or the first of December. We liad 
no v/ay of keeping them very safely ; and the children told me that 
the box was open, and they did not know what the papers were, and 
tl^y got scattered around among.st the books, and we lo.st a part of 
them then. Afterwards I found some and put them away, but am 
not able now to find them. I have not been living where the books 
were for some three months. One of the lists of voters — or one of the 
sheets, for there were two of them — was one of the papers I found and 
put away, I put it away in some books I had. It was my father's 
house, and I left him and his family in it. I saw the paper last some 
time last winter, in January and February, in the place V7here I had 
put it. I put it back again in one of the books, in the same case, and 
I have not seen it since. I made thorough search for it a few days 
ago, and again to-day. I could not find it, I do not knovr what be- 
came of it, for certain. My father has. been accustomed to take sheets 
of paper from the book-case, that my brothers had been scribbling 
on, to wip,e his razor on ; and he may have taken that, as it did not 
seem to be of much importance. I asked my father about it, and he 
was not certain what had become of it, though he thought it likely he 
had done something of the kind, as he thought h^ recollected some- 
thing about it, Sherman J. Waful acted as one of the judges of the 



182 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

election, and "he acted as the return judge of that election. I do not 
know that George W, Withers, of Eichfield, Missouri, acted as return 
judge under the assumed name of Sherman J. Waful. I do not know 
that George W. Withers brought these returns to Governor Keeder's 
office, 

I know that Mr. Waful started with the hooks, hiring a horse upon 
the grounds. I started with him, and went a part of the way — for 
four and a half or five miles. I do not know George W. Withers. 
I left Mr. Waful at Allen McGee's house, and when I left he was 
making preparations to go on, as it was late. That was on the even- 
ing of the election. 

r. E. LAHY. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 29, 1856. 



Hammond C. Muzzy called and sworn. 

To Mr. Eeeder : 

I was at the election of the oOth March, 1855, in the second district. 
I saw a great crowd of people, and a great many wagons, when I fir&t 
went there. I tried to get to the windovr to vote, and got there just 
as Mr. Mace did. He was just before me, and when he offered his 
vote some of the j^ro- slavery party said that it was a free-State vote, 
and told him he should not vote it. Several men took him by the 
collar, and undertook to drag him avf^ay from the windows, and, as I 
was by his side, they crowded me away v/ith him. Some called out, 
" Cut his throat t" " Tear his damned heart out !" I saw one fellow 
draw a knife and present it to his side, as though he was going to 
stab him. They finally left him without doing him any injury. After 
that, I saw some men vt^ith a lever trying to pry up the corner of the 
cabin. The leader of the party hallooed out to them not to do that 
till they had orders. Soon after that, I saw Mr. Ellison come out of 
the cabin with the ballot-box in his hand, and he hallooed "Hurrah 
for Missouri I" Mr. Ellison was one of the judges. I heard Mr. 
Jones (now sheriff Jones) give Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsay, the free- 
State judges, five minutes to resign in or die. After that, he gave 
them one more minute to resign in. The judges left, as has been 
stated by others. I was on the ground a little while after the other 
judges were appointed, and the crov/d then voted. I did not see any 
free-State man vote after that, and but three or tour at any time. I 
do not know whether sheriff Jones voted there or not that dav. 

HAMMOND C. MUZZY. 

Lawrence, K. T., Aj)7il 29, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 183 

George W. Umberger called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into the Territory ahout the 24th or 25th of March, 1855. I 
emigrated from Ohio, and wintered in Iowa. I settled in the neigh- 
borhood of Bloomington, in the second district, and have resided there 
ever since. I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in the 
morning, prohahly for a half or three-quarters of an hour ; then went 
away, and came back near noon. I started to go back to the polls, 
and, seeing the judges coming away, I went to Mr. Ramsay's house, 
where the judges came. I went into his house. There appeared to 
be considerable excitement among the judges and the clerks, and the 
few others who were there. I was there but a few minutes, when Mr. 
Burson handed me the poll-books and told me to take care of them. 
We started out ; I went towards home ; he went part of the way with 
me, when he turned off from me down on the bottom. I continued 
towards home, and was overtaken by eight or ten horsemen. I was 
surrounded by them, and the poll-books forced away from me. I did 
not know any of the party at that time, but I have known one since 
then. His name was Jones — now sheriff Jones — and the only one of 
the party I ever knew. I think Jones acted as the leader of the party. 
After they got the poll-books, they wanted me to go back. I told 
them my folks were sick, and I did not care about going back^ and 
should not vote if I did. 

Finally, they said I must go. One man came up, swore a few 
oaths, and tried to get hold of my collar ; I supposed to cliokc me. 
I thrust his hand away, and told him to take care of himself. He 
finally agreed if I would go along, I would not be hurt. I got on the 
horse behind Mr. Jones, and went over to Mr. Ramsay's. They 
wanted Judge AVakeiield there. The judge refused to go at first. 
They finally told him, as they had told me^ that if he would go along 
he would not be harmed. We both went over. On the road going 
over, a man came running out of the house where the polls were held, 
and said he would cut my throat if I did not take care. They took 
me to the window, gave me a pro-slavery ticket, and wanted me to 
vote. I refused voting that ticket. They handed me another, and I 
refused to vote that either. I left shortly after that. They threat- 
ened Burson's life. They wanted to get hold of him ; they supposed 
I was Burson ; they threatened his life if they got him. They took 
Judge Wakefield to the polls. He got up on a wagon and made a 
speech to them. Shortly after I left, he came over where I was. As 
far as I know now — I was not much acquainted at the time — I should 
think there were a great many more people when I went back to the 
polls than there were voters in the district. As I was coming up the 
second time in the morning, I saw a great many going home, who said 
•they saw there would not be a fair chance there, and they did not care 
about remaining. 



184 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

Cross-examined br Mr. Woodson : 

I had been in the district but fonr or five days, and was a stranger 
to the residents of the district generally. 

G. W. UMBERGEE. 
Laivee^-ce, K. T., April 29, 1856. 



TViLUAM Jessee called and sworn. 
To Mr. Keeder : 

I came into the Territory for the first time abont the middle of De- 
cember, 1854. I came to St. Joseph about the middle of Xoyember. 
1854j and left my family there, and came oyer to look at the Terri- 
tory. I came fi-om McLean connty, Illinois, and settled on the Wa- 
karusa, in the second district, a mile and a half from Bloomingtonj on 
the last day of Jannary. I came there with a part of my plunder and 
my oldest son. In about two weeks I went after my family. I moyed 
them there on the 2Sth day of February. 1855. I was at the election 
of the 30th of March, 1855. A day or two before the election one of 
the judges chose me for one of the clerks. On the morning of the 
election I started yery early to go to the polls, and, after I had started 
a few minutes, I saw a wagon coming with a fiag on the hind end of 
it. It passed me before I got to the polls. I was not out of the house 
much before the polls were opened, but went in to help them to pre- 
pare the poll-books for the election. I saw a great many persons 
going backwards and forwards before the door and windows. The 
polls were opened and they commenced yoting. Some persons came 
forward and yoted. Others came, and their yotes were objected to 
until they were proyed to be actual settlers of the Territory. Some 
were qualified, and others were proyed, by men who were by. that 
they were settlers. It went on in that way until there were about 
thirty-three yotes taken, if I recollect right, when one man ofieredhis 
vote, and the judges would not receiye it unless he would be qualified. 
or proye he was a citizen. He refused to do so. Others cried out an.' 
swore that he should not be sworn, but that he should vote without. 
He still continued to insist on yoting. and the judges would not re- 
ceiye his yote. They then swore he should yote \vithout swearing. 
During this time others came up to the window to yote, ami were 
piiUed away, and not allowed to yote. There were, I should think, a 
dozen pistols cocked and pointed to the judges at the window, and 
they swore they would blow their brains out if they did not receiye 
those votes or resign. I did not count the number of times these 
pistols were presented, but I should think it was from eight to a dozen 
times. They insisted those men should vote without being sworn. 
Thev said they had come there to vote, and they would vote. One of 
the judges (Mr. Ellison) then told the other two not to take any votes 
until he came back. He stepped out for a few minutes, and then re- 
turned. He proposed to close the polls, and said that in less tlian 
five minutes the house would be thrown down and five hundred shots 



KAXSAS AFFAIRS. 185 

tkr-^TTii in tte window. I felt the house jar with the pries, bat I did 
not see them. Mr. Ellison and Mr. Eamsay tried to gather no the 
hallot-box, hnt Mr. Ellison tookitawav. I think the door was broken 
open about theVatne time : when Mr. Ellison ran ont with the ballot- 
box and hallooed '* Hurrah for Missouri I " At the same time I took 
up the poll-books, doubled them up. and handed them to Esquire 
Burson. The house was filling up at the time, and I went out and 
'w alked around through the crowd. la a few minutes a man came out 
holding up some papers in his hand, which caused a gre^it hurrah. I 
then made my way through the crowd as near as I could to this man, 
to ascertain what were the papers he had. When I got cl'vse ei^'^ngh, 
I discovered it was a piece of blank paper that had in 

making out the poll-book, and a certificate that there lis- 

take made. I then hunted around for Esouire Burson and Mr. Bam- 
say. I came across a man who told me they had but five minutes — or 
one minute, I do not recollect which — to live if they did not resign 
their posts as judges of election. I asked him why he did not go in? 
He said he could not get in. I told him I was goins: in or would die, 
and he said he would follow me. They were crowde^i before the door, 
and I had to pull my way considerably. Nothing was said to me until 
I got to the door. They asked me what I wanted, and I said I wanted 
to get into the house to see Esquire Burson. They then let me in. 
There was one man in there standing with a watch in his hand. I did 
not know his name at that time, but found it out shortly afterwards. 
I then went to Mr. Burson and told him he had better leave the house. 
He said he hated to leave his own house. I told him that, under the 
circumstances. I thought he had better leave, and he consented to it 
and went out. Mr. Ramsay followed, and I went out after them. 
We all three walked off down over the hill, some two or three hun- 
dred yards from the house. There were probably fifteen of us. After 
:": - we went to Mr. Eamsay's house. I asked Mr. Burson where the 
" .-b'X^k-s were? He answered he had got them, bur I found them 
in his pocket afterwards. He handed them to Mr.-Umberger. Aoout 
that time there was a yell raised near the house, and men coming on 
horses as hard as they could tear. Mr. Burson and Mr. TTmberger 
' ?. These men asked if these p>ll-books were there, and we 
-1 they were not. They swore they believed they were, and 
'hem they were welcome to try it. They then went olf after 
: r -Ts, and shortly returned and said they had found them. They 
abusevi us most wretchedly, calling us almost evervthing they could 
think of. Mr. Jones (now the sheriff) had Mr. IJmberger behind 
jiim. 

that time there was another yell, and some fifteen or more 
er Judge Wakefield, they said. They demanded that he 
sa . . u'o, and he refused, asking what they wanted, and he would 
nor teii them. Finally, three men agreed, if he would go. they 
woidd give their security that he should not be hurt, and they gave 
their names. Sheriff Jones was one of them : the others I do not 
reci llect. He went with them, and they passed ofi\ The inquiry and 
-^r h was still for Esquire Burson. I went and found him, and we 
T^ _: olf, and it was near evening before I returnevl to the polls. 



186 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

"When I got "back the bigger part of the company had left — a few of 
them were still voting. I remained there half an hour, and then 
went off again. 

The man who was holding the watch in the election house I recog- 
nised afterwards as the one who gave his name as Jones, the present 
sheriff, in Mr. Eamsay's house. What I saw of those persons, went 
off east by my house. I was home part of the time, and saw a num- 
ber of horses and wagons pass. I supposed there were near 400 
strangers in the district then, so far as I knew. I have not seen 
them in the district since. As far as I saw, they were pretty well 
armed with revolvers and bowie-knives. Some of them had two pis- 
tols in a belt around them, and a bowie-knife or two. I do not know 
whether any settlers of the district voted after this difficulty about 
the judges took place. 

WILLIAM JESSEE. 

Lawrence, K. T., Ajpril 30, 1856. 



Samuel Jonrs called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory the last day of October, 1854. I went 
into the district where I am living now the 2d day of November^ 1854. 
I came from Westport, Missouri, where I had been living for more 
than two years. I settled in the second district. I was at the elec- 
tion of the 30th of March, 1855. I saw a good many of the people I 
was acquainted witli in Missouri. Some of them told me they had 
moved into the Territory, and others that they had claims, but had not 
moved into the Territory; and others told me that they intended to 
come ; and one of them that he did not intend to reside here. I heard 
these men threaten that if the judges did not resign, they would be 
killed. Samuel J. Jones (now sheriff) was one who made this threat ; a 
young man they called Dr. Johnson, Avho they said was from Independ- 
ence, v/as another; and others, whose names I do not know, made 
other threats also. I saw them fix a pry to the corner of the house 
to pry it down ; and some of them told tliem there was a pro-slavery 
man in the house, and they took the pry away, and went to the door 
of the house. Just then the door was opened, I think from inside, 
and Mr. Ellison came out with the ballot-box in Jiis hand, at which 
there was a general shout. I do not recollect what Mr. Ellison said. 
I was in camp with these men afterwards. I started that night to 
take a protest to Governor Reeder against the election. On the cross- 
ing of the Wakarusa there was an encampment nearly half a mile 
long, and, without stopping there, I found other camps on almost 
every creek as I went along. I found another camp in the morning, 
where I stopped and took breakfast. They told me they were from 
Clay county, Missouri, and they thought there were as many as six 
hundred from Missouri at Lawrence, where they said they had been 
at tiie election. I asked them if they had claims in the Territory, 
and they said no; that they only came to vote. I passed on, and rode 
several miles with some men from Lafayette county, who told me that 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 187 

fhey liad claims in the Delaware country, but had not moved on there. 
They said a good many had come to the election from their neighbor- 
hood. About the time I got to the Shawnee Mission I saw a good 
many going towards Missouri whom I had seen at Bloomington the 
day before. On my way back I found the road full. As long as I 
kept in the road I had frequent conversations with them. They said 
they thought there had been from two thousand to eight thousand 
Missouriaus in the Territory to the election. 

SAMUEL JONES. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 8, 1856. 



John A. Wakefield called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in July, 1854, from Iowa_, and settled in 
the second district, and have resided there ever since. I was at the 
election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Bloomington, in the second 
election district. There were a number of men who staid at my house 
the night before the election — some fifteen or twenty in number. We 
all went over to Bloomington together the morning of the election. 
When we got there we saw a large body of non-residents of the dis- 
trict. They continued to come between one and two hours after we 
got there, in wagons and on horseback ; they were all armed with 
revolvers, guns, &c.; they had tents and wagons. I was called upon 
by the judges to assist in filling up the poll-books. This gave offence 
to the Missourians, and they cried out, "Get Wakefield out of there; 
he has no business in there." The door was in the south side of the 
house, the window where the votes were received in the north side, 
and the table where the judges sat fronting that window. After the 
poll-books were filled up I went to the north window to see if the 
judges v,-ould take the oath prescribed by the governor. They all 
took that oath. Paris Ellison, Harrison Burson, and Nathaniel 
Ramsay were the judges. After they were sworn they opened the polls. 
The actual settlers then commenced voting. A few of their votes 
were given in, and then the Missourians crowded in and surro^^nded 
the house, and demanded to vote. Esquire Burson told the first one 
that he did not know he was a citizen of the Territory, and he would 
have to swear to or from his citizenship before he would be allowed to 
vote. This the person refused to do. By this time there was a great 
excitement^ a loud din of voices, and many threats against the judges. 
They cried out, "Gret Wakefield away from the window ; he has no 
business there." They then pushed and shoved me to the outside of 
the crowd. A man by the name of G. W. Ward came to me and said, 
" Judge Wakefield, if you have any influence over those judges, you 
go and tell them to let the men vote." I told him I never advised 
men to do wrong. A man then, that I have since understood was 
named Jackson, got on to a small log, and made a very inflammatory 
speech. He told them to divide themselves off" into com})anies, and 
tie a white ribbon in the button-holes of their coats, that they might 
know their party from the abolitionists; and said that was the way 



188 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

they had once done in California. The excitement hv this time was 
very great, and they were threatening to kill two of the judgeSj 
Bnr.^on and Kamsay. At this time I saw a number of men with a 
large piece of timber to pry the house over, and also a piece of short 
timber for a fulcrum : and another company came with a piece of short 
timber to batter the door down. But before they attempted to batter 
down the door, Parris Ellison, oneof the judges of the election, opened 
the door from the inside, ran out with the ballot-box in his hand, 
hallooing out "Hurrah for Missouri!'' He immediately returned to 
the house, and as he did so the mob rushed in to get at Burson and 
Eamsay. In a few minutes Burson and Eamsay came out where I 
was. and asked me what we should do. I told them that we would 
go down to Mr. Ramsay's house — about three hundred yards off — and 
I would draw up a statement of the facts, and send it oiif immediately 
to the governor. Sheritf Jones (Samuel J. Jones), at the head of a 
party of men, immediately followed, and commanded Burson to go 
back. I said, " Let us walk along, and not notice him." We went 
to Mr. Ramsay's, and all the citizens who had not left, about twenty 
in number, signed a petition to the governor to set aside the election. 
Jusr as we were finishing some of them cried out, "" Yonder comes 
the mob." I looked, and saw Jones at the head of a large number 
mounted on horses. They rode up to the door and halted, and 
demanded of Burson that they wanted the poll-books. As Burson 
had just left, some one replied that he was not there. One man cried 
out that there was a man going over the ridge, and that he had the 
poll-books. They wheeled their horses, and followed the man at full 
speed. They caught tlie man, whose name was Umberger, searched 
him, and found the poll-books upon him. They then took him pri- 
soner, and brought him back behind one of them — I think it was 
Jones. As they came they cried out, '"Take Wakefield, dead or 
alive — damn him, take him !" I then ran into the house, and t<ild 
Mr. Eamsay to give me his double-barreled shot-gun, he having taken 
it down ami cocked both barrels when the mob first came to the house. 
The mob rode up, and I should think a dozen or more presented their 
pistols to me. I drew up the gun at Jones, the leader. We stood 
that way perhaps for a minute. A man professing to be my friend 
undertook to take the gun from me, saying, " If you shoot we will all 
be killed ; we can't fight this army." My reply was, to stand off, or 
I would shoot him, which he did. Then one of my friends spoke in 
a very calm manner, and said, '"Judge, you had better surrender; 
we cannot fight this army without arms." I then said I must know 
the conditions, and remarked to the mob, '' Gentlemen, what do you 
want with me?" Some one said, '* We want you to go back to the 
polls, and state whether it was not you that persuaded the judges to 
take away the poll-books."' I said I could easily do that, as I could 
not get in hearing of the judges ; but if I could have got in their 
hearing. I should have done it. " But," said I, " if I go back, what 
security have I that I will not be mobl>ed or maltreated on the way?' 
Some two or three of them spoke, and said they would go my security: 
that I should not be hurt. I said I would go, but go alone. 1 went 
back with them, and got up in a wagon and made them a short speech, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1S9 

stating to them that I had heen an old. soldier, and had fought through 
two Y>-ars for the rights of my country ; and I thought I had a privi- 
lege there that day. I then went on to state that they were in the 
wrong ; that we were not the aholitionists they represented us to be, 
but were free-Stat« men, and that they were abusing us unjustly, 
and that their acts were contrary to the organic law of the constitu- 
tion of the United States. A man cried out while I was speaking, 
seyerai times. " Shoot him ! he is too saucy." I then made an eti'ort 
to those who gaye their security that I should not be hurt. When I 
got done speaking, and got off the wagon, a man came up to me and 
told me he wanted to tie a white ribbon in my button-hole, or the 
boys would kill me. I tirst refused, but he insisted, and I let him do 
it : and then I turned round and cut it out with my knife. I then 
made an attempt to leaye, and they cried out, '"Stay with us and 
yote ; we don't want you to leaye." I thanked them, and told them 
they could haye it to themselyes then, and I should leaye them. I 
then left them. I should think this was between eleyen and twelye 
o'clock. The citizens had gone, generally, before that, and there 
were not a dozen of them on the ground ; and those that were 
left there went home ; and I did also. I was a candidate at that 
election for the Council. 1 drew up a statement of those facts, as I 
haye l>efore stated. It was signed by a number of citizens — some 
twenty or thirty — and sent to the governor, petitioning him to set 
aside the election. He found some informality in it, sent the man 
Lack, and a second petition was sent to him ; and then the governor 
declared the election null and void., and ordered a new election to 
take place on the 22d of the May following. That election took place 
at the time appointed. There were no foreign votes at that election. 
The citizens assembled elected myself to the Council; "William Jesse 
and Augustus Wattles to the House of Representatives. We appeared 
at Pawnee on the 2d of July, were sworn, and took our seats as mem- 
bers of the legislature then and there convened. When the Com- 
mittee on Elections was appointed by the president of the Council, I 
oliered a resolution, which was adopted, callmg upon the governor 
for the evidence of the election of the 30th of March. The governor 
furnished the titfidavits of the tacts, &c. The chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Elections (Colonel Coffee) called upon me to know what 
plea I had to make ; 1 pointed out to him on the poll-book the names 
of the Missouriaus who had voted, and asked him if he did not know 
some of them. He made very light of my remarks, and thought it 
would avail me nothing. He made a long and elaborate report, to 
the effect that one Andrew McDonald was entitled to the seat in the 
Council. After the report was made, and before the vote was taken 
upon it, I made a speech to the Council, in which I went into the 
history of the evidence of the way McDonald was elected, and stated 
to them that the people of New York, Georgia, or any other State, 
had as good a right to vote in this Territory as the people of Missouri ; 
and said that McDonald was elected by foreign votes. I told them 
that the day I was there speaking (on the 4th of July) was a memor- 
able day, and might become more so ; that their actions there might 
be the means of lighting the watch-fires of war in our land. I stated 



190 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

that I did not wisli to stay with them, as they might meet me, and 
give but a cold shake of the hand while the heart was not there. I 
then remarked that I knew they would turn me out — that that would 
he the result of their vote, and I knew it then. The vote was then 
taken, and it was unanimous, with the exception of Chapman, to turn 
me out, and give McDonald the seat. 

JOHN A. WAKEFIELD. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



Geo. W. Ward called and sworn. 



To Mr. King 



& ' 



I reside on what is called the Wakarusa creek, within a mile of 
Bloomington, in the second district, and have resided there since No- 
vember, 1854. I was one of the representatives elected from that dis- 
trict at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I attended the election 
at Bloomington on that day. The judges that the governor appointed 
met in the morning and were qualified. Two of them, Mr. Harrison 
Burson and Mr. Eamsay, had their friends who had arms with them, 
and put their arms in the corner of the room and fastened the door. 
I saw no demonstrations outside which warranted such a proceeding 
on their part. When they got ready to commence the balloting, we 
were told that we were to vote through the window. Judge Wake- 
field and some other free-State men took possession of the window, 
and it was with some difficulty we could get there. When we did get 
up, we were required to be qualified without any discrimination. It 
was the pro-slavery men, chiefly^ that were required to be sworn. 
I saw no free-State men sworn, or required to be sworn. They 
required men to be sworn whom they knew to be residents. That 
created excitement. It was continued so for an hour or more, until 
some thirty-odd votes were polled. The bystanders then insisted 
that both parties should be sworn or neither be sworn, or that the two 
judges, Burson and Ramsay, should resign. There were some threats. 
They took a recess of half an hour to determine if they would resign. 
At the end of the half hour they were called and did not appear. The 
crowd gave them two minutes more; they were then called, and 
another short period was given them ; and they were called the third 
time and did not appear. Then Mr. Ellison named two judges, who 
were sanctioned by the crowd, and they appeared and acted as judges. 
The expressions of dissatisfaction were by the residents of the Terri- 
tory. There were some strangers there who claimed to be residents. 
But those I knew to be residents expressed this dissatisfaction. I saw 
no demonstrations from any quarter of the pro-slavery party to in- 
timidate the free-State men from voting, but, on the contrary, the free- 
State men were invited by the new judges and others to come up and 
vote. I know I invited twenty free-State men to come up and vote. 

Our district settled up very fast between the taking the census and 
the day of election — as much so, if not more, than at any other time 
previous ; and I do not think the number of voters were less than a 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 191 

hundred in tlmt increase. It was always my impression, from can- 
vassino- the district, that I would he ahle to he elected easily. I do 
not think the free-State men were satisfied with their candidates, and 
I know very well that there were free-State men who voted for me. I 
do not think, from all I could learn, that it was possihle for the result 
to have been changed by any illegal votes that may have been given 
there that day. Mr. Brown and myself, the pro-slavery candidates^ 
ran pretty close together, within one or two votes. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I reside now where I did at the time of that election. I do not 
know of any illegal votes polled that day. The persons who were 
there all claimed to be residents, and I took them to be such, though 
some of them were strangers to me. My opinions and conclusions 
are all founded upon the idea that all who were there were residents. 
I do not recollect that any who were strangers to me were' sworn, or 
that those strangers voted at all. 

There was a pry put under the corner of the house at one time, but 
I regarded it as mere fun, and not with any intention to tear down 
the house. I saw sheriif Jones there that day ; I was not in the 
house, and did not see him hold any pistol at the breast of Burson, or 
know that it was done. I have seen Jones in the post office at this 
place, (Westport, Missouri.) I do not know that he was ever post- 
master here ; I have heard so, but my impression was that Colgnel 
Boone was postmaster here. 

A portion of the free-State men were asked to vote^ and refused to 
vote ; the others said they would be in after a while, but I do not 
know whether they voted at all. 

After the new judges were elected, I do not recollect of seeing any 
one sworn. I have never examined the poll-books, and cannot say 
from any examination of them whether all who voted were residents 
or not ; I considered a man who came into the district and made a 
claim in good faith to be a resident, whether his family was there or 
not ; all I knew there I considered to be residents. 

I saw no camp of men there. I do not know Colonel Claiborne F. 
Jackson ; I saw a man there they called Jackson, but do not know 
whether it was Colonel Jackson or not. I did not hear him make a 
speech ; I heard Judge Wakefield's speech, as he stood in the wagon, 
after he was brouglit back ; I do not know who brought him back. 

That was a peaceable, quiet election, with the exception of the in- 
terruption before the new judges were elected. I saw no arms but one 
doublebarreled shot-gun, except those stacked in the house. I saw 
no arms in the hands of these strangers ; if they had any, I did not see 
I them. I saw none used, and none were threatened to be used, that I 
heard of. 

i To Mr. King : 

A portion of those who were prying up the corner of the house were 
! residents, and the others claimed to be. A great many of those I did 
\ not know then, I have found out since to be" residents of the district. 
I Sheriff Jones was up there previous to that time, and I know that he 



192 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

had a claim there ; a man by the name of Smith claimed it, and has 
possession of it yet. Mr. Jones was backward and forward there 
from the time of making that chiim till he went to Lecompton to live. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Mr. Jones's family have always resided here in this place till lately, 
and I do not know but they live here now. Mr. Jones was in about 
Colonel Brown's store and the post office here until he was appointed 
sheriff. 

To Mr. King : 

Wo recognised him as a citizen of the Territory in our district. 
My understanding was that Smith jumped the claim which Jones had. 

GEOEGE W. WARD. 
Westport, Mo,, Jane 9^ 1856. 



Third District. — Tecumseh. 

Rev. H. B. Burgess called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into the Territory in October, 1854, about the middle of the 
month. I came to Lawrence first, and came to this district the De- 
cember following, and have resided in this district ever since. I came 
from Conneaut, Ohio, here. I was appointed one of the judges of the 
election, the 30th of March, 1855, ancl attended that election during a 
part of the day. I arrived here about eight o'clock in the morning. 
At that time the other two judges had not arrived. I saw in the yard, 
about the window of the room to be occupied by the judges of election, 
what I should think was a congregation of at least 300 men ; and, 
from my knowledge of the district, and from their appearance, I un- 
derstood them to be in the main non-residents of the district, there 
being but few persons of that company with whom I was acquainted. 
I went into the judge's room and found a gentleman there, wlio after- 
wards informed me he lived in Independence, Missouri, preparing the 
poll-books and tally-list. 

[Mr. R. R. Rees, counsel for J. W. Whitfield, ^objects to this as 
hearsay evidence ; a majority of the committee overrules the objec- 
tion ; Mr. Oliver dissenting.] 

I soon went out of the door, not finding the other judges in the 
room, to look for them. As they came into the yard, they were met 
by a couple of gentlemen with whom I was acquainted, and stepped 
aside into an unoccupied portion of the yard, and some three or four 
gentlemen detained them in conversation some moments. During this 
conversation I stepped up to them and introduced myself. I heard 
a few remarks — but few — of the conversation, and one of the remarks 
from one oi the judges was, " We understand it," One of the gen- 
tlemen — I do not know whether it v/as the other judge or one of the 
company there — said, " The thing is perfectly understood." We 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 193 

very soon went into the house, and the proprietor of the house stated 
to those tlicro tiiat it was the time for the commencement of the elec- 
tion, and ]-equested gentlemen to vacate the room for the judges, as it 
was set apart for their express use. There was something like an at- 
tempt to clear the room, and, after turning out some of my friends, I 
think the outside door was then locked. The inside door, opening 
into another room, remained so that it could be passed, and the room 
remained as full as before. The first business of tlie board of judges 
was, one of them proposed, I think Mr. Watts, tliat the first luisiness 
was to elect a couple of clerks, and for that purpose they had brought 
a couple of friends with them. To this I dissented. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I cannot give the names of these friends. 

Direct examination continued : 

My ground of objection was, that the proclamation had given us 
no such liberty ; had made no provision for clerkship outside of the 
board of judges. This oljjection I stated. One of the judges, after 
some discussion, proposed to discuss more important matters, before 
we could organize. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I think the judge was Mr. Watts. 

Direct examination continued : 

That matter of importance was the taking of the oath prescribed in 
the proclamation. Both Mr. Watts and Mr. Statcler claimed that the 
governor had transcended his authority in prescribing tliat oath, as he 
had no right to interpret the organic act in regard to citizenship, as 
the judges claimed that any man in the Territory, no matter how 
short or how long a time lie had been in the Territory, was a resident^ 
and entitled to vote ; that they had as good a right to interpret the 
organic act as the governor, and they refused either to take or admin- 
ister tlie oath prescribed. There was then considerable discussion, 
and some un])leasant feeling. 

During this discussion the room was pretty thoroughly filled, and 
a large crowd outside clamorous that the election should commence. I 
sat near the window, and frequently heard the remarks : " The 
damned Yankee" — "the God damned Yankee"— " the blue-bellied. 
Yankee should never come out there alive" — '^ put a knife in him" — 
"shoot him, damn him, shoot him," repeatedly; which expressions 
I understood a])plied to me, and my course there. The terra " abo- 
litionist" was frequently applied to me. During this time the pro- 
prietor of the house, Mr. Stinson — Thomas Stinson, I think — came 
into the room from the inside door, in apparent rage ; stepped very 
quick ; had a very heavy hickory cane, with a grub-butt^ which he 
raised over his head I think with both hands. His first remark to m^ 
was, as near as I can repeat it, " You God damned blue-bellied Yan- 
kee abolitionist, you said that any man who would marry an Indian 
was a damned sight meaner than if he had married a nigger, and, 
H. Rep. 200 13* 



194 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

God damn you, I will smasli your brains out." I arose and spoke to 
him kindly. I had an overcoat on, buttoned up, and I put my hand 
into my pocket. I told him I hoped he would be reasonable ; that I 
was not aware that I had trespassed on any of his feelings, or his 
riglits ; that I came there as a citizen, and claimed the right of a citi- 
zen upon a public day, and was in his house as a judge of election, 
and 1 claimed the protection of the other judges and the company. 
He receded a pace or two and lowered his club, and ordered me out of 
his house, and I told him I would go. I spoke to the other judges, 
and asked them to what place we would adjourn, as it seemed that it 
was impossible to hold the election there. They seemed inclined to 
say very little about it, and, considering the matter an urgent one, I 
declared the election adjourned and stated that I should leave, and 
began packing up my things to be off. I went to the outside door 1 
had come in at, and found I could not get out. It appeared to be locked, 
and the key was not there. I started to pass out the other door, the 
inside door, and this gentleman that I before spoke of, who told me 
he was from Independence — I do not recollect the name — desired me 
not to go, and had a few words with the other judges, and the amount 
of it was that " it was rather an awkward position." I adhered to 
my determination. He said that they would see Mr. Stinson, and 
have the matter adjusted. About this time some gentleman I did not 
know came in and remarked it was all right with Mr. Stinson. I was 
still unsatisfied, and he proposed to go and see him himself, and very 
soon returned and said he had seen Mr. Stinson, and Mr. Stinson said 
I could remain until after the election, and he would settle with me 
then ; upon which I resumed my seat. 

After we had continued our attempt at an organization for, I should 
think, about two hours, the people outside became very impatient. 
The reason why we had not organized was because I would submit to 
nothing less than the oath prescribed by the governor, which the 
other judges would not accept, and refused to administer it to me. A 
suggestion was made by this gentleman from Missouri that we should 
make a compromise, as they were the majority, and agreed upon their 
plan of proceedings ; I being in a minority, would be obliged to sub- 
mit to their proceeding, to which I was very ready to yield. Mr. 
Watts suggested that there might be trouble in that, and asked if I 
would send in a report offering it to the governor, and I think the 
other judge asked if I would sign the returns if they proceeded in that 
way. I said I would if tliey would allow me to send up with the re- 
turns a statement of the facts. This they would not accept, and pro- 
posed that we should resign, and allow the people there to elect 
judges to suit themselves. To that I objected, because the highest 
ofiicer in the Territory had appointed us to that office — the highest 
trust in the Territory — and refused to vacate my seat. About this 
time three gentlemen came in through the inside door, one of whom 
I had seen in the crowd outside, and wished to know why the election 
could not go on ; to which very little reply was made — that being 
given by Mr. Watts, that they had not yet organized the board of 
judges. The reply to that was, that they had better be about it 
damned soon, or some such remark, and they retired. After about 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 195 

from fifteen to twenty minutes another deputation of three came in, 
and said the boys were getting very uneasy. Their language was 
gentlemanly. They said that if the election could not go on, they 
would not be responsible for the consequences that might result from 
it. They then retired. In about ten minutes more, I should think, 
another deputation waited upon us, and the speaker then was a rough, 
uncouth man, in language and manner. He wanted to know what in 
hell was the matter that the election could not go on; and that 
we had better be getting out of there pretty damned soon, or we 
would catch hell. Mr. Watts replied to him, that there was no trou- 
ble except with one of them, looking and nodding towards me across 
the table. To which he replied, " if he knows what is good for him- 
self, he will be getting out of here pretty Grod damn soon, or he Avould 
catch hell." I said to him, 'Hhe room was ordered to be cleared, 
and every friend of mine has been put out of the house, but the room 
has not l)een cleared a moment." And I demanded the room might 
be cleared for the sole possession of the judges, to see what they could 
do among themselves, as persons had interfered with their counsel to 
my great annoyance. He asked what time would do us, and I replied 
*' give us ten minutes." I should have said, before this, that during 
the time of the conversation with the deputation before this, Mr. 
Watts, one of the judges, had become apparently very much excited, 
and had withdrawn. I proposed to fill up the vacancy. Mr. Stateler 
objected to his leaving us, and seemed very desirous for him to come 
back, and was unwilling to have another appointed in his place. 
When the last deputation came in, there were but two judges ; but 
after they left, Mr. Watts resumed his seat, by invitation of Mr. 
Stateler. We soon found that there was no chance for argument, as 
neither would recede from the position he had taken. Mr. Stateler 
proposed that we should all retire, as we w<?re all ministers, and the 
reputation of Christianity was at stake. I still persisted in not re- 
signing. Very soon we heard cried, outside-, *"' Five minutes left." I 
had heard prior to this, from the outside, " We have given them ten 
minutes, and then, damn them, we will put them out," and the re- 
ply, " Good! there are only ten minutes left theoi, damn them." I 
I heard the remark, " Hang the damned abolitionist, ^'lamn him, hang 
him ;" and then from others, " Hanging is too good fc>i' him." They 
sang out, "Three minutes left," and "Two minutes left." When 
the two minutes was sung out, Mr. Stateler rose and said, " I will 
not stay here any longer — I will not be responsible for tiic^ conse- 
quences." I said, " Do you believe, gentlemen, that there is {danger 
to our persons by staying here?" Mr. Watts remarked, turning 'to 
me in an emphatic manner, " that he was afraid of no danger — that 
he was afraid of no violence." Mr. Stateler rose from his seat, hold- 
ing on to it with one hand, and said, " I will not stay any longer ;" 
to which I remarked, that I did not think it safe myself to stay. I 
was asked if I would resign, and I promptly said " No." Mr. Watts 
went to the window, and while he was rising said, " I will say we 
will resign." Mr. Stateler asked me if I would acquiesce in it, and 
I said again that I would not. He asked, " What shall we do ; our 
time is out ?" I said to Mr. Watts, who was ready to speak from the 



196 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

window, say we will retire, and you may conduct the election as you 
are a mind to, which I had proposed to the judges before. My things 
were ready, and I left the room while he was speaking to the crowd 
from the window, and what he said I do not know. I know what he 
said was received with cheers and acclamations ; and as I passed out 
around the crowd, they were nominating tellers for the new judges. 
The outside door was open as I came out. A great many were rush- 
ing into the room from the doors. During the ten minutes given us_, 
the room had been cleared of all but the judges and the one gentle- 
man from Independence. I have never seen this gentleman since, but 
think I should recognise him anywhere. The door was at the end of 
the house^ and the windows at one side. I passed around the crowd, 
which was very dense around the window, and met with no resist- 
ance. I left the ground immediately. 

I made it my business to know every man I came in connexion with, 
and was considerably acquainted in the district, and think there were 
but few men in the district I could not identify. When I left I did 
not take so minute a survey as when I came, but should think there 
were 100 more than when I came ; that there were at least 400 per- 
sons on the ground when I left. I do not think I saw, to recognise 
them as citizens of the district once, 12 or 15 persons on the ground 
within the yard when I came away. None of the deputations that 
came into the room were, so far as I knew, citizens of the district. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Rees : 

Among the citizens I recognised, I remember D. H. Home, Mr. (I 
think) Freeman Foster, a man by the name of Hickey, Mr. Stin- 
son, Dr. Crogsdale, Mr. Vaughan, a merchant of this place, and a 
young man boarding with Mr. Stinson. I do not remember to have 
ever heard his name, but he was said to be from Kentucky. I cannot 
now recall another name but the two judges, Watts and Stateler. 

Shortly after leaving the ground I met quite a number of citizens 
coming to the election. Philip Briggs, C. K. Holliday, a French 
Dr. Doms who lives in the valley below Topeka, a Mr. Stone, and 
Mr. Clarke, were among them ; the others of whicli I do not now re- 
collect. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

The greater part of those I met coming to the election turned back, 
but some came on. 

To Mr. Rees : 

Mr. Holliday turned back, but I do not now recollect any of the 
others. 

Question. Was not the difficulty between you and> Stinson a private 
affair, and did you not make use of the remarks Mi. Simpson alluded 
to when he approached you ? 

Ansiver. Mr. Stinson and I, at that time, were almost wholly un- 
acquainted. I had called at his house at one time when he was sick, 
and we had had a few pleasant remarks.' I had passed him a few times 
upon the road, and there had been nothing but a pleasant recognition 
between us, and, to my knowledge, there had never been the least 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 197 

personal ill feeling between us — certainly none upon my part. As to 
the latter part of the interrogatory, I have no knowledge of making 
use of that or any similar language. 

I am living upon a claim about two miles west of Topeka. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I informed those I met coming to the election of what had occurred, 
and the greater part of them returned. 

The witness here stated that he wished to say, concerning the ques- 
tion asked in relation to Mr. Stinson, that in a conversation some time 
prior to the election, with a gentleman, one or two others being present, 
the witness said he did not look upon it as proper for the separate races 
to intermarry. There was nothing referring to or intended to reflect 
upon Mr. Stinson, or any other person. 

HENRY B. BUEGESS. 

Tecumseh, K. T., May 5, 1856. 



Eev. H. B. Burgess recalled. 

To Mr. Eeeder : 

I have examined the poll-list of the SOtli, of March, 1855, for this 
district. I find there the names of 16 residents, as follows : 

W. A. Sublette, T. N. Simpson, D. W. Hunter, H. N. Watts, H. 
Oox, J. E. Wagsman, E. A. Edwards, E. A. Updegraph, Charles 
Alexander, A. P. Bigler, H. J. Shickler, Dr. Crogsdale,Wm. Pickerel, 
W. A. M. Yaughan, John Horner, W. E. Boggs. 

Therq are other names on this list I am familiar with, but not sa 
familiar with them as to be positive about their given names. The^ - 
are as follows : J. M. Cavenaugh, J. Strother^ C. H. Buggaad, Sr*-^ 
liisicagij James Herrin, F. Grassmuch, E. H. Matthew. I suppose 
there were but very few men in the district at the time of the election 
I did not know to recognise them, and could tell where they resided. 
Some names I was familiar with, but did not know their christian 
names. I had been pretty much all over the district, and had been at 
different gatherings that brought the residents together. I know of 
legal voters being discouraged and deterred from voting on that day. 
I know that at Topeka, my residence at that time, we were informed 
Isy different persons, who were interested in the election. 

[Mr. Eees objected to this testimony being received as to reports 
and rumors. Mr. Eeeder offered to prove that it was reported at To- 
peka that there was a sufficient force here, or to be here, to control the 
elections, and to make all resistance useless, and residents remained 
away from the polls, and gave the above report as their reason for 
doing so. A majority of the committee decide that Mr. Eeeder may 
prove the fact that there was such a report in Topeka, and that voters 
remained away, but not to prove the declarations of those remaining 
away. Mr, Oliver dissents to the report being given on the ground 
that it is but a rumor, and, therefore, incompetent evidence.] 

There was a report in circulation, on the evening before the election 



198 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of SOtli of March, in Topeka and vicinity, that there was already a 
force from Missouri, from Texas, and from other different southern 
States here, for the purpose of controlling the election here ; and that 
if they had not already numhers enough to overpower us, they had in 
the Territory, and they would be distributed as necessity might call 
for. It was also reported there, that there was another body sent for 
from Lawrence, to come during the night or in the morning, and I 
am pretty confident that it was reported that this extra force would be 
200 in number. Some of the residents of Topeka and vicinity came, 
but did not vote, or but few of them, as I find but few names on the 
poll-lists of those I know to be residents of Topeka and vicinity. 
Their names are Edwards, who lives about as near Tecumseh as To- 
peka ; Charles Alexander, who lived three miles above us, at the 
Baptist mission ; Wm. Pickerell and W. R. Baggs, who lives two 
miles from Topeka ; and Dr. Crogsdale, who lived at the Baptist mis- 
sion, a candidate and elected. The most of those, however, I met 
upon the road turned back. 

To Mr. Rees : 

All, save William Pickerell, who, I think, was at that time a free- 
State man — of which, however, I am not positive — of the names I 
have mentioned, were pro-slavery men. I stand now indicted by the 
grand jury of this county for perjury. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I was indicted for telling the truth in regard to the election, in 
making an affidavit in a protest against the election setting forth the 
facts, and sent in to the executive of the Territory. I was not bound 
over before a justice of the peace. I suppose the first complaint wa& 
made before the grand jury ; a warranty I understood, was in the 
hands of a deputy marshal of this Territory for me, and before it was 
served I hitched up my team and came down here, as I had under- 
stood before this time a bill was found against me. I have never 
learned who my accuser was, nor upon what testimony the indictment 
was found. The indictment was found, as far as I can recollect, about 
a year ago, during the sitting of the court early last spring, and it 
is still pending. 

To Mr, Sherman : 

Those residents who did not vote were^ as far as I know, free-State 
men. The following is a list of resident voters in the district, whoso 
names I do not find on the poll-books of the election of the 30th of 
March, 1855, numbering sixty-eight. 

Names of resident voters in the Zd election district ivho did vote on the 
30^/i of March, 1856. 

Mortamer Gilbert Reuben Low 

Delmater Ferrill Fred. Walman 

James M. Herrin Castopher Coplin 

Jehial Tyler Tim. Mclntire 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



199 



J. C. Green^yood 
Thos. G-. Thornton 
Daniel H, Howe 
Milton C. Dickey 
M. C. Drinkwater 
A. A. Ward 
W. A. Summerville 
James Lacking 
L. T. Cooke 
Jas. K. Morhan 
W. F. Johnson 
Jolm W. Brown 
Alfred Bigler 
Joseph West 
Eb. D. Stinson 
Charles Jordan 
Osborn Nailor 
J. M. Edwards 
Peter Belanger 
Belford Gilbert 
C. K. Holliday 
Peter N. Main 
W. C. Lincker 
E. Chase 

Edward S. Dexter 
H. B. Burgess 
John All 
Abel Hatwell 
J. Teggart 
S. A. Clark 
Philip Briggs 



W. C. Pickerell 

Jacob B. Chaise 

Charles Farnsworth. 

CO. Nicolas 

Claimore Shelter 

Thos. D. Parkerson 

Wm. Goddard 

Jerome W. Boles 

J. P. C. Bouche 

Hiram Dansin 

Charles H. Buzzard 

Wm. D. Owen 

P. A. Wentworth 

Charles Matney 

John Taylin ' 

iiichard Cox 

T. J. Wells ^ () 

John Leroy v, ^^ b i 

.Jesse Newcunv^^^ ^'fe«k 



lilr. -Cox^ei 
Dr. Martin 
Wm. Liniker 
John Doty 
Mr. Foster 
H. L. Rout 
Chas. V. Grey 
J. T. Case 
Daniel Turner 
A. P. Turner 
W. H. Turner 






The political opinion of the above men is free-State, or Free-soilers, 

HENRY B. BURGESS. 
Tecumseh, K. T., May 6, 1856. 



Charles Jordan called and sworn. 



To Mr. Reeder : 

I pitched my tent in this place on the 21st day of November, 1854. 
I am originally from Virginia ; from that to Kentucky, then to Indiana, 
Illinois, Missouri, and to Kansas. I have lived here ever since Novem- 
ber, 1854, within a mile and a quarter of this place. I rented a 
house in Clay county, put my family in it for two weeks, and came 
on here to look at the Territory, and then went back for my family. 
I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. In the morning, 
between nine and ten o'clock, I arrived at Mr. Stinson's, where the 
election was held. Three others were in my company, a.nd as we 
were getting over the stile four young men, all armed, approached us. 



200 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

The front one accosted nie as I stepped over tlie fence about in tliis 
language : " You are well ; how am I, God damn you," or " by God," 
I am not certain which. As regards the positions of his arms, there 
was a pistol revolver shoved down in his boot, a bowie-knife by his 
side, and a large club in his hand. I passed him without heeding or 
noticing him. My son-in-law, that was just behind, replied in some 
way to him, but there was nothing of importance occurred. I went 
to the west side of the house, where was the window to receive the 
votes. There was a throng, perhaps six or eight persons deep, sur- 
rounding the window. I heard a man speak, urging those in the 
house to open the polls, and swore that if it was not done in ten 
minutes they would force the polls and elect their own judges, as the 
time fixed by the governor to open the polls had passed. I returned 
just about that time to the south door, and about that time Mr. Watts, 
one of the judges appointed by the governor, came out and informed 
me that he had resigned, as he thought it was unsuited to his calling; 
and also, that he thought the instructions of the governor conflicted 
with the law^ which the judges had and could construe for themselves ; 
as that was the case, he had resigned. About that time, when I sup- 
posed not more than ten minutes had expired, a tall spare man came 
out and proclaimed that the judges had resigned, and they were 
ready to elect new judges within by voting or tellers. He nominated 
Horatio Cox, John Homer, and Mr, Small, I do not know his first 
name. That being done, they went into the house, and it was pro- 
claimed at the door that the polls were now ojjen and ready for the 
receiving of votes. There was considerable rush to the polls and a 
hunt for tickets. There was one man in the yard who had a 
ticket ; and «s it seemed he could not read, he inquired what kind of a 
ticket it was, and some one said it was a free-State ticket, which he 
seemed to doubt ; I looked at it and saw it was not our ticket, and I 
had some tickets with our platform at the head of them. Seeing the 
platform^ it drew a considerable of a crowd about me ; they were 
strangers to me, and all solicited tickets for the purpose of getting 
the platforms, and I handed out a considerable number of them, 
which some of them made no objection to. The flag was floating 
over us just about where we were standing. I told them I had de- 
fended my country ; that that was our true flag, the stars and stripes, 
and under that flag I never intend to vote while it floats over a sedi- 
tious mob. Just about that time Mr. Hearin, a neighbor of mine, a 
pro-slavery man, came into the crowd and addressed himself to them, 
saying I was a neighbor gentleman and a good citizen, and he wished 
to speak to me. He advised me not to do anything in the matter, 
and that I was in serious danger, as he knew. I said there was no 
diance for justice, and we parted, and I started to go back to the place 
ofvotino-. There was a gentleman they called "Texas" ascended 
the stile and proclaimed that they wanted everybody to come forward 
and vote ; that it was everybody's privilege to vote, and he wanted 
both parties to come and have the thing fairly tested. He concluded 
with instructions to the pro-slavery party. He told them when they 
voted not to leave the ground, but to stay there till 'the polls were 
closed, or the abolitionists would flock in, overpower them, and they 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 201 

would lose all their trouble. He said lie had come further, perhaps, 
than the rest, and had undergone more than the rest, as he had been- 
four and a half days on the road. I never learned where he came 
from. I then advised my party to leave, inrhich we did, I think, pretty 
generally. I then came home. 

I should suppose there were 200, and perhaps more, when I was 
here ; they were pretty thickly scattered over the yard, and in groups 
about. I had attended some meetings for nominations, but beyond 
that I was not much acquainted in the district. I did not know but 
few in this crowd. I saw perhaps twenty or thirty there I knew, or 
had formed some acquaintance with. I saw the camps the day before 
north and east of Stinson's ; passed by them, but did not speak to any 
in there. The man who made proclamation, and the one who first 
accosted me, and the man who took the vote for judges, were all 
strangers. I did not vote because I saw we were entirely overpowered 
by the numbers from abroad. I was a free-State man. I saw we 
had to be perfectly silent on all political matters, or we would get 
into difficulty. When I referred to the flag, an old gentleman asked 
me if I had seen any violence ; I said I had not, but had seen some 
menacing, with insults added to injury, and would not vote. I do not 
remember positively who were the free-State candidates. I do not 
know that I am acquainted with the popular feeling of the district, 
but I have no hesitation in saying that there was a considerable 

majority of free-State men. 

» 

Cross-examined by Mr. Eees : 

I saw no violence offered to any man who attempted to vote, and I 
saw no man deterred from voting by violence. 

To Mr. Howard : 

The free-State party are divided between what are called free-State 
men and abolitionists. There are pro-slavery men, free-State men, 
and abolitionists here. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

Judging from the vote on the constitution, I should judge there 
were four free-State men to one abolitionist, 

CHAELES JORDAN. 
Tecumseh, K. T., 3Iay 6, 1856. 



M. J. Mitchell called and sworn. 

To Mr. Eeeder : 

I came into the Territory the last of October or first of November, 
1854, and I have lived in this district ever since. I was not at the 
election of the 30th of March, 1855, but was then in Missouri. I came 
from Liberty, Clay county, Missouri, to this place, and from Camp- 
bell county, Kentucky, to Missouri, and had lived in Clay county 
nearly two years. I have examined the poll-list of the 30th of March, 



202 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

1S55, for tills district, and find plenty of residents of Clay county 
upon that list, as follows : 

0. F. Dougherty, E. Jones, G. W. Withers, G. W. Hall, L. Ben- 
net, George Ruckle, S. Tillory, Emmet Allen, G. L. Withers, Garret 
Long, F. Bevans, H. S. Keller, W. Eiley, A. M. B. Hughes, J. P. 
Bird, C. Duncan, H. S. Rout, J. Estes, B. F. Wallace, J. C. Coons, 
A. J. Kelly, 0. S. Starks, Jas. G. Adkins, A. H. Cravens, and J. Wal- 
lace. There are more names than of persons from Clay county that 
I am familiar with, but I cannot give their given names, George W. 
Withers is a lawyer, and edits the "Richfield Enterprise" newspaper, 
and George L. Withers is a lawyer. The George W. Withers I refer 
to is a tall man, and lives in Richfield, and I think he is a lawyer, 
having heard him attend to a small case on Fishing river. Clay 
county, before a justice. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Rees : 

I think I can give a majority of the names of those who are resi- 
dents in this district. I heard some of those whose names I have 
given as Clay county men when I was in Missouri, and who were 
making preparations to arrive here, say that they were coming here 
to vote, and they inquired how many it would take to beat the abo- 
litionists. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

The following are the names of the residents of this district at that 
time on the lists, which I find after an examination of the poll-lists of 
this district for the 30th of March, 1855 : 

J. N. Cavenaugh, W. A. Sublett, James McConner, T. N, Stinson, 
D. W. Hunter, Jerry Nichols, James Herrin, H. N. Watts, J. M. 
Small, T. W. Hoges, H. Cox, J. R. Wiseman, R. A. Edwards, P. 
Groco, A, G. Brown, Ed. Updegraph, Francis Grassmuch, A. P. 
Bigler, L. D. Chilson, H. J. Strickler, Dr. Crogsdale, William Pick- 
erell, W. A. M. Vaughan, John Homer, J. Hitchner, F. A. Went- 
worth, Robert H. Mathews. 

M. J. MITCHELL. 

Tecumseh, K. T., 3Imj 6, 1856. 



John Long called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into this neighborhood near a year ago the 10th of last 
January, and settled in this district, so far as to commence building, 
though I did not move my family up here until the first of March. I 
came from Michigan to Independence, Missouri, where 1 lived a year, 
and then I came here, and have lived here ever since. I was at the 
election here the 30th of March, 1855. There were a great many 
strangers here. The day before the election I was ^here in town ; 
there were, I should think, about 200 men, strangers to the district, 
as far as I know, many of whom I had known in Independence. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 203 

They camped on the bottom near here, north of Mr. Stinson's, perhaps 
a quarter of a mile west of here. I was in their camp the day before 
the election ; was here nearly all day ; was acquainted with a great 
many in tlie camp, and was round the camp with them. I do not 
know as there were any arms in the camp, for I saw none, as far as I 
recollect now, 1 had some conversation with those in camp, and 
they told me they came princi])ally from Jackson county, but some 
from Clay county, Missouri. They said they came for the purpose of 
voting. I was on the ground on the day of election, and I saw a 
great many of them vote. A Mr. Noland, an old gentleman I knew 
in Independence, claimed the privilege of voting first. The party all 
came to the polls, though, 1 think, not all at a time. I got to town 
here, I think, about 8 o'clock in the morning, though I was not 
around the polls all the time. The following names on the poll-lists 
I know to have been residents of Missouri : Smallwood Noland, Gill- 
son Thomas, Reuben Johnson, L. Ruffrer, J. A. McBride, 0. C. 
Stewart — (Stewart always has had his family in Mitssouri^ though he 
had a claim here and had a house built on it, but he did not bring his 
family here, I think on account of their health. I suppose he would 
be considered a resident there, though he has merely stopped here 
over night since then, generally at my house,, and has made no more 
improvements) — J. N. McBride, D. C Patterson, J. P. Henry, M. 
Noland, A. J. Messes, J. McMurray, R. D. Wood, D. N. Ross, J. 
M. Pitcher, E. A. Hickman, W. L. Farragh, J. T. Thomas, W. S. 
Rogers, S. H. Woodson, D. W. Snanig, S. J. L. Porter, J. 0. 
Riggs, B. Miles, N. B. McMurray, J. C. McCoy, W. M. Akin, F. 
Pitcher, J. W. Hockaday, James Jackson, and J. W. McMurray. 
I know Samuel H. Woodson well ; he lives in Independence, Mis- 
souri. I think he has represented the district in Congress ; that he 
is a farmer and a lawyer, and at one time had a contract for carrying 
the mails over the plains to Santa Fe, though I do not know whether 
he has any interest in it now. He was one of the leading men here, 
and I think took the part of Mr. Strickler against Mr. Owen C. Stewart, 
when there was considerable contest as to which should be run for coun- 
cil. Mr. Woodson was in the room with the judges before the voting 
commenced. There were a great many men here that I knew resided 
at or near Independence, but I am not familiar with their given 
names, and cannot state positively that the names on the poll-listg 
are meant for them, except so far as I have given them. I hear^ 
considerable threatening outside at the time Mr. Burgess was in the 
judge's room. There was a great deal of excitement and loud talk 
and threats against the judges of the election. I do not know as I 
could state the exact words. The crowd around the window were 
threatening mostly against Mr. Burgess, if he did not receive their 
votes, or was not put out. Just at evening, pretty near time to close 
the polls, I had got on my horse to go home, and the Rev. Mr. Gil- 
patrick (whose name I afterwards learned) was standing near the 
door, and I saw some one strike at him, but I do not know who he 
was. I got off my horse and went up to him. I think as I got up 
to the door where he had been standing, he' stepped into the opposite 
room of Mr. Stinson's house, where the polls were held and claimed 



204 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

protection of Mr. Stinson. I tliink Mr. Stinson's reply to liira was, 
that lie could not have protection there, and he opened the back door 
for him to go through the house. I had then just stepped in ; the 
door was closed hy some one, and I opened it and asked him to come 
out the front way that he had gone in at. He remarked that he had 
been insulted ; that he had come there to vote and could not have the 
privilege of voting. I remarked that it was not worth while, as there 
was a great deal of excitement, and we had better not try to vote. 
That was about all that was said at the time, and we left in a very 
few minutes after that. He inquired of me for some friend of his, 
and when I came away he had got out of the crowd, and was stand- 
ing by the fence, and I think had found the friend he was looking 
for. I think Mr. 0. C. Stewart had talked to the man who had 
made an assault on him, as he knew them, and had quieted them 
somewhat. The first I knew of the difficulty was that I saw a man 
striking at him ; but I do not know whether he struck him, though I 
thought he did. There did not seem to be any in the crowd disposed 
to befriend him, and he got away as I have stated. I saw no marks 
or blood on him. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I did not vote that day. 

To Mr. Eeeder : 

One reason was, that I did not have the privilege of voting for men 
I wanted to vote for. I did not feel inclined to vote. I thought there 
w«is no use in the settlers voting against the people from Missouri, as, 
on account of the numbers, they could not stand any chance of elect- 
ing their candidates. I suppose there were two hundred Missourians 
here, and I do not think there were over a hundred voters in this dis- 
trict, though I did not know who were actual settlers here. 1 did not 
know any persons except from Jackson county, Missouri. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Eees : 

I do not know the original cause of the difficulty with Mr. Gilpat- 
rick. I think Mr. Stinson refused him protection, saying he could 
not have protection there, and at the same time opening the door for 
him to go out. I was not prevented from voting at that election. The 
reason I could not vote for the man I wanted was, that one of the men 
I wanted to vote for was not a candidate. There was one candidate I 
shc/ukl have voted for if I had voted. I have been a western man for 
some time. I think it is frequently the case that there are fights at 
election, but I never saw much of it myself where I have been. I 
have resided for nearly fifteen years in Michigan. Mr. Strickler for 
councilman, and Dr. Crogsdale and Mr. Halliday for assembly, were 
the candidates that day. I cannot say whether the free-State men. 
had any name on their tickets for council or not. I think the ma- 
jority of them voted for Mr. 0. C. Stewart, and it is probable there 
were tickets with his name on them. I think that Strickler was the 
only regular candidate on the field for councilman, though I am not 
certain. There was another man spoken of by some, but I do not 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 205 

know whether there were any tickets with his name on or not. 1 
think he came from Brownville, hut do not recollect his name. One 
reason why I did not vote was hecause I thought there was no use in 
voting. 

JOHN LONG. 

Tecumseh, K. T., 3IaTj 6, 1856. 



James Hickey called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into the Territory on the 27th of November, 1854, spent 
a week in Lawrence, and got to Topeka about the 12th or 14th ol 
December, and have resided there ever since. I was at the election 
here on the 30th of March, 1855. I came here to vote, and saw a 
very large crowd of people here. I was pretty well acquainted in the 
Topeka part of this district, but not much in other parts of the 
district. I was at the polls here some two or three hours. I heard 
one man at the polls make a speech, and say that he had come a good 
ways to vote, and he was not going back until he had accomplished 
his object, and advised them not to leave the polls until they were 
closed. I did not pay a great deal of attention to his speech, and do 
not recollect that he said anything about how long he had been coming 
or how far he had come. I did not vote that day, as I was advised by 
some of our men of Topeka that it was no use of voting. I saw no 
camp, but I saw a great many wagons they had. They were gen- 
erally armed. Almost every man had a revolver, and generally 
sticking out of his boot-leg, and most of them had large clubs. Al- 
most all of these men were strangers ; and, out of the crowd, I do 
not suppose I knew more than twenty who came from Topeka and 
that neighborhood. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Rees : 

I saw nothing to prevent me from voting that day if 1 had desired. 

JAMES HICKEY. 
Tecumseh, K. T., May 6, 1856. 



Lewis 0. Wilmarth called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into this district on the 2d day of February^ 1855. I was 
at the election of the 30th of March, 1855; I saw a large number of 
strangers whom I took to be from the State below, and I knew some 
of them to be from there, as I had seen them, as I had been down there. 
I do not know how they came here, as the Erst I saw of them they 
were here. I did not see their camps. I saw here from Missouri a 
young mechanic fromWestport — I do not know his name — and another 
young man named Holloway, that I knew in Westport ; I had no 



206 KANSAS AFFAIHS. 

•f1. fl.Pm as I was with the crowd, passing for one of 
conversation with them, as i ^^^'^ , ^ ^ ^^e and my prm- 

the crowd, and avoided those I kne^^^^^^^^ .J^ ,,i^ 

ciples. I t^^ked with quite a n^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^,,3 

they had come here to f ^^P *j^^, J^^'^^r a Yankee trick in not 
afraid the Yankees were Pl^T^S ^ r?Je nnrnoLly to fight, and they 
voting. Several.o ^^--^-^^Q^^^^^^r eSS if he^could get the 
wanted to get into a row. \^J^^^^;\Yorroneka and wipe the people 
hovs t. join -tMiim - r^^^^^^^^^^ l^aK dozen. T^ey were all 
info the nver ; "i"'. '^'l ™^ ,» , , „ ^,,;„i, thev hramlished around 
armed with guns, pistols T* "l^^^^'/^^f *7 where there seemed 
^ery much, rushmg to f^* ^^^^fi^m^rt, during the first part 
to he any excitement, i maae several a i received, hut 

of the day to get to «- --;„":/'^^,^^,%^'riItte:\rartof thedaythey 
could not on account of the crowd "i ^n i ^.^ ^^^ 

^ave out that they wanted us all t".''""';,^^ ™' ^^ and the whole 
hecause the judges were «PP«»t^l '" "«^ tt was 1 Remained until 
thing was conducted m ™;:';f.Xrreturned without^ting. I did 
the whole party that ^'"'^j; wrthey S come from. They said 
Stt"tmSwnndl:-nShehadheenaboutaweekon 

the journey. 

r^-stitjertere^ ^. "-£^'1:2:^^1 

came and talked to me as though 1 .7^^%°"« f^ ^H Xild amount 

vote, though I heard a great many ^^^^^^^^^^jg ^ WILMARTH. 
Tecumseh,K. T.,i%6, 1856. 



D. H. HoRNE called and sworn 
To Mr. Reeder 



chusetts here. Vi« '^*'\°'i ,.,„„. fl„j them there. Being con- 
family I expected there but I did °°'/°| ;^^^,"t\t the election. 

L^'^^ross tl^e river there and lea™ the same tjme IJuh ^They^ 
said they were going into the -Le^itory to vo ' -^ ^ ^^-^^^ ^^ 
was acciuainted with *^J/^^^i' f f^^^^^.^^^^^^e^ and I told them they 
if they were right on the road ^^l^XJ" 'semen and some teams 

=fi- AS«~!f- • '•" " """'^ ' —I"- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 207 

rence with the mail-team, and took the mail on to Topeka, it hein- 
then between 9 and 10 o'clock in the evening. Soon after I le^ Law"" 
rence^ a party passed me. I stopped at the springs until the next 
morning, the day of election, and then came on here to Tecumseh I 
saw a good many men here who were strangers to me, who were 
armed with clubs knives, aud revolvers. One of tbem stated that 
Mr. f^tinson would not allow them to bring their guns inside the 
yard, but th§y must deposite them outside and arm themselves with 
clubs it they could get them easy. I was here when Mr Burgess 
came down from Topeka, and conducted him to the room of "the 
judges of the election. Soon afterwards Mr. Stateler and Mr Watts 
came in with the ballot-box. I was requested hy some stranger to 
me to wait outside, and I did so. After I had been out awhile the 
crowd began to be somewhat uneasy because the judges did not 
organize. Some one got up and said they should either organize or 
resign and have ten minutes to do it in, and they sent a man in to 
the judges with that message. The man told them ; and afterwards, 
a« the minutes would expire, he would inform them that he had so 
many more minutes. There was considerable excitement at the time • 
and they said it the damned abolition judge did not resign pretty 
soon they would hang him. About that time Mr. Burgess, the free- 
State judge, came out of the door. Several men started after him as 
lie came out, and he called upon me to protect him. I went off with 
him, and they followed a short distance, and then turned back We 
soon met some of our Topeka friends and advised them to go' back 
Mr. Burgess told them how he had been used, and they sSid thev 
should not trouble the polls. He went home then. The people said 
or some of them, that they came there to vote, and they were goinc^ 
to vote and would take no oath. I knew most of the persons in thS 
district. I should think there were two hundred and fifty persons 
around the polls that day, the most of them when the judges first got 
together I do not think there were more than fifteen or twenty 
persons there who were residents of the district. I did not vote I 
lett wnen Mr. Burgess came out; and when he told me how he had 
been used and the demonstrations there, I thought it better not to 
vote— that It was no use to vote the free-State ticket, which I should 
vote if I voted at all ; and I thought a man might get himself into 
difficulty A great many residents of the district from Missouri said 
tnat. It the tree-State men would vote to keep the niggers out, they 
would vote the free-State ticket. A large majority in the distkct, I 
think, were free-State men. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Kees : 
saw no violence ofi"ered to prevent any one from voting 

T.C.-MSBH, K. T., 3Iay 6, 1856. '^^'''^^ ^- «*^^^^' 



208 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



James F. Merriam called and sworn. 

To Mr. Keeder: 

I arrived at Lawrence the 22d day of November, 1854, and came 
into this district the 7th of December, 1854, and hare resided at To- 
pelA ever since. I was at this place the day of election, the oOtli of 
March, 1855. I think I got here not far from 9 o'clock in the morn- 
ing, and left about noon, or a little later. I should jndge there were 
from 300 to 400 about the polls on that day. I saw very few resi- 
dents among them that I knew ; the rest were strangers to me. I 
4id not go down to their camps. I met Mr. Burgess as I came down, 
and he informed me of what had taken place here before he left. I 
came down that morning from Topeka, and found some oOO or 400 
men assembled around the window of Mr. Stinson's house, where the 
election was held. The judges appointed by the governor, except one, 
had left, and they were trying to agree upon others in their places. 
The mob about the window chose two persons for that purpose. I 
did not vote. The voting commenced, and I was absent among the 
crowd, hearing their remarks, and looking on. There was a pretty 
free damning of the abolitionists and Yankees, and remarks about 
those who came in. While I was there, one who appeared to be a 
leader, and the most respectable-looking man among them^ mounted 
the fence, and commenced a speech to the crowd, stating that he had 
understood that the abolitionists were coming down from Pawnee and 
Topeka, and other points, in the afternoon, and intended to take the 
polls in their own hands to out~vote them. He said he had come as 
far as any of them ; had a farm and home in Missouri ; had been a 
week from home, and was willing to stay a week longer, if it was 
necessary. He wanted them to stay until the certificates of election 
were given to their men, and he would then be willing to go home 
with them. That was the substance of what he said. I heard his 
name, but, do not recollect it. The crowd about here were armed, 
and a good share of them appeared to be in liquor, and were very 
noisy and boisterous. I saw a great many bowie-knives, revolvers, 
and guns, and many of them had sticks or bludgeons, that appeared 
to be freshly cut. I did not vote, because I did not consider the elec- 
tion legally conducted. 

Cross-examined by J. W. Whitfield: 

I came into this Territory from Vermont. I came out in company 
with a young man by the name of Hickey. At Albany we fell in 
company with some 80 or 100 more, who were coming out here, and 
we came out with them. There was one man who might be called a 
leader, named Tafi't, who made arrangements for the party. They 
were not known by any particular name or organization. 

To Mr. Howard: 

I knew, by the papers, that a party was to start to come out, and I 
went there to meet them, but had no appointment with them. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. nQO 

To Mr. Whitfield: 

company fu'rai J>ed ttir own mean "'a far ^ nZ™^ f'' °i"- '^'^'^ 
out of mv own fund., «nA , V™'"'^'/''™ as i know. I paid my fare 

V-rtycJeTu'inZt^Al^^^^^^^^ -ade. ^This 

to arrangements the Aid Cor^mnv hnd .rpt" t Company, so far as 

lines of travel This I und3nn 11 f .7 '''''^^ i'^'^^" ^^^^^ ^^^erent 

I do not know that there w.nn^ ^ '^' "'^ ^°^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^elf. 

arrangement whlteve^Tm'ade noL'^;:r!;l^T ^"^1^^^^'^^^ 
any of the rest did myselt, and I do not know that 

receive the votes, I thinl I had a ittif Ti? n °t '^al persons to 
Dr. Wood, and I think Mr Stewart on tT^ ^^ ^^^ ^"""'"y '""^ 
compromise tieket, as I can recoS no^ "^ " "^^ ' ""' "^ f"-™ 
lo Mr. Sherman: 

Those candidates were not withdrawn Ti.^ ^ o^ . 
here with tickets in their t^opI pI ! o J i' J ^ {^ee-State men came 
been ousted, Tnd some pe^rsons oho^. l""^?;^ the legal judges had 
legally entitled to receive th^^r wf .^ *^'' ^"^' ^^° ^^^'^ °ot 
not vote. I have To ouesttn tw''' *^'^' -^^ ^ general thing, did 
free-State men at that^in ' T '' ""f-^"'?*^ "^" *^^^ district" ^ere 
knowledge oftheneo^lp of ft" 1 . "\ • '^'''^''^ ^y P^'ofession. My 
all the C in aKo^ To?^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1 1^°- 

Wakarusa, and b other LH?nf;if'^''=^.^.'''' '''''' ^^^^^^ ^^ the 
knowledge extends I.ZJa f- 1 ^ '^''*"'^' ^^^' «« far as my 
topro-slaVerymen was4tol " ^'" Proportion of free-State men 
To Mr. Whitfield : 

tiint r'hiS':4s1^l1w^^' '"' ^"^ !I\^^^ I *^^^"^ I h-1 -t that 
It was a kini ofcfmp^o ™e on t^'t^f ^ ^ " l^-^l-^ry man. 
allow the election o?an rposite ctdi^at'e V'^r"' ^ ^'''^ "^"^^ 
return the favor. We were firmlv^? • V .1*^^ ? .^^^ l'^^'^->' ^^^^d 
majority would be herefrom mTJ '^.^^^°^?d that this overwhelming 

took this as L on ? cour^ ^tZ^'^ '^ ^^'' ^7. '^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^d wl 
hearing. "^ ^^''"^ ^^ ""^"^^^ ^^ would be likely to get a 

By Mr. Reeder : 
^e'oVa^n^tToittrr ^""^^^^^^ ^'' ^^"^^^ -- P-d the pas- 
Tecumseh, K. T., A%y 7, 1856. ^- ^'- ^^^^1^^- 

William R. Boggs called and sworn 
To Mr. Reeder : 

in the third distJnf half S',l^"- I located above Topeka, 
H. Rep. 200-— 14* ' '™'' ""'=''• ' '^^™« fr<"" 



210 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Howard county, Missouri, here. I was raised in Missouri, partly in 
Howard county. I was at the election of the oOtli of March, 1855, 
and I found a great many strangers here, but I could not tell where 
they resided ; I could not tell positively who were residents at that 
time, I saw a great many men I had known in Missouri, but I did 
not ask them wliere their residence was there. I do not recollect of 
seeing any of them in the district since that time. I had conversa- 
tion with some I was acquainted witli in Howard county, but it was 
not in regard to the election or their residence. I think some one or 
two or them told me they came here to vote. I was in their camps ; 
a portion of them camped north of this on the river, and there were 
various other camps. I think there were about 100 here, though I 
cannot tell positively whetlier there were more or less of them. I was 
in the camp above here on the river the day of election ; I voted here. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I saw a great many vote there who were strangers to me. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

The candidates of our party were Dr. Crogsdale and Mr. Strickler, 
and some one I do not recollect whom. I think Mr. HoUiday's name 
was on the other ticket. I chink there was some opposition to Mr. 
Strickler. I saw no man prevented from voting, and nothing to pre- 
vent any one who had any resolution about him. There may have 
been a little more trouble here tliau at elections in some parts of Mis- 
souri ; but it is common to have something of the kind at elections in 
western countries. I saw manv residents of the district vote. 

By Mr. Reeder : 

I do not know that I know any one who voted differently from 
what those strangers did on that day; but I was not around the polls 
much; I do not know how they voted. The men I know from Howard 
county were Dr. Morse, a Mr. Hughes — perhaps one or two of them, 
one by the name of Clarke, and several others I do not now recollect. 

WILLIAM R. BOGGS. 

Tecumseii, K. T., May 1, 185G. 



W. A. M. Vaughan called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I was living in Tecumseh on the 30th of March-, 1855. I first came 
here on the first or second week in September, 1854, and liave resided 
here ever since. I moved from Nebraska Territory to Missouri and 
remained there for a month, and then came to this Territory. I went 
from IMissouri to Nebraska in 1850 ; I went from Kentucky to Mis- 
souri, and from Virginia to Kentucky. I saw a great many men on 
the day of election, and both before and afterwards here, that I did 
not know. Some of them came a-foot, some in wagons, carriages, and 
buggies, and some on horseback ; some encamped liere, and some 
passed above. The largest encampment I saw was on the Shunga- 
munga, about two hundred yards from Mr. Stinson's ; I was in the 
camp once early in the morning of the 28th of March ; there was only 
one wagon there then, and from three to five men. I Avas introduced 
o two of them at that time — one of them was Henry or McBride, I 
not know which. I did not hear where they were from ; I remained 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



211 



there but a few minutes. That camp increased afterwards, for I saw 
a great number of tents there, but I was not in it afterwards I saw 
persons m town that I had seen some two months or three months 
previous in Missouri ; I recognised some seven or eiglit of them I 
think the first time 1 saw them here was on the 28th. They were a 
young man by the name of Bird, who had a claim near Dou<^las but 
now resides in Leavenworth city; one by the name of Bennl3tt,'who 
told me he had a claim near Douglas, but resides in Missouri ; a man 
by the name of Kyland Jones, who I had seen previously in Mis- 
souri and since m Leavenworth city ; a man by the name of F 
Dougherty, who resided in Missouri, and I have since seen him there' 
I saw_ others there I do not recollect now. I have examined some 
four times the poll-list ot this district for the 30th of March, 1855 
The following is the ist of the names of those I find on the poll-lists 
of residents of this district ; those having no remarks to the names 
correspond with the names on the poll-list 

Residents of Third District. 
George Holmes had a claim, but had not resided on it for some time or until -. f,^.^ H,,r= 
before the e ection ; — McBride had a claim on Deer Creek-do'nt know g ven name S 

time of residence ; Lowe, do'nt know given name- O C Str-wnrH r- rf f i ?x/ 

Kavanaugh, J. R. F. Hooft, F. A. Wentworth W A Subleft r m' S' ,1^°^^^^' J" W- 

*vesi,sLl\iccum, VV. D. Owen, James Herren, H. N. Watts lames S Pllcc T H 
WeaveiJ^n^yand, Samuel 1). McCutchen, Jam'es M. SmairT' W Xys Horatio Cox' 
W. Matney, M. Rule, James K. Waysman, G W Berrv R A Frk,.rr?c P , n ^°''' 
A. G. Brown A J. Kelley, Edward Updegr;ff:\v R Bo^^s W H ta^^^^^ 
James Coriga, Charles Alexander, F. Gras^smu^k, John Sailing, A T Byler W itanle, ' 
J.M.Edwards, Richard Steward, W. Mutnev sen T n Pl.ile^V t n a /^ ' 

Lner^ " '^'^ "• ^^ ^''''^^''' ^^ ^^°^^'^^'^' W- Pickerell, W. A. M. vZu'glSrn, Sln 

. nilvl^r n ^^^^^^.^^f « ?.n t^^e list. I knew a J. McConnell and 
a Harvey McConnell m the district who are brothers, and I think one 
ot the J. McConnells Avas meant for Harvey McConnell. A mac b> 
the name of Lowe lives in the district, but I do not know his -ive. 
name. A man by the name of McBride had a claim on Deer CTcek, 
but I do not know where he lived. When I speak of men living on 
claims, I mean that I saw them alive before they went there aSd I 

thlrP M^'p'-V^^*'' *V^ '^T ^^.'^'' ^'''^ ^^'^y ^1«° *old n^e they lived 
Innw 1 ^^""^''^^ ^^?e lie^e a few days before the election, but I do not" 

in X ir l^'fi^- ^ ™ ^^' ^^ ^^'^ ''^''^'' °^ *^^ ^lecti<^^- I ^'^« out 
and diJ w V "^.' ^^^/^^^^^<^ ''^^ exiled, and I went into the room, 
rnnr^r T ""^ ^^i '^^'^* l''""l'°''^ ^ "^'^^ ^^^^^ed until I got into the 

ner^vor ^Z^ Vro-slaveij man. I have been in the mercantile busi- 
am toWnViU i^''' ^'-'^ ^7, ^'""'''^ "P' ^ ^^ postmaster here. I 
of thP .^rnnl '"^1?;^^^^^ i^^re in the district. I do not think any 
of mv own ir'n 'I'l*'^'^ ft ^'^'''' '^'y '^"^^ f^'°^- I do not know 
of eWl?on li-fil •'' M-^''°^ ''^-" ^^'""^ """"y ^f t^^e ^^^^ l^ere on the day 
led! fW Z "' ^^^Tr ^' ^^^^^ ''''''■ I ^'''^'^ ^f '^y o^vn know- 
r irfl™ r f ""'' \ I'r' ^''^''' ^^ t^^^ l^«t a« i-e^idents of the dis- 
trict Av ei e hying hei-e at that time. I am of opinion that those I have 

oflhedectTon ? '' f Missouri were residents k Missouri at the t?me 
of the election, for I saw them there some two months before, and have 



212 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

seen some of them since. Some of them had farms, and some of them 
were in stores. I find the name of J. Estes on the list. I know a J. 
Estes in Missouri, hut I know he was not here. I did not see him 
here. I know lie was too old a man to get out here. Am keen to 
swear he was not here. 

The following is the list of the persons I allude to as being from 
Miss ) I 

Smallwood Nowland, (know a man in Missouri by the name of Nowland, not given 
name.) John Bland, (know such an one in Missouri,) 0. F. Dough erty, (know such an one 
in Missouri,) R. Jones, (know such in Missouri, now in Leavenworth city, K. T ,) G. W. 
Withers, (know suich an one in Missouri,) G. W. Hall, (know such an one in Missouri,) 
L. L. Bennett, (know such an one in Missouri,) L. Tilierj-, (know such an one in Missouri,) 
Emett Allen, (know such an one in Missouri.) G. Long, (know such an one in Alissouri,) J. 
J. P. Bird, (know such an one in Missouri,) H. L. Roustt, (know such an one in Missouri,) 
J. P. Henry, (know such an one in Nebraska,) J. Estes, (know such in Missouri, who was 
not here,) H Morton, (knew him in Missouri and Philadelphia, Penn.,) N. R. McMany, 
(have heard of such a name.) J. A. Laneheart, (know a Laneheart in Missouri,) A. B. Earl, 
(know a Dr Earl in Missouri,) VV. F. Gordon, (know a man by the name in Missouri,) 
C. S. Stark, (know a man by the name in Missouri,) T. C. Cooms, (know a man by the 
name in Missouri,) James G. Adkins, (know a man by the name in Alissouri,) 8. H. Wood- 
son, (know a man by the name in Missouri,) W. W. Tilley, (know a man by the name in 
Missouri,) James Hunter, (know a man by the name in Missouri,) H. A. Hunter, (know a 
man bv the name in Missouri. 

WM. A. M. VAUGHAN. 

Tkccmseh, K. T., May 7, 1856. 



W. A. SuBLETT called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I resided on the 30th of March^ 1855, aC Tecum.seh, in the third 
election district. I went there in the fall of 1854. It was rumored 
through the Territory that eastern men were to be sent to the Terri- 
tory for the purpose of voting, to make Kansas a free State. The ru- 
mors on the borders of Missouri were pretty much the same in regard 
to the matter. I heard one man say that he had come for that pur- 
pose. He was in company with another gentleman. He was speak- 
ing of himself and a company of some six or eight others. There 
were but those two persons present at the time of the conversation, 
and the others were in camp close by. As near as I can recollect, he 
said he came with a company from Pennsylvania; that they had come 
out through the influence of Governor Eeeder, and for the purpose of 
voting. He said that there were between forty and fifty behind on 
the river, coming up for the same purpose. It was before the time of 
election. He told me that he knew of the election in Penn.sylvania 
before we knew of it here. , I think this conversation took place in 
February, 1855. These persons were all I knew of who professed 
to have come into the Territory for the purpose of voting. I do not 
know of any free-State men going out of the Territory just after the 
election. I do not recollect that this person stated how they knew 
the time of election in Pennsylvania. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

This conversation took place in my storehouse in Tecumseh I do 
not know what was the name of this man. There were two together 
at the time. He stated that there was a company of forty or fifty be- 
hind on the river ; so I understood. He himself had just come into 
the Territory, and was on his way to Fort Riley. I think he stated 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 213 

to me that he came bv wat4?r. He did not state anything about his 
leaving after the election. He stated that the time of election was 
known in Pennsylvania before it was knowu here. I cannot say what 
time this took place, except that it was between the first and the last 
of Februarv. 

To Mr. Scott: 

It was after navigation bad opened on the river, because I think 
this gentleman told me he had come up the river. I do not know 
what time navigation did open. I cannot be certain that it was in 
February, for I may be mistaken; but if my recollection serves me 
right it was in Februarv, and after navigation was opened. 

W. A. SUBLETT. 

Leavenworth City. K. T.. May 26. 1S56. 



George Holmes called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I wa^s a resident of the Territory of Kansas at and before th^ 30th 
of March, 1855, in the third election district. The election was held 
on that day at the house of Mr. Stinson. in Tecumseh. I acted as one 
of the clerks at that election. I went over to the place of holding the 
election, and one of the judges (Mr. Burgess) was there. I then 
went over to the house of Mr. Stateler for him and Mr. Watts, the 
other two judges appointed by the governor. They came over to the 
polls, and Mr. Watts proposed the appointment of two clerks. Mr. 
Burgess objected, saying that he could find nothing about clerks in 
the instructions of the governor, and he thought he could do his own 
clerking, and the other two judges coulJ do the same. They then 
."ommenced an argument on the qualifications of voters. I do not re- 
member all the argument ; but Mr. Watts and Mr. Stateler were not 
in favor of receiving all who ofiered to vote, as to whether they in- 
tended to remain in the Territory all their lives or not. Mr. Burgess 
said he would swear every man he was not personally acquainted 
with, that he was a resident of the Territory, and intended io live 
there, and whether he had any family in the Territory. That is the 
argument to the best of my recollection. Mr. Watts said every one 
they were at all doubtful about they would question, and he would 
have to swear or prove that he was a settler, and intended to reside in 
the Territory. He said he wa^; in favor of letting every man vote 
who had a claim, and intended to make a permanent settlement on it. 
As far as I could understand it, I do not think their object was to 
allow persons who came there merely to vote and then return to give 
votes there that day. I do not think there were more than fifty on 
the ground, perhaps one hundred, when I went after the judges. I 
was in the room afterwards with Mr. Burgess, and do not remember 
more than that being there in the morning. I knew most of the per- 
sons 1 saw there, and considered them residents. The only violent 
talk I heard during the day was while the ar^rument was going on 
between the judges. Mr. Stinson came in and asked Mr. Burgess if 
he had said that every man who had married a half-breed ought not 
to grumble at any one who married a nigger, or something to that 



214 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

effect. Mr. Stinson had married a lialf-breed. Stinson had a cane in 
his hand, and tokl Burgess if he had said so he would break his head. 
Burgess denied having said so ; when some persons in the room inter- 
fered, and told Stinson not to quarrel with him in his house at that 
time, as it might interfere with the election. Mr. Stinson said he 
would settle it Avith Mr. Burgess some other time, and then left the room . 

I believe the judges could not come to any agreement ; and they 
all agreed to resign, and allow the voters there to elect new judges. 
Most of the voters I saw there I knew. They were standing at the 
window at the time, and said it was past the time for opening the 
polls, and wanted the judges to proceed with the election. They 
were legal voters, so far as I knew them. Other judges were 
elected, being residents of the Territory, and living there at the 
time. I do not recollect their names. They api)ointed Mr. Yaughan 
and myself to act as clerks of the election. I prepared the poll- 
books myself. I have no recollection of any one from Missouri 
there arranging the poll-books. I mean by preparing the poll- 
books, taking the paper and ruling it into appropriate columns. I 
think several votes were challenged during the day, and the judges 
decided they could not vote — some for being minors, and some for 
other causes. There were only few challenged. I always was of 
opinion that the district was strongly pro-slavery. I had not been 
about in the district a great deal, and did not know how many voters 
were there. I knew the county round about was pretty thickly 
settled, and it was one of the principal districts in the Territory. I 
judged by the election the fall before, at which I was also a clerk, 
that the pro-slavery party would be about eight to one. I had been 
sick in the Territory, and could not be about much, and I was also 
taken sick again while down here afterwards. There were a great 
many persons who did not come to the fall election, as tlie}^ lived a 
long distance from the polls; and I thought it was no use to come, as 
Whitfield would be elected any way. 

I saw some on the ground at the election of March 30th that I had 
known in Jackson county, Missouri, but I did not knoAv whether they 
were residents of the Territory or not. All that I spoke to that I did 
not know of having claims there said they had claims, and intended 
to improve them and become residents. I left the district shortly 
after the election, and do not know who have moved there since. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I first moved into the third district in August, 1854, and settled 
near Tecumseh. I had no family at that time, but took a claim, and 
afterwards improved it during the fall and winter, building a cabin 
on it. I was part of the time, from August to November, in West- 
port, where I had moved from, and part of the time in the Territory. 
I do not know exactly how long I was in the Territory. I went up 
in August, made my claim, came down here, and got a wagon and 
horses, and went back with the intention of imj)roving my claim, and 
was taken sick in the Territory, and laid sick there three Aveeks at 
Mr. Horner's. I then came down to Westport on business, and was 
taken sick here again, and lay sick here for a long time, nearly up to 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 215 

tlie time of the election in tlie fall. I then went back again, and 
served as clerk of the election. When I came down here and was 
sick, I was engaged in writing np some books, as I could do but little 
to enable me to meet my expenses^ but had no permanent engage- 
ment. I returned uere directly after the November election, and re- 
turned to the Territory again not long before the March election. I 
was engaged in business here during the winter, when I was able to 
make something to live upon, as I was a poor man. I had, however, 
imjirovements going on in the Territory upon my claim at the same 
time. I do not know anything about other persons going up from 
Missouri at the time I did, except myself and Mr. Hunter. I saw a 
gentleman there on the day of election, who was said to be Col. Sam- 
uel H. Woodson, of Independence, Missouri, but I do not know the 
man, having heard of such a man only, and do not know him except 
by reputation. The one called Mr. Woodson was in the room with 
the judges and clerks part of the time, and part of the time he was 
not. Several gentlemen made speeches that day, but I was busy 
counting up the votes, and could not say positively whether Mr. 
Woodson spoke or not. I do not remember who the gentlemen were 
who persuaded Mr. Stinson not to interfere with Mr. Burgess. I con- 
sidered that a man who was on the ground the day of election, and 
had a claim, was a resident voter. I did not say anything to Mr. 
Woodson about his having a claim, and do not know whether he voted 
or not. The question usually asked by the judges, of those whom 
they questioned at all, was whether they had claims in the Territory 
or not. I do not remember how many were so questioned. I left 
there a few days after that election, and have resided in Westport, 
and am now engaged in business here. I left the Territory because I 
could not make a living there. 

To Mr. King : 

I have my claim yet. There was a dispute about my claim when I 
went up in the fall, and that was one reason why I left there. I told 
Judge Elmore he might have the houses, but I believe the claim is 
not taken by any one but myself yet. I tried to sell my claim for 
some time, but could not do it. 

Several speeches were made, but I was busy at the time, it being 
after the election was over, and while the judges were counting over 
the votes, and 1 was keeping the tally list as clerk. The voting that 
day was quiet and orderly, and I saw no violence of any sort. Some 
votes were cast for the free-State candidate, Holliday, and I saw noth- 
ing to prevent any one from voting for him who wanted to do so. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I never did vote in this State, as I was just of age when I went up 
into the Territory in 1854. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

When I went up to the Territory and took a claim, I intended to go 
there and cultivate my claim, and reside upon it, and make a living 
there if I could ; and onlv returned here after having tried and failed 



216 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

to make a living there. I had no intention, when I took a claim, o 
taking it merely so that I could vote. I understood from many per- 
sons about that time, that they had taken claims, and were making 
preparations to take their families there. If a man said he had a 
claim, and I believed it, I thought he was a voter. I considered all 
voters who had claims, and were really intending to settle upon them. 

GEO. HOLMES. 
Westport, Mo., June 3, 1856. 



George H. Berry called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I first located in the Territory of Kansas on the 1st of September, 
1854, and moved my family there in November, eleven miles south o 
Tecumseh, in the third district. I was at the election at Tecuniseh 
on the 30th of Maroii, 1855. A majority of the people there were 
strangers to me. I recognised a great many of them as citizens of 
the country. I was not at the polls much, merely going down there 
to cast my vote. I was not at the polls more than twenty minutes, 
and not more than an hour on the ground, during the day. During 
the month of March there was considerable emigration, and, as far 
as I could see, moie than at any time previous. 

Some few days after the election — not more than seven or eight, 
and perhaps not more than four or five days — I was coming down to 
Westport on business, and I fell in with many men on the route* 
And about noon I met with quite a number of men at Blue Jacket's, 
on the Wakarusa. I drove into the body of the creek to get some 
water, and some four or five men rode up to me, going into the Ter- 
ritory ; and after talking with them a bit, I found them to be Mis- 
sourians. We struck up a conversation, and while we were talking 
a company of fifteen or twenty, who were encamped on the bank, 
whom I supposed, from the direction of their teams, to be men going 
into the Territory, came to the spring in the bed of the creek to get 
water while I and the Missourians were talking. As they passed 
from me going back to their wagons, I asked some of the Missou- 
rians who they were, and where they were going.- The answer was 
given to me that they were Yankees, and I said that they had come 
a little too late, and should have come before the election, and had 
an opportunity to vote. The party had not gone out of hearing. 
They turned around, some three or four of them, and thanked me 
kindly, and said, " Sir, we have done that little thing, and are on 
our way home." Some one or two went on to remark that they were 
aiming to beat Missouri at her own game. I told them that was 
right, and every man who could be beaten at his own game ought to 
stand it. I travelled along the road, and saw some of them along the 
way, and some of them here in Westport, and also in Kansas City. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

The Council Grove district is a little northwest of me. At that 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 217 

time Mabillon McGee lived in that district, and now Uvea in this 
vicinity. I know of no settlement west of Council Grove. My under- 
standing from these eastern men was, that they had been at Lawrence 
and had \ oted there. Where I met them was this side of Lawrence 
some seven or eight miles. 

GEORGE W. BERRY. 
Westport, Missouri, June 7, 1856. 



Fourth District. — Dr. Chapman's. 



Perry Fuller testified. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I have resided in the fourth district since September 6, 1854, and 
profess to be well acquainted in the district. I have been doing busi- 
ness, merchandising, ever since I came there, and have had a good 
chance of becoming acquainted. I was at the election of 30th of 
March, 1855, and was appointed one of the judges of that election. 
I went to the place I was told it was to be, (the election was to be 
held at Dr. Chapman's,) and got there half an hour before the time 
prescribed for opening the polls, and stayed at Dr. Chapman's some- 
thing like an hour, I suppose, and was then told the election was 
being held half a mile from there, at another house, and going on at 
the time. I went over there, and got there a short time after the 
hour for opening the polls, and was told that some forty odd votes were 
taken before I got there. I went and asked the question of one of 
the judges why they opened the polls without the proper judges being 
there ; the answer was that I had come too late. I then told the free 
State party that it was a one-sided election, and advised them not to 
vote, and think only two of them voted. 

There was a good many men camped there, a good many wagons, 
and a general display of guns and implements of war. They were 
very rude ; the company was very insulting. 

As near as I recollect, there were some forty-seven legal voters in 
the district at that time. There were eighty votes cast at that election. 

I have here a list of actual residents of the district who did not 
vote at that election. There are twenty-nine of them. 

There are only fifteen names on the poll list who were actual 
residents of the district at that time. Their names are as follows : 
Reuben Hackett, John H. Lockrii'lge, D. S. Keezer, David Pultz, 
J. B. Davis, Joseph M. Bernard, Alfred Dale, Charles Horner, 
J. Chapman, Reese B. Young, C. J. Hartley, William G. Luckett, 
Thomas Essex, Richard McCamish, and J. Wilson. 

I was acquainted with one of the non-residents who voted that day, 
T. J. Lockridge. Their camp was 150 yards, perhaps, from the 
election. 

They had two sets of poll books, one to elect a governor. 



218 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



I was disgusted with tlie proceediDg, and left for home. 

One of the judges appointed by the governor officiated. James B. 
Davis and Thomas Mockbee were the other two judges. 

The next day we met and got up a protest, which we sent in signed 
hy thirty-one persons, none of whom had voted, and all were residents. 

The following is the list of twenty-nine names which I referred to : 



John F. Javens, 
Mansfield Carter, 
Samuel Workman, 
Thomas Doty, 
Levi Dot)'', 
Franklin Barnes^ 
J. C. Hughes, 
Charles Clark, 
William David, 
M. Shore, 
A. F. Powell, 
S. T. Shore, 
William Moore, 
Silas Moore, 
Edward Moore, 

Lawrence, K. T., May 3, 1856. 



James Moore, 
Jacob Clark, 
Champion Mayfield, 
Samuel McAvhinney, 
P. Basin ger, 
A. B. Gilliland, 
William Harris, 
Wm. Mewhinney, sen., 
Tlalph Mayfield, 
Wm. Mewhinney, jr., 
Amos Hanna, 
Perry Fuller, 
D. Hendricks, 
A. a. Miller. 

PERRY FULLER. 



Peter Basinger recalled. 



Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I was not at the March election in 1855. 



I saw numbers of persons 



going to the election^ and saw some going back after the election. 
There was some man from Missouri, who was boardmg at my house at 
the time, who had come out to look at the Territory. Some of those 
who were going to the election I knew were Missourians, and had 
seen in Missouri, as I had teamed it a good deal that fall, and had 
become acquainted with them. Some of them had^been there in the 
November before, but I do not recollect their names. I was the last 
settler on the side of the district towards Missouri. I should suppose 
some twenty or thirty persons passed my house before I left. One 
person I knew, called Mr. Mockbee, stopped and got a cup of coffee, 
as several of them did. Mr. White stopped there also ; I knew him. 
I left home that morning about ten o'clock. Dr. Chapman's is, I 
should suppose, about four miles from the Missouri line. I got back 
home the evening of the day of the election. 

PETER BASINGER, his x mark. 
Lawrekce, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 219 

William Moore testifies. 

I came into this Territory about the IGth of August, 1854, from 
Indiana, and settled on Ottawa creek, in the fourth district, and have 
lived there ever since. I was at the election of the 30th of March, 
1855. At that time I had become tolerably well acquainted with the 
citizens of the district. 

My son_, Edward Moore, was appointed one of the judges. I went 
with him early in the morning of the election to Dr. Chapman's 
house, the place where the election was to be held. When we got 
near there,, I saw no persons about. A little distance from that house 
a couple of gentlemen came out of a cabin and told us the election 
had been moved betwixt a quarter and a half a mile from Dr. Chap- 
man's to a double cabin that was unoccupied, and that about sunrise, 
or a little earlier, they had gathered there, and Squire Haskell of that 
district had sworn in some men as judges. I met then with Mr. 
Fuller, the other free State judge, and we consulted as to whether we 
should go from Dr. Chapman's. We went, and when we got to the 
top of a rise, we saw quite a number of carriages and buggies, and 
perhaps a rise of a hundred men, who, with few exceptions, were en- 
tire strangers. I do not think there were more than a dozen men 
there who belonged to the district. We went up to the place where 
they were voting. The principal part at that time, eight or nine 
o'clock, had voted, had got off in little groups around, and appeared 
to be playing cards and drinking liquor, and were quite noisy. They 
said their liquor had about run out, and they started off, two or three 
on horses, to hunt more liquor. We staid there perhaps an hour and 
a half, until some more of our neighbors came in, and we concluded 
we would not vote ; that we would draw up a protest, because the 
election was illegal. We then left for our house. I had but little 
conversation with those strangers, and did not hear them say much 
about their coming there, or where they came from. 

I recognized Mr. Thomas Mockbee, who was acting as one of the 
judges of the election, as he had done the election before ; also a Mr. 
Thomas Lockridge, who lives not far from Independence, where I have 
seen him. There appeared to be two elections, one kept in an adjoin- 
ing house, where one man was acting as receiver, judge, and clerk. 
He said he was taking votes for a new governor, I asked him if 
Governor Keeder was dead, and he said he had run away, and more 
than that, he was a one-sided governor, and they wanted one that had 
two sides. His poll book appeared to be this red-colored wraj^ping 
paper, and his pen one of these black pencils. He kept calling out for 
more votes, saying they surely had not all voted that wanted a two- 
sided governor. His name was Timothy Keezer, and he lived in the 
district. I did not stay there more than an hour and a half or two 
hours, and left between ten and eleven o'clock. I think some of these 
strangers did not vote. 

To Mr. Howard : 

These men voted for Thomas Johnson — Uncle Tom Johnson, as 
they called him — for governor. 



220 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Cross-examined bj Mr, Oliver : 

Mr. Thomas Mockbee, I understood, was not a resident, he did#iot 
live in the district, and his friends always told me he did not live in 
the Territory. I did not know his residence only from hearsay. He 
had a store on the north side of the Santa Fe road, out of the district, 
at what is called Willow Springs. 

WILLIAM MOORE. 

Lawrence, K. T., Blay 8, 1856. 



John F. Javens testifies. 

I came into the Territory on the 29th of February^ 1854, from 
Westport^ Missouri. I settled upon the headwaters of the Marais des 
Cygnes, and was the first settler who made a claim there. It was in 
the fourth election district. On the morning of the election of the 30th 
of March, 1855, I was at the house of Dr. Chapman, the place desig- 
nated by the governor where the polls were to be held, and saw there 
two of the judges of the election appointed by the governor. I saw, 
about a half a mile distant, a crowd of men, who appeared to be voting 
there. There was no voting done at Dr. Chapman's house while I 
was there, and I left there with the judges while the election was 
going on at the other house. I saw men from Missouri I knew, sta- 
tioned along the road in sight of the house, and threatening to shoot 
every free State man, abolitionist, or Yankee who should come there 
to vote. They said to me they were determined no man who was not 
a pro-slavery man should vote. These men were around, and I knew 
them personall)^, and that they were citizens of Missouri. I saw the 
place of voting surrounded by armed men, and but very few citizens 
among these armed men. The most of the citizens collected at Dr. 
Chapman's house, and when they saw bow things were going they 
went home without voting. 

I would not go to the place where the voting was going on, and did 
not vote that day, because it was surrounded by armed men from Mis- 
souri, who threatened every free State man who should come up there 
to vote ; and the citizens, being unapprised of what was going to take 
place, were unarmed and unprepared to defend them&elves. The free 
State citizens who were there, with myself as president, held a meet- 
ing to get up a protest against the election , as it was controlled by the 
citizens of Missouri^ and we considered it illegal. The proceedings of 
the meeting we sent to the governor, signed, I think, by a majority 
of the legal resident voters of the district. I have examined the poll 
books of that election, and find on it not over fifteen or twenty names 
of citizens that I was acquainted with, and I thought I knew all at that 
time. I do not think there are more than fifteen, certainly not more 
than twenty. The remainder were not residents, and many I knew 
to be residents of Missouri at that time. Among them were some I 
knew when they were boys. I find on the poll books ajuong those I 
know, and who are prominent citizens of Missouri, T. J. Lockridge, 
Thomas Mockbee, (who had a trading house on the north side of the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 221 

Santa Fe road, not in the fourth district, and resided himself in Jack- 
son county^ Missouri,) C. C. Hamilton, of Westport, S. Writter, of 
Kansas City, and a number of others. At that time there were a large 
majority of the citizens of that district who were and are now free 
State men. Many of them did not come to the polls at all, and did 
not know of the meeting I have alluded to, and were not there. 

JOHN F. JAVENS. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 12, 1856. 



Thomas Mockbee called and sworn. 



To Mr. Scott 



I became a resident of Kansas Territory in June, 1854, occupying 
the place called Willow Springs, on the old Santa Fe road. I built 
a store house and two warehouses there at that place. The ware- 
houses were built of stone. I also built some stone fence at the same 
place. I remained there a little over one year, and sold goods, provi- 
sions, &c., during that time. I also cultivated the claim, and raised 
some provisions there in the year 1854. The old Santa Fe road ran 
on the north side of my possessions. I had taken the responsibility 
myself to change this road by a temporary fence. The old road threw 
my building" in the fourth election district. I was residing in the 
fourth district at the time of the election of the 30th of March, 1855 ; 
the old Santa Fe road being the line between the first and fourth dis- 
tricts, according to my understanding. I was judge of election in the 
fourth district on the 30th of March, 1855, being elected by the peo- 
ple then present, citizens of the district. The judges appointed by 
Governor Reeder came there. It was my understanding that the free 
State party had the polls. The judges could not agree, and two of 
them resigned, and consequently persons were selected by the people 
present to act in their places. I do not know who the two who 
resigned were, or what party they belonged to. Mr. Young, I tliink, 
appointed by Governor Reeder, acted as a judge of election. Mr. 
Alexander Johnson and Mr. Powell for representatives, pro-slavery 
men, were candidates at that election ; Mr. Powell was opposing Mr. 
Johnson, and was on the free State ticket, but he had before that time 
voted the pro-slavery ticket. I do not think he was nominated at all. 
He did not vote that day. I do not recollect tlie names of the candi- 
datcs'for the council. There were about eighty votes cast that day, tO' 
the best of my recollection. I was acquainted with a great inany of 
the people of that precinct. I think there were one hundred and fifty 
resident voters there altogether at that time, and the pro-slavery party 
had the majority at that time, and always had had ; I should suppose 
from twenty to twenty-five majority at that time. I think the voters 
of the district were generally present that day at the place of election. 
A few of the free State party voted that day, but a good many of them 
did not vote. Everything was quiet at that election, and there was 
no disturbance at all during the day, that I saw. The pro-slavery 



222 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

candidate there was, without doubt, elected by a majority of the legal 
votes given that day. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I moved from Jackson county, Missouri, into the Territory of Kan- 
sas. I did not take my family with me, but I lived there myself, all 
the time, for one year and upwards, and some of the time I had some 
of the blacks of my family with me. I had a farm in Missouri at that 
time, and still carried it on. My wife and the members of my family 
remained on it, at times, and sometimes in other counties of Missouri, 
and sometimes in the Territory. I had a clerk part of the time, and 
part of the time a partner in my store in the Territory. After I sold 
out in Kansas Territory, I returned to this State. I have not voted 
in the Territory since I left there. The old Santa Fe road is north of 
my house, in the Territory; the new road, as travelled, is a small dis- 
tance south of my house. I lived on the extreme verge of the district. 
I never canvassed that district in any way. My information in regard 
to the people of the* district was derived from the nature of my busi- 
ness there, they generally trading at my store, more or less, from all 
parts of the district. I am not mistaken about the two judges 
appointed by the governor resigning that morning of election. I am 
certain I saw them there, then, before I was appointed to act as judge 
of election. I do not know as they assigned any particular reason 
for resierninc;. 



Westpokt, Missouri, June 5, 1856. 



THOMAS MOCKBEB. 



Andrew S. Johnson called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I was born and raised in the seventeenth district of Kansas Terri- 
'tory, and was living at the Shawnee Mission, in that district, at the 
time of the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I was not at the 
•election in that district. I was a candidate for the house of represen- 
tatives, and went about a week before election into the fourth district, 
which was a portion of my representative district. 

Thomas Johnson, my father, and E. Chapman, were the candidates 
for council, pro-slavery, and S. N. Wood, and a Mr. Goodwin, free 
State; and Mr. Powell, free State, and myself, pro-slavery, were the 
candidates for the house of representatives. 

The election in the fourth district was held at the house of Dr. 
Chapman. I was at the place of election about "Z o'clock that morn- 
ing. The judges of election appointed by Governor Eeeder were Mr. 
Fuller, Mr. Moore, and Mr. Pultz. The time came for opening the 
polls, and Mr. Pultz was the only judge present. The polls were not 
held at Dr. Chapman's residence, but at another house on the same 
claim. According to the proclamation, Mr. Pultz appointed Mr. 
Mockbee and Mr. Davis judges of election, in place* of those who 
'were absent. I asked some one present at tliG time, and Pultz said 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 223 

tlie time for opening the polls had arrived, and I heard several sayino- 
that the polls should he opened. At the time the judges were ap- 
pointed hy Mr. Pultz, I heard no one ohject to the polls heing opened 
on account of the hour not having arrived. 

When I got to Dr. Chapman's residence in the morning Dr. Chap- 
man was not at home. Mrs. Chapman said that as some of her family 
were unwell, and their house was small, she would take it as a favor if 
we hold the polls at the other house on their claim. The house was 
between three and four hundred yards off, unoccupied, in full view of 
his residence. We held the election there as a matter of favor to Mrs. 
Chapman. The houses were easy of access to each other. At tlie 
time the new judges were appointed I cannot say that there were any 
free State men on the ground that I knew. Mr. Pultz announced to 
the crowd who the judges were whom he had appointed, and asked if 
they were all satisfied with them, and I heard no dissenting voice. 
Everything the whole day Avas carried on quietly and peaceably, no 
threats or resistance of any kind were shown in regard to voting, and 
all had an opportunity to vote their sentiments without molestation. 
Mr. Mockbee was residing at that time, as he had been for several 
months previous, at Willow Springs, about six miles from the place 
of voting. I had been at his residence at Willow Springs. I knew 
him to be a citizen of the Territory at that time, and not a citizen of 
Missouri. I had not been in the fourth district for some time until 
about a Aveek before the election, and I visited most of the settlement 
in tliat district during that week. My own party were of the opinion 
that the pro-slavery party were much the strongest, I did not visit 
the free State party but little. I was informed by some of them that 
they thought they had the majority in the district. 

I had no information in regard to the strength of parties in that 
district except what I got that week. Soon after the polls were opened, 
about ten or twelve of the free State party I was acquainted with 
came up to the polls, and I think two of them voted. They then went 
off and consulted- together, and came back and said that these were 
not the judges appointed by the governor, and they were not going to 
vote. They went off some hundred yards from the polls, and were 
joined by others of the free State party, and remained there for some 
time. I sent three messages to them, requesting them to come up and 
vote, explaining that the election was conducted according to the 
governor's proclamation, and that I wished each party to have a fair 
show. 

I am acquainted with Mr. Javens^ and was before he moved from 
Missouri into the Territoj-y. I was acquainted with his reputation for 
trutli among his neighbors, and it was not good. I would not believe 
him under <.;(h. I did not see him at the place of election during 
that day, and am confident he was not tliere, as I did not see him. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

I voted at that election. 

A. J. JOHNSON. 
Westport, Missouri, Juna 5, 1856. 



224 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

B. S. Kezer called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I lived in the fourth district on the 30th of March, 1855, and also 
before that time, living on my claim there. 

I was present at the election of that day at the house of Dr. Chap- 
man, in Willow Springs precinct. To the best of my information, the 
understanding with the judges of election was that, as Dr. Chapman's 
family were sick, they would hold their election in another house on 
his claim and belonging to him, he having requested them to do so. 

I heard no objection from any one as to the propriety of that being 
done. I saw nothing that day that indicated any disposition, on the 
part of any one, to prevent any one from voting according to his sen- 
timents. 

I believe that, according to the time pieces there, the polls were 
opened at the time fixed by the proclamation of the governor. I was 
occasionally at the polls during the day. I do not recollect, particu- 
larly, of hearing the judges swear any voters that day, or that any 
one challenged the voters, for I was not immediately at the polls, but 
generally among the crowd. Tlioraas Mockbee was one of the judges 
of election who served. 

All the judges did not appear at the time of opening the polls, and 
as one of the judges were lacking he was appointed by the voters pre- 
sent, according to instructions. As for as I recollect one of the judges 
was elected by the people, but I do not recollect who it was. Mr. 
Mockbee lived at Willow Springs and was doing business there at 
that time, and I never heard any one dispute his residence there in 
that district. I knew he lived there myself, and I was acquainted 
with him. I saw numbers of persons there I was not acquainted with. 
I saw none I knew to be illegal voters give their votes that day. I 
saw some who said they had come to the Territory to live and they 
voted. I am not acquainted with the relative strength of the pro- 
slavery or free State parties in that district. I saw no hindrance and 
heard no threats against any man coming up to vote who desired to 
do so. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I moved into that district some time previous to tl\e election, I think 
the fall of 1854. I occasionally live there now, as I still hold my 
claim and have improvements upon it, and have a family living there. 

My business calls me away a good deal. I have no family. I heard 
Mrs. Chapman complain of being unwell that day. 

Mr. Mockbee lives directly on the Santa Fe road. I tliink he lived 
at that time on the north side of the road. I do not know whether 
he had his family there or not, or whether or not he had a store in 
the State. I know he lived there himself, and I have called there to 
see him. It was proposed on the morning of election, after a person 
was nominated to be judge of election^ to put the motion to the crowd. 
I pujt the vote as to whether they were satisfied or ^not, and they 
answered "aye." 

I did this that all sliould be satisfied. I do not recollect of any 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 225 

annonnqement being made beforehand as to wlio should be selected in 
tlie place of the judge who was absent. There were a great many 
there who were strangers to me, and I do not know where they were 
from. There were two or three that went with me, and who had been 
living in Missouri, and expected to^ and thought it likely they would, 
make Kansas their home. I did not see them vote, but they said 
they voted. The other strangers I do not know where they lived. I 
did not know all who lived in tlie district. 

B. S. KEZER. 
Westport, Missouri, June 3, 1856. 



Fifth District. — Bull creek, Pottawatomie, Big Sicgar, Little Sugar. 



Dr. B. C. Westfali. called and sworn. 

I moved into the Territory about the 5th of January, 1856, from 
Missouri. I had resided for three years previous at New Santa Fe. 
Jackson county, immediately on the Missouri line, within ten feet of 
it. Some few days prior to the 30th of March, 1855, companies were 
organized to go over the Territory to various places to vote, and some 
of my neighbors prevailed upon me to go with them to Bull creek, at 
Baptiste Peoria, in the fifth district. We went out on the 29th o f 
March, probably thirty in the company I was with, and when we got 
to Bull creek we found two encampments near there ; the one that I 
camped in was principally from Jackson county and near the place of 
election, and the other was about a mile off, and those there were 
principally from Cass county, but some from Lafayette. I knew 
personally a great many of them, i^erhaps half of them, as I had lived 
in Cass, Jackson, and Johnson counties for the ten years previous. 
The evening we arrived there Mr. Park, from Kentucky, and Mr. 
Payne, from Missouri, claiming to be two judges appointed by Gover- 
nor Reeder, came to me and told me that the third judge the governor 
had appointed would not be at the election, and requested me to act 
as judge with them, as they had the appointment of judge in the ab- 
sence of the other. I told them I would serve. About ten o'clock, 
when the most of us had retired to our tents. Judge Hamilton, one of 
the members of the county court for Cass county, Missouri, came in 
from Pottawatomie precinct, and woke us all up and told us there was 
not a sufficient number of men down at P ota-vratomie to carrry the 
day, and requested us to send about sixty more down there if we could. 
A portion of our company went with him to that precinct, about six- 
teen miles from our camp. In the morning those who remained came 
to the house where the election was to be held. We judges convened 
and opened the polls. I asked the other two judges what we would 
do with regard to all the voters from Missouri, and whether or not 
H. Rep. 200 15* 



*226 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

we could reconcile that with the oath prescribed by the governor. 
They stated we were not to be sworn. We opened the polls and they 
commenced voting. I think there were three hundred in the company 
but 1 do not know how many voted. I think nine-tenths or more of 
those who voted were residents of Missouri, as there were but few set- 
tlers in that precinct at that time. The judges were not sworn. We 
closed the polls and went to making out the returns, and the magis- 
trate, or one who called himself a magistrate, certified to the governor 
that he had sworn the judges. One gentleman by the name of Samuel 
Wade, near New Santa Fe, called out his name and we took it down. 
Shortly after he voted he came back and called out Jim Wade's name, 
and I am pretty confident that was taken down. Jim Wade was a 
son of the old gentleman, some nine or ten years old at that time. I 
asked Mr. Wade afterwards why he had called out Jimmy's name as 
a voter, and he said he had made him a claim on Bull creek, adjoin- 
ing his own, and he expected Jemmy w^ould become a resident of the 
Territory and a voter. The returns were then made out and sent to 
Governor Keeder. The men who went out were all heavily armed, 
and asserted that if they were prevented from voting they would assert 
their rights and vote anyhow. The party left for Missouri^ a few the 
evening of the election, but the main body of them the next morning. 
They voted for Mr. Lykins for council, and Colonel Coflee for council, 
also; Henry Younger, who lives in Jackson county, Missouri, Mr. 
Haskell, Mr, Wilkinson, and Scott, for the lower house. Mr. Lykins 
lived near Peoria, Missouri, at that time. Colonel Coffee did not have 
his family on Bull creek at that time, though he has them there now. 
I understood there that his family at that time were in Bates county, 
Missouri. Mr. Wilkinson resided in the district. I do not know 
anything about Scott. Mr. Haskell, I think, was a citizen of the dis- 
trict at that time. I had been acquainted with him for some time. 
He had left Missouri then, and I had understood he was in that dis- 
trict keeping a trading house. Henry Younger is a man of consider- 
able wealth and has much land and many slaves in Jackson county, 
Missouri. I have known him since the fall of 184*7, and he resided near 
Independence at that time. I do not know that he had moved into 
the Territory, and I do not think he has ever changed his residence 
since I knew him. I think he has never taken his family into the 
itory, as I never heard of any such thing, and I am, in fact, cer- 
that he has never brought them out to the Territory to live any 
gth of time. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I do not recollect of any double voting on that day except that man 
who voted for his son. I do not know how many had gone to Potta- 
watomie. I was told by Payne and Park that they had been appointed 
by the governor, but I do not know for myself how it was. No one 
took command of our company at Bull creek. They generally went 
in small bands of twenty or thirty. 

To Mr, Howard: 

I live in the fourth district now. I think I saw five hundred in 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 22Y 

the two camps from Missouri, including those who went to Pottawato- 
mie. I saw a great many who told me they went directly to Potta- 
watomie and voted there. 

B. C. WESTFALL. 
^Lawrence, K. T., May 8, 1856. 



B. C. Westfall recalled. 

I find upon the poll books some memoranda under the names of 
several persons — "rejected, refusing to swear." This was all got up 
for effect, as some free State men were looking on. It was all under- 
stood between the voters and the judges. When one of them would 
come to the window the judge would say^ " I think you live in Mis- 
souri, do you not?" To which the man would reply, "I have a claim 
in the Territory." The judge would ask them if they would be sworn 
that they were residents of the Territory, at which they would pre- 
tend to get angry and threaten to whip the judges, and refused to be 
sworn. The matter, however, was all arranged beforehand. No one 
was sworn that day. 

B. C. WESTFALL. 

Lawrencs, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



Jessh W. Wit^^on called and sworn. 

1 came into the Territory the 26th of August, 1854, in the fifth 
district, and in the Bull creek precinct. I moved there from Missouri, 
Jackson county. I am well acquainted in the fifth district, and was 
one of the first settlers there. I think there was but one white family 
there before within ten miles of where I live. I was at the election 
of the 30th of March, 1855. I reached the polls about ten o'clock, 
having walked about ten miles to get there. I saw a great many men 
when I got there, and I should suppose that there were not less than 
200 men there non-residents; some I was acquainted with, and some 
I was not. I conversed with a great many of them, and they told me 
they were from Missouri. I was acquainted, among the rest, with Mr. 
Samuel Wade, Mr. Kauffman, and two sons-in-law of Wade, all from 
Jackson county, Missouri, where I was personally acquainted with 
them. They said they were coming here to vote, and that they came 
to retaliate on the eastern Aid Society, who were sending out paupers 
here to vote; and they were goiug to poll as many votes £^3 these pau- 
perSj and perhaps more. I do not know of any in our district who 
came out here under the auspices of the Aid Society. Our settlers 
were from Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and other western 
States, I think. Those persons I talked with said it was their inten- 
tion to make Kansas a slave State. They said they had voted, though 
I did not see them vote. These non-residents were armed with re- 
volvers and Bowie knives, shot guns and muskets; and, as the saying 



228 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

is, were armed to the teeth. I saw no disturbance created while I wag 
there. I do not suppose I saw more than twelve or fifteen men that 
I knew to be settlers in our precinct, and I think they all voted. The 
people of our neighborhood, as near as I can judge from conversation 
with many of them, were in favor of making Kansas a free State. In 
my judgment, if none but the settlers had voted that day, the free 
State candidates would have had a good majority in the precinct. I 
do not know of Mr. Younger ever living in the Territory, or of any 
property or claim he has ever had in the Territory. Doctor Westfall, 
one of the judges of the election, with vs^hom I am personally ac- 
quainted, v,'as a resident of the State of Missouri at that time. I have 
examined, with Mr. Gearhart, the poll books for the 30th of March, 
1855, and we can find the names of but thirteen that we know to have 
been residents of that precinct at that time. From our acquaintance 
with the district, I am satisfied that if any other residents had voted 
we should have known it. The names of these thirteen residents are 
stated in Mr. Gearhart's testimony. I am acquainted with Samuel 
Wade, and know that he voted for his son, James Wade, a boy about 
ten years old at that time. 

J. W. WILSON. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



Joseph M. Gearhart called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in November, 1854, from Missouri, and 
settled on the Marais des Cygnes river, in the fifth district, in Bull 
Creek preeinct, and have lived in that district ever since. I was at 
the election of March 30, 1855. I reached the polls about 10 or 11 
o'clock. I saw a great many strangers there, and some I knew, from 
the State of Missouri, with Josej)h Christopher, Jack Yocum, James 
Yocum, and others. These men lived in Cass county, Missouri, and 
told me they came there to vote ; but I did not see them vote. Most 
of the strangers to the district had shot guns and other arms. I rode 
through the camp going to the polls, but stopped on going back after 
the election at Lug Freeman's camp. I should reckon there were 200 
persons there I did not know. I am acquainted with pretty near 
every man in the district, and was one of the first settlers in it. The 
district at that time was rather thinly settled. In the Bull Creek 
precinct at that time I think there could not have been more than fifty 
voters. There were some settlers on Bull Creek higher up I was not 
well acquainted with ; some of them were these. But I do not think 
there were ten from our neighborhood that were there. I heard be- 
fore I started that men from Missouri were there ; and I heard before 
I left Missouri that men from Missouri were coming over to vote ; and 
as I was passing backvv'ards and forwards for provisions, some of these 
same men told me they were coming over to vote. I think I was once 
in the State a month or so before the election, and some of these men 
then told me they intended to come over and vote, as they had claims 
in the Territory. I voted that day. I staid at the polls some two or 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 229 

three hours. There appeared to be some difficulty, and considerable 
noise and cursing. I did not myself see any of the Missourians vote, 
though they said they voted. I do not know exactly, but I think Dr. 
Westiall, one of the judges at that election, lived in Missouri. Mr. 
Younger, a candidate elected for representative, was a resident of 
Missouri, where I have seen his farm and house. I saw him once in 
the Territory before this election, at a meeting at Dutch Henry's for 
the purpose of nominating candidates for the legislature. Mr, 
Younger made a speech, saying that he thought Missourians had a 
right to come here and vote. He was a pro-slavery man. A Mr. 
Fox got up and contradicted him, saying that he thought the men who 
came here and smote down the trees and made the paths were the ones 
to vote. Fox was a candidate of the free soil party. This was a few 
days before the election. 

No nominations were made that day by the pro-slavery party. I 
do not know Avhere Younger and other pro-slavery men were nomi- 
nated. I never heard of their being nominated by any public meet- 
ing in the Territory. Lykins and Cofiee, for council, and Scott, 
Younger, Wilkinson, and Haskell, for representatives^ were voted for 
by the Missourians that day. Younger 's house and farm is this side 
of Independence. I have passed it twice. I do not think he has any 
claim in the Territory now, though at the time of the election he said 
he had a claim on Sugar creek. I never heard that his family ever 
lived in the Territory. Some of the citizens remained away from the 
polls, but I do not know whether it was from fear or not. 

I have carefully examined the poll books in connexion with Mr. 
Wilson, and I can find but the following names on the list of resi- 
dents of this district, that I know to have been resident;? at that time : 
Barnet Hall, James Shaw, David Lykins, James D. Reid, John Van- 
horn, Isaac Jacob, Harrison Standiford, J. M. Marshall, Joseph M. 
Gearhart, J.'W. Wilson, Linge Ferris, and Mr. Linden ; 13 in all. 

JOS. M. GEAEHART. 

LAWREiVCE, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



William Ohesnut called and sworn. 

I moved into the Territory on October 23, 1854, and settled ^at 
Ossawatomie, in the fifth district, and have resided there ever since. 
I am a farmer. I came from Connecticut. I was at the election of 
March 30, 1855. I was appointed by Governor Reeder as one of the 
judges of the election at Pottawatomie precinct. I got there about 
eight o'clock, or a little after, in the morning of the election. The 
other two judges, except Wilkinson, who was a candidate, and there- 
fore unqualified, were not there. I claimed the privilege of appoint- 
ing two to fill the vacancies, when a stranger came forward and told 
me he was from Missouri. He was armed with a revolver and a knife, 
and had a rifle in his hand. He told me his party would appoint the 
judges. I remonstrated with him, and named two persons forjudges 
that I thought were qualified. He told me that if I made any trouble 



230 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

with them they wouhl dispose of me with very little ceremony. He 
then asked with a kind of sneer in what manner I would like to have 
the election conducted, and I said, in conformity with the instnic- 
tiona contained in the governor's proclamation. He said the gover- 
nor had no right to impose such conditions and restrictions upon 
them ; that their heing there that day constituted them legal voters ; 
that they had come on purpose to vote, and I could see they had come 
well prepared, and would vote, let the consequences ho what they 
might. I insisted that as I had heen appointed I would preside, and 
if I had not the power to prevent fraudulent voting, I would at least 
he a witness as to the manner in which they did it. He said if I 
insisted upon it, it would he at my own peril. A few minutes after 
he came to me, and said he thought the hotter way to avoid difficulty 
would be to allow their people to vote without asking them any ques- 
tions, or requiring them to swear they were residents. He said there 
was a large party from Boston on the creek above, who came on pur- 
pose t3 vote, and his people had heen holding a consultation and had 
come to the conclusion that the best way was to allow our people to 
vote without asking any questions, if we would extend the same privi- 
lege to their people. I refused to consent to any such arrangement, 
when, without any further ceremony, they appointed two individuals 
to preside as judges, one of whom I have since learned was a resident 
of Clay county, Missouri, and, I think, was named Wear. The 
other was named Fursruson, and was a resident of Bull Creek precinct, 
and not entitled to vote at Pottawatomie, though he said he had his 
washing done there and was, therefore, a voter. 

One of the clerks was Barnaby. I insisted on taking down a list 
of the names, and acted as clerk also. They then declared the polls 
opened and commenced to take votes, which were handed as fast as we 
could take them. Over four-fifths of the votes were handed in by 
armed men, strangers to me. I knew at that time most every legal 
voter in the precinct. I objected to several when they offered to vote, 
believing they were not legal voters, and the other two that acted as 
judges would immediately take the ballot and put it in the ballot box, 
without taking any notice at all of my remonstrance, except to say, 
by way of reply, that they knew the gentleman, that he lived up the 
creek and had a claim there. 

We were kept pretty busy taking votes until about noon, when one 
of the judges, Mr. Wear, I suppose, though I did not know him then, 
proposed to adjourn for about an hour for dinner. He then picked up 
the ballot box, saying he woiild take care of it, took it under his arm 
and walked out with it. I followed him, and a short time after he 
got out he stepped up to Mr. Furguson and told him Mr. Wilkinson 
had invited them down to his house to dinner. Wilkinson was one 
of the pro-slavery candidates. I told them, as I was very well 
acquainted with Mr. Wilkinson, I would go down too, determined to 
keep in sight of the ballot box. We went down through their camp 
to Mr. Wilkinson's house. They were encamped on both sides of the 
road, some in tents, and more in wagons ; and the, men were there 
lying around on the ground in groups, some under the influence of 
liquor,'"and all armed, generally^ with knives, revolvers, and rifles. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 231 

When we came in sight of Mr. Wilkinson's house, the one who had 
the ballot box turned round and looked at it for a moment, and 
finally said : " I believe we wont go down there." He then turned- 
and came back to Henry Sherman's house, where the meeting was 
held. SJiortly after one o'clock we again commenced to tcike votes, 
and kept the polls open until sundown, though we did not take very 
many in the afternoon. 

We then counted over the votes. The tally list was presented to 
each of the judges, with the request to sign it as being a correct 
return of the legal voters in that precinct. When they handed it to 
me for my signature, I remarked that I could not consistently put my 
name to it, because in doing so I would commit perjury. The house 
was immediately filled with as many armed men as could stand on 
the floor. Until then they had all kept outside. General Coffee, 
candidate for councilman, was among the crowd, and another person 
I think they called Anderson, from Missouri. They both addressed 
the crowd. General Coffee stated that he admitted that it was very 
aggravating for a public officer to refuse to do his evident duty, but 
still he hoped there would be no bloodshed, nor personal violence used, 
on that occasion. After he got through, he came to me and remarked 
that he thought the best way was to put my name to it, it would look 
better in the eyes of the public^ and there was no use in my making 
any trouble about it. I told him that I had said I could not do it, 
and had given my reasons, and I would not do it. I said I knew I 
was entirely at their mercy, and they might keep me there until mid- 
night if they saw fit, but I would not testify that that was a correct 
return of the legal voters, when I knew it was ver}^ far from it. The 
judges then said they did not see much use in saying any more on 
the subject, as they thought they could make it answer without my 
name. 1 then got up and came out of the house. On my way home, 
when I had got about fifty or sixty rods from Mr. Sherman's house, a 
party of armed strangers, who stood at a distance of probably fifty 
rods from me, discharged a number of rifles. They called names, 
and hooted and yelled as long as we remained in sight or hearing. I 
then proceeded home. 

Those strangers voted for Lykins and Coffee for councilmen. I am 
pretty confident Coffee did not live in the district at that time. It 
was generally understood that he lived in Missouri. They voted for 
Younger, Wilkinson, Haskell, and Scott, for representatives. I was 
not acquainted with any of the candidates but Wilkinson. I should 
think there were not over fifty or sixty legal votes polled there ; not 
over seventy-five, at all events. A good many residents I did not 
know by name, but by sight. From the information that I possessed 
at that time, and from watching the voting, I thought there were 
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred illegal votes polled at that 
election. I do not think there was one individual in the Boston com- 
pany, the gentleman I have referred to spoke about, in the district. 
I think the most of the settlers were from Iowa. I do not know posi- 
tively of any who came out under the auspices of any aid society 
except myself; and I came out under the auspices of the New York 
society, called the Kansas League. I paid my own expenses, and de- 



232 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

rived no service from the society, except information about the bes 
modes of getting here and the country here. They asked me no 
questions about my politics. At that time I think a decided majority 
of the residents were in favor of making Kansas a free State. 

WILLIAM CHESNUT. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



James M. Arthur called and sworn. 

I moved my family into this Territory on the Tth of August, 185 4 
from Indiana, and settled in the iifth district, and have lived there 
ever since. I was in Big Sugar Creek precinct at the election of March 
30, 1855. I was at the election. I was appointed one of the judges 
of election by the governor, and also Elisha Tucker and John E. Brown. 
We went on in the morning and opened the polls by swearing each 
other in, as there was no justice of the peace there. We took the 
oath as prescribed by the governor. About the time the polls were 
opened, a large number of strangers came into the yard and demanded 
to vote. I wanted to swear them as to whether they were residents or 
not, and they refused to swear. Mr. Brown, one of the judges, told 
me then^, I must take their votes or resign. I asked Mr. Tucker, the 
other judge, what should be done, and he said he considered them 
legal voters, without swearing or asking them any questions. I 
thereupon resigned. Some eighteen or twenty votes had been given 
when I resigned. They appointed Hickman Smith in my place, and 
went on with the election. I heard no questions asked of any voter, 
whether he was a citizen or not, during the day. I think there was 
some eighty or ninety votes polled there, and I think there were not 
more than thirty-five or forty citizens there, and a great many of them 
did not vote. I was tolerably well acquainted in that precinct, as I 
had been riding around considerable in that precinct. Mr. Younger, 
who was elected to the legislature, was there, and voted. He never 
has been a resident of that district. He said he had a claim about 
three or four miles below where I lived, and built a little shanty there 
three or four days before the election ; but he has never covered or 
floored it, and has never lived in it. I remained there until they had 
closed the polls, and had done counting the votes I saw the strangers 
have. They did not leave in a body, but went away at various times 
as they got done voting. I had conversation with them during the 
day, but principally at supper, with those who remained there. I had 
a long talk with Mr, Younger during the day. He said he had a 
right to vote there, as he had a claim. I had a conversation with 
several of the party, who said they were then living in Jackson county, 
Missouri ; but they said they had claims in the Territory, and had a 
right to vote. A great many of them I have not seen back since. 
Mr. Younger said the Missourians had as much right to vote here as 
the Yankees had, of whom some four boat loads had landed a few days 
before, at Kansas City, Missouri. He said all who happened to be in 
the Territory on the day of election had a right to vote, according to 
Douglas' bill. To the best of my knowledge, the political opinion 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



233 



of the precinct was greatly free State ; a very decided majority of the 
whole district was free State, so far as I know anything about it. I 
have been in almost every neighborhood of the district, and have 
talked with all the prominent men about the matter, and I am satis- 
fied that at that time a large majority of the district was free State. 
These strangers were armed. They came principally in wagons, some 
on horseback. One two-horse wagon was loaded with guns. I did 
not see anything else in it. They unloaded it in the yard and stacked 
their guns around a forked apple tree in the yard. They also had 
very large knives — a foot or more in length — that looked like ""they 
were home made. Some of them had pistols. I have examined the 
poll books of that precinct, and think the following list is the names 
of resident voters of Big Sugar precinct, fifth district, at the election 
of March 30, 1855: 



1. A. M. Smith, 

2. L. B. Willson, 

3. Reubin Noel, 

4. James E. Wadkins, 

5. Thomas Smith, 

G. Henry Littlejohn, 

7. Silas Young, 

8. William Cash, 

9. John Gr. Robinson, 

10. James B. Fleming, 

11. James M. Freeman, 

12. D. P. Fleming, 

13. James M. Arthur, 

14. R. M. Daniel, 

15. Jonah Daniel, 

16. Allen Stewart, 



17. J. M. Hampton, 

18. Lewis Thompson, 

19. John B. Robinson, 

20. Henry^McKiuey, 

21. Ransom Elliot, 

22. John Eliot, 

23. William M. Smith, 

24. L. M. Eliot, 

25. J. W. Regan, 

26. John Wykle, 

27. Samuel Clark, 

28. George Wykle, 

29. M. C. D. Osburn, 

30. L. M. Love, 

31. J. E. Brown, 

32. Elisha Tucker. 



Some of the above names may not have been residents at that time, 
but they are now. 

JAMES M. ARTHUR. 
Lawrence, K. T., Maijd>, 1856. 



S. W. BouTON called and sworn. 
To Mr. Matthias : 

I moved into the Territory in the month of May, 1854, and resided 
there until April 1855, in the fifth election district. I was at the 
election of the 30th of March, 1855, held at the liouse of William 
Stockton. The judges of election were David Finlay, William Stock- 
ton, and some one I did not know. I understood that those who 
served were those appointed by Grovernor Reeder. 

There were something like one hundred votes cast, some sixty for 
the free State, and some forty for the ,pro-slavery ticket. I do not 
know of any one being there not entitled to vote, and the election was 
orderly and quiet. 

S. W. BOUTON. 

Westport, Missouri, June 3, 1856. 



234 KANSAS AFFAIRS- 

Sixth Distriot. — Fori ScoU. 

JouN Hamilton called and sworn. 

1 first came into the Territory in 1835, but I have been out and 
bade at times. I came back last in March, 1855, and settled at Fort 
Scott, in the sixth election district. I emigrated from Pennsylvania 
to Missouri, and thence to the Territory. 

I was present at the election of the 31st of March, 1855, at Fort 
Scott. William J. Godefroy, Mr. Ray, and William Painter, were the 
judges appointed by the governor. They served as judges. I went 
to the polls between nine and ten o'clock. There were strangers w^ho 
had collected near the polls the day of election and the day before, 
from between one hundred and one hundred and fifty. They came 
from the direction of Missouri, and came in wagons and on horseback. 
Some encamped and some put up at public houses there. Some b} 
these strangers I knew ; C. L. Harris, Mr. S. H. Loring, Mr. Benja- 
min Richardson, Dr. Stone, and a great many more whose names I 
do not recollect. They lived in Bates county, Missouri. They were 
with the companies who came in. I conversed with some of them the 
evening beiore the election ; they said they came rhere to vote, and 
seemed to think they had a perfect right to do so. They were armed 
generally with pistols. They said tliey came to vote ; they did not 
gay what their purpose in voting was. I cannot say certain that more 
than one of these men I knew voted, for I was not about the window 
much. Afterwards, Mr. Loring and Mr. Richardson, when the polls 
were closed, came to me and said they came to me as friends, to know 
if I intended to contest the election. I stated that if I had a majority 
of the legal votf^s in the district I should certainly contest it. They 
said if I did it would certainly be detrimental to the interests of myself 
and ftimily . They said nothing further. The pro-slavery candidates for 
representatives were Mr. Williams and Mr. Anderson. William Mar- 
graves was an independent pro-slavery candidate. I was a free State 
candidate. William Barbee was the pro-slavery candidate for council, 
and had no opposition. The electioii was held in the house I occupy, 
and I wa^ there at the opening of the polls, but was not present in the 
room of the judges, and cannot say whether or not they were sworn. 
William Barbee lived at that time in the town of Fort Scott. I do not 
knoV where Mr. Anderson lived at that time. He was staying in our 
district a few days before the election, and I presume was boarding 
there. I do not know where he came from to the district ; I do not 
know where he lives now. I think he does not live at Fort Scott 
now, unless since I left, four days since. S. A. Williams lives now 
at the town of Fort Scott, but I do not know where he lived then, 
though he had been around Fort Scott some days before the election. 
He has a family, but I never saw them there before the election. I 
do not know when and where Mr. Williams and Mr. Anderson were 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 235 

nominated. I learned, first, several days before the election, that 
they were candidates, but know nothing in regard to how they were 
brouglit out. Some of these strangers told me they had voted, but 
not all of them for whom ; thougli some said they voted for me, but 
I supposed they were joking with me. There were persons coming 
into the district at diiferent times. I am acquainted with a great 
many at different points in the district. The district was somewhat 
thinly settled. There was no town at Fort Scott at that time. It 
had been occupied as a fort, and citizens occupied the place merely by 
permission of the agent left in charge of the property^ and stayed 
there. Some days after the election the property was sold. There 
was no disturbance at the polls. I do not know tliat any of the vpters 
were sworn. I saw some votes handed in. I saw some strangers about 
the windows, hut there wa:j such a crowd there that I could not see 
what they were doing. I do not know whether or not any of the citi- 
zens who came in that day went away without voting. I had not 
canvassed the (^.istrict. I believed that,, at that tim-. , a majority of 
the settlers of the district were in favor of a free State. I know of 
no double voting that day. I do not think the number of votes of 
that district was more than 125. I have carefully examined the poll 
lists of that election in our district of the 30th of March, and I have, 
as near as possible, selected from them the names of all those I knew 
to be resident voters at that time. After I had made that list^ I com- 
pared the x^oll lii'ts with the census roll. The census was taken by 
Mr. Barbee and liis assistants. I have added the names taken from 
the census rolls of residents. I did not know who voted on the 30th 
of March, and I make 62 in all. This list includes the names of all 
I know to have been residents, and whose names I find on the poll 
books and the census. So far as I know, this would be a correct list 
of the legal voters at that election. To supply those I did not know, 
I examined the poll lists and census returns. There were many per- 
sons coming in at that time. In this list I have included Mr. Ander- 
son and Mr. Williams, whom I did not believe to be citizens, though 
their names are on the census returns. The following is the list of 
names on the poll books and census roll of the Fort Scott, or sixth 
district, as I find them : 

William Barbee, B. F. Wilkinson, E. Beth, William Breeze, L. S. 
Broyles, T. B. Arnott, A. P. F. Davis, W. F. Alexander, F. Dewint, 
John B. Smith, James Marr, Emery B. Cook, H. Watkins, E. Fly, 
John Gnthree, William January, J. W. Sharp, Jerome Moody, A. 
Ward, S. Potter, Jesse Ray, John Crook, James H. Fleming, John 
B. Fleming, Michael McCann, Wm. Ray, Joseph Harrison, Thomas 
H. Fox, Wm. A. Randolph, H. Bledsoe, James Waldron, Daniel F. 
Burkhardt, Lewis Davis^ L. Sharp, N. H. Bennettj John Graves, M. 
Dawson, Samuel Beaver, Samuel Moore, P. S. Moor, J. Field, John 
Cultou, James Ray, Wm. J. Godfrey, D. Guthree, William Painter, 
P. D. Caning, J. C. Anderson, John Grant, Thomas Graves, Wm. 
Watkins, John Brown, Charles Milan, Thomas Summers, J. Jefries, 
J. W. Fly, William Musgrave, G. Wood, J. W. Arnott, Charles 
Hurd, H. S. Wilson, William Ewing. 

In addition to those not on the foregoing list, are twelve names of 



236 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

persons resident voters not on the census returns, and whom I know 
to have been residents : 

J. N. Newmew, G-eorge W. Morris, J. M. Ward, T. Mathias, A. 
Snow, John January, H. Varbal, M. Sellers,, J. T. Ray, F. F. York, 
Wm. Humphries. 

I find no other names on the census book that are also on the poll 
list, except those I have given. The census list is alphabetically 
arranged ; I took up the poll book name by name, and whenever I 
found a name on the poll book that was on the census list, I put it 
down in my list. I put on the list names I did not know, but I found 
their names both on the census and poll lists. I have also given the 
names of those I know to have been resident voters who were not on 
the census returns, but were on the poll lists. 

Upon examining the poll books, I found the names of persons I 
know to be residents of Missouri at that time, the 30th of December, 
1855. The following are their names: 

G. Oldham, G. W. Oldham, P. Zeal, C. Mitchell, J. S. Mitchell, 
H. C. Weire, John Knight, G. T. Jones, G. L, Harris, N, Godefroy, 
E. Dean, Wm. March Banks, S. A. Williams, J. C. Anderson, Wm. 
D. Lynde, William Merick, J. M. Newman. 

I do not know with regard to the other names I find there. There 
are names I am familiar with, but do not know the given names, and 
do not recollect to have seen them on the ground. I do not know 
where those live whose names I have not mentioned, and whom I find 
on the poll list. 

Cross-examined by Joseph C. Anderson: 

I understood tlie district at that time commenced in the channel of 
the Little Osage, and followed the stream up ; and there was no dis- 
trict west of it in the Territory. It run to the southern boundary of 
the Territor}^ ; it was about seventy miles wide ; it included the 
Indian lands and nations, and there was very little of it open to set- 
tlement. I had been in the Territory about twenty days before the 
election. I did not know the voters in the district, as I had not can- 
vassed it ; there might have been many men there, legal voters, I did 
not know ; I would not say all the names I have not given were ille- 
gal voters. I heard no one say, as I recollect, what induced them to 
come there to vote. I should judge, of those I saw there that day, 
two thirds were armed. It is customary for citizens of the Territory 
to have arms. Those men generally had pistols. I was not induced 
to any course of conduct by any threats made towards me. I had re- 
peatedly stated I should contest that election if I thought I had a 
majority of the legal votes there then. I did not contest it at that 
time, because there was not time enough to contest it ; and I believed 
at the time a majority of the votes were against me. There were 
thirty-five votes counted out as given for me. I never have ascer- 
tained that I received a majority of the legal votes there ; I dt) not 
know of any more. I knew men from Missouri who voted for me ; 
two told me they had voted for me. I did not send to my friends in 
Missouri to come to that election, or intimate to them in any way that 
I should like to have them come. I do not know that Joseph C. An- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 237 

derson had not been in the district before I came there ; I never had 
heard of his being here. I think the census was finished a few days 
after I came into the Territory. I find the name of Joseph C. Ander- 
son on the census book, but do not know why it was placed there. 
The grounds of my belief that Anderson was not a citizen of the dis- 
trict, at the time of the election, were, that he left the next morning, 
and I did not see him until after the adjournment of the legislature. 
I do not know where Mr. Anderson was during that time. It was 
understood in the district that while Mr. Anderson was away he was 
in the legislature. I did not know that he had any other home at 
the time of the election but at Fort Scott. 

I do not think Mr. Williams was a resident of Fort Scott at that 
time any more than was Mr. Anderson. Mr. Williams did not buy 
any property there, at the sale, that I know of, though I heard Mr. 
Wilson bid off a house for them together. Mr. Williams occupies 
that house now with his family^ and has been residing there since the 
election, and is now probate judge of that countj^ by appointment of 
the territorial legislature. The pro-slavery party was and are very 
favorable to the election of Mr. Anderson, so far as I have heard. 
There were many persons living in the houses at Fort Scott at the 
time of the election by permission of the agent. E. Oldham came the 
night before the election, and went back not long after the election. 
I do not recollect that I had any conversation with him, and do not 
know anything that would go to show he intended to live there, I 
do not know that there was any one frightened from the polls. Sofar 
as I know, the residents of the district who were there that day voted. 
I do not know how many of the residents were not there. There were 
people living there who had no horses and did not get to the polls, 
but were not prevented from going to the polls upon account of fear, 
I think. I do not know how many strangers voted and how many 
did not vote. No endeavors were made, to my knowledge^ to prevent 
Mr. Loring from voting. 

Question. Was it not the common rumor that there would be 500 
men sent out by the Emigrant Aid Company t-o control the election 
at Fort Scott ? 

Answer. It was not a common rumor. 

I was not round the polls all day. I lived in the house where the 
voting took place, I was at the polls several times, but not much. 
I was not prevented from going to the polls by threats. If I mistake 
not I voted for William Barbee for council, and Mr, Margraves for 
representative. I considered Barbee, from what he said to me, a free 
State man, until after the election. I was not aware of any caucus 
held by the free State party on the morning of the election at Fort 
Scott, to decide upon the question of bringing out a candidate against 
Barbee. 

I never heard tell of the Mitchells coming to Fort Scott until after 
the sale, which took place on the 16th of Aju-il, 1855. They bought 
some property there, but did not move on it until some time after- 
wards that I know of. They are now residents of Fort Scott. It 
may have been that some of the names I say I am flimiliar with, but 
do not know the given names were legal votes. Some of the legal , 



238 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

voters in the district were not on the census book. I was not myself. 
There were a great many came into the district after the census and 
before the election, but t do not know where they came from. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

The following names in the list of sixty-two names are persons I 
did not know to be citizens, but whose names I found in both census 
returns and poll lists. 

F. Dewint, James Marr, E. Fley, J, W. Sharp, S. Potter, John 
Crook, James H. and John B. Fleming, H. Bledsoe, James Waldron, 
D. F. Buckhardt, Lewis Davis, L. Sharp, Jolin Graves, M. Dawson, 
J, Field, John Grant, Thomas Graves, Charles Milan, J. Jeffreys, 
J. W. Fley, and G. Wood. 

By Mr. Anderson : . 

There are many settlements in the district I am not acquainted 
with. 

JOHN HAMILTON. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 20, 1856. 



Emery B. Cook called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in March, 1854, and have resided near 
Fort Scott ever since. I came from Ohio and Missouri, and thence to 
the Territory. There were a few settlers at the Fort ; but none in my 
neighborhood when I came. I am a mason by occupation. I am tol- 
erably well acquainted in the district ; and have been asked, and have 
gone, all over the neighborhood to house raisings. I should think 
there were about from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five 
voters in the district on the 30th of March, 1855. William Barbe« 
took the census of the district, and subsequently he run for council. 
I was present at the election of the 30th of March. There were a great 
many strangers came there the da}' before election, and on the day of 
election. A great many came from the southern part of Missouri, 
where I did the most of my work as a mason. These men came the 
day before the election, in wagons, of four or five in company ; some- 
times I counted as high as twelve in one wagon, and some as low as 
two or three. They had tents with them, and generally carried a 
demijohn, as I usually call a pistol. I did not know any of those in 
the wagons. Many came on horseback, on tlie day of election, whom 
I knew. Those in the wagons brought their own provisions, but no 
baggage, and no families, or signs of moving. I was at the polls before 
it was open. I saw a great many of these people around the polls ; and 
a great mauy of them said they were going to vote. Afterwards, one 
man came to me and told me he had voted, and wanted to know why I did 
not vote. I said I would vote when I got ready. There was a family 
of Houcks, from Cooper county there, as they said that they came to 
vote, and it seemed to be understood that the north was imposing on the 
south, and they were going to try to keep up with them. There was one 
or two persons there I had seen in Missouri, so as to know their names. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 239 

There was no claim that they resided in the district. I heard nothinS 
said about tlie residences of the people there, except that the Houcks 
said they were from Cooper county. I saw these men walk up to the 
polls in bodies, generally, with tickets in their hands, though I did not 
vsee the votes actually given in. I thought at first that there were two 
Imndred there ; but, after some had gone off on horseback, I think there 
were but one hundred or one hundred and fifty. They were coming 
and going all day. Some who came in wagons left the day of elec- 
tion, and some the day after, going the main road to Missouri. The 
most of those who came in wagons came from towards Missouri up 
north. I voted that day. I think, as a general thing, the settlers 
did not vote that day. I had been watching for some fifteen or twe-nty 
I knew, and did not see them. I cannot say whether any there did 
not vote. I have looked over the poll book, in connexion with Mr. 
Hamilton, and we liave drawn off a list we know to be legal voters ; 
some few of them, such as we found on the poll books. He recognized 
some three or four names I did not, and I recognized two he did not. 
They are all put in the list. William Barbee was candidate for coun- 
cil in that district, and had no opposition. Mr. Anderson and Mr. 
Williams were the pro-slavery candidates, and Mr. Hamilton the free 
State candidate. Mr. Anderson was boarding in the district some 
week or two, electioneering around amongst us, but I did not consider 
him a resident. He left a short time after the election, and I think I 
did not sec him any more until he came back from the territorial legis- 
lature in September last. There was a public pro-slavery dinner, as it 
was called, the Saturday before the election, last fall. I did not attend 
the dinner, though I had intended to go. I think I saw Mr. Ander- 
son leave the next day after the election, and think I have not seen 
him there since. I do not know where he resides now. I was at the 
Fort the bigger part of the time last fall, and if he had been there be- 
tween the two elections I should j)robably have seen him. I do not 
know anytliing about the residence of Mr. Williams at the time of 
the election, though he moved into the district with his family after 
he was elected. He was in the district himself some Aveek or ten 
days before the election. He resides in the district with his family 
now. I do not know whether the persons named by Mr. Hamilton in 
the latter clause of his dopos.tion were citizens or not ; I do not know 
any such persons in the district. I think I know all the names, be- 
sides this latter clause, that he has furnished on his list, some forty- 
eight of them. I have lieard his deposition ; and so far as it relates 
to tlie lists and the persons named, I think he is right, from all I 
know of the district, and from my examination of tlia poll lists and 
census returns. I think there were about fifty who voted that day 
that I consider citizens at that time. What t mean by a citizen is 
one who makes his only liome in the Territory, and without regard to 
the length of time. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Anderson: 

I know the various settlements in the district, but am not acquainted 
with the mall. I am not well acquainted with the district far from 
home, but I am well acquainted within 10 or 12, or 15 miles of my 



240 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

home, but not with everybody. I am not acquainted with Mr. G-uth- 
rie's nephews, tiie Floys, though I ara acquainted with the Guthries. 
I have, to the best of my knowledge, with Mr. Hamilton, prepared of 
all I knew to have been residents, but I will not say that is all. I 
was around the polls on the morning of the election and during the 
day. I saw no men hindered from voting and heard no threats made 
against free State men about voting. A good many free State men 
did not vote. Some two or three of tlie herdboys said they did not 
vote. They live about five, six, or seven miles above the Fort oh the 
Marmitan. The_y had been living there some three or four weeks be- 
fore the election. I saw no others there, that I recollect of, who said 
they did not vote. I never heard of any caucus of the free State party 
on the day of the election to decide upon the question of bringing out 
a candidate against Barbee. I know of a good many men of both par- 
ties who did not come to the election, as they told me. I think these 
strangers were armed more than was usual in this country. There were 
persons who came in from Missouri in the morning and went back in 
the afternoon. Some of them I knew to be from Missouri and to be 
living there at the time ; about twenty I should say ; I cannot name 
all, though I know where they lived. I can recollect A. G. Hay, John 
Hay, William Hay, William Lynd, James Brown, a Mr. Woods, 
another William Lynd, William Merrick, Elias Dean, James Logan, 
William Hereford, (I think,) William Miller, Jacob Miller, 0. D. 
Ball, Dick Bond, N. Dodge, and Abraham Redfield. I do not know 
whether those men voted or not. I heard Logan and Dean say that it was 
right for every citizen of Missouri to vote. It was the general rumor 
of the Missourians that they ought to vote, because the north came flock- 
ing into the election and running out again. In the part of Missouri 
where I worked it was rumored that one part of the General Aid So- 
ciety's emigrants were coming to this Territory to live and make this 
a free State, and another set coming in to vote and then go out again. 
I voted on the 30th of March, 1855. These strangers, generally, con- 
ducted themselves as well as people usually do at western elections. 
A man came and asked to see my ticket, I showed it to him and asked 
if it suited him. He said it did not. I asked him where he lived, he 
said down on the Marmitau, between Henry Barber's and the line, but 
I never saw the man there, though I have often been along there, and 
I think have seen every man along the line. It is customary for per- 
sons to live in temporary affairs, such as tents, when they first come 
to the Territory. I heard several of these strangers say they were 
citizens of the Territory, five or six of them, perhaps more. Some 
men living in the western part of the district, I understood, left on 
account of the Osage Indian difficulties, and the question of the New 
York reservation has prevented some two or three from settling there. 
I believe the strangers generally claimed that the citizens of Missouri 
had a right to vote if these northern emigrants did. There were many 
there in tents. These strangers, who were coming in and going from 
the election during the day, were from towards Missouri, and as I lived 
near the line I saw some of them go over into Missouri. Those who 
were in 'iy-::ts I do not know where they were from, though the Houcks 
*'"^ ^ vxie tht sompany in their wagons were from Missouri. I do not 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 241 

know that Joseph C. Anderson was in the district hefore the census 
was taken, though he may have heen. I go to Fort ►Scott about once 
a week during the winter. The first time I saw Mr. Anderson he was 
introduced to me as a candidate. I work a good deal in the southwest- 
ern part of Missouri, and Mr. Anderson could have been in the district 
between tlie election and close of the legislature and I not have known 
it. I heard one man from Missouri say he had voted for Mr. Hamil- 
ton, but I do not know of any who came over for that purpose. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

There was a rumor prevailing in the neighborhood of Fort Scott 
that there were many persons coming over from Missouri to vote, but 
I do not know that it was general, but in my neighborhood it was 
generally believed. 

By Mr. Anderson : 

We generally believed that they were going to vote for the Missouri 
party, as we called it, though some for Mr. Hamilton. I know the 
rumor prevailed by hearing some few men say that they were going 
to come over and vote. 

E. B. COOK. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



John Hamilton recalled. 

By Mr, Sherman : 

There was at Fort Scott, before the election, a general rumor that 
persons would come over from Missouri to vote on the 30th of March, 
1855. That rumor extended so far as I had acquaintance. So far as 
I know, the rumor was generally credited. I do not know whether 
that rumor kept any one from the polls or not. There were settlers 
who were not there, but I cannot state why they did not come. 

JOHN HAMILTON. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



Joseph C. Anderson called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I removed to the Territory, for the purpose of residing, in February, 
1855, and settled at Fort Scott, in the sixth election district. I was 
a resident there on the 30th of March, 1855, was a candidate and 
elected as a member of the house of representatives. From my infor- 
mation, (and I tried to ascertain the strength of parties in that 
district,) I was of opinion that there were upwards of two hundred 
men in tlie district favorable to me and my party, and not more than 
fifty on the free-State side. I heard one man I can name, who was 
from Missouri, say he had voted, but I did not see him vote. My 
H. Kep. 200 16* 



242 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

present impression is that I heard another Missoiirian say so. Mr. 
Lorinc; was one of thcni. I tried to keep him from voting. I re- 
marked to him, " Mr. Loring, you are not going to vote?" The ob- 
ject of my inquiry was dissuasive. I tohl liim I did not want him to 
vote ; that I did not want men known to he citizens of Missouri to 
vote there, for the reason that everybody was voting for me, and I 
did not want to have my election contested, or have any trouble about 
it. I told him that the free-State party had no confidence in their 
candidates, and would vote for me before they would vote for them, 
and that there Avere but few of them. I told him tliis because I really 
believed it. I used every argument to prevent liim i'rom voting that 
I could think of at the time. He said he came there to vote, and he 
w^as going to do it ; that the abolitionists were shipping men from 
the east to vote, and he thought that the Missourians had a right to 
come there and vote too. In the course of the evening Mr. Loring 
told me he had voted. There were persons who were said to be Mis- 
sourians who were there, but most of them were strangers to me. It 
was the current and credited rumor there that an armed body of abo- 
litionists, emissaries of the Emigrant Aid Society, would be in Fort 
Scott on the day of election and control it. Many of those Missourians 
said they did not come to vote themselves, but to insure the people in 
that part of the Territory the right to elect their own candidates with- 
out interference, though they would vote if it became necessary to 
counteract this Emigrant Aid Society. 

I do not think I had any competitor, Mr. Hamilton w^as an op- 
posing candidate, but he told me he was not running against me, but 
against Williams. He said he could get as many votes i'rom Missouri 
as I did, and that })ro-slavery men from Missouri would vote for him, 
and he thought lie and I would both be elected. He told me that five 
hundred eastern men would land at Kansas City and come down to 
Fort Scott at the election. He said this in the presence of Barbee, 
myself, and others. The Missourians, as they were said to be, said if 
those men did come, they would fight them, if necessary, as long as 
they could. Hamilton told me that his own political friends had voted 
against liim, and he w^ould give it up. It was the current report down 
there, and believed among those with whom I talked, that the free- 
State men knew when the election was to be ten days before the pro- 
clamation of the governor was issued. I talked with perhaps a dozen 
about it, and we all believed it. I heard nothing about my having a 
right to a seat in the Kansas legislature because 1 was a citizen of Mis- 
souri until towards tlie close of the legislature, and I took it to be a 
jest, and so regarded it at the time. I heard notliing of the kind 
talked of seriously until after this committee came out here. So far 
as I talked Avith citizens of Missouri, and I talked with a good many 
of them, it Avas the expression of almost all of them that they Avould 
not object or interfere in having Kansas a free State, if it was made 
BO by natural and uninfluenced emigration of people from the east or 
free States ; but that they intended interiering if the eastern people 
resorted to abolition propagandism by organized societies, and that 
they Avould resist such interference as that, if it produced civil war. 
That Avas the universal feeling, so far as I could learn it. 



KAN^SAS AFFAIRS. 243 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I heard of the formation of the emigrant societies, and of the land- 
ing of ^ibolition emissaries liere, before I heard of any contemplated 
interference by people from Missouri. 

JNO. C. ANDERSON. 

Westport, Missouri, June 6, 1856. 



William Barbee called and sworn. 

To Mr, King : 

I reside at Fort Scott, in the sixth election district of the Territory, 
and have resided there since October, 1854. I was in the Territory 
in the July previous. I was at the election of the 30th of March, 
1855, in that district, and was frequently about the polls, but not all 
the time. I think there were 350 votes polled that day, of which I 
received, as member of the council, 343 votes. I think the members 
of the lower house got all but thirty, or thereabouts. I was acquainted 
with the greater portion of the people of the district, having taken 
the census a short time before ; and when I took the census I obtained 
the opinion of the people there on the question of slavery, as well as 
I could, and found in the fifth coimcil, or sixth election district, a pro- 
slavery majority, I also took ilie census in the fifth election district, 
and, as far as I could estimate, I found tlie district to be pro-slavery 
by a small majority. I took the census in February, 1855. Tlie 
winter was very dry that year, and emigration was very heavy in 
February and March, and many arrived after the census was taken, 
and before the day of election. I think the Pro-slavery party had an 
increased majority at the time of the election in the Fort Scott dis- 
trict, as nearly all the emigration after the census was taken to the 
time of election was pro-slavery. There were many persons at the 
polls, as that was the only voting place in the district. There were 
some Missourians present, but I do not recollect of any of them voting. 
Some of them did not offer to vote. There was something said about 
the floating vote that both parties had there, but I believe neither 
party insisted upon receiving any such votes. All the judges ap- 
pointed by the governor served there that da}^, and I saw no trouble 
or difficulty. Mr. Hamilton, one of the free-State candidates, acknow- 
ledged after the election that he had been beaten by the votes of his 
own party ; that is, a majority of the free-State men voted against him. 
He talked of contesting the election; but after examining the polls he 
gave it up, stating that his own friends had voted against him. Every- 
thing wound up peaceably, and we had no difficulty there at all. 

Joseph C. Anderson, elected to the lower house, came into the dis- 
trict before I had opened my books for the census, and I considered 
that at his home, and all considered him a citizen, so far as I heard. 
He proposed to go into partnership with me in tlie law ; but we went 
into politics, both of us, and neither did anytliing about the law. 
Mr. Williams, also elected to the lower house, came into the district 



244 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

withont his family, from Polk county, Missouri. After Mr. Ander- 
son came into the district I made a claim, and had work done on it. 
He remained in the district until after the election, and then started 
after his family, and has been a resident of that district ever since. 

Governor Recder took me to he a free-State man, and requested me 
to hunt up suitable I'ree-State men for judg^es of election, when I took 
the census, and said that he aimed to appoint tv/o free soilers and one 
pro-slavery man for judges of election. He did do that in our dis- 
trict, and in those districts in which I took the census, which was 
over half of tlie Territory in extent, so far as he could. 

[Governor King proposes to prove the same facts by this witness ^ 
substantially, that he offered to prove by Thomas Johnson, in refer- 
ence to the conduct of Governor Reeder in calling the legislature 
together. 

The majority of the committee overrule the testimony offered, Mr, 
Oliver dissenting, as in the case of Thomas Johnson.] 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

Governor Eeeder took me to be a free-State man. I passed for a 
free-State man with him, and that was tlie way I got the appointment 
to take the census. I came into the Territory from Hlinois, leaving 
my family in Kansas City about two months, while I was looking 
over the Territory. Governor Reeder aimed to appoint a majority of 
free-State men in the district in which I took the census, though he 
may have been mistaken in regard to some of the districts. I made 
my returns to Governor Reeder in just time before the election, some 
two weeks or so. I made my returns as quick as I could, but in ex- 
tent of territory I had a very large district. When I made my re- 
turns Governor Reeder immediately wrote his proclamation for the 
press, and I took a copy or minute of it back with me. I think I 
made my returns the very day he wrote his proclamation. I think 
my district of taking the census embraced some seven miles more than 
half of the Territory. It run up to the south line of the Shawnee 
lands, and extended back to the Rocky Mountains ; all that is now 
included in the counties of Lykins, Lynn, Bourbon, and all south and 
west of those counties, being Indian reservations a large portion. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

The settlements in the district I had to take the census of were con- 
fined in the counties of Franklin, Lykins, Lynn, and Bourbon, and 
some little settlements in Allen county. Governor Reeder wrote me 
a letter that my census books were ready, but it did not reach me 
until three weeks after it was written, and I did not get my books 
until after the others did. He spoke of the delay in receiving the 
returns, and called the election immediately after they were made, as 
soon as he could do so. I do not think he was to blame in not fixing 
the election earlier, after taking the census. 

To Mr. King : 

I do not mean by this that Governor Reeder ought not to have 
taken the census earlier. 

WILLIAM BARBEE. 
Westport, Missouri, June 5, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 245 

Thomas B. Arnett called and sworn. 

To Mr. King: 

I reside in Fort Scott, and have resided there from before tlie pas- 
sage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. I am pretty well acquainted with 
tlie bounds of the sixth district as laid off by Governor Reeder. On 
the 30tli of March, 1855, I was acquainted with a great many of the 
voters of that district. There was quite a flood of emigration of bona 
fide settlers coming into the district after the taking of the census up 
to the day of election. It was nearly a daily occurrence to have more 
or less come into the district. My opinion is that there were some 90, 
perhaps more, emigrants came in during that time. I kept a public 
house at Fort Scott, and had a good opportunity of seeing the emi- 
grants who came in. I was present at the 30th of March election. I 
saw men parading around through the streets, but saw none about tlie 
polls. I saw nothing like an emigration of armed men. I saw no 
usurpation of the right of voting. There were men wlio came in from 
Missouri to vote, and the judges did not allow it. It was supposed 
that there were two hundred men who came in to vote, and were not 
allowed to vote — were expelled from voting. I know of no illegal 
voting. It was supposed that some two hundred voters came there 
wlio were not considered legal voters and were not allowed to vote. 
The prevailing understanding was, that a fair vote of the Territory 
should be taken. I know of no citizen of the district that was pre- 
vented from voting, and 1 know of no attempt of the kind. I do not 
know of any one who did not vote from any expressed apprehension 
of fear or violence in any way. The polls wore opened by the judges, 
and kept open for every legal voter and citizen of the Territory to 
come and vote on his own will and pleasure. There were more free- 
soil votes given than I anticipated were in our district, there being 
some thirty-odd in all given. The polls were kept open for them as 
well as for the pro-slavery party, and their votes were as amicably and 
justly received as from the pro-slavery party. The vote of the pro- 
slavery party was about as I anticipated it would be; not higher than 
I anticipated. My own opinion was that the pro-slavery party in that 
district was even higher than the vote showed they were on the day 
of election. I considered the majority at least yiue to one. I heard 
no complaints from free-State men on that day, that they had been 
prevented from votings either free-State voters or candidates. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman: 

The election was held in the hospital building at Fort Scott, in a 
room prepared for that purpose. I was engaged in my public house 
part of the day^ and part of the day I was out mixing among the people. 
I was immediately at the polls some one or two dozen times during 
the day^ though I did not make it my business to watch the polls. I 
do not think I heard the vote of any individual challenged that day. 
I do not recollect of it now. I do not think I heard the judges an- 
nounce their opinion upon any question before them. I was not directly 
at the window, as it was pretty crowded. I was only about the polls 
a sbort time at any time I was up there. I understood from the non- 



246 KANSAS AFFAIRS^ 

residents themselves that tliey did not vote.. They were encamped 
down on the creek. I do not know how many told me they did not 
vote, bixt snch was the general talk among the non-residents. I im- 
derstood from them tliat they were indicjihte to vote, and that was the 
reason they did not vote. They came to vote, I suppose, and that 
was their intention. I only heard such a rumor from them. The 
reasonable p'resumption is, that the judges deterred them from voting,, 
but I do not know that myself. I do not recollect that they told me 
why they did not vote. I think some of them said there were votes 
enough there without their votes, any how. I have some slight ac- 
quaintance in Weston, Missouri. The persons in the camp came 
from various parts in the western part of Misseuri, from Cass, John- 
son, Lafayette, Coo})er, and Howard counties. I know a gentle- 
man by the name of Oldham, but I do not recollect his first name. 
The one I knew lived in Jackson county. There is an Oldham in our 
disti-ict, now a settler. He had a claim in the district at the time of 
the election, but his family was not with him. He was then pre- 
paring for his family, and shortly afterwards brought them there. I 
knew a Mr. Zeal living at that time in Bates county, but he had an 
improvement in the Territory, with his family in Bates county, and 
now is merchandising in the Territory. I know some Mitchells who 
at that time lived in Vernon county, but tliey had claims in the Ter- 
ritory before the election, and were there themselves, but tlioir families 
were not there. J. S. Mitchell and Carter Mitchell are now residents 
of Fort Scott. Carter Mitchell opened a claim and made improve- 
ments upon it, and sold it for |800. He is now in Fort Scott. Jos. 
C. Anderson came in our place first during the latter part of Febru- 
ary or the first of March. He boarded with me while he was there. 
He left very shortly after the election, either the first or second day 
after. He was a young man, without a ftimily. 1 did not see him 
at Fort Scott again until the barbacue in September, He remained 
there but a short time after Ceneral Whitfield's election, and I have 
not seen him there since. When he first came to Fort Scott he made 
a claim and entered it upon our squatter's recoitl, and that will show 
be had a claim. 

To Mr. King : 

I heard some several of these Missonrians who expressed themselves 
willing to submit the case to the people of the Tei^ritory, providing- 
that the Emigrant Aid Society would not interfere. They said there 
was such a flood of these emigrants coming in, they thought they had 
as good a right to come in and defend the rights of the people of the 
Territory as those eastern emigrants had to come in. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I saAv none of these eastern emigrants in our district at that time^ 
and never knew of any of these emigrants who were shipped here 
being in our district since. 

To Mr, King : 

It seemed to be the motto of most all of the MissouriauSj that see- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 247 

ing none of t"he emigrant society voters tlierc, who were not actual 
settlers of the country, they were disposed to stand off and take no 
part in the election. 

THOMAS B. AKNETT. 

WestporT; Missouri, June 2, 1856. 



Samuel 'A. Williams called and sworn. 

To Mr. King: 

I reside now in Fort Scott, in Kansas Territory, in what was the 
6th district, and have resided tlicre since March 1, 1855. I was a 
candidate tor representative to the legislature from that district, I 
was elected. I liave resided there since that time. Joseph G. Ander- 
son was in the district before I was. I was in the district there before 
Mr. Hamilton, the free-State candidate, was, and he was living there 
at the time of the election. I was considerably acquainted in that 
district. My opinion is that that election was a very fair one. I do 
not know of any illegal votes there that day. From the time I went 
into the district the emigration was very heavy from Arkansas, Mis- 
souri, and Texas, up to the time of the election, and settled on the 
Neosho and the streams in that neighborhood, and the district. At 
the time of that election I think the Pro-slavery party had a majority 
in that district. A good many free-State men were dissatisfied with 
their candidates, and many of them told me they voted for me and 
Mr. Anderson, and I wrote the tickets for some of them myself. 

SAML. A. WILLIAMS. 

Westport, Missouri, June 9, 1856. 



248 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

TESTIMONY AS TO ELECTION OF MARCH 30, 1855, IN THE SEVENTH DISTEICT. 

I. B. Titus called and sworn. 

To Mr. Keeder: 

I moved into the Territory, where I am now living, on the 1st day 
of October, in the year 1854, in the seventh district, and have resided 
there ever since. I was at home on the 30th of March, 1855. There 
was a large camp across the creek from my house, which I estimated 
to contain between two and three hundred. I was not at home the 
day previous to the election, but arrived the night previous, and 
found the camp there. I went into the camj) the next morning ; I 
saw some three or four persons in the camp that I had seen in the 
district, and knew had claims there ; the balance were all strangers 
to me. They were armed — I think, all of them — some with one kind 
of arms, and some with another. I saw no flags or music along with 
them. I don't know where they got their j)rovisions and fodder, but 
supposed they brought them with them, as I knew of no other way of 
their getting them. Some had tents, and some slept in their wagons. 
I had some conversation with them ; they said they were from Mis- 
souri, and had come out on purpose to vote. One man said they were 
disappointed, as they expected to find more Yankees there than there 
were, and allowed that they had more with them than was necessary 
to balance the vote. I do not recollect that I learned the names of 
any of those strangers. I saw a great many of them vote, and 
thought they all voted, as I was in or about the house all day. The 
election was held in my house. They went back east, on the Santa 
Fe road, in the direction of Missouri — some before the election was 
over, and the rest afterwards. I have seen none of those strangers 
in the district since, except a few passing through, freighting to tlie 
Grove. I have seen a few of them in Missouri since. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson: 

In the conversation I had in camp, they intimated that a good many 
free-State people had come out to make Kansas a free State, and they 
came to overbalance that vote. That was the inducement they gave 
for coming. I came into the Territory from Iowa. I was well ac- 
quainted with the district at that time, as I was oUe of the first in 
it. I know the boundaries of the district, but do not recollect the 
number of miles across it. I think I knew all the residents at the 
time of election. There were not many came in there before the elec- 
tion, of actual settlers, though considerable came out some time before 
the election to look at the town site, and then returned before the 
election. The population was very sparse; and I should think there 
were about twenty-five resident voters there at the time of election. I 
know of none who came into the district and voted and then returned, 
but Missourians. I know of none others who returned immediately 
after the election. I did not trouble myself much about the candi- 
dates at that time, as I was pretty neutral in ])olitics. 'I may have 
known them, but do not recollect them now. The "110" settlenLent 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 249 

is about eight or nine miles from our settlement_, and the Wakarusa 
settlement is ten miles off. There were no other settlements in the 
district at that time. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

My occupation is blacksmithing. There is no other blacksmith- 
shop in the district, I think, but mine. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

There were about ten families in our settlement at the time of that 
election. There was but one family at " 110," that I knew of then. 
The Wakarusa settlement was considerably smaller than ours then. 
The rest of the district, away irom these three creeks, consisted mostly 
of high prairie, and was not then settled, and is not settled yet. 

I. B. TITUS. 

Lawkence, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



Marcus H. Kose called and sworn. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

I came into the Territory about the 8th of November, 1854, from 
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and settled about the 14th on Switzer 
creek, a branch of the Osage, in the seventh district, and have re- 
sided there ever since. I was at the election of the 30th of March, 
1855, a short time. I did not intend to attend the election, seeing a 
company coming in on the day before. I saw_, on the 29th, a large 
company coming in about ten o'clock in the morning. I was about 
starting for my cabin Avhen they came in. My cabin is about three 
miles from there. I was then at Mr. Hoover's. I did not count 
them. They came in wagons and on horses and mules. I should 
suppose there were about fifty wagons, but do not know how many 
they contained. Some of the wagons had two horses and some four, 
I should judge there were from thirty to fifty horses and mules. They 
encamped a few rods from the house in which the election was to be 
held, in the timber on the claim of Mr. Prentiss. I passed on down 
home, after they had got into the timber and commenced chopping. 
I remained home until some time in the afternoon of the day of elec- 
tion. Mr. Stewart came after me. I declined coming up to the elec- 
tion, but went up with him when he stated that they intended con- 
trolling the election. When I reached the election-house there were 
quite a number around the house still voting. Others were going 
back the way they came. What I saw of these men were armed, I 
do not remember of seeing any flags. I was pretty well acquainted 
in my immediate vicinity, but not extensively in the district. I do 
not know how many voters there were in the district at that time. I 
do not know of any increase of settlers in the district between the 
taking of the census and the day of election, but rather a deci'ease, as 
some went away into other districts to work. Those men that came 



250 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

there were strangers to me. I have seen none of the company there 
since. I had no conversation with them. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

I understood that Mr. Strickler for the council, and McGee for the 
assembly, were the candidates. Mr. Rice and Mr. Baker, I think, 
were candidates for the assembly. I do not know the politics of the 
candidates, except by report. I do not recollect the boundaries of the 
district. I do not know the comparative numbers in the district at 
the taking of the census and the time of election. My information 
was very limited. The decrease I spoke of was in my immediate set- 
tlement. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I do not recollect who took the census, but think J. R. McClure was 
the name. I held the office of justice of the peace at the time of the 
election. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

J. R. McClure does not live in my district. 

MARCUS H. ROSE. 
Lawrence,, K. T., April 29, 1856. 



James R. Stewart called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I came into the Territory about the 12th or 14th of November, 1854, 
from Pennsylvania, and settled in the seventh district, and have lived 
there ever since. There were a party of men in the district, that I 
saw shortly after they encamped. I talked with some of them, and 
ascertained where they were from. I had no personal acquaintance 
with them, but recognised one or two as citizens of Missouri, whom I 
had seen in Missouri. There were none in the company I recognised 
as citizens of the district. 1 first saw them in camp between 12 and 
1 o'clock the day they arrived, as they were pitching their tents. 
This was on the 29th, the day previous to the election. I had con- 
versation with some of them in their camp. I made inquiry of some 
of their young men where the party was from, and they said from 
Missouri. I asked what they came for, and they said to vote. I was 
down to the election quite early, but not to the immediate vicinity of 
the place where the polls were to be held, as I supposed they were not 
opened. All the judges were present, but two of them did not serve. 
I heard no reason why the two judges did not serve. The names of 
the two judges were Mr. Harvey and John W. Freel. Mr. Snider 
did serve. I do not know the others who did serve. They were 
strangers. I did not see them appointed, but saw them acting. The 
party from the encampment voted. They voted without being sworn. 
Some of the residents of the district voted, but not more than one-half 
of those who were there. The others did not, as they said it was of 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 251 

no use. I was on tlie ground the principal part of the day. Their 
men had arms — shot-guns, &c. There were a number of them who 
wore badges, and seemed to be leaders. The order was to be peace- 
ful, and create no disturbance, unless there was some resistance on 
the part of the residents to their voting. As I understood it, their 
badges were a blue ribbon, with a motto or something upon them, 
about six inches long, attached to their coats and vests. They sup- 
ported H. J. Strickler for council, and M. W. McGree for assembly. 
M. W. McGree was in the district electioneering, but I do not know as 
he lived there. I saw him, three or four days after the election, at 
his house in Missouri. These men left the evening of the election. 
Some of them started on horseback, saying that they were going to 
some other point ; I think it was Lawrence, as they said they could 
be there before night. They did not state, as I couhl hear, what they 
were going for. All of them left the camp that evening before sun- 
down. Those who left first started in the direction they came, as did 
the others, as far as I could see. I have not recognised any of them 
there since. I think there was not much change in the population of 
the district between the taking of the census and the day of election. 
At that time the district was very thinly settled. I cannot tell how 
many families were in it. I do not know, exactly, how many votes 
were polled on that day. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

I was near the polls the greater portion of the day. I saw no vio- 
lence. The free-State men were allowed to vote without interference, 
and some of them voted. In the conversation with some of the party, 
I did not hear any inducement for coming into the Territory to vote. 
One of the young men I was talking to said he thought the expedi- 
tion would be of no consequence, as the election could not stand. I 
am not acquainted with all the boundaries of the district. I know 
every person for several miles around that vicinity, but not all the 
parts of the district. A number of persons came to that neighbor- 
hood for the purpose of settlement, and finding things different from 
what they expected, they went into Missouri, and did not return in 
time to be taken in the census. I think there were not as many per- 
sons in the district at the time of taking the census as before that. I 
think there were full as many at the time the census was taken as at 
the time of the election. I was acquainted for several miles about 
our settlement. The district is, I think, twenty-four miles square. 
I know of but two other settlements in the district, and they were 
small. One of the settlements — "''110" — is now no larger than it 
was then. I knew of no new settlements between the taking of the 
census and the day of the election. The candidates who were elected 
were Strickler for the council, and W. M. McGee for the assembly. 
Mr. Baker was a candidate in the seventh district. He nominated 
himself, and was a pro-slavery man, as was Mr. W. M. McGee. Mr. 
Johnson was, I think^ the free-State candidate for the council, and 
Mr. Kice for the assembly. I never saw McGee in his home in the 
district. I do not know of McGee's residing in the district with his 
wife and servants. 



252 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

To Mr. Eecder : 

Those persons who made claims^ and went to Missouri, were eastern 
folks, who went to Missouri to get employment through the winter. 
I do not think there Avere any of' them in tlie company who came to 
the election. There is one settlement on Switzer, Dragoon, and 
Soldier creeks; another on "" 110-mile" creek; some on the Waka- 
rusa. I am acquainted with two settlements ; Avell acquainted with 
the Switzer settlement, but not so well acquainted with the one on 
" 110-mile" creek. These people did not come from the direction of 
the Wakarusa settlement, or the opposite direction. The Wakarusa 
is, I think^ pretty near due north from the place where the polls were 
held. They came from the east, on the Santa Fe road. 

To Mr. Howard: 

The settlement at " 110-mile " creek was east from where the polls 
were held, in the direction where this company came from. There 
might have been some from "110" with them, but it was a small 
settlement, and I know many there. I went into their camp before 
the election, just after they arrived, before they were done pitching 
their tents. They came in wagons^, on horses, and mules. They re- 
turned east after the election was over. There Avere two or three 
hundred of them. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

They had their provisions and fodder along, as I supposed, and 
cooked their own meals and fed their own horses in camp. I think 
there were not so many at the time of the census as before. Some 
time before the census was taken, a large party, I should think from 
fifty to sixty, or seventy, came to Switzer's creek, and returned in 
the course of a week to several places — some to Missouri, and some back 
east. They were all eastern folks. That is what I mean by there 
being more before the census than when it was taken. They came in 
November, and there was very little emigration after that. I think 
in January, 1856, there was but one family at ''110-mile" creek, 
Mr. McGee's. Some time previous there were other families living 
there, but they had left. I do not think there were ten or a dozen 
families there. Perhaps there were that many men there. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

It was in November, 1854, that this company of fifty or sixty came 
to Switzer's creek. They were organized as far as Kansas City, no 
farther. It was not particularly under the control of any one. A man 
named Albright assumed the leadership. I came in the same com- 
pany. It was organized in Pennsylvania, and called the Pennsylva- 
nia Kansas Company. Loten Smith did not bring a company with 
him after I came ; but one or two came with him. fie came out as the 
agent of the American Settlement Company. He made improvements 
there as the agent of that company. I had no connexion with Mr. 
Smith's company. The company with which I came disorganized at 
Kansas City, and left for different parts of the Territory. The organi- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 253 

zation of tlie company was for the purpose of saving expenses in trav- 
elling. 

To Mr. Howard : 

The company disbanded in Kansas City ahout the 1st of November, 
and have never been organized again. Our only object in organizing 
was to save expenses. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

There were, I should think, two hundred in the company ; I should 
think one-fourth of the men had their wives with them. I left with 
them on the 29th of October, meeting them after they started. I 
know of no other object of the company but to settle in Kansas, and 
make money as individuals. There were arguments used in Penn- 
sylvania to come here and make this a free State. We left before 
there was much excitement upon the subject. I have heard more of 
those arguments since I came here. As far as I know, the party were 
free-State men. We paid our own expenses. We contributed a dol- 
lar apiece to our agent, Mr. Albriglit, to go to Pittsburg to charter a 
boat for us. But each one paid his own expenses. Our agent came 
all the way through to Kansas with us. 

To Mr. Whitfield: 

We have no organization now. There is a plot of the town laid 
out under the agency of Mr. Smith, and belongs to the members of 
the American Settlement Company. 

To Mr. Howard: 

Some of our party are in the Territory, but I do not know how 
many. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I came from Lawrence county, Pennsylvania. Most of the company 
assembled at Conneautville, Crawford county. I came through to 
Rochester on a canal-boat. I was not acquainted with Gov. Reeder 
in Pennsylvania. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I never heard from any member of the company that Gov. Reeder 
had anything to do with the company. The most of the Pennsylva- 
nians came from western Pennsylvania ; some from Alleghany county, 
Indiana county, but the most from Crawford county. Some of the 
company came from the State of Ohio. Mr. Albright, I think, set- 
tled at Fort Riley or Pawnee. This company, as I understood it, 
was nothing more tlian a set of individuals who agreed to go together 
for the purpose of getting out here as cheaply as possible, and it was 
not contemplated that we should bo a company any farther tlian Kan- 
sas pity; that was wliere the boat we chartered was to take us to. 
Individuals in the company formed themselves into clubs or sub-divi- 
sions of the company on the way, whenever they could agree to go 
together. The company I speak of in connexion with our town, is 
the American Settlement Company of New York city. I do not know 



254 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of any in our company, or out of it, that came out here to vote, and 
then go back. I never heard of a pro-slavery man in Pennsylvania. 
The company got here to Kansas City on the 8th or 9th of November. 
They scattered to different points of the Territory, and many stopped 
in Missouri. Some few remained at our town after they arrived there, 
while the rest went away in about a week — went away before the elec- 
tion. All that did go back, but three or four, were gone before the 
fall election. These men came out to settle in the Territory. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I have seen several editions of the circulars of the New York Ameri- 
can Settlement Company, but they differ. I do not know the work- 
ing of the company. 



Lawrence, K. T., April 29,1856. 



J. E. STEWAKT. 



Marcus H. Rose examined. 

Q. Mr. Rose, have you examined and compared the census-rolls and 
the poll-book of the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in the sev- 
enth district? 

A. I have. 

Q. How many votes are there on the census-rolls? 

A. Fifty-two. 

Q. How many are on the poll-list of those on the census-rolls? 

A. Seventeen. 

Q. About how many names are on the poll-list altogether? 

A. Two hundred and thirty-four. 

Q. What are the names of those seventeen you find on the census- 
rolls? 

A. David Condit, John W. Freel, Wm. Grraham, W. Foster Har- 
vey, Abraham Hoover, Joseph Mclntyre, Thomas Russell, Mathias 
A. Reed, Ithiel Streit, James R. Stewart, William A. Stewart, John 
Smith, Loten Smith, Ely Snyder^ I. B. Titus, Divilla Wright, and 
Henry Smith. 

There are the names of eight legal voters on the poll-list that are 
not on the census returns, as follows: John Skidmore, Isaac Chatham, 
Charles A. Linkenanger, L. S. Axtill, William J. Tillinghast, Geo. 
W. Barnes^ W. N. Haven, and H. Rice. Six of these persons were 
away who had been there before the census was taken, had made 
claims and built cabins. The other two were new comers. 

Q. How many votes were polled at the first election, in November, 
1854, according to the copy of the poll-book? 

A. Six hundred and seven. 

Q. From your acquaintance with the people, and the examination 
of the census-roll, how many resident voters Avere there in your dis- 
trict at that time? 

A. There might have been twenty-five or thirty, though I was not 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 255 

mucli acquainted there. I have not examined the list of names on the 
poll-list of that election. 

MARCUS H. ROSE. 
Lawrence, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



J. R. Stewart examined. 

Q. Did you examine the census returns and poll-books with Mr. 
Rose? 

A. I did. I aided in preparing the lists he has given. 

Q. Have you heard his testimony read? 

A. I have. 

Q. State whether or not you concur with him in his testimony on 
those points. 

A. I do. 

J. R. STEWART. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



Hallom Rice called and sworn. 

I got to Switzer creek the day before the election of March, 1855, 
and have resided there ever since. I came from Kansas City, Mis- 
souri, to the Territory, and before that I was from Texas. It was 
after sundown when I arrived at Mr, Titus's with my family. I saw 
a camp across from his house in the Grove, but I did not go into it. 
I was only within about one hundred yards from the camp ; there 
was, I should think, a space of ground about one hundred yards square 
covered with wagons and tents. I was at the polls the next day ; I 
had some conversation with a gentleman who said he was one of the 
leading men there ; I asked him what their business was there, and he 
said to vote ; I asked their pretensions to vote there, and he said they 
had claims in the Territory ; I asked him what the shooting was on 
the other side of the creek, and he said it w^as nothing but the boys 
shooting at a mark ; I said that the women thought they were making 
rather too much noise, and he said he would vouch for their conduct. 
I live on the Dragoon creek, in the seventh district. After the elec- 
tion was over, I saw some of the party that encamped there start east, 
on the Sante Fe road, and I suppose all went that way. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

There were some coming in about the same time I did ; the country 
appeared to be almost all on the wing. I did not know the actual 
settlers ; I was told there were considerable many moving in ; some 
half a dozen men came in with me. I was driving a team from Kansas 
City to Council G-rove during the winter, and saw considerable many 
stirring in the district, but do not know how many settled there; I 
made a claim in the district the fall before. 



C 



256 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I believe I voted that day ; I would not be positive about it ; tliere 
was a great deal of talk about the voting, and I believe I voted. 
Things did not go off to suit me, and I did not charge my mind with 
it. 

To the committee : 

I have no knowledge of any recent military organization in Kansas 
Territory. 

HALLOMRICE. 
Lawrence, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



William F. Johnson testifies : 

The 29th of March, 1855, 1 received a letter from Topeka informing 
me that I had been renominated as a candidate for the legislature on 
the free-State ticket ; I sent word that I declined^, and I went over to 
the seventh district. The election was held at Titus's. The night 
previous to the election, Nolan, of Jackson county, Missouri, came 
up to the house wliere I was, and invited me to go to the camp Avith 
him. I saw a great many there I was acquainted with ; I was there 
till a late hour that night, and conversed with a number there ; I 
returned to the camp in the morning. The camp had about two hun- 
dred in it, principally from Missouri ; a great many of those I had 
seen at " 110" in November, 1854, were there. I asked Nolan why 
he came with them, and he said it was to keep the boys from doing 
some mischief, but did not intend to vote himself. They generally 
voted at that election, but were very peaceable and quiet. I saw 
notliing improper in the camp ; I was acquainted with rather more in 
that camp than in the one at '' 110 ;" there were Squire Nolan, Squire 
Smith, Mr. Muir, the old man, and the Muir and Nolan family gen- 
erally, a young man named Johnson, and some of the Lees, George 
W. Case, William Dawson, and others I do not recollect. They told 
me they came up to vote, and asked me if I was a candidate ; I told 
them I was put up, but had declined running. They came up to me 
with their bowie-knives and seemed to be pretty rabid, but Case and 
others I knew quieted them, and all went on quietly after that. At 
the polls they gave way and let a small company of settlers vote — 
about twenty-three of whom voted. The judges that had been ap- 
pointed by the governor refused to serve, except Snider ; there were 
other judges appointed by the crowd in their places, but I did not 
know them. 

Some few settlers from Wakarusa, that belonged in that district, went 
over there and voted. One old gentleman from Jackson county, who 
told me his name, but I forget it now, stated to a number of men living 
on Switzer's creek that he had no claim in the Territory, and did not 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 257 

live there, and was paid a dollar a day for coming here, and lie did 
that because it was better than staying at home doing nothing. He 
said he had voted ; but I did not see him vote. After the polls closed 
they started off down the road towards Missouri. There was no dis- 
turbance daring the day that I saw ; they said their object in coming 
here to vote was to defeat the free-State party. All the objection they 
had to me was that I was inclined to be a tree-State man. The Mis- 
sourians voted for Mobillon McGee for representative, and Strickler 
for council. 

Cross-examined by J, W. Whitfield : 

I was the only candidate on the other side for council, and my 
business over there was to decline ; but I believe I was voted for. I 
did not consider myself a candidate, and my understanding was that 
Strickler had no opposition. My principal reason for declining was 
that I was unwilling to run the risk of so unequal a contest, as I had 
heard that there were a great many coming up from Missouri. I had 
always held the same opinion in Missouri as in Kansas. Mr. Baker 
and some other one were running against Mr. McGee. I do not 
know what Mr. Baker's politics were. 



Lawrence, K. T., May 7, 1856. 



W. F. JOHNSON. 



Charles A. Lixken auger called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I live on the Dragoon creek, south of the Santa Fe road, near what 
is called Council City, in the seventh election district. I went there 
in August, 1854, and have lived there ever since. At the election of 
March 30, 1855, I was in " 110" precinct; the election was held at 
the house of Mr. J. B. Titus, at Switzer's creek. I was present at 
that election. The election was going on when I got there. There 
were a considerable number of persons there when I got there. I 
was very well acquainted in the Council City neighborhood. There 
were persons in the precinct I did not know. All that I knew of the 
persons that were there that day were residents of the district at that 
time ; some three or four of each political party. The pro-slavery 
party were Strickler for council and McGee for representative. A 
man by the name of Baker, I think, was running against McGee, 
but I do not know what he was. I never had but little to say to 
persons in that district about their opinions upon the slavery question. 
I think Baker got some free-State votes. I do not know how many 
votes Baker got at that election, but I think it was a small number. 
I think the free-State men of the district were there, at that election, 
and voted. I saw no interference and heard no complaint by free- 
State men of interference by any one to prevent them from voting. 
H. Kep. 200 17* 



258 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

The election was quiet and peaceable while I was there. I voted 
there myself without any difficulty, Mr. McGee was a resident of 
that district at that time, and he went out there when I first did in 
1854. He had a claim there and improvements upon it. I worked 
a good deal for McGee, who had a saw-mill there. He had a house 
there, and lived in it. I think that in the Council City neighborhood 
I was acquainted with some sixty or seventy men who had claims 
there, and buildings, and lived there at the time of the election. 
There was quite an emigration coming in there every day. A great 
many made claims and settled there that I knew nothing of until 
afterwards. The two creeks, Switzer and Dragoon, where the Santa 
Fe road crosses them, are about four miles apart, and the settlements 
on those two creeks comprised nearly all the settlers in the district, 
of whom I knew some sixty or seventy. There were considerable 
many came in during the month of March and settled around there 
who were strangers to me. I suppose some few persons from the 
district went into Missouri to spend the winter, I came back at dif- 
ferent times, but I do not recollect of any one who did so between the 
1st and 30th of March. Free- State men were coming in during the 
spring into the district, and considerable many of them in the month 
of March. Some of them did not stay but a short time after the 
election ; I speak of men who came with the American Settlement 
Company, and had been sent by the Emigrant Aid Society. I had 
frequent conversations with those men. They did not speak particu- 
larly of what they came for, but of the way they were brought there, 
and expressed themselves very much dissatisfied with the men who 
had induced them to come. They said they were humbugged by men 
who had come on here before and had gone back and stated to them 
that they had picked out a place for a settlement and laid off a town, 
and that by buying stock they could come on and go to improving ; 
that there was work to be had for mechanics, who Avere needed, and 
thus men were induced to come on with their tools, &c., and found 
that the representations to them were all false. There was one box. 
of guns there, but what it was brought for I cannot say. The box 
was brought to Council City ; they were revolving rifles, five or six 
shooters. The agent of this American Settlement Company, named 
Smith, took possession of these guns. 

This American Settlement Company was composed of men from 
Pennsylvania, New York, and the New England States. They were 
free-State men. I think those guns are in Smith's possession yet ; 
or, at all events, he had some last week, when a man got two of him. 
I do not know whether he has any left now or not. I think, at the 
time of the election of the 30th of March, there were perhaps thirty 
of these American Settlement people there. Three left shortly after 
the election. Those are all I know of leaving there. There are per- 
sons coming in and going out of the district belonging to this same 
company. Of the original thirty, I think all are there now ex- 
cept the three who left after the election, and some who are down 
here in the State now. 

C, A. LINKENAUGER. 

Westport, Mo.j June 5, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 259 

Andrew Johnson called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I was one of the judges of tlie 30tli Marcli, 1855, election in tlie 
seventh district in Kansas Territory. The polls were held at the 
house of Mr. B. Titus, in Council City, at the place designated by 
Governor Reeder, in his proclamation. I was appointed a judge in 
place of Mr. John Freel, declining to serve because he could not sign 
his name. He was one of the judges appointed by the governor. 
Mr. Freel was considered a free-State man, though he voted for Mr. 
McGee. I refused to serve at first ; but he, and the whole crowd, 
insisted that I should serve. I heard no design or wish expressed 
that I should be appointed so that all could vote who offered to vote. 
There was some talk there about the voting, and I told them if I 
undertook to be one of the judges there sould be no illegal voting on 
either side, or I would not serve at all. I never saw the protest that 
was sent in in regard to our election, though I understood that one 
was sent in. Eli Snider, appointed by the governor, served as judge. 
Mr. Chidington served in place of one originally appointed, but who 
did not appear. Mr. Chidington and myself were appointed accord- 
ing to the instructions of the governor, by the people present. I am 
not able to tell where Mr. Chidington lived, though he told me he 
had a claim near "110," and we considered him a resident of the 
district. I had lived in the district, at work on my claim, some two 
months prior to the election, and considered myself entitled to vote 
there, and did not consider that I had a right to, vote anywhere else 
No one disputed my right to vote there that I ever heard of. I told 
Grovernor Reeder, when I made my returns, how I came to be put in 
as one of the judges, and he said it was all right. There were Mis- 
sourians there that day. I think likely I saw wagons and men there. 
I know that some four or five of the wagons had men who were 
taking their stock up to their claims, and stopped there at the elec- 
tion. One man had his family along with him. We swore one 
another in as judges, as there was no magistrate there. A number 
of persons ofi'ering to vote were challenged, and they were sworn. 
Right smart of them would not swear, and we would not take their 
votes, unless we knew ourselves or were satisfied persons were legal 
voters as they presented themselves. Some one of us administered the 
oath to those who would take it. I do not know of any free-State 
man who offered to vote and his vote was rejected. Mr. Smithy the 
leading man among tlie free-State men, said, in the evening, when 
the voting was dull, that he never knew an election that passed ofi' 
so peaceably and harmlessly as that did ; though he said he was 
afraid in the morning the excitement Avould terminate rather badly. 
I requested him to bring up all his friends and neighbors who wanted 
to vote, and have them vote. I know but little about the correctness 
of the census that was taken, for I paid but little attention to it, as I 
was busy about my claim. I am satisfied lliere were many there who 
were noi included in the census, and I understood from my neighbors 
that the census taker did not go round much, but just kept the road. 



260 . KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I cannot say as to tlie strength of the parties in that district, nor 
whether the vote on the day of election was a fair test of the strength 
of parties or not, 

MuhiUon W. McGee was elected at that election a member of the 
House of Eepresentatives. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard: 

I was not very well acquainted in the district at the time of election, 
or how many voters there were there. It was generally understood 
that the pro-slavery party had a majority there. The oath we pre- 
scribed to the men who offered to vote, and whom we decided to swear, 
I think I can recollect pretty nearly. The form of oath for the judges 
I did not feel willing to take, and did not take it, and objected on that 
ground to serving at first. We swore the voters whether they had 
a claim in Kansas Territory or not, and whether they had voted in 
any other district. That is about the way they were sworn, I think. 

We would not swear, as judges, that we would live on our claims 
as long as we lived, which we thought was the effect of the one pre- 
scribed by the governor. We swore ourselves to take all legal votes 
and no illegal votes, as far as we knew, and to conduct the election 
legally as far as we knew. 

I knew the people of four or five of these wagons, who stopped at 
the place of election, were taking their stock along to their claims. 
They settled in the seventh district, but lost their claims on account 
of being determined to be on the Sac lauds when the survey was 
made. 

I could not tell how many wagons there were there altogether. I had 
my own wagon there that morning. My claim was some fifteen miles 
nothwest of Council City and of the Santa Fe road, I lost my claim 
by being on the Sac lands. When I came to the polls that morning 1 
noticed several wagons there. There were people moving in. and 
some freighting out, and some may have been from Missouri for aught 
I know. 

I do not think the census contained as many names as there were 
persons in the district making claims ; I know of nearly fifty persons 
who moved in after the census, and before the election. I do not 
recollect the name of the man who took the census, though I have 
heard it. 

There were some people encamped at the place on the day of election 
that I know to be non-residents, but I would not say there were ten 
who had no claims then in the district. There was a free-State man 
there who said he had no claim in the district, but intended to live 
there, and he said he had a right to vote, and he voted. 

As well as I can recollect there were twenty, perhaps over that 
number, of free- State voters there that day. 

All the free-State men I saw there that day voted, and there was 
no obstruction or hindrance to any one voting, that I saw ; and the 
election passed off quietly and peaceably. 

To Mr. King : 

Since giving the above testimony, I have heard the protest from one 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 261 

district read. As one of the judges of election^ I am willing and pre- 
pared to state, that there are many things in that protest in which 
those who signed it were mistaken. The judges were sworn, and any 
man whom we did not feel satisfied had a right to vote was sworn 
before we allowed him to vote ; and if he would not swear, he was not 
allowed to vote. And, as a judge of election, I am willing now to 
swear that we allowed no man to vote that we did not consider had a 
right to vote. A great many of the people in that district whom we 
considered legal voters came to the polls in their wagons, I have no 
doubt, as I came there myself in my wagon. It is the habit of the 
people of the Territory to go to gatherings in their wagons. 

To Mr. Howard : 

If a man was making a claim for the purpose of going to live on 
it, and claimed his residence there, and had no other place of voting, 
we considered him entitled to vote. 

I did not live on my claim myself, but was coming out of the Terri- 
tory at the time of the election^ when I stopped at the polls ; and I 
considered I had a right to vote there, as I intended to live on my 
claim, having made improvements upon it. 

I did not consider that I had any right to vote in the State from 
which I came. 

ANDKEW JOHNSON. 

Westport, Mo., June 3, 1856. 



Absalom Hoover called and sworn. 

I arrived at Switzer's creek on the 14th of November, 1854, and 
settled there, and have resided there ever since. I came from Arm- 
strong county, Pennsylvania. I was at Switzer's creek on the 30th of 
March, 1855. On the evening before the day of election there were 
quite a number of wagons, buggies, and men on horseback, came 
along the Santa Fe road, and pitched their tents near the house where 
the election was to be held. The next morning I went to the election 
pretty early before the polls were opened. Mr. Freel and Mr. Harvey, 
and another man I did not know, were appointed judges. Mr. Freel 
and Mr. Harvey did not serve as judges, but I cannot tell whether it 
was from fear or not. The company then elected a couple of their 
own number as judges, who then went on to receive votes. I staid 
there till they adjourned for dinner ; I saw one of the men appointed 
as judge come out of the house with the ballot-box under his arm, 
and he carried it down to the camp. In the afternoon I went back to 
the polls and got acquainted with one of the men of the company, a 
Dutchman, like myself. After some little conversation he said to me, 
now let us go and vote ; I said I was not quite ready. He said 
he would go ; and he went and put in his ticket. After he had voted 
he came to me again, and I asked him whether he lived in the Terri- 
tory or had a claim, and he said he did not. He also said they came 
out on a wild-goose chase, as he called it, to vote at the election. I 



262 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

asked him his name and he told me, but I do not now rememher it. 
After they had got through voting they all started back the way they 
came. I thonght there were between two hundred and three hundred 
of them, but I did not count them. This company were all strangers 
to me. They had some tents with them, and some encamped in their 
wagons. They brought their tents, provisions, and fodder, along 
with them. I do not know where they got their tickets ; I think I 
saw some tickets for Strickler and McGee, but I do not remember of 
seeing any before they came ; I did not ask the man with whom I 
talked who he voted for. They came from the east, along the Santa 
Fe road. There were not a great many settlers in the district east of 
where the polls were held. I do not know how many families there 
were at "One Hundred and Ten-mile creek." I did not see any 
judges sworn at all, though T was about the house when the election 
was opened. I think the one I talked with said they came from 
Missouri. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

My information was got from the Dutchman with whom I talked. 
I came out from Pennsylvania in the same company with Mr. Stewart. 
My main object in coming here was to get me a home. I do not know 
what the main object of the company was ; I do not know how the 
company was organized. Mr. Albright acted as leader of the com- 
pany to get us out here as cheaply as possible. We had no articles 
of agreement ; no written agreement or pledges, that I know of; no 
other object, particularly of the organization, except to come here and 
get homes. I never attended any of their meetings but one or two, 
and the most that was said was to come to Kansas and get us homes. 
I know of no resolution passed at their meetings. 

To Mr. Eeeder : 

I do not know as this was an organized company at all, but a com- 
pany of men coming together for the sake of cheapness. I never 
knew of any one having anything to do with our company except the 
men who came out that trip. I knew of no man in our company or 
out of it from the northern or eastern States coming here purposely 
to vote and go back ; but there were others who went back after they 
voted, as they got sick and got tired of the country. I know two 
families of them who went back last fall. 

ABSALOM HOOVER. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 29, 1856. 



In the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Districts. 

Ninth District, at Paivnee. 

Tenth District, at \ ^^^.^j^^-. 

I Jiock Creek. 

Eleventh District, at 3Iarysville. 

Twelfth District, at \ ^J- ^^^ni'^- 

. ) bilver Lake. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 263 

Andrew McConnell called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I resided, on and prior to the SOth of March, 1855, at Pawnee in 
this Territory. I came into the Territory in May, 1854, from New 
York. Mr. McClure hired myself and some fifteen or sixteen others 
to go to Pawnee to build a State-house. After I had been there a few 
days I left and went to Fort Riley, being discharged by McClure. 
While I was boarding at the house of Mr. Mobley, some six or eight 
eastern men came there to board, and others went to Pawnee, to the 
house of Mr Knapp, where they formerly boarded. They said they 
"were from Pennsylvania, and were going to stay until after the elec- 
tion, and then they were going home again. They said that letters 
that Reeder had sent to Pennsylvania had made false representations 
of the country, and they were going back after the election. This 
was about two weeks before the election ; and they said they had just 
arrived from Pennsylvania. There were some twelve or fifteen who 
came up in that party. I saw some four or five of them vote at Paw- 
nee on the SOth of March, J 855. They said they had all voted the 
Free-soil ticket, and had fulfilled the contract on their part, and were 
going back to Pennsylvania. On the second or third day after the 
election they hired a man named Black.'?ley to take them to Kansas 
City, Missouri. They did not say what their contract was; they said 
that they had come out under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid So- 
ciety, and found that the country had been misrepresented to them, 
and they were going back. Mr. McClure took us all to Pawnee with 
him when we went to build the State-house. I heard him say that 
all the men he had brought up were good free-State men, who would 
vote the Free-soil ticket, and that they were the only kind he em- 
ployed. I heard him state this to Merrick, the clerk of the sutler's 
store. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

These men who came up to Pawnee said they had just come from 
Pennsylvania, and they reached Fort Riley nearly two weeks before 
tlie election. I was hired by McClure, and commenced to work on 
the State-house at Pawnee. I do not know how long the work was 
coitinued. I left in April. McClure discharged me, saying that 
thty hired nothing but free-State men. There was no trouble, at the 
time I was there, about Pawnee being on the military reservation. 
Thtse men from Pennsylvania said that this country and things here 
had been misrepresented to them, and they were going back. They 
said that they had come out under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid 
Society, and it had been misrepresented to them. These men were not 
amoig those hired to work on the State-house. There were some 
twelAe or fifteen in number. I talked with some of them at different 
times and I heard them as they came to where I was boarding. I 
do no recollect any of their names now. They hired Mr. Blacksley 
to cariy them off after the election ; but I cannot say that they all went 
off witi him. They said they were going back to Pennsylvania. I 



264 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

bought two guns of them,, as they said they were almost out of money. 
They seemed to be quite anxious to get back home. But speaking of 
the Emigrant Aid Society, and of the letters from Keeder to Pennsyl- 
vania which they said falsely represented things to them, they said 
they would fulfil their part of the contract, and then go back home. 
I cannot call to mind the names of any of these Pennsylvanians. 
They did not state particularly wliat Emigrant Aid Society they, had 
reference to. I saw some five or six of these men vote ; they voted 
the Free-soil ticket, directly contrary to what I voted, which was the 
pro-slavery ticket. They showed me their tickets at a grocery, and 
said that was the way they were going to vote ; and we went from the 
grocery to the polls and voted. I do not recollect what part of Penn- 
sylvania they were from, except that some two or three said they weie 
from Bradford county. I do not know whether or not there was ever 
an Emigrant Aid Society in Peniisylvania, and I never heard any one 
else speak of one as being in Pennsylvania, except these men, whose 
names I cannot recollect, I think they were there, to the best of my 
knowledge, about a fortnight before the election. I got to Pawnee 
about the 1st of March, and they got there somewhere about the middle 
of March. Some of them were mechanics, and went to work on a 
house at Pawnee, which they said was for lieeder ; the rest were idle, 

ANDREW McCONNELL. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 26^, 1856. 



Robert Wilson called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I resided at Fort Riley, in this district, on the 30th of March, 1855. 
I went there in May, 1853, and resided there from that time to this. 

I was at the election in that district on the 30th of March. 1855, 
held at Pawnee, and I was one of the judges of election. Pawnee is 
about a mile from Fort Riley. Persons commenced pouring in from 
the eastern States about a week before the election, and continued to 
come in until the day of election. They all voted at that election, 
and voted the free-State ticket. A few of them had families, but most 
were single men. I cannot state how many there were of them, hit 
I should think some sixty or seventy of them. I do not know of nwre 
than one or two of them that had families, They were all boardng 
at the hotel, or in camp or tents. Most of them left a few days after 
the election — some forty or fifty of them ; they left, some the lext 
day, and they were going for two or three weeks, until they .vere 
nearly all gone. Nearly all of those persons voted. Some men who 
came out with Mr. Sherwood, from Pennsylvania, he told me dll not 
vote for fear of prejudicing the legislature against Pawnee. M»st of 
these eastern men were from Pennsylvania, and a great many from 
Easton, Pennsylvania. I did not learn from them under whatinflu- 
ence they came out here. I heard some of them say, when th^' left, 
that they were going back home. I had very little to say to them, 
and had very little conversation with them. I. did not lean from 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 265 

them that any persons or society paid their expenses out here to have 
them vote. I think Governor Eeeder was one of the original stock- 
hoklers in Pawnee, and I think owned some thirty-five or forty shares. 
I sokl him ahout twenty, and he owned ten before that. Each original 
stockholder had ten shares, and there were twenty-six stockholders. 
Grovernor Eeeder had a claim of about eighty acres near Pawnee, and 
was interested in one or two other claims. His nephew. Col. Hutter, 
had a claim near town. It was some time in February, 1855, that I 
first heard Grovernor Eeeder speak about locating the capital at Paw- 
nee. I had heard that spoken of before then, but not by him. He 
spoke of it after he had become interested in the town, and the real 
estate near there. I do not think Governor Eeeder had any interest 
in Mr. Dickinson's claim, though he was very anxious to get it. I 
heard Governor Eeeder say that he thought Dickinson ought to be 
got away from there, as that was the key to the town. The associa- 
tion raised money to buy this Dickinson out. I understood Governor 
Eeeder had offered $1,200 for that claim, if it could not be got in any 
other way. Prior to the time that the seat of government was located 
at Pawnee, Governor Eeeder tried to get an interest in real estate 
property about there, and made several claims for his friends in Penn- 
sylvania. I do not know of any proposition made by Governor Eeeder 
that the commander of the fort should take the Dickinson claim inside 
the military reservation, so as to get the Dickinsons ofi' it, and then 
send a secret agent to Washington to get the reserve cut down, in 
order that the association might get the Dickinson claims. Governor 
Eeeder said to me that we ought to sell shares to the members of the 
legislature for less than we would to other persons, so that the capitol 
might remain at Pawnee. I sold Judge Johnson five shares in that 
way, and with that understanding. I sold Governor Eeeder some 
twenty shares, but I cannot say. as it was with any such understand- 
ing as that. I did not sell many shares to members of the legislature. 
There were a good many shares sold by others. Pawnee is a little 
south of west from here, some 125 miles on the extreme western borders 
of the population of this Territory, and will not be in the centre of 
population unless we get a railroad. There are about three houses in 
Pawnee now; two are owned by me, and one by the association. Two 
of them are not occupied, and one is occupied by the chaplain of the 
military post there. I have a two-story stone building, 25 by 40, and 
the association has a two-story stone warehouse, about 100 by 90, with 
a cellar. The other is a little frame building. The house of the asso- 
ciation has never been finished, and has no windows or doors in it ; 
that is the house the legislature met in. Governor Eeeder and myself 
were out riding one day, and he stated to me that he had understood 
that General Whitfield was trying to get a bill through Congress, to 
give the legislature the power to fix the seat of government ; and he 
thought he could head him off by letting out secretly contracts to 
build the State-house by citizens of Missouri, so as to quiet them. I 
do not know as I have letters from Governor Eeeder, in which he said 
he would maintain the seat of government at Pawnee under all cir- 
cumstances. I have letters from him, in my possession, saying that 
he has learned that General Whitfield has introduced a bill in Con- 



266 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

gress to give the legislature power to locate the seat of government ; 
but that I need have no fears about the passage of that bill, but that 
I should go on and finish the warehouse, and provide provisions for the 
legislature. I decline to produce those letters at present before the 
committee, until I get the consent of the gentleman to whom they 
were directed. Those letters are in reference to the interest of the 
company, and of Governor Reeder in maintaining the seat of govern- 
ment at Pawnee. I had no conversation with Governor Reeder in 
regard to the illegality of the legislature before they met at Pawnee ; 
and I never heard him say that any member of the legislature was 
not legally elected prior to that time. I think I asked him after 
most of the members arrived, if they would have a right to remove 
the seat of government by a two-thirds vote, and he responded they 
would. I do not know that he ever advised the stockholders, as a 
body, to secure the influence of at least one-third of the legislature in 
favor of keeping the seat of government at Pawnee ; but he advised 
individuals to sell shares cheaper to members of the legislature than 
they would to others, for that purpose, and also said he would sell 
them that way himself ; and he sold one to Mr. Marshall, of the lower 
house, considered very influential there. He sold him a share at two- 
thirds for what they would sell for there. I think Pawnee was an in- 
convenient out-of-the-way place for the legislature to meet at. I am 
acquainted with the handwriting of Governor Reeder. The letters 
shown me are his handwriting. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

There were men coming in for a week before the 30th of March, 
1855. Some few of them were employed, but the most of them were 
doing nothing, and I do not know as they sought occupation. There 
was pretty extensive building at the fort, but they had no lumber at 
Pawnee. Some few left the day after the election, but some few ai i 
there yet. Of those that left, none expressed themselves dissatisfied 
with the country. Sherwood told me his party did not. These sixty 
or seventy men were mostly from Pennsylvania. All that I knew, a 
good many of them, were from Easton, Pennsylvania. It was some 
time in August, 1855, and in a month or two after the legislature 
adjourned to Shawnee Mission. The Secretary of War declared Paw- 
nee on the military reservation, and that very quickly destroyed the 
place. 

ROBERT WILSON. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 1856. 



Marshall A. Garrett called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in November, 1854, from Missouri, and 
settled on the Big Blue I was one of the judges of election in the 
10th district on the 30th of March, 1855. There were a party from 
Wyandott there, headed by Garrett and Walker ; some eight or ten 
of them in the party who voted that day, and claimed to be entitled 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 267 

to vote from having claims in the district. They were of the Wyan- 
dott trihe of Indians, and some of them were locating Wyandott 
floats, and others claimed to be in their emj^loy. Some of them have, 
and some have not, lived there since. 

M. A. GARRETT. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



Joseph Stewart called and sworn. 

T came into the Territory in June, 1854, and settled on Big Blue, 
in the 10th district, in the Big Blue precinct. I was appointed by 
the governor one of the judges of election for the 30th of March, 1855. 
I came from Pennsylvania to Iowa, from Iowa to Missouri, and then 
here. I think some eleven or twelve came up, principally from the 
Wyandott nation, to our precinct and voted ; some of them I did 
not know ; the principal man among them was William Walker. 
He told me his home was in Wyandott city, and he calculated to 
return there. I told him' I could not take his vote. The other two 
judges took his vote, and put it in the ballot-box. There was another 
gentleman by the name of Walker that was sworn, and in answering 
to the questions said he was a resident of the Territory ; and when I 
wished to ask him further, he answered me that I had asked him all 
the leading ones, and a good many minor ones. I was not satisfied 
to receive the vote, but the other two judges took it and put it iato 
the box. Tliere were some eight or nine others who voted about in. 
the same way, except that some answered all the questions satisfac- 
torily. The next morning a part of this party left, going towards 
the Wyandott nation. The remainder of them left the second day, 
in the same direction. None of them have been back, to my know- 
ledge, to claim any residence, except Russell Garrett, who was run 
as representative. He had a claim at that time there, and the party 
voted for him. 

J. STEWART. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 8, 1856. 



W. J. OsBORN called and sworn. 

To Governor King : 
■ I was at the Big Blue precinct, twenty miles this side of Fort Riley, 
at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. After the nominations 
had been made up there for the legislature, I was sent to the lower 
part of the district with proclamations to inform the people who the 
nominees were, and on my return I fell in with some fourteen or 
fifteen gentlemen from or near Easton, Pennsylvauia, who came out, 
they said, under the auspices of Governor Reeder. I saw eleven of 
them at the Big Blue precinct on the day of election. I challenged 
several of their votes. I was in luced to do so from the remarks they 
made the previous evening, where I had staid all night with them the 



268 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

night before the election. I was overruled, and they were allowed to 
vote. Those that I challenged were sworn as to their phice of resi- 
dience. I think about eleven of them voted. The balance of them 
went to Fort Riley. When I met them below they were very anx- 
ious to get to the Blue on the day of election. They stated that theY 
were aware what day the election would take place before they left 
Pennsylvania. They informed me that they had been induced to 
come out here by Governor Eeeder ; that they had not found things 
as he represented ; that they should return after they had voted ; and 
it was upon this ground that I challenged their votes. I afterwards 
saw some of them on their return. I met them at the St. Mary's 
Mission, when they told me they were on their return home. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I voted at the Big Blue precinct. My vote was challenged. I don't 
remember whether I was sworn or not. I was a resident of that pre- 
cinct. The men I challenged were sworn, examined, and their an- 
swers being satisfactory to the judges, their votes were admitted. I 
do not remember the number of their men that I conversed with. I 
do not know that I can tell the number, because it seemed a general 
conversation, and they all might and might not have participated. 
I do not know whether these men are or are not now residents of the 
Territory. The legislative nominations were made by the pro-slavery 
party at Dyer's, in the Big Blue precinct. 

To Governor King : 

I think the judges were Mr. Dyer, Mr. Garrett, and Mr. Stewart. 
Dyer and Stewart were free-State men. The judges were not unani- 
mous in their opinion. Mr. Garrett dissented upon the question of 
admitting these men, before spoken of, to vote. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

This was the same poll at which William Walker and others voted. 
They claimed to be residents of the Big Blue precinct. A portion of 
them, to my knowledge, own land there, and claim to be occupants 
of it, There were some there who voted who belonged to the Wyan- 
dott tribe of Indians. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., 31ay 28, 1856. 



W. J. OSBORN. 



Isaac S. Hascall testifies 
To Mr. Kin< 



'& 



I was at the Blue River precinct at the election of the 30th of March, 
1855. Mr. Osborne was there that day. Shortly before the 30th ol 
March it was rumored that a body of Pennsylvanians were coming on 
from Reeder's district in Pennsylvania, and just before the election 
crowds of strangers came into the district representing themselves as 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 269 

Eeeder's men. I should judge there were one hundred and fifty that 
passed up on the Fort Riley road. They stated that they came at the 
instance of Grovernor Reeder ; that they had hurried to get here before 
the election ; that they did not know as they should stay here perma- 
nently, hut came merely to see how matters stood. I know nothing 
about their movements after they went to Fort Riley, except through 
report. I saw some of the same company afterwards at Pawnee, after 
the election. They stated they would not live in the Territory on 
any consideration, but that they were going back to Pennsylvania, 
where they could enjoy life. I was at Pawnee and Fort Riley after 
that several times, until the meeting of the legislature, and I would 
meet one of them occasionally, and I do not know of but three of th« 
original part}^ who remained in the Territory. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

They had no women with them. Some came in on wagons, and 
some on foot. The greater part of the men had guns ; some had re- 
volvers, but not often. 

ISAAC S. HASCALL. 

Westport, Mo., June 5. 



Augustus Baker called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in November, 1853, and went to Fort 
Riley and worked as a millwright, and made a claim on the Big Ver- 
million in December, 1853, I think in the twelfth district, and have 
lived there ever since. I did not vote at the election of November, 
1854, or March, 1855. The night after the election of the 30th of 
March, 1855, myself and friend (John Baker) staid with Louis Trum- 
ble, a half-breed Pottawatomie, on the Black Vermillion. That is on 
the Independence road to California, about twenty miles this side of 
Marysville. I am acquainted about Marysville, and know there was 
no settlement about there at that time for forty miles, except that 
Marshall and Bishop kept a store and ferry at the crossing of the Big 
Blue and the California road. I only know, by hearing, about the 
illegal voting at Marysville. Marshall is there sometimes, but his 
family lives in Weston. He stopped at my house some two years ago. 

AUGUSTUS BAKER. 

Lawrence, K. T., 3Iay 9, 1856. 



John E. D'Avis called and sworn. 

I reside on the Big Vermillion. I moved into the Territory in 
November, 1854. I was not at the election of November, 1854, or 
March, 1855. The day after the election of the 31st of March, I was 
at my store, about forty-five miles this side of Marysville. Mr. Mar- 
shall, who lives in Marysville, and has a store there, came to my house 



270 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

with aliout twenty-five or thirty men, the most of whom I had known 
in AVeston, Missouri. They camped for dinner near my store. I went 
down to their camp, and some of them were at my store. I had some 
conversation with them. They told me that they were up to Marys- 
ville, and had carried the day for Missouri ; that they had voted about 
one hundred and fifty votes, I think. They said that they wouhl see 
that Kansas shoukl be a shave State. They were drinking and talking 
freely. I had formerly lived in Weston, and they thought I was a 
pro-slavery man. They said they went up the road from Weston, and 
I knew that they lived in Weston when I was there. This Mr. Mar- 
shall, who was along, afterwards served as a member of the legislature. 
Marshall did not say much ; he inquired for hay for his mules, and 
some provisions, and paid the bill for the party. They left together 
towards Missouri. Donaldson, another member of the legislature, 
passed the next day, coming down towards Missouri. He said he 
thought he was elected ; that he had lost a good many votes about 
Fort Riley, as the free-soil candidate got the most votes there, but 
thought the votes at Marysville would save him. He lived in Missouri ; 
I think in Jackson county. I have not seen him in oux region since. 
He had no claim that I know of in the district, and no business, except 
election, coming here. 

J. E. D'AVIS. 
Lawrence, K. T., 3Iay 9, 1856. 



Isaac S. Hascall testifies : 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I lived at the mouth of Big Blue, and in that neighborhood, for six 
months. I should judge it to be 120 miles from Kansas City to Big 
Blue. I have been at Marysville, in this Territory. I was there in 
the summer of 1855, though but for a short time. That is between 40 
and 50 miles from the mouth of the Big Blue, according to the usual 
route. Marysville, according to the direct route from Kansas City, is, 
I think, about 140 or 150 miles. The Otoes have a reserve north of 
Marysville. At Marysville, and in its vicinity, there is quite a num- 
ber of settlers. There are not many there in the town. Marshall 
and Woodward had a store there. That is the northwest settlement 
of the Territory, and is not as well settled generally as the Nemaha 
region. Marysville is in Marshall county, in which county I think 
there are not as many people as in Riley county, though there may 
be as many as in Nemaha county for aught I know. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I think there is a route from Marysville to Pawnee of about 60 miles ; 
Pawnee is a little west of south of Marysville. 

ISAAC S. HASCALL. 
Westport, Mo., June 5, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. • 271 

John A. Cantrell called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I reside in Westport, Missouri ; I resided here in tlie spring of 1855, 
and kept a livery-stable. Some time in March, towards the last of it, 
I was employed by some nineteen men from Pennsylvania, and all 
professed to be acquainted with Governor Reeder. One of them — a 
mechanic — showed me a letter of recommendation to Reeder as a 
workman. They employed me to take them uj) into the Territory. 
I took them up to the Big Blue river, in the neighborhood of Man- 
hattan. They had no women or children with them, and their bag- 
gage was generally a carpet-sack. There they left me, with the 
agreement that I should wait for them to return, which I did ; and 
after the election I brought the most of them back. They said they 
wanted to go to the election, and, as it was difficult for me to go with 
my teams, I waited there for them. They paid me by the day. 

They told me after they returned that they had killed some Mis- 
sourian votes, and I understood that they voted at the Big Blue pre- 
cinct. The most of them returned with me ; and when they got in 
the neighborhood of the Pottawatomie Indians, they wanted me to 
take them across to Leavenworth city, but I would not go. They 
settled with me, and went across by another conveyance; three of them 
returning to Westport with me, and went right on down towards the 
river in a wagon that I sent down to the river with them. All those 
who were with me expressed their determination to return home ; 
two of them cursing Reeder for getting them out here. There was 
not much said between us, either one way or the other, about Emi- 
grant Aid Societies, eastern men, &c. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

As well as I recollect, 19 of these men went up with me, and 17 
started back with me and came down to where they turned off for 
Leavenworth, with the avowed purpose of getting on a boat and going 
back again. The other two crossed the river and said they would 
meet me down below, but did not do so. Their complaint against Ree- 
der was something about the capitol up there. Among them was a 
stone-mason, and also a carpenter^ and they spoke of Reeder as having 
got them out here to get work on the capitol. These were the two 
men who came down on the other side of the river. I do not know 
exactly why the others returned with me, but I understood that it 
was something about being dissatisfied with the .country, or with 
something — I cannot tell what. 

To Mr. King : 

After they got to the end of the journey up in the Territory, they 
made a contract with me to wait two days for them and haul them 
back. I got there in the evening, and I and my hands camped by 
ourselves, and the party camped by themselves. The leader of the 
party came to me and said he wanted me to wait there until the day 
after the morrow morning. I waited there two nights, and they came 



272 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

in and started back witli me, as I have before stated. The election 
took place while I was there waiting for them. I contracted with the 
men to take them np the country just as they got off the boat at Kan- 
sas City, Some three v.^eeks after I got back I saw these two men, 
who came down on the other side of the river on their way home. 

JOHN A. CANTRELL. 
Westport, Mo., June 7, 1856. 



Thomas Eeynolds testifies : 

To Mr. Scott : 

On the 30th of March^ 1855, I resided about five miles nearly west 
of Fort Riley, where I reside now, in what I think was the 9th dis- 
trict. The election in March was held at Pawnee, in what was called 
Klutz house. The pro-slavery candidates at that election were Don- 
aldson for Council, and Garrett for House of Representatives ; the free- 
State candidates were Conway for Council, and Houston for the House 
of Representatives. I was present at that election. I was well ac- 
quainted with the resident voters of that district ; perhaps more so 
than any other person in that portion of the county. In that pre- 
cinct I think there were some 70 or 80 legal voters, of which I thought 
the pro-slavery party had the majority. I never thought the army 
had the right to vote, though they always did vote. I did not at- 
tend the polls very closely that day, and saw some connected with the 
army vote, though the same were there that I had seen at the election 
in the fall before. A great many strangers came into the district 
shortly before the election. Report said that three hundred from 
Pennsylvania were there on the day of election. We who were op- 
posed to their voting objected pretty strongly, and not a great many 
of them voted. There was a great deal of talk about fighting, &c., 
on that day, I saw no w )men with these strangers ; they commenced 
coming a week or ten days before the election. That is a very hard 
country to live in, as there were but few settlers and few accommoda- 
tions. They stopped at Mr. Twombly's and the Klutz house, in Paw- 
nee ; that was in March, and it ?vas quite cold, and they complained 
very much of the country and of Reeder for sending them there, 
and many swore they would not vote for Reeder's men, as he had de- 
ceived them, and he would go back home. There were a great many 
peo])le there living about in tents, but I did not know of any of these 
having tents with them. They said, so far as I saw them and heard 
them, that they were from Pennsylvania, I heard them say a great 
deal about having their expenses paid out there; some said Governor 
Reeder's wife paid their way, and some that they paid their own way, 
and would go back home and do as they please, and not vote that 
day. They called the society that paid their expenses the Emigrant 
Aid Society. They complained of Reeder for making misstatements 
in saying it was a tine country, good place to get farms, and that it 
was well supplied with coal, and they had been deceived. They 
said that they came only from what Reeder wrote back to Pennsyl- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 273 

Yania, not wliat lie liad said to them himself, as he was not there. 
They said that Eeeder wrote back about iron mountains, and big 
wages, &c., which they found to have been a misstatement. Myself 
and some others were A'^ery anxious to know what district we would 
be thrown in, and some who seemed to know better represented that 
we belonged to the district below the Kaw river. 

Some two or three days before the election two wagon-load)* of emi- 
grants came there and said they had the governor's circulars laying 
off the Territory into districts, and said they had had them two 
months before in Pennsylvania. That was the first we knew of the 
districts, and we had not time to make our arrangements before the 
election. After the election I saw some of them going in the direc- 
tion of their home, and I do not know where they went. One wagon- 
load left the day before the election. There are but few of them in 
that portion of the country now. A good many, all that got wagons 
to go in, started off the day after the election : they had no wagons of 
their own. All that I heard say, said that their homes were in Pennsyl- 
vania, near where Governor Reeder came from. I do not recollect of 
hearing any who voted say they had done all they came to do, and 
would then go back. I heard some say before the election that they 
came to vote, and to vote for Grovernor Reeder and his men. They 
said they wanted a free State, and that was the understanding with 
Governor Reeder before they left home. It was reported, some two 
weeks before the day of election, that it would be held at Pawnee, 
and the day it would be held; but we could not get his proclamation 
to know what were the bounds of the district. I think, generally, 
the people all over the district knew when and where the election was 
to be. But I think the first proclamations with regard to the district 
came on the Friday before the election on Monday, with those Penn- 
sylvanians. All near the Pawnee precinct knew where their voting 
place was to be, and I think were there on the day of election ; but I do 
not know about the other precincts. The people in the neighborhood 
generally called the Pennsylvanians "^Reeder's men," though I do 
not know as I heard the Pennsylvanians call themselves Reeder' s 
men. They were generally known, as they were better dressed men 
than we were. 

I have heard that Reeder was at that time a stockholder in Paw- 
nee, but I never heard him say anything about it himself. I could 
not say, only from report, whether Reeder had any interest in claims 
outside of Pawnee or not. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I think that about the time of this election there were nearly seventy 
or eighty legal voters in the Pawnee precinct, and I think all voted. 
Some of those Pennsylvanians voted after coming forward and swear- 
ing that they intended to reside in that district. I think that for 
representative we had about thirty pro-slaverj^ majority in the whole 
district. The district embraced the Pawnee precinct and one on the 
Big Blue, but I do not know the name of it. I think tliere were 
more than seventy or eighty legal voters in the whole precinct. In 
the Pawnee precinct I think we had some eighteen majority of the 
H. Rep. 200 18* 



274 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

pro-slavery party at that time- We did not canvass the precinct, but 
we talked to one another, and we knew all in the precinct, and what 
their politics were, hut we did not not take any memorandum. I do not 
think that the report of there being 300 Pennsylvanians on the 
ground at the time of election was true, though there were a great 
many there. I do not remember the names of any of those Penn- 
sylvanians who went back. I understood that a Mr. Sherwood was 
building a house there for Gov. Eeeder. But those men who told 
me Reecler's wife gave them money to come out here with were not at 
work on that house, and I think did not work at all. 1 did not 
hear many say that Reeder's wife gave them money. I heard one 
speak of it, and I think he said Mrs. Reeder gave him $25, but I 
do not recollect that he said what he came out for : but he complained 
of the country not being so good as he expected, and of there not 
being any accommodations. I heard several men, at different times, 
say they had been sent out by the Emigrant Aid Society, but I never 
knew their names ; they said that the society paid their way out here. 
I first saw these circulars on the Big Blue, and two wagons' full of 
Pennsylvanians from Westport were on their way to Pawnee, and 
they had them. The circulars were some proclamation of the gov- 
ernor fixing the time and place of election, and laying off the dis- 
tricts. They told me they had them in Pennsylvania some two 
months before that. This was some three or four days before the 
30th of March, 1855. These Pennsylvanians gave us some of their 
circulars. I do not know the names of any of those Pennsylvanians, 
and none are in the country now. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I think some of the pro-slavery men voted for Houston, the free- 
soil candidate, -and some did not vote at all. We could not get up a 
regular ticket until we knew where the district was. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I think some of the pro-slavery men^ voted for Houston, as there 
was a split in the free State party, and some of the free State men 
would not vote for Conway. 

THOMAS REYNOLDS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 28, 1855. 



C. R. MoBLEY testifies : 

To Mr. Scott : 

I resided on the 30th of March, 1855, in Fort Riley, in the ninth 
election district of this Territory. I was at the election on that day 
at Pawnee ; I was then acting as justice of the peace for that district, 
under appointment of Governor Reeder. I was well acquainted with 
most of the resident voters in that precinct, and, I think, casting 
out all in the employment of the government, there were some 
thirty-five or forty legal resident voters there. I took a great 
deal of pains to inform myself of the sentiments of each indi- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 275 

vidual on the question of slavery, and it was the opinion of the pro- 
slavery party generally that they had a majority. I thought we had 
ahout ten pro-slavery majority. There were quite a numher of strangers 
— as many as one hundred, I should think — arrived in the precinct 
before the election. The Pawnee Town Association sent down and got 
twentv or twenty-four men who had come up about two weeks before 
the election ; I mean by this association the stockholders of the town 
of Pawnee. Dr. Hammond was the agent who went and employed 
them, I think, but I am not certain. I do not know where the men 
were brought from, but from some place outside of the district; I do 
not know how long he was gone after them I heard Dr. Hammond 
tell Mr. Wilson that they would be able to beat the pro-slavery party, 
as he was bringing the right kind of men to come there and work, 
and they would all vote right. The principal portion of these 
strangers were coming for four or five days before the election. I was 
keeping a boarding-house at the fort at that time, and quite a num- 
ber stopped with me ; they had no families with them, and no bag- 
gage but carpet-sacks. I think none of them arrived after the elec- 
tion; no bodies of men, so large, have arrived there since. Some of 
them boarded with me ; some at the Klutz house, and some of them 
stopped in government tents. I do not know whether Col. Mont- 
gomery knew or not of their occupying the government tents, though 
I understand that Captain Lyon furnished tliem out of his com- 
pany ; Captain Lyon was a stockholder in the town of Pawnee. I think 
most of these persons that the judges would permit to vote voted at 
that election. Almost all of them were at the polls, and claimed the 
right to vote. I saw several of them vote; but I do not know the 
number who voted. They commenced leaving the next day, and con- 
tinued to leave as fast as they could get their carpet-sacks and 
get away. The most of these men represented -themselves as 
being from Pennsylvania, and they said they came there to make 
Kansas a free State, and intended to do it at all hazards ; that 
they had the power to do it, and they would do it. They said they 
could out-vote us, and could always be able to put more voters 
in the Territory than the pro-slavery party could. Some of them 
said they were furnished with money to come by the society ; 
and some said Mrs. Reeder had furnished them with money. 
They were accused of being hired to come and vote, and they said 
they had received |25 to come to the Territorry, and their voting 
the free State ticket was considered a matter of course. Many expressed 
dissatisfaction at Reeder for his misrepresenting the country to them, 
and said they were going home. Some said they had done all they 
had come to do, and were going home. They spoke of having voted. 
There was one of them from New York, and there were probably 
more of them. The most of those from Penns3dvania spoke of Eas- 
ton, Pennsylvania; they were generally well-dressed men. Tlie first 
time I ever talked with Grovernor Reeder I asked him where he would 
locate the seat of government? and, instead of answering my question, 
he went on to say what advantages Pawnee had for such purposes ; 
and when I said I wanted to locate near the seat of government he 
said I could locate near Pawnee, and have no fears about the matter 
of the location of the seat of government. This conversation took 



276 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

place at Fort Leavenwortli in October, 1854. Governor Reeder had 
just returned from his circuit of the Territory. I started the next 
day after that to Fort Riley on Reeder' s recommendation, and he 
came to Fort Riley, I think, in December following. The stock- 
holders were making strong efforts to have the seat of government lo- 
cated there, and for some time he lield himself aloof and for two or 
three days would not say what he would do, though they made 
pretty liberal propositions to him. It was finally agreed that the 
capital should be located there. I do not know as Reeder was paid 
for this ; but I think Mr. Wilson was to let him have twenty shares 
on liberal terms, though I do not know what those terms were. At 
the same time I heard Reeder say that the present condition of Paw- 
nee would not do for the seat of government, as it had the Fort re- 
serve on one side, Bluffs on another, the Kaw river on another and a 
lot of Irish on the other. The Irish .commenced with their claims on 
the river running to the Bluffs, and had six claims there. Four of 
them were named Dickson. Grovernor Reeder told them that those 
Irish should be got off if they wanted to build a town there ; and, in 
his absence, the company suggested the plan of raising $1,200 or 
|1,500 to offer them for their claims, and if they would not take that 
they were to induce Colonel Montgomery to have the reserve surveyed, 
so as to have Pawnee out and take the Irish in ; and then Colonel 
Montgomery was to drive the Irish oft' their claims, and then they 
were to send agents to Washington, Johnson and Sherwood being 
named, to get the reserve curtailed; the matter being kept secret 
until they could put men on these claims to hold them. 

These Irish were driven off by persons under the command of 
Colonel Montgomery, and their houses thrown down and destroyed. 
The Irish then dug holes in the ground and lived in them, and the 
roofs fixed over the holes were torn off, but they were never driven off 
their claims. I do not know that Governor Reeder ever acquired any 
interest in those claims, though I understood that he and Judge John- 
son were to have residences on those claims. They were both stock- 
holders in Pawnee. I think that Mr. Sherwood and Mr. Klutz said 
that they had a conversation with Governor Reeder, in which Reeder 
said, if the Irish were driven off their claims, the capital will be all 
right. Colonel Montgomery was kept in ignorance of the reason for 
driving the Irish off their claims, as it was thought he would have 
conscientious scruples against doing so if he umderstood all about the 
reasons for doing so. The question of whether the ^seat of government 
was to remain or not at Pawnee was considered, and an arrangement 
agreed upon by which the members of the legislature were to have 
a certain number of shares on easy terms ; their object being, as I 
understood, to secure their votes in ftwor of making Pawnee the per- 
manent seat of governmeit. I do not know of any shares being sold 
lower to any members of the legislature than to other persons. Mr. 
Donaldson said he had got a share of Governor Reeder, and he in- 
tended to vote for Pawnee being the permanent seat of government, 
but did not say why he should do so. I heard Governor Reeder say 
that the location of the capital was entirely in his power ; this was 
before he located it. After the legislature had removed the seat of 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 277 

government, I heard Eeeder say they had no right to do so ; but I 
never heard him say anything about that matter after the election and 
before the meeting of the legishxture. The stockhohlers said that a 
majority of the members of the legislature were in favor of having the 
seat of government remain there, and it would be necessary for them 
to secure the votes of one-third of the legislature to keep it there. 
These stockholders were Robert Wilson, Captain Lyon, and Dr. Ham- 
mond. I have heard Governor Reeder say that he had a wife and 
children living in Pennsylvania, and that they had never been in the 
Territory; this was in December, 1854. I think he never did have 
his family in the Territory. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard: 

The Mr. Donaldson who got a share of Governor Reeder was 
councilman for the Pawnee district. The 20 or 24 men employed by 
Dr. Hammond Avere employed to work for the company in March. 
1855, and for what was called a warehouse, quarrying stone, hauling 
logs, &c. When Dr. Hammond told Wilson they could beat the 
pro-slavery party, &c., Wilson said that the pro-slavery men could 
beat the free State men, as they had the most voters, and would not 
let the Hammond men vote. I do not know where those men came from. 
I think those hired by the association did not belong to the Pennsyl- 
vanians. One of the Pennsylvanians, who was hired by the Pawnee 
Association as general engineer, said he had received $25 of the society, 
and voting was considered as being a matter of course. I asked sev- 
eral for the board they owed me, and they said they had no means, as 
they had been furnished only money enough to come out here. John 
McClellan said that Mrs. Reeder had furnished him with money, and 
some two, or three, or four said the same thing. They were fre- 
quently accused of being hired to come out and vote, and they said 
they were paid their expenses out, and voting was considered as a 
matter of course. I heard a Mr. Beckwith say his expenses were paid 
by the society, and he said most of the others came out the same way. 
Some of the others denied it^ and some admitted that it was so, I 
think. Beckwith was from New York. Lieutenant Hunter was one 
of the stockholders, and several other stockholders being present, 
who assented to it. Mr. Robert Wilson, Mr. Sherwood, and Dr. Ham- 
mond proposed to have the reserve surveyed so as to take in the Irish 
claims, and have the reserve cut down, &c. This was at Mr. Wilson's 
store, at the Fort, in December, 1854, while Governor Reeder was at 
the Fort. There were persons coming in and going out of the store 
all the time ; but I do not know as I could give the names of any of 
them. This conversation was among themselves. The Irish were 
driven off that winter, some time before the March election — that is, 
some of their families were taken off, and their houses torn down. 
Captain Lyon at one time, and Lieutenant Hunter at another, with 
some 20 men, went to do this. When the houses were torn down, the 
Irish dug holes in the ground and put roofs upon them, and the roofs 
were torn off. 



■278 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

To Mr. Scott: 

Tlie stockholders of the Pawnee Association — so I understood from 
them — chose a number of trustees to act for tliem, but I do not know 
how many there were of them. Colonel Montgomery, Captain Lyon, 
and Dr. Hammond, I understood were trustees, and there were others, 
but I do not know who they were. It was generally understood that 
what the trustees did was binding on all the shareholders, at least 
they told me so. I heard the matter of their getting the Irish off 
their claims spoken of by all the stockholders and the trustees that 
lived there, except Colonel Montgomery ; but I heard him say he 
would drive them off. 

Q. How many houses, and of what size, were there in Pawnee on 
the 1st of July, 1855? 

Question overruled, 3Ir. Oliver dissenting. 

Pawnee is a about 120 or 130 miles from here, in a southwestern di- 
rection. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

There are three houses in Pawnee now — two stone and one frame 
house. The chaplain of the Fort is living in one, and the others are 
not occupied. The house in which the legislature vote there is un- 
finished, and I think no doors^ except temporary ones, and no win- 
dows. There is no lower floor there now, though there were floors 
there once, but they have been broken down. 

To Mr. Scott: 

The stockholders built that house ; some said for a warehouse, and 
others for a capitol. I do not know when the roof of the house was 
put on^ or the floors put in. There were very few settlements west 
of Pawnee. I think Pawnee is generally a very healthy place, 
though some persons died at the Fort, near there, of cholera, last 
Bummer. 

To Mr. Howard: 

Pawnee City is now declared to be on the Pawnee reservation, and 
I think that is to a great extent the cause of its present condition, 
though there were but few persons there when we heard about the 
military reservation. We heard of it about September, 1855. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

There were five or six houses there at that time. 

C. R. MOBLEY. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



H. A. Lowe testifies: 

To Mr. Scott: 

I resided at Fort Riley on the 30th of March, 1855j in the ninth 
election district in this Territory, and was wagon-master at the Fort 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 279 

at that time. I was at the election of the 30th of March, at Pawnee, 
for a few moments only. The free State candidates were Conway for 
council, and Houston for house of representatives ; and the pro-slavery 
candidates were Donaldson for council, and Grarrett for house of rep- 
resentatives. I voted at the election the free State ticket. Several of 
the em})loyees of the government, at the Fort, went to the polls that 
day and voted the free State ticket, with the exception of one, so far 
as I know. I judge that all the men of the Fort, with the exception 
of one l>esides myself, were there merely because they were in the 
employ of tlie government, and not as residents of the Territory. I 
saw a number of strange faces there at the time of the election, who 
were said to be men from Pennsylvania. I did not talk with those 
men much ; but the general appellation given to them was "■ Reeder's 
men," and it was generally understood that they came to vote. I 
think I have heard Colonel Montgomery and Dr. Hammond call them 
" Reeder's men." Mr. Sherwood and one or two others, who were at 
work on a house for Reeder, were the ones that Colonel Montgomery 
and Dr. Hammond called " Reeder's men." A portion of these Penn- 
sylvanians, some ten or fifteen, Mr. Sherwood and Mr. Hubbell and 
others, had been there for some time. We thus came there some 
three or four days previous to the election, as the boarding houses 
were full. Some of them lived in camps and tents. Those that could 
not get into the boarding houses. I was at the polls ; I saw a num- 
ber of these men around the polls, but I saw none of them vote. These 
men brought no baggage with them, as settlers usually do, and no 
women and children. They disappeared after the election, and out of 
all the free State votes given at that election I can make up but ten 
there now, including government employes, a large party of these 
strangers, &c. The free State men left that portion of the country 
before it was ascertained that Pawnee was on the government reserve. 
I do not know whether Dr. Hammond was at that election or not. I 
did not see him there. I think that Mr. Sherwood went to Pennsyl- 
vania and brought the ten or fifteen men back with him just before 
the election. About the 1st of March, I think. 

H. A. LOWE. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 28, 1856. 



Therteenth District. — Hickory Point. 



J. B. Ro.ss called and sworn. 

I live on one of the tributaries of Crooked creek, about eighteen 
miles from here, and have lived there since I first came to the Terri- 
tory from Platte county, Missouri, in August, 1854. I was appointed 
one of the judges of election on the 30th of March, 1855, at Hickory 
Point, in the thirteenth district. I did not serve as judge during 
that day ; I resigned early in the day, before any votes were taken. 



280 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I gave up the polls because I was told I had to receive such votes as 
were offered or give up the polls, or have the house torn down. I was 
told this repeatedly by the crowd generally around the window. The 
majority of the crowd were strangers to me. I was tolerably well 
acquainted in the thirteenth district at that time. There were but 
few residents there on the ground that day, not over thirty or forty 
I should judge. I judge there were between 250 and 300 persons 
present. I did not hear these non-residents say where they were 
from^ though I know some were from Platte City, Missouri. Those I 
knew from Platte City, Missouri, I cannot say had any badge about 
them, though it was a pretty general thing to see a bunch of hemp 
in the button-hole or around the hat, some made into tassels. William 
Fox, that I knew to be from Platte City, was there. I do not know 
as he voted. I knew no other non-residents there except those from 
Platte City, and I do not know as I heard any of them say where 
they were from. As near as I can recollect, some two or three per- 
sons offered to vote, who, on examination, acknowledge themselves 
to be citizens of Missouri_, and we refused their votes. They then 
remarked that we had to give up the polls or receive their votes, or 
otherwise they would tear the house down. 

Some of these men were armed with guns^ some with knives and 
revolvers in their belts. It was repeated frequently about tearing the 
house down, and they appeared to be very positive about it. I do not 
know any man named Thomas in our district. I know a man by the 
name of Gardner in Platte City, but I did not know his first name. 
There is a Jesse Yocum in our district. I resigned without receiving 
any votes, but remained about the polls till some time in the after- 
noon. I do not know any men named 0. G. McDonald, G. C. Clin- 
dey, J. S. Barbee, in our district. I cannot tell the names of the two 
or three whose votes I refused. They claimed a right to vote because 
they had a claim in the Territory, though they lived in Missouri. 
The settlers I saw there did not amount to more than thirty or forty. 
I saw none of them vote. All of the judges resigned at once, took 
up all the poll books and papers, and left the room and took them up 
to Governor Reeder. I do not think we announced our resignation. 
I think three judges were nominated by some person, and all in favor 
invited to walk out and form a line. So far as I recollect I do not 
know any men in our district named N. B. Hopewell, or William M. 
Gardner, or Richard Chandler. I did not see the new judges receive 
any vote. I did not vote, because I thought it ^^ould not be worth 
while to vote where the judges were almost compelled to give up the 
ballot box. 

I reached Governor Reeder with the protest, signed by myself and 
the other two judges, I think, on the 3d of April, some time in the 
forenoon. I do not know as the protest was acted on, as there was 
no special election called, to my knowledge. I did not see these men, 
but I saw quite a number of wagons and tents. I had some conver- 
sation with Mr. Fox about voting. He came to me and wanted to 
know if I could not receive the votes of " our people," as he called 
them, under the oath I had taken as judge. I told him I could not. 
I have no means of telling by the census returns the number of voters; 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 281 

in that precinct, which gives some 80 odd. I do not know when these 
men left. A portion left before I did, taking the military road towards 
the river. 

Mr. Fox stated no reason for voting over here, except that they had 
a right to vote. At that election, I think the free State party had a 
pretty good majority in that district. I have never heard of any free 
State man who voted on that day. I do not recollect the candidates 
at that election. I lived in Missouri some two and a half years, and 
came there from Indiana. I did not vote, because I considered that 
election illegally conducted. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Rees : 

I heard, more than once, from the crowd, that they would pull the 
house down, and, I think, from different men. I did not know all 
the residents of that district. I was acquainted with many in the 
district. I thought the proceedings were illegal from the time the 
judges were not allowed to act. I had calculated to act at that elec- 
tion before that time, and considered it legal up to that time. I 
intended to vote for Samuel L. Hardh for representative, and Colonel 
A. J. Whitney for council. I knew there were other candidates, but 
never knew their names. Travelling in wagons is sometimes a very 
common mode in this country, and I suppose people go to elections 
sometimes in wagons. Some of these persons I knew were non-resi- 
dents, but I do not wish to mention the names of any but Mr. Fox. 
I consider a man who resides in the Territory with his family a resi- 
dent. Some of these men told me they did not live in the Territory. 
I think a majority of those there did not live in the Territory. The 
first men who offered to vote said their families were in Missouri, and 
their homes were there, and they had a claim in Kansas. There 
were but two or three of them. I do not know when they made their 
claims. They claimed to have a right to vote because, they said, they 
had claims. 

There were but few men in our district, who staid there, who had 
not their families with them, and none, that I recollect of, who had 
any families at all. The district ran west of Charles Hardh' s a con- 
siderable distance^ but I never was to the boundary, and do not know 
how far it ran. I do not know what was understood to be the dis- 
tance. The protest I carried up was a return of the three judges, 
which, I think, was not sworn to. I think I got it down to the gov- 
ernor on the third day of April. I live some ten miles from Hardh's. 
I did know a man in June, 1854, in that district, but I have not seen 
him since. I do not know his first name. 

To H. Miles Moore : 

I know a David Hunt that lives some two or three miles from Platte 
City. I know J. H. Winston, in Platte county. I do not know that 
those men voted there. I knew them when they lived in Platte 
county, but do not know where they live now. 

To Mr. Howard: 

I do not know any men of those names in our district. 

J. B. ROSS. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 19^ 1856. 



282 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

J. B. Ross recalled 

I have looked over the poll lists for the election of the 30th of 
March, at Hickory Point. There was a man named Whitehead who 
lived on Crooked creek. I knew a James Knj'kcndall who lived in 
the west part of the district, and a demons, who lived near Kuyken- 
dall. G. W. Dyer lived near Osawkee; Jesse Yocum lived in the 
district ; a Mr. Tihbs lived near Osawkee ; a William Uyer lived in 
the district, as did Owen Tibbs. Those are all the names I find on 
the list I recoi2;nize now as residents at that time. Eight in all. 

J. B. ROSS. 

Leavenwortu, K. T., 3Iai/ 19, 185G. 



William H. Goodwin called and sworn. 

I reside nsually about five miles from here, in Salt creek valley. I 
arrived in this place from Michigan the 16th March, 1855. I was at 
the election at Hickory Point, in the thirteenth election district, on the 
30th of March. The election was held atlMr. Hardh's house. One of 
the judges I knew, by the name of J. B. Ross ; anotlier was named 
Cory ; and another I did not know, I was present at tlie election for 
a short time. For some reason the judges I have named did not 
serve ; they left the polls before I left, and I did not see them take any 
votes. Other men acted as judges, but I do not know how they were 
obtained, I am acquainted with some persons who were at the elec- 
tion, but I am not acquainted in that neighborhood. There were a 
great many people tliere^ with camps and wagofis, prepared to live 
without going to houses. There were a great many people there ; I 
should guess ])erhaps 600 or TOO of them, perhaps more or less, I 
cannot tell. There were a good many armed, and a good many I 
saw with no arms. I heard a good deal of talk but I did not pay 
much attention to it. I did not vote because I had reason to believe 
there were a good many there from Missouri, from wliat 1 heard there. 
It was the talk among those I knew that such was the case. I conld 
have voted if I desired. I did not know any who were from Missouri. 
I saw a great many there with hemp in their coats and pants and on 
their hats, but I did not know where they came from. I think the 
principal part of those I saw were camped in tents and wagons ; sev- 
eral hundreds of them. I do not rememb(>r that Pheard that day any 
discussion about the rights of those there to vote. I left the grounds 
early in the afternoon, perhaps 2 or 3 o'oclock. Tliere was a good 
deal of voting before I left. At times there was considerable noise 
and confusion, but I do not remember any threat or fighting. There 
was a great crowd about the polls. When I went away the polls were 
not so crowded. I do not remember of seeing any men in the tents 
and wagons start off before I did. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Rees : 

I did not know the judges who acted at that election ; they were not 
the same as those who commenced to act as iudges. From the tents 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 283 

and wa^oDH I saw tlierc I filioulfl judf,'e tlierc were from 000 to *700 
perHonH there, perliaps more, perhaps le8H. I cannot toll liow many 
wa;^onH and tents I saw tlierc;. 

My ohject in eoming from Michigan hei-e so early in the season was 
to get employment in the public surveys here. 

By Mr. Howard : 

I got employment as an assistant surveyor, and 1 have no other 
business. 

WM. H. 00 D WIN. 
LEAVKNWOKTff, K. T., May 10, 1850. 



Dk. James Noble called and sworn. 

' I reside northwest of this place about twenty-four miles, in the 
thirteenth district, now called Jefferson county. I came into the Ter- 
ritory in the fall of 1854, from Missouri — the northeast, Platte county. 
I had resided in Platte county about two years at that time, and some 
years before. I was at the election of the I^Otli of March, at Hickory 
Point, in that district, at the bouse of Charles Hardh. 1 was tolera- 
bly well acquainted in tliat district at that time ; 1 had been, I think, 
in pretty much every settlement. There were a great many people 
at that election. I do not know who were the judges ; I think there 
were two cla.sses of judges, but I do not know who were the first class 
of judges. N. B. Hojjewell was one of the second class of judges, 
and, as such, told me that he made the returns to the governor. 

There were very few citizens at the election after I got there, which 
was about twelve o'clock. I did not vote that day. I was not pre- 
vented from voting by any violence. I was requested by some old 
acquaintances from Clay county, Missouri, who were there then, to 
vote, and grumbled at me for not voting. I did not go to the {)o11h at 
all, and saw no man vote. 

I do not recollect more than eight or ten residents in the district I 
saw there that day. I judge there were some two hundred in all on 
the grounds that day. I do not know anyone by the name of Barber 
in our district. I never heard of but two men named Uraves living 
in our district. I saw a great many of my old neighbors there that 
day who did not live in our district, among them were Mr. Ellington, 
of Platte county ; B. Prater, of Clay county ; Andrew Murray, form- 
erly constable at Liberty, Missouri. I do not know of any Marshalls 
in our district, or Ptockholts, or Whitlocks, or Arnolds. I saw a Mr. 
Thompson, from Clay county, tliere on the day of election. A Mr. 
W. G. Baker, I think, is interested in our town jdot of Jacksonville, 
but J believe he is from l>altimore. I do not know a man in our dis- 
trict named J. Harris, but 1 knew one in Missouri. I do not know as 
I saw him on that day. Mr. Lykins, I think, formerly lived about 
Platte city ; I know of no man named Lykins in our district. I know 
of no man named J. Weekly. I do not know L. Henshaw, or any 
Millers in our district. I knew some 8wetts in Missouri, but none in 



284 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

our district, I have heard that some Graggs are settling on the 
Grasshopper, but I do not know wlien they went there. I do not 
know Mr. Keith. I do not know of any Walker in our district. I 
do not know of any Hatches in our district, though I know of some in 
Missouri. I know of Henry Arnold, of Missouri, near Liberty. I do 
not know A. C. Woods, as I know of. I know David Gentry, of 
Boone county. Williams is a very numerous name in Missouri, but 
I know of none in our district. I know a John Wilson, in Missouri, 
but no Wilsons in our district. John Cook lived in our district, I 
think, and so did Colegrove. I did not know G. L. Merritt or any 
Gardiner in the district, but a good many in Missouri. I formerly 
knew a Crane, of Clinton county, Missouri, and John Hawkins, also 
of Missouri. I have heard of a Lee in our district. I knew Whites 
in Missouri and Kentucky, and two in the district, named George A. 
White and Smith White. I do not know J. Carr or G. L. Parrish in 
our district, I know of no Hunts or Carrs in our district, but I know 
of a David Hunt at Platte city. I never heard of any Ewing in our 
district, or of J. Howard. I do not know of any Mitchells in our 
district. I do not know of any Thachers, or Coxes, or Brooks in our 
district ; I have heard that a Brooks lived near the line of our district, 
and I think probably he was here on the day of election. I know of 
but one Mason in our district, George Mason. 

I have lived forty-odd years in Missouri. I liad some talk with my 
acquaintances from Missouri about their right to vote, which they 
claimed to be, because they were personally on the ground intending 
to take up claims, or had done so. I contended that they had no 
right to vote until they moved over here with their goods and chat- 
tels. I saw no one vote that day. I do not recollect the candidates 
on that day altogether. Mr. Tibbs, Mr. Easten, and Mr. Richard 
Rees, "Were candidates, but I do not recollect the rest. I know of no 
man in our district by the name of Breckenridge — know an Alexan- 
der Breckenridge in Missouri ; saw no man by that name there. I 
know Pembertons in Missouri, but none in our district. I did not 
charge myself with the names of those I saw there. It appeared to me a 
good deal as if I was now home in Missouri surrounded by my acquaint- 
ances and friends. I know W. Carpenter, a merchant, in Clinton 
county, Missouri ; John Reed was a neighbor of Mr. Carpenter. I 
know Shepards in Missouri, but (K) not recollect of seeing any here 
on the day of election. J. Jeffries i i ves in Clay county — I know John 
Myers, of Howard county, Missouri. R. ChandleT was a citizen of 
our district. Pleasant Ellington was from Missouri — I knew him — 
I never knew of his having any claim in our district. I know Coxes 
in Missouri, but none in our district. 

I think I did not know at that time half who lived in our district ; 
I think I knew more than half around the polls, for it appeared as if 
I knew most all of those I met. I did not recognize more than a dozen 
I knew to be residents of the district ; as to the rest I think I recog- 
nized most as my old acquaintances of Missouri — I think there were 
at least two hundred there in all. They started off home before I left. 
I heard a number speak about the right to vote ; they contended that 
the Territory had been open to settlement ; and that Atchison, I think, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 285 

had proposed that a man shouhl be here thirty days before he should 
be entitled to vote, but he had been overruled in that ; and now any 
man who was here, no matter how long, was entitled to vote ; and a 
man was a citizen as soon as he stepped into the Territory. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

I had been in most of the settlements of the district at that time ; 
the boundaries of the district, as I understood, commenced on the east 
side, and run three miles west of Stranger creek, pretty nearly paral- 
lel to it, up to a line north of Kickapoo or Atchison, to some three and 
one-half miles north of Charles Hardh, and continued west to the 
Grasshopper, across it, some eight or ten miles beyond ; then north 
to Kau river, and then down to the Kau river to the place of begin- 
ning. The district did not include Easton^ I think. I did not know 
that the district ran as far west as Soldier creek, only as far as Muddy 
creek. I do not say this is the bounds of the district, but I under- 
stand it so. I think I am as well acquainted with the district as any 
man in it who has not been running lines. The district included 
Grasshopper Falls, I think. 

I was all about through tlie county before the election, and looked 
at the country and people who were there. I do not know that 
Mr. Ellington ever was, or ever claimed to be, a resident of ^tlie Ter- 
rify at all ; I knew him in Missouri as a resident of Missouri. If 
he has ever been a resident of the Territory I never knew it. I reached 
the place of electon about 12 o'clock. The understanding was, that 
most of the residents had gone away with the poll books, but I did 
not see any of them go. I saw no quarrelling after I got there. I 
was from Casey, now Boyle county, Kentucky, to Missouri. I knew 
Smiths in Kentucky ; I left them when I was a young man ; men of 
the same name I have mentioned as those I knew in Missouri might 
have lived in Kentucky or Massachusetts, but these did not, they were 
my old chums in Missouri. I saw no man vote that day. 

I only knew that men from Missouri voted that day from what they 
said themselves ; they said they lived then in Missouri, and had voted 
that day. Barret Prater told me so of himself ; he was the only man 
who told me so ; he appeard to be taking for the crowd, who were 
all listening. I sometimes talk for the crowd, and sometimes for my- 
self. He had said " we," and when I talk for myself, I say "I." I do 
not kiioAv that Prater was talking for the crowd, but I took it so from 
what he said — the whole crowd were listening to him — I do not know 
that tlie crowd endorsed his opinions. Whenever a man comes in 
witli a crowd, or party, to accomplish a "jjarticular purpose, and he 
comes forward and says, " we think this," or '' we will do or have 
done that," I take it he is speaking for that party or crowd. I do 
not know that the crowd endorsed what he said. 

Question. Was not the delay of organizing the territorial govern- 
ment here the occasion of great complaint and dissatisfaction among 
the people, and one of the primary causes that have led to the diffi- 
culties that have taken place here ; and did not the people believe 
that the delay was for the avowed })urpose of allowing time to the 
aid companies to ship a sufficient number of persons here to control 
the election ? 



286 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

(The question was overruled, Mr. Oliver dissenting.) 
I recollect some of the names of my old chums I saw, hut not all of 
them ; among them, William Chandler, Barrett Prater, Andrew 
Murray, Mr, Darhey, and others. In connexioii with these people 
they said they came to vote, and contended the way matters were fixed 
up it was free for every man to come over here and vote. I do not recol- 
lect of their giving any other reason for coming. I do not know that 
these people did not have claims, some said they had chosen claims, 
others that tliey were looking out for claims and intended to come. 

To Mr. Howard : 

The general rumor was that the free State party had a majority in 
that district at that time, and i': is larger now. The rumor was that 
the legal voters in that precinct (Hickory Point precinct) was ahout 
forty-three, but I never knew what it was or wliat the census was. 

To Mr. Whitefield : 

Previous to my examination, some of the names on the poll hooks 
were read to me by Mr. Propper, in order to see if I could recollect 
any of the names of the Missourians. 

JAMES NOBLE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



James F. Forman Avas called and sworn. 

At the time of the March election I resided in the Doniphan pre- 
cinct, fourteenth district, and was present at the 30th of March election. 
I was present when the vates were being counted out, after the closing 
of the polls. There was a discrepancy between the poll list and bal- 
lots of one vote. The judges exjjlained in a manner satisfactory to 
all. If there had been a discrepancy of from five to fifteen votes be- 
tween the tally list and polls, I think I should have noticed it, for 
there Avould have been some questioning about it, but I heard nothing 
and saw nothing of the kind. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I feel almost positive there was a diflerence of only one vote between 
the tally list and ballot cast. The only reason why I think there 
was not more is that it would have excited attention. 

JAMES F. FORMAN. 

Leavenworth, K. T., M(\ij 27th, 185G. 



Richard Chandler called and sworn. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I first came into the Territory on the 3d of April, 1854, and stopped at 
Osawkee, in the thirteenth district, and resided there until July, 1854. 
I then went to Hickory Point in the same district. I was at the elec- 
tion at Hickory Point on the 80th of March, 1855, for members of the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 28T 

legislature. I was one of the judges chosen by the people, after the 
first judges appointed by the governor had resigned. The election 
was orderly and quiet, so far as I saw. I saw no effort to prevent or 
control any man in his voting. I am tolerably well acquainted in 
that district, and have paid some attention to the relative strength of 
parties there. I should think there were from 200 to 250 resident 
voters there at the time of that election, and the pro-slavery party had 
a majority of some four or five to one of the free State party ; so far 
as I could judge the pro-slavery party turned out at that election 
pretty well. I saw some free soilers there, but there were many I 
knew that I did not see there. I saw some free State men vote there. 
Some three or four free soilers were called on to vote, but they refused 
to vote. The people there on that day, so far as I saw, seemed to get 
on very peaceably and friendly together, and I lieard no disturbance 
there in reference to the election. 

I am acquainted with the general character of Doctor Noble for 
truth and veracity, both in Missouri and in the Territory, and it was 
very bad. He lived in Missouri some eight years, and his reputation 
there was very bad for truth and veracity, I have been frequently in- 
his neighborhood hunting up cattle, and the people there generally 
considered his character for truth and veracity as very bad; and from 
my knowledge of his general character I do not think I would believe 
him under oath. I know something about the general character of 
Charles Hardh for truth and veracity, and he is noted for his hardw 
yarns and tough stories, and his neighbors generally will not believe 
what he says. I should believe him under oath_, as I think he is too 
proud and too good hearted to swear a lie. I know four men by the 
name of Gardiner in our district. I know three Greggs — Thomas,. 
William, and another. I do not know any Arnold or Walker. I 
know a man by the name of White, but none by the name of Breck- 
enridge. I know the Pembertons and William Carpenter there, and 
also John Myers; he resided in the territory on the 30th of March, 
1855. These men I speak of knowing were residents of the district 
at the time of the election on the 30th of March, 1855. I also know 
a Marshall there and some Jeflfers there also at that time. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard: 

There were at least one-third of the voters that were sworn. We 
asked them if they considered themselves resident voters of the Terri- 
tory. We had the governor's proclamation there, and followed the 
form pretty strictly. 

RICHARD CHANDLER 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 20, 1856. 



T. A. MiNARD called and sworn. 

I moved into this territory with my family in August, 1854, from 
Iowa. I came to western Missouri on tlie 10th of June, 1854, and re- 
mained there until I came into this Territory and settled on Stranger 



288 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

creek, near Easton. I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. 
The principal road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Eiley passes my 
house. On the day before the election there were large numbers of 
men, some walking and some riding, who passed my house. There 
was nothing said and done by them except that they would curse 
Eeeder and hurrah for Atchison, or something of the kind. They 
were in companies, some two or three wagons in a company, and they 
were passing, more or less, all day. On the morning of the election 
some passed on horseback. I had no conversation with these men on 
their way out about voting. I came to Leavenworth that day, as that 
was my precinct, and I returned in the afternoon, arriving at home 
about sundown. I met men returning, whom I am confident were 
the same who went by my house the day before, in wagons. I had 
some conversation with some of them. On the way home I met quite 
a number of wagons I recognized as some I saw pass my house the 
day before. They inquired if we were right on the goose, and we 
answered we were. They inquired how the election went at Leaven- 
worth, and we generally said that the goose had carried it. After 
passing these wagons, I rode along about two miles, and met a man 
on horseback coming along, and commenced a similar kind of conver- 
sation, and then he inquired if we had seen a wagon, describing it, on 
ahead of him. I told him I did not recollect of seeing any of the de- 
scription he gave. He then stated that his captain had agreed to camp 
on Stranger, and he could not find him there. I inquired if he had 
been at the election at Hickory Point ; he said he had. I asked 
how the election went. He said that they had run out the judges 
appointed by Eeeder, and put in judges themselves. I then asked 
him how many votes they had polled, and he said he did not know ; 
that he had got drunk before the polls were closed, and did not hear 
the votes counted. He appeared to be about getting over a spree when 
I saw him. To the best of my recollection, he said he and the com- 
pany came from near Liberty, Clay county, Missouri. He said he 
was hunting for the captain of their company, as he had their provi- 
sions, and he was afraid if he did not find him he would have to camp 
out with nothing to eat. This was the substance of the conversation 
we had. Several wagons camped along the Stranger, about a mile 
from my house. I saw them as I was going home, but did not go 
down there again. I recognized some as being the same who had 
^one by my house the day before. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott: 

I do not know where the men were going to the day before the elec- 
tion, or where they did go. I heard laut this one man say that they 
had been to Hickory Point, or where they were from. I did not see 
the wagon he described as the one he was looking for. I rather 
volunteered some remarks to Mr. Sherman, of this committee, in re- 
gard to what I knew of this matter, because I was in a hurry to leave 
and wanted to be examined as soon as possible. I was not summoned 
by any request of my own, and did not wish it either. The member 
of the committee, after I had requested to be examined as soon as 
possible, invited me to talk with him upon another subject, and after 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 289 

we had got tlirougli that I volunteered some remarks in rehxtion to 
this one. I think I said pretty much what I have said this time. 
In other respects our conversation was rather on personal matters, not 
proper to come hefore the committee perhaps. I think alter we had 
talked a few minutes, the remark which this member of the committee 
made, which induced me to speak of this matter, was to ask me what 
I knew in regard to the election in the thirteenth district. That, I 
think, was the only question asked me. No other member of the 
committee was present that I know of, though there were other 
persons present when we had our conversation. I have been accused 
of being an abolitionist, which was not true. I am a free State man 
all the time. 

I understood by the term "right on the goose," that there were 
men coming here to control the country, and make this a slave State; 
and when I answered that I was right on the goose, I wanted them to 
understand that I treated them the same as they had treated me. I 
did not wish them to think I was a jiro-slavery man, for, if I had been 
asked, I should have told them I was a free State man. I answered 
in that way so as to avoid ditiiculty. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

The conversation I had with Mr. Sherman was here in the room, 
while the examination was going on. I was sitting about three feet 
from the reporter who was taking down the testimony^ and before all 
present. I did not think any attempt was made at concealment. Mr. 
Sherman made no remark whatever to indicate what direction I should 
give my testimony, except to intimate, by some gesture, that he did 
not wish to listen to it. 

THOMAS A. MINARD. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Imj 22, 1856. 



Charles Hardh called and sworn. 

I settled in the Territory on the 22d of June, 1854. I emigrated 
from Missouri and settled in the thirteenth district, and reside there 
still. I was one of the candidates for representative on the 30th of 
March, 1855, and was a candidate up to the day of election, when I 
withdrew at the commencement of opening the polls the second time. 
The reason I did so was because the judges appointed by the governor 
were ordered away by some persons in the crowd who were strangers 
to me. I then saw that there would be difficulty, and withdrew. I 
voted that day. I do not know whether the citizens^ as a general 
thing, voted or not. I left, immediately after I withdrew, from about 
the polls. I handed in my ticket to one of the persons acting as 
judges about five o'clock in the evening. I did not see persons vote, 
as I was not about the polls. 

I knew some of the persons who resided in Missouri when I was 

there. One was Colonel David Hunt, who had a claim on the 

Stranger ; but I do not know as he ever resided on it. I do not know 

where his family resides. Mr. Tebbs was my oi)ponent; there was 

H. Rep. 200 19* 



290 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

but one candidate on each side for representatives. Mr. Eees and Mr. 
Eastin were the candidates for council. Twombly and Whitney re- 
sided at Grashopper Falls^ but I never heard their names in connexion 
with the candidacy. 

Cross-examined by John Scott : 

As far as I know, the judges appointed by the governor entered upon 
the discbarge of their duty according to law. There was a vote handed 
in wliich they refused to take, and then the roAV commenced, so I 
understood. The man who first handed his vote was Mr. Raley, of 
Weston, Missouri, so he told me himself, and it was refused for some 
reason, he could not tell what. I do not know whether he was a legal 
voter or not, except that he has a store in the Territory, but his family 
resided in Weston. I do not know as there was any other head of 
his family but himself; he lived in the Territory himself at the time 
of the election. I understood it was on account of refusing to receive 
his oath that the crowd became excited and ordered the judges to leave 
the polls, and they quietly withdrew. I saw them come out with the 
poll books in their hands. I do not know of any threats of violence 
being used towards them, or whether they were quietly requested to 
withdraAv. 

I do not know how other judges were appointed, though there were 
persons acting as judges when I looked in in the afternoon at five 
o'clock. I withdrew from being a candidate by the request of my own 
party, who said they wanted to go home and would not vote at that 
election. I was on the returns, notwithstanding, as a candidate. I 
believe I got three votes. I requested of the recording judges to 
scratch my name from the poll books, but they refused, as they said I 
must run as a ca,ndidate, having been brought out. I belonged to the 
free State party, and voted for Tebbs, the pro-slavery candidate, as 
there was a private arrangement between us that we should vote for 
each other. That arrangement was made in the evening of the elec- 
tion, just as I voted. He handed me a ticket, and said that was one 
of his tickets, and if I would vote his ticket he would vote mine. I 
made the request of the judges to take my name ofi" the poll books in 
the evening of the day of election. There was some excitement about 
the polls wiien the first judges refused the vote offered ; some excite- 
ment on both sides, but I do.n't recollect of being any threats. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Bailey's store was at Osawkee, in the thirteenth district, about ten 
miles from the place of voting. His son had charge of the store. I 
do not recollect of hearing him say whether he was asked to swear or 
not. I believe I made the request of Mr. Tebbs for the arrangement 
I have mentioned between us, but it was mere childrens' play on my 
part than anything else. After the excitement in the morning, the 
election went on very quietly, as there was but one side to it. 

To Mr. Scott : 

There was no more excitement at the polls, then, that day at any 
time than was usual in western stores at elections. 

C. HAEDH. 

Leavenworth Citt, K. T., May 22, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 291 

t 

G. M. Dyer called and sworn. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I first came to this Territory in 1853, and first stopped in the Pot- 
tawatomie country, and then went to Osawkee in July, 1854, and 
have resided there ever since, in the thirteenth district. I was at 
Hickory Point at an election held on the 30th of March, 1855, for 
members of the territorial legislature, and was present at that elec- 
tion. The judges appointed by Governor Keeder were Mr. Corey and 
Mr. Atkinson, and one of tliem I do not recollect. Thej did not act 
as judges during that election, but resigned, I did not hear them 
give any reasons for resigning. My brother applied the first man to 
vote, and they rejected it because his family was not in the district, 
though they had been in the Territory for seven years. My brother 
had resided and done business in Osawkee since 1854, and has done 
business there ever since. He had had a store there previous to 1854, 
but had moved away for a time, going there in 1850 or 1851. At first 
Colonel Raley offered to vote, and his vote was rejected. He had resided 
in that district many a year previous to that time, that is, he had been 
doing business in Osawkee ; had his family there since November, 1854 ; 
was appointed by Governor Keeder judge of elections, and served as 
such. Governor Reeder had stopped at Colonel Raley's house several 
times. These judges then resigned, and otliers were chosen by the 
people, in accordance with the instructions of the governor. That 
election then proceeded in a quiet and orderly manner, so far as I saw. 
I noticed no attempt to prevent any one from voting by any means. 
There were a good many resident voters out that clay. I saw free 
State men vote that day. I went with three of them to the polls, and 
they voted as quietly as any of the rest did. Dr. Tebbs, the one 
elected to the legislature at that election, came to the Territory, I 
think, in August, 1854, and has resided there ever since. I should 
suppose there were no resident voters in that district at that time. I 
was a resident in the district then, and had a pretty good opportunity 
to find out who were the residents, and had been appointed postmaster 
there. I think the pro-slavery jiarty had five to one in that district 
at that time. I came to that conclusion from all my means of infor- 
mation. I do not think the pro-slavery party is so strong there now, 
but I think they are two to one yet. 

I am acquainted with the general character of Dr. Noble for truth 
and veracity, and it is rather a bad one, so far as the prevailing sen- 
timent goes. Do not know so much about it among his immediate 
neighbors, as I lived some distance from him, but among those who 
live four or five miles from him both parties speak very disparagingly 
of him. Am pretty w^ell acquainted with Charles Hardh's general 
reputation for truth and veracity, and it is pretty bad. I do not think 
he would tell the truth if he could find a lie to tell, but I do not thiflk 
he would swear to a lie. His neighbors will not believe what he says, 
his reputation concerning truth and veracity is so bad. 

I know of some free State men who voted for Dr. Tebbs that day. 
Among them were two, Mr. Bushings and Mr. Carpenter, and Charles 
Hardh told me he voted for him. I know three men in the district by the 



292 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

name of Gardner, and one of them was one of tlie judges of the elec- 
tion on the 30th of March, 1855. I do not know of any in the district 
by the name of Gregg and Arnold. I know some by the name of 
Walker and White. None by the name of Breckenridge or Pember- 
ton, though I have heard of the Pembertons. William Carpenter 
resided there, as did John Myers. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

My knowledge of the district at that time was confined more par- 
ticularly to Osawkee and around there. The district was a pretty 
large one. I do not know whether my brother and Colonel Raley 
refused to take the oath prescribed by Governor Reeder, and I do not 
know whether they were asked to take that oath or not, I did not 
hear how the matter was decided at that time, but I understood from 
my brother. Colonel Ealey, and others, Avhat were the grounds of re- 
iecting their votes. 

G. M. DYER. 

Leavenworth City, K. T.^ May 30, 1856. 



0. B. Tebbs called and sworn. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I resided, on the 30th of March, 1855, at Osawkee, in the thirteenth 
district in this Territory, and had resided there since August, 1854, 
and have resided there ever since. I attended an election at Hickory 
Point, on the 30th of March, 1855_, for members of the legislature. 
I did not see the first judges appointed by the governor, and who re- 
signed. The second set of judges were Mr. Chandler, Mr. Gardner, 
and Mr. Hoi^ewell, fttid were chosen by the voters on the ground 
after the first judges resigned, and, as I understood, according to the 
instructions of the governor. I was an acting justice of the peace at 
at that time, under the appointment of Governor Reeder, and admin- 
istered the oath of office to the judges. I was tolerably well acquain- 
ted in that district ; and I should suppose there were two hundred, 
perhaps a few more, resident voters in the district at the time of that 
election. I was present during that election ; and, so far as I saw, 
the residents of the district who were there voted, except some few 
gentlemen, who told me during the day that they had not voted, 
and did not know as they would vote. I slioukh suppose that the 
pro-slavery party was five to one of the free State party, as the 
district was almost exclusively settled by Missourians. I thought 
the free State party was pretty generally out that day, as far as I 
know — there ten or twelve of them. A party of over five or six did 
not vote, as I saw, and they have since told me they did not vote. 
Oijlrers of the free State party did vote. I saw no attempt that day 
TO intimidate men from voting. I was asked by Charles Hardh if 
there was any danger, because he was a free State man. I told him 
there was none. I did not consider that he was at all frightened. 
Subsequent to the election, there Avas a personal quarrel between two 
of opposite politics, and I stepped in and stopped that } but it had no 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 293 

reference to tlie election. The intercourse between all of both parties 
tbat day seemed to be friendly and pleasant. My brother, who was 
elected a member of the house of representatives of this Territory, 
has been residing in the district the same time I have. He had a claim 
at that time ; had a large number of cattle, and had hired persons to 
put his claim in a state of cultivation. He himself devoted his tme 
to practice as physician. He went there to reside permanently in Au- 
gust, 1854. I purchased a claim for $250. He left his family in Mis- 
souri, because he owned a comfortable house there they could live in, 
and had not a comfortable house in the Territory. His wife was a 
very. delicate woman, and he did not desire to bring her into the Ter- 
ritory, where he had such indifferent accommodations. He was advised 
not to put up comfortable buildings on the lands then, as they were 
Delaware lands, and we were liable to be driven off at any time, and 
therefore he did not put up any comfortable houses. We both went 
out there for the purpose of settling permanently, and become bona 
fide settlers ; and we have been residing tliere ever since, bringing our 
families over shortly after the election. I considered that when I went 
there I ceased to be a citizen of any other place, and a resident of Kan- 
sas Territory in good faitli. My brother had the same intention as 
myself, I have no doubt at all. We had adjoining claims^ and were 
interested therein together from the first. 

I am tolerably well acquainted with the general character of Dr. 
Noble for truth and veracity, and it is very bad. I have heard thirty 
men speak of him, and all spoke of him alike. Both were from his 
own immediate neighborhood, and from other places, I am also ac- 
quainted with the general character of Charles Hardh for truth and 
veracity. He is in the habit of telling long tales and yarns without 
truth in them ; but I never heard that he ever told lies for any mali- 
cious purpose. Dr. Noble was regarded as a malicious liar, and I 
would not believe him under oath ; but I could not say I would not 
believe Charles Hardh under oath. 

0. B. TEBBS. 

Leavenwoeth City, K. T., May 30, 1856. 



A. B. Sharp called and sworn. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I resided at Osawkee on and prior to the 30th of March, 1855, and 
located there in the fall of A. D. 1851 ; was at the election on the 
30th of March, at Hickory Point ; was clerk of that election ; was 
appointed by the judges appointed by Grovernor Reeder ; those judges 
did not act during that election, but resigned. I think Mr. Dyer was 
the first man who offered to vote ; the judges refused his voteon the 
ground that his family was not living in the district. Mr. Dyer bas 
been living in the Territory since 1847, and liad been doing busiriess 
at Osawkee since 1851, and had resided there up to the time of the 
election, and has resided there ever since. Colonel Ealey was the next 
man who offered to vote. He had been appointed a judge of election 
by Grovernor Reeder, at the election of the fall of 1854 , His vote was 



294 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

rejected by the jucTges and the judges then resigned. Colonel Raley 
had been a resident some time previous ; he had been a judge of elec- 
tion in November, 1854 ; he had been there frequently since that elec- 
tion, up to March 30^ 1855, but was not there all the time ; he was 
merchandizing there before the SOtli of March, 1855, and has been 
since ; he has a claim there now and had at that time. After the 
judges appointed by the governor had resigned, other judges were 
elected by the voters present, as I understood, in accordance with the 
instructions of the governor. I do not remember what reasons the 
judges gave for resigning. Mr. Eastin and Mr. Rees for council, and 
Dr. Tebbs for house, were the candidates on our side, and Mr. Whitney 
and some one else for council, and Charles Hardh for the house, on 
the other side. Mr. Cora, one of the judges appointed by the gov- 
ernor, I do not recollect ever said anything to me about what he 
consiftered the qualifications of those voters who were rejected. I 
am not very well acquainted Avith the strength of the two parties in 
that district, but I think that at that time the pro-slavery party had 
a majority of five to one. I suppose there were, at that time, two 
hundred, perhaps more, resident voters in that district. I think there 
is a pro-slavery majority there now as large as at that time. So far 
as I saw the election was conducted very orderly. I saw no force or 
opposition employed to prevent any one from voting, or any disturb- 
ance with reference to the election. I do not personally know Dr. 
Noble. I am acquainted with the general character of Dr. Noble for 
truth and veracity, and it is very bad. I am acquainted with the 
general character of Mr. Charles Hardh for truth and veracity, and 
it is much like Dr. Noble's. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I tliink there were about two hundred voters in this district at the 
time of that election, and pretty much all were pro-slavery voters. I 
could not say how many free State voters were there. There may 
have been fitty in the district. I have no accurate knowledge, never 
made calculations, but my general impression is that the pro-slavery 
party had a large majority. I was living at Osawkee at the time of 
that election, and Dr. Noble lived some seven or eiglit miles from 
there. When I speak of his reputation for truth and veracity, I refer 
to the neighborhood around for eight or ten miles ; the county is not 
very thickly settled, and Dr. Noble is considered in that neighbor- 
hood ; T have heard his nearest neighbors say he-was not a truthful 
man. I heard his reputation for truth and veracity ever since he 
came into the neighborhood, and the common talk is, that he is a 
liar I do not know how many I have heard speak of it, for I do not 
often listen to a man speaking of Dr. Noble, for it has been dinned 
into my ears until I am tired of it. Some of the persons in this dis- 
trict knew Dr. Noble before he moved there, and ever since he has 
been there I have heard this of him. Charles Hardh Avas never a 
very bad liar, but yet he is a pretty good fellow. He does not tell 
malicious lies, or mean any harm by them, but yarns and such like. 
I used to know him befu-e he moved there, when he was boarding out 
on that road, towards Fort Eilev. He used to haul 2:oods for McDon- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 295 

aid, who liad a trading place at Osawkee. I have heard a number of 
persons say they would not believe Dr. Noble, perhaps twenty, per- 
haps fifty, I cannot tell ; the same may have told me the same thing 
about him several times. 

A. B. SHARP. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 30, 1856. 



William H. Tebbs called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I resided in Jefferson county in this Territory, formerly the thir- 
teenth district, at the time of the 30th of March, 1855. I have 
resided there since the summer of 1854. I bought a claim imme- 
diately upon coming into the Territory, and have worked upon that 
claim ever since. My family was not brought into the Territory 
until more than a year afterwards, because I had not sufficient accom- 
modations for a family. My family was small, and I preferred to 
board them in Platte county, Missouri^ while I myself lived on my 
claim altogether. The only business I have carried on since I came 
into tlie Territory was on my claim, and all the business I have done 
out of the Territory has been to settle up my afi'airs in Missouri. 
Previous to my election as a member of the Territorial legislature I 
had a saw mill in operation, and had hired a man in Missouri to work 
in my mill. That man sued me in Missouri, in company with my 
partners in the mill. A summons was left in Missouri at the place 
where I usually stopped when there, and where my wife boarded. I 
believe a lawyer was employed by one of the partners, but I was not 
present at the trial and took no part in it, and some justice of the 
peace (so I have understood) decided that I was a resident of Platte 
county at that time, but upon wliat ground I do not know. I had 
previously acted in this Territory as judge of election, under appoint- 
ment by Governor Reeder, and was then serving in the legislature 
under a certificate of election given me by Governor Reeder. My 
brother also came into the Territory with me, and was in company 
with me in business hero, and had the same kind of residence here as 
I did. He was, on the 30th of March, 1855, acting as justice of the 
peace in this Territory, under an appointment from Governor Reeder, 
at the time of the 30th of March election. I suppose I was as 
generally acquainted with the residents of the thirteenth district as 
any other man in it, as I had been there for months previously, and 
had been generally a public man. So far as I knew the people of 
that district I think I was acquainted with their sentiments upon the 
subject of slavery^ and my opinion was, after making calculations, that 
the pro-slavery party had a majority of three to one in that district. 
One ground of my opinion was, that, at the previous election of 
November, when the only question mooted was the slavery question, 
General Whitfield, the pro-slavery candidate, received sixty-nine out 
of the seventy votes given in that district. On the 30th of March, 
1855, Messrs. Eastin and Rees for the council, and myself for the 



296 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

lower house, were the pro-slavery candidates. As near as I can recol- 
lect, Mr. Twombley and Mr. Whitney for counsil, and Mr. Hardh 
for the house of representatives^ were the freesoil candidates. Mr. 
Biddle was an independent freesoil candidate, so I understood. The 
election was held at the house of Charles Hardh at Hickory Point. 
The judges of election appointed by Governor Reeder were Mr. Carey, 
Mr. Atkinson, and another I do not recollect. They opened the polls, 
and, on some account, resigned shortly afterwards. One of the 
judges, Mr. Atkinson, said that he resigned' because he could not 
proceed under the instructions of Governor Reeder and act fairly 
and, to use his own words, " as he found the election was going all 
right any how. He thought other judges could be appointed who 
could act more properly than he could." He was a freesoiler, but he 
was in favor of my election. I do not know that Mr. Hardh, the 
free State candidate, withdrew from the election about the time the 
polls were opened. There were some free State men who voted for 
me that day. Mr. Hardh, the free State candidate told me himself 
that he preferred my election to his own. And in a free State con- 
vention to nominate a free State candidate, some time before the 
election, I received within one or two votes as many as did Mr. Whit- 
ney, who received the nomination for council. 

On the day of election there was no interference with voters, as far 
as I saw, and I heard no complaint of anything of that kind from 
any one that day. A party of free State men were there who did not 
seem inclined to take part in the election, and I went to them and 
told them that they could come and vote for whom they pleased 
without molestation from any one. Other persons gave them the 
same assurance. They replied to me that they thought it was 
unnecessary. The only man I saw armed that day was a free State 
man, one in this party to whom I spoke. I saw some persons on the 
ground that I know do not reside in the district now, but I do not 
know where they resided at that time. There were some there whom 
I had known in Missouri, and I think may have resided in Missouri 
at that time, and were so regarded by the free State party. There 
may have been some twenty or more who may have been so regarded 
by the free State party, and if all those Missourians had voted I 
should have had a majority without their votes. The free State votes 
alone that I received would have elected without their votes. At that 
time I knew of no Lykins in the district, though there may have 
been. I know one of them of the name of Gardner, and also some 
by the name of Gregg. I do not know as I knew any persons there 
by the name of Williams. I had heard of a Mr. Arnold in that 
district. I knew a man of the name of Walker there ; two persons 
by the name of White. I knew a man there named Albert Mason at 
that time. I did not know a Breckenridge there, but heard of one 
there before the day of election. . I do not know whether a Mr. Mar- 
shall resided there before the election or not. I knew two Pembertons 
there, and a William Carpenter, frequently employed by me, and a 
free State man. I knew a Mr. Jeffrey, and heard of another Mr. 
Jeffrey there. John Myers had lived in the district for three years 
previous to the extinguishment of the Indian title. I knew a Mr. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 297 

Cox there. I knew Smiths in the district previous to that election. 
I saw many resident voters on the gronnd that day. I shouhl judge 
there were at least 150 of them I knew to have been resident voters. 
There may have been more or less. Some twenty-five or thirty went 
up with me from the neighborhood of Osawkee. I do not know Dr. 
James Noble personally, and I do not think there is a man in Jeffer- 
son county who bears a worse reputation. His general reputation in 
my neighborhood as to truth and veracity is, that he is a notorious 
and unscrupulous liar. I know the reputation" of Charles Hardh in 
his neighborhood for truth and veracity, and it is very bad. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

At the freesoil convention I have referred to, I have been told that 
there were some twenty persons there. I was not present myself, but 
I was told, as near as I recollect, that I received nine votes and Mr. 
Whitney ten votes for council. This conversation was held at Mr. 
Hardh's some time^ not very long, before the election. Of my own 
personal knowledge I know nothing about it. I know only by hearsay. 
I did not authorize my name to be presented to that convention. I 
think Mr. Charles Hardh and Mr. Hudson put my name forward. I 
think I have heard there were pro-slavery men there at that conven- 
tion, but Mr. Hudson is the only one I now recollect. 

I consider a man a resident of this Territory Avhen he has made a 
claim here, and made a demonstration that indicated that he is going 
to settle here ; is upon his claim and declared that he intended to be 
and remain a resident, whether he had his family with him or not. 
I think that three-fourths of those who voted in the Territory and 
who are now residents, with no families with them at the time of the 
election, because they had no accommodations for their families. I 
resided for two years previous to my coming into the Territory, and 
had lived there some five years before that in Platte county, Missouri, 
and was pretty well acquainted with the residents there. I saw a 
good many men on the ground the day of the election I formerly 
knew in Platte county, but the}'' may have all been residents according 
to my definition. I knew two or three there on that day who now 
live in Platte county : David Hunt, Green White, I think Lycurgus 
Sheperd, formerly sheriff of Platte county, and others I do not now 
recollect. There was a number of persons there I did not know. I 
saw no man vote. I never knew of any arrangement or invitation for 
voters to come in our district at that election. I was frequently asked 
if men should be sent to our district from Missouri to vote, and I 
always told Missourians who asked me that there was no necessity for 
that as we could beat the freesoilers three to one, and I suppose for 
tliat reason they did not come. I think there were upwards of 200 
votes given that day, and I think I received all but three ; one of the 
three I gave myself. At the previous November election I think that 
to votes were cast ; 69 for Whitfield and 1 for Flanigan. I know 
men in our district who did not come to the election on account of the 
distance. I lived about 10 miles from where the election was held on 
the 30th of March. Mr. Gardner lived on Walnut creek^ I think 
about 4 or 5 miles from Hickory Point. He is a farmerj and came 



298 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

from Missouri. Mr, Grregg lives on Cedar creek ; lie made liis claim 
on the Grasshopper about the time 1 came into. the Territory, and 
afterwards sold out. Mr. Arnold lives, I think, on Crooked creek, 
some three or four miles from Hickory Point. Mr. Walker lives on 
the Grasshopper, about four miles above me ; I do not know what his 
first name is ; before Whitfield's first election he lived in the district. 
Mr. White lived on Big Slave creek, about four or five miles from 
Hickory Point. I do not know where Mr. Breckenridge lived; I do 
not know as I should know him. Mr. Marshall lived on Crooked 
creek, some four or five miles from Hickory Point, so I have under- 
stood ; I do not know when he moved into the district, and do not 
know him personally. The Pembertons lived on Walnut creek, and 
moved in the district about the time I did. William Carpenter, after 
leaving his wife, went back to Illinois. Mr. Jeftries told me he and 
his sons had claims on Crooked creek ; he came ^from Clay county, 
Missouri. John Myers, I understood, had been employed by difterent 
individuals to herd cattle, &c,, for three years before the Indian title 
was extinguished. Dr. Noble lives at a place he calls Jacksonville, 
some 10 or 12 miles from where I live ; I have heard of him ever since 
I have been in the Territory, but I do not know him personally ; his 
reputation for veracity in my own neighborhood, so far as I know men 
who know Mr. Noble personally, though there are few of them, 
is very bad ; and I know persons in his own neighborhood who know 
him, and they give him the same reputation ; among them is Mr. 
Hopewell, an acting commissioner of the county of Jefferson, and 
others I should not like to name. Mr. Hopewell h-ns told me of Dr. 
Noble's general character for veracity several times ;- one time, 1 think, 
during the last term of the circuit court held at Osawkee. I under- 
stood from him that Noble was ordinarily a liar, and there was no 
use in believing him. I have heard several persons who have so 
stated ; I know those who so testified before the grand jury as to his 
character. I have heard others say so elsewhere. Every person whom 
I knew from his neighborhood gives the same account of him. I 
know of other persons who speak of this but I decline to mention their 
names, as I do not think it is necessary. I do not know as I should 
know Dr. Noble if I saw him ; I do not know as I ever saw him. I 
first heard something said against his veracity about two months ago, 
about the time of the sitting of our court ; but even before the March 
election I had heard liim spoken of quite hardly in connexion with the 
murder of a man named Davis in the district, and an efibrfwas made 
to indict him as accessory to that murder. Mr. Hopewell never had 
anything to do with this efibrt at indictment and I never heard of it 
until it was brought before the grand jury, of which I was a member. 
Most of the witnesses were free State men I think. The murder I 
think resulted from some quarrel about a claim. I am quite friendly 
with Charles Hardh and have long been on intimate terms with him ; 
I voted for him and believe he voted for me. Common reputation 
among all who knew him, both in Platte county, Missouri, and in our 
district, was that he was a liar ; I never heard any one call him a 
truthful man. Charles Hardh is not a common associate of mine ; he 
keej)s a tavern and I often find it convenient to stop .there to take 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 299 

meals witli him^ and I regard him as I would a landlord and treat liim 
as such ; but I do not make a bosom friend of him. So far as our in- 
tercourse extends we are on friendly terms, in no sense enemies, but I 
do not regard him as a truthful man. 

Question. What other persons have you heard besides Mr. Hopewell 
speak of the character of Dr. Noble for truth and veracity? 

Answer. I have heard three or four or five respectable persons of 
his neighborhood speak of it, but I decline mentioning their names. 

Question. Do you decline to mention their names on the ground 
that it would involve you in personal danger and difficulty? 

Answer. It is not upon the ground of apprehension of personal dan- 
ger and difficulty to myself. But knowing the common prejudice in 
regard to having their names brought into' public in this connexion, 
and being ignorant of the feelings of those who have made these 
statements to me. out of respect to them I would decline giving their 
names. I do not decline to give up the names out of any fractious 
spirit, but if it becomes absolutely necessary I will give their names. 

T6Mr. Scott: 

After the March election I never voted in Platte county, Missouri, 
at any August election there. I was sitting as a member of the legis- 
lature for this vicinity at that time. The last vote I ever cast in 
Missouri was in 1854. 

WILLIAM H. TEBBS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T, 3Ia7/ 30, 1856. 



FouETEENTH DISTRICT. — Bicrr Oalc prccinct. 



A. A. Jamison called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I came to the Territory, I think, the first of October, 1854, and 
settled ibur and a half miles west of St. Joseph's, near the Burr Oak 
voting place in the fourteenth .district. I came from St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, to the Territory, but was formerly from Ohio. I have resided 
in the fourteenth district ever since. 

I was at the election of March 30, 1855, at the Burr Oak precinct. 
On the 29th day of the month, in the afternoon, towards evening, 
some ten or dozen wagons came over the ferry from St. Joseph's to 
the place and camped upon the ground west of the place. They 
brought provisions with them. There was a firing of fire arms 
during the evening until late in the night. I saw them passing as I 
was at the road. The next morning the firing begun again. I went 
up to the place of voting early in tlie morning, and they soon began 
to come in i'rom St. Joseph's and continued coming. I did not count 
them, but as near as I can make an estimate of the numbers who 
were not citizens of the precinct, I should judge there were something 
like two hundred. 



300 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

They were well armed with riflels, pistols, Bowie knives, and ev^n 
"war clubs," as they termed them. Abont fifteen minutes before 
the polls were opened the candidates of the free State party proclaimed 
that the whole free State ticket would be withdrawn and the pro- 
slavery party could have the field to themselves. Cleneral String- 
fellow, of Weston, was there — I was not acrjuainted with him, but he 
was pointed out to me by those who said they knew him — stepped up 
to Major Fee, who was a free State candidate, and asked him to get up 
on the fence and proclaim it aloud, so that the party might hear him. 
He did so, and there seemed to be great rejoicing, hats flying, hallo- 
ing, &c. There were two opposing candidates of the pro-slavery 
party for tlie council, Major William P. Eichardson and Captain John 
H. Whitehead. Captain Whitehead mounted a stump and made a 
speech, and told the company that he and Major Richardson did not 
differ any as regards the slavery question. There was some misun- 
derstanding in getting up the ticket; some advantages, I believe, had 
been taken by one of the party. He explained it to the audience, 
and requested the Missourians to stand back and let the'actual resi- 
dents of the district settle the question between him and Major Rich- 
ardson, as the field was then clear. Tlie voting commenced, and was 
continued from that time till sundown. There was a party selected 
towards evening of good fighting men to stand and protect the polls 
until they were closed and they saw that all was right. Their rea- 
sons for forming such a fighting party, as tliey said themselves, was, 
that they were afraid the free State men would come in and vote 
towards evening. There were some votes cast by the free State party, 
probably a dozen or fifteen — I cannot state particularly about that— 
for Whitehead. I did not vote, and did all I could to prevent any of 
the free State party from voting after their ticket had been with- 
drawn. The reasons for withdrawing the free State ticket and my 
not voting were that the numbers of the Missourians were too great 
for the actual settlers of Kansas Territory, and also to prevent blood- 
shed ; those were the reasons given. Through the day, some time 
about 'the middle of the day, I noticed a barrel said to be whisky, 
and I saw persons drawing from ihyi barrel and drinking. I saw a 
great many drunken men there that day. I saw a good many per- 
sons there from St. Joseph's with wliom I was well acquainted. 
Some of them I saw vote. Their vote was challenged, and it was 
requested to swear them, which they declined doing, and it was not 
done. After the election they returned towards St. Joseph's. A great 
many left before sundown. 

Of the three judges a^^pointed by the governor to act at that elec- 
tion but one served, who was Corey B. Whitehead. He appointed 
two to fill the vacancies of Albert Heed and H. J. Johnson. I saw 
General Stringfellow writing, and I think he acted as clerk part of 
the day. One of the two judges appointed by the governor that did 
not serve was on the ground. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

I heard no threats of bloodshed myself in the morning before the 
free State ticket was withdrawn. I asked many of these strangers 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 301 

where tliey resided and they said tliey lived in Missouri and came 
over to vote for Major Eichardson. 

By Mr. Reeder : 

I was acquainted witli nearly all who lived in that precinct, at least 
a majority of the residents there. I do not think if the Avhole num- 
ber of votes of the actual settlers of the precinct had been polled they 
would have numbered over 60, perhaps not over 50. 

The threats I heard after the free State ticket was withdrawn, were 
not to take life. I saw some fighting by fisticuffs. I saw a man about 
five minutes after he had been shot, but I did not see it done. I saw 
others who had theii heads badly cut with clubs and stones. 

These Missourians said that they considered that five minutes gave 
them as much right to vote in the Territory as any man had who had 
been living there a year. Major Richardson made a speech, in which 
he said he really hated a freesoiler, and he would get up at the latest 
hour of the night and go a mile to disturb him. I have never been 
at General Richardson's, though I have been within a quarter of a 
mile of his liouse in Missouri. The first I knew of him he was resi- 
ding in Missouri, about 2^ miles east of St. Joseph's. He came over 
to the Territory and took a claim and erected a portable saw mill on it. 
It was a timber claim. I think the mill was erected in the fall to cut 
lumber all winter, but it was not for sale. I know of but one man 
who got a foot of it, and he was obliged to have it for certain purposes, 
and there was none to be got on this side of the river except of Rich- 
ardson. On the evening previous to the election, I saw Hon. Willard 
P. Hall, of St. Joseph's, bringing Major Richardson's lady over in a 
carriage on this side of the river. The day after the election I saw 
them returning to Missouri, Major Richardson being then in company 
with them. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

To my knowledge that was the only time Mrs. Richardson has ever 
been in the Territory. Major Richardson still keeps up his house and 
farm in Missouri. 

By Mr. Reeder : 

The lumber cut by Major Richardson's saw mill was for his farm in 
Missouri, and was taken to St. Joseph's by Mr. Dillon's ferry. I do 
not know as I have seen Major Richardson in the Territory since last 
fall. 

I saw no persons sworn on the day of the election, and do not know 
that there were any sworn. The time was so short, I consulted with 
a good many of our peojile in regard to it, that it was concluded not 
to contest the election. I then proposed that we should write to the 
government about it. That was one reason why the election was not 
contested. Another reason was that threats had been made that il 
the election was contested there would be greater numbers at the next 
election. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

I am well acquainted with that district, «id have been living there 



30 2 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

since October 1854. I took a claim wlien I first came, and I still 
hold it. I have been in no particular business since I have been here, 
but have been pretty much over the Territory, and know the most of 
the persons in the precinct. I made it my business to go about and 
ascertain the feelings of the people in regard to the slavery question, 
and from Avhat I learned I have no doubt that a majority of the resi- 
dents were free State men, and we expected to elect our candidate if 
these Missourians had not corae over. Benjamin Harding for council, 
John Fee and Alfred Larzelere for the assembly^, were the free State 
candidates. 

I have examined the poll books of Burr Oak precinct, for the 30th 
of March, and find thirty-four names of residents of the district there 
which I know. My opinion is that there may be a few others there 
who were citizens, but strangers to me. The rest I think were stran- 
gers to the district. I have the names of persons on the poll books I 
was acquainted with as residents of Missouri. There are twelve of 
them, and I believe but one of them resides in the Territory now. I 
saw several of them vote. There were many persons tliere I was well 
acquainted with, who took an active part in the matter, but did not 
vote. There were half a dozen attorneys from St. Joseph's, of which 
Bela M. Hughes, Colonel A. M. Mitchell, Colonel Silas Woodson, 
General Bassett, John Scott, Willard P. Hall, and Mr. Cunningham, 
were of the number. 

It is called ninety miles from Burr Oak to Shawnee mission, the 
way we have to travel. I do not recollect that boats were running on 
the river at that time, but judging from the season I suppose there 
were. 

Rev. William M. Irish, William Davis, Dr. F. Purcell, 0. H. 
Craig, merchant of Savannah, Samuel Blair, A. Gr. Mansfield, F. A. 
West, William K. Richardson, F. M. Morse, Charles M. G-ilmore, B. 
McCall, William P. Richardson, are on the list, and I know them to 
have been there from Missouri. Two or three of these persons held 
claims at the time of the election, but were residents of Missouri, 
never having removed upon their claims. After they had sold their 
claims, they still remain in Missouri, with one exception, who has 
bought a claim in the Territory, and is now living on it ; that is, F. 
M. Morse, of Sfc. Joseph's. I do not know whether William P. Rich- 
ardson has sold his claim or not. 

I find on the poll lists the names of thirty-four resident voters of 
the district, as follows : 

Names of resident voters in the Burr Oak precinct, loliose names appear 

on the poll hooks. 



E. Blackstone, 

William Deekerd, 

A. Longshore, 

J. D. Armstrong, 

John M. Tracy, 

R. Meyers, 

H. Thompson, I John Trotman, 

John Copeland, j H. L. Creal 



H. Small wood, 
B. H. Brock, 
William Palmer, 
John Fee, 
James B. 0' Toole, 
Peter Caduc, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 303 



E. Copeland, 
J. J. Lovelady, 
M. E. Bryant, 
Jolm McCafferty, 
Joel P. Blair, 
C.-W. Stewart, 
Matthew Hes, 
James O'Toole, sen., 
Thomas C. Stewart, 



Thomas W. Watterson, 

A. Grow, 

W. G. Fee, 

J. R. Whitehead, 

Laply Ralph, 

Albert Heed, 

Gary B. Whitehead, 

H. J. Johnson, 

William A. Hill. 



Cross-examined by Mr, Rees : 

Major Richardson had a claim here at^the time of the election, and 
had a house on it. I have never seen him on his claim, though I 
have often seen him in the Territory. I do not know as he had any 
stock on his claim. I know that he spends a good deal of his time 
in Missouri, though I have never been at his house. I do not know 
that he or his family are not frequently on his claim. I have not seen 
him or his family in the Territory since last fall. I think he has but 
an only child, a daughter, now married, so that his family consists of 
his wife and himself only. 

By Mr. Reeder: 

This is the same General Richardson who had command of the 
troops here last fall during the war. 

By Mr. Rees: 

Of the man who was shot I cannot say and do not know who shot 
him, or the cause of the difficulty leading- to his being shot. 1 do not 
know what was the cause of the fist fight, though it took place at the 
time of the shooting. 

By Mr. Reeder: 

No answer was made to the proposition of Mr. Whitehead for the 
Missourians to stand back. 

A. A. JAMISON. 
Tecumseii, K. T., 3Iay 6, 1856. 



William P. Richardson called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Oliver: 

I first came over into this Territory in May or June^ 1841, and 
stopped at the Nemaha agency^ 24 miles from St. Joseph's, Missouri. 
I was a resident of the Territory on the 30th of March, 1855. I went 
into the Territory some two or three weeks before the election of No- 
vember, 1854, and bought a claim and gave $250 for it. I was a 
candidate for council at the election of March, 1855, in my district. 
Benjamin Harding and Captain Whiting, Thomas J. Watterson, Joel 
Blair_, and a man by the name of Larzelere, and Mr. Fee were the 
other candidates. This was in the fourteenth district. It is stated in 
the evidence of Mr. A. A. Jamison that I was not at that time aciti- 



304 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

zen of Kansas Territory. That is untrue ; I was not a citizen of Mis- 
souri, and to my knowledge did not own one inch of land in Missouri. 

I did not hear of any man being shot at that election, and I do 
not believe that any man was shot there. I was present at the elec- 
tion all day. 

There were a great many Missourians there; I should tjiink 400 or 
500, some say only 300. I knew a good many of them, and there 
were a good many of them I did not know I believe were from Mis- 
souri. I did not see one of them vote, though there may have been 
some of them who voted. 

The election of that day was orderly. The free State candidates 
withdrew, I think, an hour before the election commenced. I did not 
hear an angry word that day about voting, and saw no efforts to in- 
timidate voters. The window at which votes were received was clear 
lialf the day, and they were calling out for voters. There was a 
family living in one end of the house. I saw no arms that day on 
these men. I had weapons, but always have carried them since I was 
an Indian agent, but that day not because I thought there would be 
any difficulty. I saw none of the pro-slavery party offer any indig- 
nit}^ to the free State party. I heard of one difficulty between a free- 
soiler and a pro-slavery man, but I did not see it. There were several 
among the pro-slavery men along in the afternoon, as I heard, but I 
did not see them. The first fight took place one hundred yards from 
the polls, at a liquor store, kept by a Frenchman, who I think is a 
freesoiler, but I am not certain, as he sj^eaks very bad English. Mr. 
Harding, Mr. Larzelere, and Mr. Fee, the free State candidates, with- 
drew, Mr. Fee, for them^ making a speech to that eftect. Captain 
Whitehead, I think, made a speech, and I answered him. He was 
my opponent. He says he is not a free State man. There was a pri- 
mary election held, in which he was beaten, and he still run as a pro- 
slavery man against me. There were no free State candidates that 
day. I think I received 234 votes that day, and Captain White- 
head G8. 

I was not well acquainted enough in the district to tell the number 
of actual residents there, but I thought I knew the relative strength 
of parties there, and that the pro-slavery party had 50 majority; 
others thought there were more majority. All the votes of that dis- 
trict' both for councilman and representative, were taken at Burr Oak. 
From my canvassing that district I was satisfied there was a majority 
of the pro-slavery party in that district, and I told the Missourians 
not to voiie; and I do not know as one of them voted. S mie of the 
free State men voted that day, I should think upwards of forty. I do 
not thii\k Captain Whitehead got more than twenty pro-slavery votes. 
I think I got twenty free State votes. I could name many free State 
men who voted for me, and I think I received more free State votes 
than he did pro-slavery votes ; and I think about fifteen free State 
men went away without voting for either of us. One of the free State 
men was very active in my behalf. I have no doubt if there had been 
a free State candidate I should have received a majority of the votes 
of the actual settlers of that district. I should be willing to say the 
same in regard to the pro-slavery candidates for the house of repre- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 305 

sentatives at tliat election. Blair and Watterson received a number of 
free State votes ; they were on the pro-slaver}^ ticket. 

I conversed with many of the Missourians who were over there that 
day and they said they expected an emigration of about 150 voters in 
that precinct, and they came there for the purpose of objecting to their 
voting, and if they did vote they would vote themselves. They said 
they would not have come but for that, and I begged them not to vote 
because there was no necessity for their voting. There were but two 
who said they would vote for me, though others may have done so, 
but I do not know that they did. 

In my speech that day I said this, 'Hhat I would get up and go a 
mile bare footed over frozen ground to strike a blow at their princi- 
ples, but I would legislate for them as I would for pro-slavery men, 
and I thought if any free State men who were honest in their princij^les 
were there they would vote for me, as I did not tote water on both 
shoulders." I said nothing against the free soilers' persons, only 
their principles. 

My wife has been in Kansas Territory many times. I have a pretty 
good farm in the Territory and stay there most of the time, and have 
from $5,000 to $7,000 worth of property in the Territory most of the 
time, just as my servants pass to and fro. I go over to Missouri on a 
Saturday night and come back Sunday night. I have about 250 head 
of cattle in the Territory and have exercised no rights of a citizen 
of Missouri since I have been in the Territory. My wife stays most 
of the time at Mr. Hall's, for he married our only child. She comes 
over to see me at times and I go over to see her. I received thirty 
odd votes that lived Avithin two miles of my cabin, and Mr. Jamison 
has not given one of them in his list. Some of these thirty odd are 
now residents of that district and all were at that time. The tliirty- 
nine Mr. Jamison has given are in his immediate neighborhood, in 
the bottom opposite St. Joseph's, except two or three who live up 
Peter's creek. I live in the bottom above that. James E. Whitehead 
lives a mile and a half from me, and Mr. Jamison has given no names 
above that ; that is the nearest one to me. I do not remember of ever 
seeing Mr. Jamison about my claim and never heard of his being there. 

My wife was at home when the assessor came and he did not assess, 
as he said at the time, correctly. He trusted me for some names and 
I may have forgotten the names of some, though I thought I knew 
all of them. 1 have paid no taxes in Missouri since I came to the 
Territor}^, though at the time of the election I did owe some of the 
previous years' tax in Missouri. I gave it to my son-in-law and have 
had nothing to do with it or the profits from it myself since the elec- 
tion, except the then growing crop. 

Some of our boys came up from the grocery in the evening, where 
we had something to eat and to drink set out there. The freesoilers eat 
our provisions and drank our liquor. I asked them to come up. 
Some of our boys who came up got into some little fights among those 
of our own party. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I emigrated from Missouri to the Territory from Buchanan county. 
H. Rep. 200 20* 



306 KANSAS AFFAIRS, 

I gave my farm, upon which I was living before I went to the Territory,. 
to my son-in-hiw. The farm was s2:)oken of generally as my farm ; I 
had my servants and property there. I made the claim I now hold in 
the Territory in November, 1854, and I remained there during the 
winter, my Avife living with my son-in-law, and that was the case at 
the election. I was nominated in the Territory a few days before the 
election. At the primary election I was voted for, I think b}^ ballot, 
and got the nomination. The free State men had no primary election. 
They were withdrawn because I think they knew they would be beaten. 
I do not know who paid the expenses of these Missourians Avho were 
over then ; I paid nothing of it. They said they came over to coun- 
teract eastern votes. We heard of them and believed they were com- 
ing. The only reason I ever heard assigned for these Missourians coming 
there was to counteract the votes sent by the Emigrant Aid Society. 
I never heard the free State candidates say when they were withdrawn 
that they did so because there were non-residents there. Bela M. 
Hughes, Colonel A. M. Mitchell, Colonel Silas Woodson, General 
Bassett, John Scott, and Mr. Cunningham, I know are all lawyers, 
and are all citizens of St. Joseph's. I cannot state the names of the 
thirty odd persons I have stated as living near me, but will furnish a 
list of them. General B. F. Stringfellow was about there at the time 
of the election, but if he served as clerk of the election I did not know 
it. I do not know that the free State candidates withdrew because the 
Missourians were over there. I do not know how many voters there 
were in that district. I do not think there had been a great deal of 
emigration that spring. Some of the free State men were not there 
at the polls, but the pro-slavery residents were generally there. 

By Mr. Oliver: 

The following are the names of the voters who lived in my neigh- 
borhood of the district on the 30th of March, 1855: Elijah Merrill ; 

Tipican ; William Ridge ; Robert Whitset ; James Watterson ; 

G. W. Baker ; John Doyle ] Bryan ; Thomas J. Dowlin ; M. F. 

Sweeney ; Anderson Gladden ; Sabert Gladden, who was then at work 
at his brother's and since made a claim there ; Dr. E. F. Wells ; Wil- 
liam Nichols, who lived with Wells ; James Jolars ; Oldey Evans ; Wil- 
liam H. Allen; Poleet, who is a Frenchman, but whose surname I da 

not know ; Edward Snyder ; Anderson ; Joseph Ashley ; 

Francois, a Frenchman ; William Shelton ; F. Trent ; John W. Smith ; 
E. M. Moyain, and brother-in-law, whose name I <lo not know; 



Uno ; Charles Slimcr ; Robert Reid ; Matthias Rupp ; George Shun ; 
Joseph Shun, who is father of George, and George is brother-in-law 
of Rupp ; Hezekiah Jackson ; Peter 0. Rope ; Benjamin Duncan ; John 
W. Stephens; James Gillespie, and Dio. 

The district from east to west in the largest part is twelve miles, as 
near as I can say. It is irregular in shape, owing to the river, and is 
about fifteen miles north and south in the largest part. The average 
width I cannot give, owing to its irregularities. 

Tliere are two bottoms or neighborhoods below me, in one of which 
Jamison's names are^ and I iind none among his list from the other 
neighborhood. There is also a neig-borhood above me. of which I have 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 307 

given no names, in which neighborhood, I think, there were at that 
election at least sixty voters resident. I cannot remember whether or 
not all the free State men went to the polls from that neighborhood ; 
some of them I know did. Jamison has not given all the names in 
liis neighborhood. The names I have given myself are of persons who 
live within two miles from me. There arc some names I give from 
recollection^ as I cannot hnd all of them on the poll books. I know 
some of them voted whose names I cannot find on the books, I think 
because they are not correctly given, or else I have not got the correct 
names. I made out a list of names and then compared it with the 
poll books, of which I never saw a copy until I examined it this time. 
I did not see them vote, but I saw theni on the ground, gave them 
tickets, and saw them go up. But there are some four or five names 
I have given I cannot make out on the poll books. There were no 
Indians in the district that I know of, and none voted there I believe. 
I have never seen the original poll lists. I think from examining the 
poll lists that all the free State candidates voted that day. I found 
about a dozen names on the list I think were not residents ; some of 
the dozen I know Avere not residents. I do not know whether there 
are more there or not who Avere not residents, and cannot state whether 
all were residents or not of these names I do not know. 

WILLIAM P. KICHAEDSON. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 14, 1856. 



Ll'THer Dillon called and sworn. 

I was ferryman at St. Joseph's, Missouri^ on the 29th and 30th of 
March, 1855. There was an arrangement with Captain Wright, one 
of the owners of the ferry^ to carry over persons from St. Joseph's, 
Missouri, to Kansas Territory, for the pciymcnt of twenty-five cents for 
each man and horse carried each way. That arrangement was made 
by Colonel Fonts and Samuel Carsons on the morning of the day be- 
fore the election, who agreed to pay for some companies. On the day 
of election Judge Leonard and Mr. Middleton made an arrangement 
to pay for whoever crossed during the day, and told me to collect from 
none of them without they were pointed to me. Captain "Wright 
pointed out all that were pointed out to me, and from those I collected 
the fare. Our ordinary fare vras thirty-five cents for a man and horse. 
There was 217 horsemen in all, both going and coming. We called 
them 400 footmen who crossed, though there was more there. There 
was more boys than men, as they were going over and back all the 
time as it was a free ride to them. What has been paid to me was 
paid by Alex. Davis and Colonel Somerville, and some $40, odd, 
were handed to Captain AVright by some one, I do not knoAv Avhom. 
I was told to look to the men who made this contract for the money. 
That day, or the day before, Major Eichardson's black boy took over 
some provisions in a wagon, and some kegs, Ijut I do not know what 
was in them. There was more that day crossing the river than was 
usual at that season of the year ; but not more than there was a few 



308 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

days afterward, when tlie emigration commenced. I heard some of 
the persons who crossed say they were going to the election at or near 
Bryant's. I was not there myself. 

To Mr. Propper : 

There was no arrangement made hy which I could distinguish per- 
sons who were under this arrangement, except to be pointed out to 
me. The question about the pronunciation of the word "cow" was 
not asked by any of tlie ofiScers of the boat, so iar as I know. The 
usual price was charged those who were pointed out to me. 

LU. DILLON. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 24, 1850. 



Benjamin Harding tes-tifies. 

I moved into the Territory in 1852, from St. Joseph's, Missouri, 
where I had resided several years, and have resided ever since in the 
Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district. I was a candidate on 
the free State ticket for the council from that precinct, at the election 
of the 30th March, 1855, and romainel a candidate until the morning 
of election, when I withdrew. Two days before the election, Mr. Fee 
came to me and stated that, from what he had learned, he thought our 
prospect of being elected was not very good, and that from informa- 
tion lie had received we would probably suffer an overwhelming de- 
feat. He said that reports led him to believe that there would be a 
large number of Missourians over with the intention of voting. I 
contended that I liad intended to run the race througli, unless we 
consulted our friends in the district. We met at my house the next 
day with Mr. Larzelere. I had ascertained only from rumor of the 
coming over of the Missourians. Our second conference resulted 
pretty nearly as the first, w^ith the agreement that wo would decide 
the next morning before the voting commenced. I went to the polls 
the next morning. I saw a large number of persons from Missouri 
there, and quite a number of citizens of the Territory. Some of the 
citizens of Missouri were known to nie. I only saw them on the 
ground, as far as I now recollect. I could not say how many of them 
I took to be non-residents were on the ground, there ought have been 
a hundred or more, but many were strangers to me. After conference 
with Mr. Fee and Mr. Larzelere, it was decided, after we ascertained 
who were to be the judges of the flection, that we should all with- 
draw, and we did so — Mr. Fee getting up and announcing to the 
crowd the withdrawal of the whole free State ticket, I had taken no 
particular steps to ascertain what the course of the judges would be in 
regard to receiving votes. I understood, merely from rumor, that thej 
were in favor of what was called "Stringfellow's exposition" of their 
instructions and duty^. We did not know whether that was true or 
not, but we believed it to be true. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Heed were 
elected in the place of Mr. Hulan and Mr. Blackstone, the judges 
appointed by the governor. All the judges thus acting professed to 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 309 

be pro-slavery men. I had, some three or four days, heen riding 
around through the district and making some general inquiries for 
the purpose of ascertaining the political sense of the people of the dis- 
trict. Mr. Fee was with us most of the time, and, I think^ took more 
pains for that purpose than I did myself. Mr. Larzelere was with me 
but a portion of the time. It was my impression, from all I could 
learn, that the free State party had a majority in the district of some 
thirty or I'orty, perha])s more, and I was led to believe that the ma- 
jority would have been larger if there had been no under influence 
from Missouri before and at the election. Fears were expressed that 
in consequence of the presence of Missourians on the ground there 
would be disturbances if we continued as candidates, which we wished 
to avoid. I cannot say that I had any very great fears of any such 
thing myself. I think likely these fears, and tlie presence of these 
Missourians, had some effect, with other things, in inducing the free 
State candidates to withdraw. I had intended to go through with 
the election and remain a candidate, and if there was much fraud 
practised to enter a protest against the election. Many of the free 
State men voted that day ; but 1 do not know how many or what pro- 
portion of them voted. Some of them afterward told me they did not 
vote. I voted for Captain Whitehead alone ; but cast no vote for 
representative. I have looked over the poll books of that election and 
I find on it the names of some I knew to have been residents of Mis- 
souri at that time, among them are W. K. Richardson, Sidney Ten- 
nant, F. (J. Hughes. I think that it is probable a majority of the 
names on the poll books were of residents of the Territory at that 
time, as I am not acquainted with the names. There were many per- 
sons in the district I knew by sight but not by name. I saw persons 
on the ground whom I knew to be residents of Missouri whose names 
I cannot give now. I did not see much of the voting done, and can- 
not tell who or how many voted. I was never at Major Richardson's 
house in Kansas, but I have often seen him in the Territory and also 
in Missouri ; but I do not know as I have ever seen him at his old 
place in Missouri, now Mr. Hall's place, since he first came to the 
Territory, in the fall of 1854. The cxiK)sition of General Stringfellow, 
of the duties of judges and rights of voters, was circulated pretty 
generally, I believe, in the district in the form of a circular. I saw 
several copies of it. It was stated to have been his exposition and so 
represented, but I believe his name was not attached to it. The prin- 
cipal portion of it was an exposition of tlie oath prescribed by Gover- 
nor Reeder. I have no copy of it, and do not know as I could obtain 
one, and do not know that any copies of it are now in existence. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott. 

Mr, Fee, Mr. Larzelere and myself, so far as I recollect, did not con- 
clude to withdraw until after the judges who acted were appointed. I 
recollect distinctly requesting Mr. Fee to wait until we learned who 
the judges were to be, before we determined.whether we should with- 
draw. As far as I was myself concerned, I did not determine absolutely 
to withdraw more than five minutes before it was done. I did not tell 
Cary B Whitehead, one hourbcforethe now judges wereappointed, that 



310 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

the free State ticket was to be witlidrawn, and wo were going to con- 
centrate the free State vote on Captain John H. Whitehead. I do not 
think I tokl any one any such thing. I have no recollection of 
Mr. Fee so stating to Mr. Gary B. Whitehead, in my presence, and 
my consent to it. I have no recollection of any conversation with 
Gary B. Whitehead one hour before the judges were appointed, in 
which he insisted that Mr. Fee and myself should run, and that the 
pro-slaver}' party could beat us a hundred majority in our district. If 
any such tiling was said, I think it was not in my presence. I think 
I had expressed my preference for Captain Whitehead over Major 
Kichardson for council upon our ground. I had determined to cast my 
vote, if I voted at all, for Captain Whitehead; but I did not under- 
take to pledge any man's vote, and am of the impression that even my 
own vote was not pledged at all. I am not aware of having used any 
under influence with regard to the vote of any person. I have never 
attempted, that I am aware, to influence any man's vote, except sim- 
ply by argument. I made no agreement with Mr. Fee and Mr. Lar- 
zelere to use our influence to elect Captain Whitehead ; and if they did 
so, it was not in my presence. I had no particular partiality for either 
Oaptain Whitehead or Major Kichardson ; and voted for Captain 
Whitehead merely because I understood him as pledged to use his in- 
fluence for the passage of an election law, by which the rights of the 
citizens of Kansas in elections should be protected. I used the same 
argument with some of the free State men. I said that some free 
State men told me they did not vote. William Keaton was one of them. 
Mr. Keaton has told me himself he was a free State man. I mean 
the old gentleman, the father of Jackson Keaton, that used to live in 
St. Joseph's, Missouri. Mr. Jacob Sharps told me he had not voted. 
He lives in the fourteenth district, on Walnut creek. He was not at 
the election at all on that day. Mr. William G-aines was another of 
the same class; and he told me he was not at the election. The per- 
sons I have named told me they were about starting for the election 
when they learned the free State candidates had withdrawn, and they 
then determined not to go to the polls. I have no distinct recollection 
of hearing any other persons say so. I stated that my opinion was 
that there was a decided free State majority in that district at that 
time, and that it would have been larger if there had not been undue 
influences from Missouri, both before the election and at the polls. I 
saw some leading men from Missouri passing about through our dis- 
trict, and I understood from others that they were electioneering for the 
pro-slavery party, and representing their institutions of slavery as 
unsafe in Missouri if Kansas should be made a free State. I consider 
that undue influences. I knew of no free State men from Missouri, as 
I now recollect, of travelling our district and advocating free State doc- 
trines. There might have been free State men from Missouri in our 
district advocating free State doctines. Mr. John R. Carter was over 
in our district at work. He Avas a native of South Carolina, and a 
citizen of Missouri, and he expressed himself to me as being in favor 
of a free State here. I do not know whether on the night before the 
election John R. Carter used the argument to me that the free State 
candidates should withdraw, so that Captain Whitehead might be 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 311 

elected. I recollect thai he stated to me that it was his opinion I had 
hetter withdraw ; hut I do not recollect whether it was one or two 
days before the election. There was a lari^e number of Missourians on 
the ground on the day of election ; but I do not know as I can specify 
any undue influence that they exerted that day, except what has 
been shown by evidence here, and by the poll books. I know several 
persons in Major Richardson's neighborhood, but I did not know par- 
ticularly about relative strength of parties in his neighborhood, as I 
did not go directly into his neighborhood during the canvass, and was 
in that neighborhood less, perhaps, than in any other in the district, 
I know two or three men, living between Major Richardson's and 
Smithton, who have stated to me that they were true free State men — 
John Hartman and Charles Skinner — but further than that I do not 
now recollect. I was in Burr Oak Bottom a cou])le of times before 
the election, and I think once afterwards. I cannot tell how many 
liersons of that neighborhood I conversed with before the election ; 
probably more than a half a dozen of them — Mr. Roark, some Law- 
horns^ and others, whose names I do not recollect. I cannot tell how 
many persons I conversed with in regard to the election, before the 
election, and after I was a candidate, in St. Joseph Bottom, or how 
many in the Bottom below St. Joseph Bottom. I conversed with Mr. 
Kincade, Mr. Randolph, and several others ; but I do not know how 
many. I cannot tell how many voters resided in that Bottom. It was 
my opinion that there were more than twenty voters there ; but I 
never saw twenty men that I knew lived there. I do not know that 
the truth of the population of the district was comprised in the 
neighborhoods just mentioned, as there were other parts of the dis- 
trict quite thickly settled. It was from conversations with these per- 
sons in these neighborhoods, and with others from different parts of 
the district that I formed my opinion that there was a free State ma- 
jority in the district ; but I could not specify names now. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I wish to state, in regard to the statements, that there were rumors 
that the free State candidates expected aid from eastern emigrants on 
the day of election, that I did not expect or wish it myself, and heard 
nothing of it except from persons of the pro-slavery party ; and, so far 
as I know, it was without foundation. I am not aware that any east- 
ern emigrants Avere at that election in that precinct. 

B. HARDING. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Mmj 24, 185C. 



Joiix li. Whitehead called and sworn. 

I moved into the Territory in the fall of 1854, from St. Joseph's, 
Missouri, and settled about five miles northeast of St. Joseph's, in the 
Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district. I was at the election of 
the 30th March, 1855, at Bryant's. Myself, Major Richardson, and 
Mr. Hardino-were candidates for council. Mr. Blair and Mr. Watter- 



812 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

aon on one side, Mr. Fee and Mr. Larzelere on the otlier or free State 
side, were candidates for the lionse of representatives. On tlie morn- 
ing of the election Mr. Fee, Larzelere, and Harding, the free State 
candidates, withdrew. On the day before election I held a conference 
with Mr. Fee as to the position that we all occupied before the people 
of the district, and our conclusion was that Mr. Hardin and Mr. Larze- 
lere were not strong enough to carry the vote of the free State party, 
consequently there Avas no chance for their success. He promised that^ 
when they met the next morning on the ground of election, he would 
use his influence with those men to withdraw and cast their suffrages 
for me. It was generally rumored among our people that the people 
of Missouri were coming over to vote at our election ; I do not know 
as it was generally credited or not, but it was believed by some and 
not believed by others. Missourians did come over across on the day 
before and the morning of election ; a good many of them, I should 
suppose from one hundred and fifty to two hundred. I think some of 
them voted. My acquaintance in and around St. Joseph's was about as 
good as any man Avho lived there, I think, as I had lived there pretty 
much since 1839. I was present at the polls most of the time, but 
not all ; backwards and forwards during the day. My memory is bad 
as to names, and I may not be able to call over now those I saw there. 
I saw some of them vote. They claimed to vote because people were 
coming from the east to vote, right into the Territory to the election, 
and their voting was but a set-off to the others. I do not recollect 
that they claimed any right to vote because of the provisions of the 
Kansas-Nebraska bill ; 1 think the reason I have given was the only 
one I heard given. The polls opened about eight or nine o'clock in 
the morning. I think the judges appointed by the governor did not 
serve, but I heard them assign no reasons for their not serving. Mr. 
0. Hulan did not serve that day ; he was on the ground part of the 
time ; I do not recollect whether he was on the ground before the 
polls were opened or not. I did not hear there why he did not serve. 
Mr. Blackester and Mr. Hulan did not serve, and I do not recollect 
the third man ap])ointed by the governor as judge. I do not know 
how the judges who did serve were chosen, for it was not done in my 
presence. Mr. Heed, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Whitehead, my brother, 
served as judges that day, and were all residents of the district at that 
time. 

There were some objections made to the Missourians voting when 
they went up to vote. I challenged one man's vote myself, the vote 
of Mr. Newby, who lived in the east part of Buchanan county, Mis- 
souri. I think he was permitted to vote. He was not sworn, to the 
best of my recollection. I did not see any one sworn that day as to 
their qualifications to vote, though there might have been. When I 
challenged his vote, I do not know that any particular reason was 
given why he sh.ould vote. AVe stood there awhile, and I asked the 
judges if they were going to allow him to vote, and no answer was 
made that I recollect of. I walked away then. He voted. I have 
known this man since he w^as a small boy, and he is a man of family 
now, and I w^as satisfied he had not resided in Kansas, even if he had 
claim. I do not recollect now whether I stated to tlie judges the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 313 

grounds why I cliallcnged his vote. I do not recollect whether or not 
he stated the grounds why he claimed to have a right to vote. I 
challenged no other vote that day. I heard Mr. Grooines, wliile I 
was standing a little way off, challenge a vote, but I do not recollect 
the name of the man wlio offered to vote, or the disposition of it. I 
think three hundred and three votes were cast that day, and between 
fifty and one hundred votes were illegal, and I tliouglit at the time I 
knew that many persons there who were not residents. There were 
many strangers voted there that day, probably some of them were 
legal votes, though I cannot say about that. Mr, Fee, one of the 
candidates, withdrew himself the morning of the election, giving as a 
reason that there was not a union among the party. He told me the 
morning of the election that it was the Understanding that the free 
State ticket should be withdrewn entirely. I do not think the j)re- 
sence of non-residents had anylhing to do with it. Mr. Fee expressed 
no apprehensions of danger to me, and I apprehended none myself, 
from the presence of non-residents. I do not know who these non- 
residents voted for on that day. I believe some of them voted for me,, 
though I requested them not to do so. I do not think the free State 
men voted that day as a general thing. Some of them did vote and 
some went away without voting, because, there was no ticket of their 
party in the field. If the vote had been confined to the actual voters 
of the district, I cannot say whether the result would have been the 
same. If the lines had been strictly drawn, I think the pro-slavery 
party would have beaten. I had taken a good deal of pains to inform 
myself upon that point. If all three of the candidates for the council 
had run, I cannot determine what the result would have been, but I 
think it would have resulted as it did, for it w^ould have driven men 
to unite on the candidates of their party. I was running as a pro- 
slavery candidate. I cannot explain why the votes for council were 
more than for representatives, I cannot say whether the free State 
men who voted, voted for representatives or not, though I supposed 
they voted a full ticket. I thought the election on that day was as- 
peaceable an election as I ever saw. I never saw better order on the 
election ground in my life ; all voted, so far as I know, who wanted 
to. The contest was all on one side, except between Major Richardson 
and myself. Some of the free State men asked me if it was necessary 
to vote for me. I told them to use their own pleasure, but cannot say 
whether they voted for me or not. The free State men were very 
greatly in the minority in the crowd about the polls, though there ap- 
peared to be a great many about the polls the first part of the day. 
I do not remember the names, or that I saw many persons there on 
tlie day of election that held offices in Missouri. Mr, Scott was attor- 
ney of St. Joseph's at that time, and was there on the day of election. 
At one precinct Mr, Stringf'ellow was there, but I do not recollect 
about those who held offices in Missouri at that time. A great many 
of the leading citizens of St. Joseph's were there, but I do not know 
what part they took in the election. I do not recollect of any speeches, 
made there that day, except by Major Richardson. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott: 

I understood when I had a consultation with Mr. Fee, the day before 



314 KANSAS AFFAIKS. 

tho olortion, that lie was to iiso Lis inlluoiice with tlio iVco State can- 
didates to withdniw and have the free State men vote lor nie. The 
votes to be g-iven hy !\liss(Mirians, 1 think, had no inlhienco witli either 
Fee or myself, lli' had no risi;ht to think that (he citizens of Missouri 
wonhl do anything;' to injnre him, as he had Icnjjj been a citizen of 
]\lissonri himself. The only apprehension seemed to be that he wonld 
not i;"et A'otes enong'h o\' the aetnal resi(h>nts to seeuro his election. 

Mr. Fee assi>;-ned as a. reason for withdrawinii;, that liardinj; and Lar- 
zelere were unpopular with their party, and if he himself ran, he 
would have to carry them, and theretore, he thou<2;ht it best for all to 
resign. When he announced on the morniuij; of the election that he 
liad succeeded in makini;' this arrani>;ement, I understood it to be in 
conse(|nence oi' an arran;;'cmcnt td' the dav before. 

JOHN 11. WHITEHEAD. 

Leavknwoktu City, K. T., 3Ia)/ 23, 185(>. 



JouN R. Oautkk called and s\v(U-n. 

1 reside in IMissonri, about a mile and a lialt" of St. Joseph's. I live 
within about three-fourths of a mile from the farm known formerly as 
the Major Ivichardsou farm, and about a mile and a (quarter from the 
residence. 1 moved there in the s]>rini;' of 1842, and have had my 
residence there since then. 1 was in Kansas, at the r)urr Oak election 
precinct, at the time of the election oi' the oOth of March, 1855, build- 
ing a mill for IMessrs. Creel and ]>ryant. I was about the place of 
election at diftercnt times during the day. I Avas not around the polls 
nt all, but I was at work, at odd times during the day, and was about 
the place of election at times. I was working on the mill the day 
previous to the election, and fifter dinner, perhaps the middle of the 
afternoon, covered Avagons drove up and camped around where I was 
at Avork, containing JMissourians, some of my neighbors. The first 
one I saAv, I think, Avas Craig Montgomery. Shortly after that, there 
Avas perha])s to the amount of a hundred and lil'tv men, from A'arious 
sections, under their leaders, came up there. 

Judge Leonard Avas there; Dugan Fonts Avas there, Avith a ])arty 
from Rock House l*rairie, in Missouri, doAvn in the east of Buchanan 
county. They ai)peared to be the most prominent men. There Avas 
Walker Cx. Reed, and three or four of the young Carsons, Isaac Thorn- 
ton, of Saline county there, Preston Richardson from AndreAV county, 
Jeptha Ford from Andrew county. There Avas a company from An- 
drcAv county, many of Avhom I Avas acquainted Avith, but I cannot re- 
collect their names. John S. Pickett Avas there, and a great many 
others with Avhom I Avas acipiainted, but I do not recollect their names. 
They Averc there Avitli their Avagons, and provisions, and tAvo barrels 
of Avliiskey, and camped there, about tAvo hundred yards, perhaps a 
little more, from Mr. Bryant's house, A\diere the polls Avere held the 
next day. They camped all around Avhere I Avas at Avork, on the hill 
side, and put their -[irovisions in an old Imlian shanty that Avas there. 
1 had conversation, a good deal o\' it, Avith these menj many of them 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 315 

my old ucfjuaintarices .and jieigli1;or,s, and I jciiiaincd tliero Avith tlioiu 
till lorif^ ill tlio uiglit. 1 talked witl) Coloncd Fonts, John S. Pickett, 
and Isaac Moiton al>oiit their mission over there to Kansa«. 

Shortly after they came there, Isaac Thorn tim took me out privately, 
one side, and asked me if I was goin<^ to join their company, 1 said 
I did not know, as I did not know what their object was. He told 
me they had come over to guard the ])olls and see tliat the election 
went oil" light in Kansas. J t(;ld liim that if lie Avent my way I would 
go with Jiim, and if he did not 1 would not. He asked me if I would 
join their company and go with theni. I said if he would go mj 
way I would, hut if he did not I would not. He said they were going 
to sup])ort the }>ro-slavery candidates. I do not, as they were named, 
hut tliey were understood. I would not say that any told me they 
came to vote, Imt rather to guard the polls. I told tliem I was a 
southern man, and would do all I could Jbr Cajjtain Whitehead, who 
was a pro-slavery man, and if they would go for liiin I would go with 
them. They said they would not go into that. When I went to the mill 
that morning the men were around the camp. I saw some of tliem 
around the jiolls that duy, hut tliey seemed to he about the Indian 
shanty and the polls. Tiiey camjjed tliere that night, and some of 
them told me I would have to get the countersign if staid till after dark. 
I did not see any of these men vote. I was about the polls before 
they were opened, and then I went away and did not come back until 
dinner time, when men were voting at the polls. I did not vote my- 
8elf that day. I paid no attention to the ])olls, staying but a few 
minutes to get my dinner,, at Mr. Bryant's, and then I went back to 
the mill. 1 liave examined a list of names given to me to-day, and 
said to Ijc a copy of tlie poll books, and have made out of the list of 
those I know to have resided in Missouri. At that time I got from 
one of the judges of election a certified copy of all the votes given at that 
election. Tliere was a very important city election going off the next 
week at St. Joseph's, betAveen the whiskey and anti-whiskey jiarties, 
and I was requested to get a copy of the names of the citizens of St. 
Joseph's who voted there in Kansas, which I did, and presented to 
tke judges of the election, to Dr. Harding, of St. Joseph's, and I 
had marked on that paper the names of those I knew to be citizens of 
St. Joseph's with a star; and so did many other citizens of St. 
Joseph's, as we were very much interested in the election. That is 
the way my attention was called to this subject. The names I have 
shown from the poll books furnished by tlie committee, are as follows: 
J. W. Stephens, S. P. Blair, Isaac Thornton, Merrill Willis, Sidney 
Tenant, Hr. George C, Catlett, 0. P. H. Craig, F. C. Hughes, 
James M. Teagarden, William Carson, James Carson, Charles C. 
Carson, Johnson Carson, and William K. Richardson, Peter Monroe, 

I S. W. Woodcock, Jacob Ostenbergeiv, G. B. Groomes, eighteen in all. 

I Some of these names 1 have given reside in Buchanan and Andrew 
counties. St. Joseph's is in Buchanan county. 

To Mr. Propper: 

When they told me I would have to get the countersign I did not 
\ get it, I understood that they Avould have a regular military camp. 



316 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Mr. Thornton told rae when I said I was going to stay there that 
night, that they were going to have guards, and that I would have 
to get the countersign, but I did not get any, and went off out of the 
camp along in the night without any trouble. I think Judge Leonard 
and Colonel Fonts and men of that stamp appeared to be the leaders. 
Thornton, I think, and perhaps Fonts, told me they were going to 
support the pro-slavery ticket. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

Mr. Thornton told me that it was rumored that there was to be 
boat loads of emigrants coming from tlie east to be at the election and 
vote the next day, and that was the cause why they came over there 
to guard the polls. I think the term "abolitionists" was used most 
that day, perhaps "emigrant aid men," but I do not know whether 
it was understood, or not, that they were arriving merely to vote, or 
also to settle. I do not recollect that they said they were going to 
vote, or what they were going to do. I told them I was a coloniza- 
tionist, not an abolitionist; that I was a southern man with northern 
feelings. I was in favor of fair play on both sides, let every man vote 
to suit himself. I had friends on both sides, but I had no particular 
interest in Kansas, and took but little thought about it. 

J. W. Stephens was a young man, and was about the neighborhood 
mostly where I lived ; I saw him come over the evening of the 
election, and I think I had a conversation, and I think he said him- 
self that he was going to vote or burst. I do not know where he re- 
sided for the six weeks before the election. He said he came over the 
river to vote, and he was going to vote or burst. I never saw Major 
Eichardson's mill in the Territory, and do not know that this Stephens 
was at work at the mill before the election. He was in our neighbor- 
hood previous to the election, and also since, though he might have 
been in Kansas at work for six weeks or two months, though he has 
been about our neighborhood for three or four years past. It was my 
opinion that he was a citizen of Missouri, and to the best of my know- 
ledge I believe he was. S. P. Blair lives about two miles southeast of 
me. To the best of my knowledge he was living there on the day of 
election. I had been with him surveying, and he had a claim on 
Peter's creek, in Kansas, and I was hunting a claim myself. I helped 
him run off a claim there, I think, in June, 1854. He made another 
claim adjoining it for a widow Bradley, of St. Joseph's. He had some 
cattle over there grazing, but. I do not know as he ever improved his 
claim, and his family lives near me yet. He never went over to his 
claim, as far as I know, with his family, and I know he lives and has 
lived near me. William K. Richardson was at the time a citizen of 
St. Joseph's. I believe F. C. Hughes is also a citizen of St. Joseph's, 
and Dr. George Catlett, Sidney Tenant. I have examined the copy 
of the poll here, and those are the only names I know to have been 
citizens of St. Joseph's. I do not know half the persons at St. Joseph's. 
I know most of the old established citizens of St. Joseph's, but there 
are a thousand there, probably, I do not know. Major Richardson 
and mvself have no dealings with each other. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 317 

To Mr. Propper : 

I saw no eastern emigrants that day about the polls that I know of. 

JOHN E. CARTER. 

Leavenworth City, May 23, 185G. 



John W. Smith called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I reside in the 14th district, Burr Oak ])recinct, in this Territory, 
and have resided there since April, 1853. I was very well acquainted 
in that precinct with nearly all the princij^al citizens at the time of 
election of the 30th of March, 1855. There were at that time general 
reports in that precinct that Eastern people were to he sent there to 
vote at that election. The Burr Oak hottom comprised the largest 
neighborhood in the precinct, containing, I should suppose, upwards 
of fifty voters, but I cannot state the exact number. In Major Rich- 
ardson's neighborhood there were ten families. In St. Joseph's bot- 
tom there were somewhere about fifty voters. I was not particularly 
acquainted in any but these three neighborhoods at the time of the 
election. I cannot state how many voters there were in the entire 
precinct. Major Richardson lived, at the time of the election and be- 
fore it, in what is known as the Bontown bottom, in Kansas Territory; 
he was one of the earliest settlers in that neighborhood ; I had fre- 
quently visited his house before the election ; he had a quantity of 
stock, cattle, horses, mules, and hogs there, some slaves, &c. He 
had been a citizen there and . kept house there, eating and sleeping 
there. I was present at the election at Bryant's in that precinct on 
the 30th of March, 1855 ; I noticed some of the voting done there 
during the day ; I do not think all the legal voters of the precinct 
were there at the polls, but they were there as a general thing. I 
know of three persons who did not go at all — Mr. Poe, Mr. Howell, 
and Mr. Gabell — who told me they were not there ; I heard no others 
say the}^ were not there. These persons gave no reasons for not being 
there. Mr.' Gabell says he is a free State man, but I do not know 
about Mr. Poe and Mr. Howell. I could not state definitely whether 
others were absent or not ; there were some there who told me they 
did not vote. Mr. Ben. Harding, and Mr. Smallwood, and I think 
Mr. Brock, but I am not certain about that. The pro-slavery party 
had a majority in tliat precinct at that time of perhaps one-fourth ; 
that is, a difference of one-fourth between the two parties. There 
was no one shot at that election that I ever heard of. I saw no arms 
there, and heard no guns fired. 

JOHN W. SMITH. , 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 2G, 185G. 



OsBORN HuLAN Called and sworn. 
I came into the Territory in August, 1854, from St. Joseph's^ and 
settled in the Burr Oak precinct, 14th district, and have resided there 



318 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

ever since. I was a]jpointed by Governor Keeder one of the judges of 
the election of Marcli 30, 1855. I did not serve ; the reason I did not 
serve was, that I did not think I could serve as judge, and go accord- 
ing to the oath prescribed by the governor_, which I thought I ought 
to act up to. Carrol Hughes, of St. Joseph's, met me on the road as 
I v»^as going to town, the day before the election ; lie told me he had 
come over to advise me to have nothing to do with the election, that 
he came as a friend ; I believe he was sincerely a friend to me in that. 
I told him I was very thankful for his advice, but I had positively 
declined within myself not to serve, before I had seen him. I did not 
think lie came to frighten me at all. I had had a conversation with 
Mr. Whitehead, one of my associate judges, about this matter, the 
legality of voting, in order to see how our views were upon that sub- 
ject ; we disagreed but little at the time ; but after I went home, and 
read the governor's proclamation, and reflected on it, I concluded that 
I could not and would not have anything to do with the election_, as I 
knew I could not do what I know to be-my duty without liaving some 
difficulty. When I was talking Avith Mr. Whitehead we had before 
us, I knew, " Stringfellow's Exposition" of the oath prescribed by 
the governor. I do not think either of us agreed either for the one 
or the other decision in regard to the oath. I cannot say whether 
Wnilc!it'a,d approved of Stringfellow's Exposition or not^ but he 
seemed to think that the governor's proclamation was no particular 
criterion to go by ; but thought the oath })rescribed would not pre- 
vent any one from voting who should apply, as he considered all in 
the Territory, and had a claim merely as residents, and entitled to 
vote. 

OSBOEN HULAN. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 23, 1S56. 



Alfred Larzelere testifies. 

I first made a claim in April, 1854, and the one on which I now 
reside in May, 1854. I moved my family from St. Joseph's in March, 
1855; to this Territory, and settled in the Burr Oak precinct, in the 
14th district, and have resided there ever since. I Avas named as a 
candidate for the free State party as representative at the election of 
March 30, 1855, in connexion with Mr. Hardiag for council, and 
Mr. Fee for the house. I ceased to be a candidate on the morning of 
election, when I AvithdrcAv. Mr. Fee, from the extraordinar}^ excite- 
ment became alarmed, and Avas afraid the election would result in a 
roAV if we continued as candidates. Missourians from various quarters 
began to come over into the Territory some two or three days before 
the election, some stopping about in the neighborhood, and others 
going further out. I think it Avas two days previous to the election, 
Mr. Fee called at my house and exjiressed his fears as to the consequence 
of this excitement, and suggested the propriety of our AvithdraAving 
our names from the contest. I opposed the measure very decidedly, 
as I was for running the race through as men of principle, if Ave did 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 319 

not get any votes at all. We separated with the understanding of 
meeting at Mr. Harding's house the next day, which we did. We 
there had a consultation with some of our friends ; Mr. Harding and 
myself opposed this withdrawing of our names, and Mr. Fee urged it. 
I do not know that any particular persons came over and stopped them 
the day before the election from Missouri. But persons were coming- 
over for several days before, and the rumor was general that they 
would come to the election. Mr. Harding, Mr. Fee, and myself, after 
the consultation, left with the understanding that we were to meet on 
the ground at the polls on the morning of election. We did meet 
there ; I was quite sick, and should not have left my house but for that 
appointment. We looked around and surveyed the crowds and came 
to the conclusion that there must be from 200 to 250 Missourians on 
the ground, and the general understanding was that they come there 
prepared to vote. I think the number was sufficient, if they had voted, 
to out vote the free State residents of the district. Mr. Harding_, 
Mr. Fee, and myself met, consulted, and reluctantly, so far as Mr. 
Harding and myself were concerned, consented to have our names 
withdrawn, as we believed the Missourians would out vote us, if we 
run as candidates at that time. Our names were then withdraAvn. 
Mr. Fee announcing by our authority that the free State ticket would 
be witlidrawn. I had taken some pains to ascertain the state of feeling 
in the district as to free State and slave State, and I came to the con- 
clusion that the free State party had a decided majority in the district. 
The fear of being out voted by Missourians, and the anxiety of Mr. 
Fee, were the principal reasons for our withdrawing our names. I 
did not really fear myself that there would be any difficulty. I 
knew the instructions of Governor Eeeder to the judges of election, 
and it was generally rumored that General Stringfellow had issued 
another set of instructions to the judges. We declined to withdraw 
until we knew who were to be the judges, and what their course of 
proceeding was to be. Mr. Blackstone and Mr. Hulan, two of the 
judges appointed by the governor^ were not there, and the places were 
filled by Mr. Albert Heed and Mr. Johnson, so that all the judges were 
pro-slavery. The free State men generally did not vote that day. I 
do not know how many came to the polls, as I went home early in the 
morning. On my vray home I met some fifteen or twenty citizens, to 
whom I told the circumstances ; some kept on and others said they 
would turn back and not vote. I voted that morning myself for Capt. 
Whitehead and no other person. I saw nothing more of the election. 
I have examined the poll lists, and the following are the names of 
some I find there I know to ha,ve been citizens of Missouri at that 
time : S. P. Blair, who lives southeast of St. Joseph's, 0. H. P. Craig, 
of Savannah, Andrew county, Missouri, Duncan Lenion, from the 
bottom above St. Josej^h's, William K. Ptichardson, of St. Joseph's, 
Young Owen, at that time a citizen of Buchanan county, but since a 
citizen of Andrew county, Evan Richardson, from Buchanan county, 
Emmet Fulkerson, from Andrew county. There are a good many 
names there I am acquainted with, but am not acquainted with their 
first names, who were citizens of Missouri at that time. 



320 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



some of them I imye not t^vil eel m«cK i am J ^ ^^^^^ 

the l^ottom Wow St . .^^^^^^^^^ ^,,„tio„, am, did 

the Burr Oak hottom. I have ^f " »"j *«„^f ""H, Jn^ tnsines. 
eight miles bnt dul -'•^^f^^^^^^^^.L^ZZ '!-'>-' l^' -'"f 
1-41X. J> r^r Xe^e t>>ey were a «^^^^^^^ 1™^^'; ^ 
I learned, hy making >nq""'^^ P™™^?;™ cf «\''?L„ed'from 
the free State party had a {^"^""^ , \*' ,^„,7tl 'e arties were pretty 

;sr="Mvpi^a£^^^^^^ 

xt'afd r,?tir ;t^"; 9 ^-^^ --i^x" 

and, prohaWy, Mr. Myers to d '^«. ««, J *'f ,';f„ '„. go fc as I 
Wheith, who lives m hat hottom, i,f,?°"l^,tj,,arty though there 
learned, I hoard <>f ^o A,s.er.f>ion.mthchM^V^^ > o^^ ^^ ^ 

might have hcen such a thmg ^r Fee Mver ur t ^^^ 

realon for withdraw.ng '>; ^ f/f/^totn'i votes aid pc,M's a 
urged to me was tlie teai ot a neiea ^ , ^j j^^ , .^,,j,ich we 

row. He did not i^rge that rf -« T™'^",^ite ad, we eould elect 
could not elect, and ""l*^ .'Vp;,vS™ thon<.h it was understood 
him to the conned oyer Major f''™?"™"" ' * ^Whitehead. 1 stayed 
that if we voted at all •' «1'«"W ^, f°' poSt were op«red, perhaps .an 
at the polls hut ^,^t", Ulc Ir etal merdid U vot'e genlrally 
liour or two. i state tiiai tut i lu o-pnorallv turn out, and I 

that day, because I understood they did J^^ f °J f ^^^ J\ met others 
tuow there were but few on he ground ^^^.^ \^^; ;;^;\f,, I ^o not 
on my way home, who- said th^^^^^^^^^^ to the 

l.now -^-^!-,-Cha^. staS^Tn ire iS^^ discussing the matter; 
polls or not I left them swrnnn^ . ,„;tliont votine. I do not 

Lme of thonr said they would go hack w, ho^rt ™tm 
know positively that any one f ee Sta o ma d,a no .^ ^^^^ 

a letter from Governor Keeder ^^i'"'° ^J^"*! "j,™' e'islatnvo in this 

sr " -^-^h: sn::ptfh^ttt:tn.^ ^ 

dect -d I saw many persons «-- ^'^'^f-^.I^r,? to'that 
?hat th^y were collecting, and there was a S'^^'^^^^'^'^elbrE. 

'^'EAYENWOBin Cm, K. T., May 23, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 321 

WiLLARD P. Hall called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

My liouse and place of residence is about § of a mile from the cor- 
poration limits of the town of St. Joseph's, Missouri. I have resided 
there in that house since March, 1849. I was at an election, held at 
Mr. Bryant's in this Territory, about 4| miles from St. Joseph's, on 
the 30th of March, 1855. I believe that is called the Burr Oak pre- 
cinct. There were a great many persons there from Missouri ;*I sup- 
pose about 250. My purpose and the purpose of those with whom I 
conversed in going to that election that day, was to secure the election 
of the pro-slavery ticket by all legal and fair means. The voting of 
Missourians I did not consider fair and legal means of accomplishing 
that object, as my position has always been that no one but actual 
residents of Kansas Territory had a right to vote in the Territory. 
There was great excitement in our section of the country, the Platte 
county, and, I believe, throughout the frontier of Missouri at that 
time. We heard that a great many men were coming from the free 
States for the purpose of voting at that election, Avith a view of pro- 
hibiting slavery in the Territory of Kansas. It was also reported and 
believed that many of these men threatened that they would first 
make Kansas a free State and then commence an attack upon the slave 
property of Missouri. It was also reported that a large number, 
several hundred, were expected on the boat the day of election to vote 
at the precinct where we went ; we expected to challenge all such 
voters. If it was determined by the judges that non-residents who 
were opposed to slavery should be permitted to vote, it was supposed 
that they would apply the same rule to non-residents who were in 
favor of slavery. I was about the polls a good deal that day, as my 
father-in-law was a candidate, and I felt a good deal of interest in his 
election, as I considered him more reliable upon the slavery question 
than his opponent. I am not able to say what number of Missourians 
voted. I believe I did see two vote, but those are the only two I no- 
ticed vote. 1 suppose they voted from having gone up to the window 
with their votes, though I did not actually see them vote. They were 
Dr. Tisdale and Mr. Nap. B. Wood, of Savannah. There may have 
been other Missourians who voted, but if so I did not know it. I did 
not know the number of legal voters in that precinct except by report, 
though I endeavored to make myself acquainted with the relative 
strength of parties in that district, as I, felt a great interest in the 
matter. I conversed with every one of both parties whom I thought 
were able and willing to give me any information upon the subject. 
My opinion was, from all I learned, that there were about 250 legal 
voters in that district, and about from 30 to 50 majority for the pro- 
slavery party in that district. I am not acquainted with the residents 
of the district generally,, though I am acquainted with a great many 
who did reside there at that time. I saw a great many that I knew 
to be residents of that district, some 50, or 60, or 70, who were at the 
polls, and I saw a good number of them vote^ but I cannot say how 
many ; and some also that I judged did not vote. I attended a meet- 
ing at old man Lohorn's, called by some of the candidates, I under- 
H. Rep. 200 21* 

(■ 



322 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

stood, and Mr. Fee, Mr. Harding, and Captain Whitehead, candidates, 
were there. That was two days before the election of March 30, 1855. 
Captain Whitehead, Mr. Harding, and Mr. Fee addressed the meeting. 
Captain Whitehead said he was a pro-shivery man ; tlie others ap- 
peared to me not to express themselves very decided free State men, 
but the drift of their argument was in favor of a free State. There 
were not more than 12 or 15 voters, I think, at that meeting. I con- 
versed with quite a number of them. I also made a little speech 
there myself, in which I tried to persuade the people that they ought 
to vote the pro-slavery ticket. 

William P, Richardson, now member of the council of this Terri- 
tory, resided at that time in the Territory of Kansas, about 6| miles 
from St. Joseph's, by the usually travelled road, and about 4 miles in 
the most direct way. Major Richardson lived in my house until the 
fall of 1854, September or October. He managed the farm, and at 
the time he left my farm and house turned it over to me, and I have 
had the whole matter to myself, and he has had nothing to do with it. 
He has never lived in my house or on my farm since^ only occasionally 
visiting us. At the time he left my farm he said he was going to re- 
side in Kansas Territory. I have been frequently at his house in 
Kansas since that time. He has a farm in the Territory of Kansas 
which he cultivates. Prior to and at the time of the election of 
March 30, 1855, Major Richardson had between 200 and 300 head of 
cattle in the Territory, and also some slaves, some two or three, some- 
times more. He also had horses and mules, and a circular saw mill. 
He had also some hogs, I think. As to the amount of land he had 
under cultivation at that time, I cannot say, nor how much he had 
enclosed by fences. Major Richardson was an actual resident of Kan- 
sas Territory at the time of that election. Sometime during the day 
of election, perhaps about noon, there was a fight. I got to the place 
of election prior to the opening of the polls. I heard of no quarrel- 
ling or disturbance before the polls were opened, or any threats by per- 
sons of any party. I was present when one of the candidates, I think 
Mr. Fee, got up and stated that the free State ticket was withdrawn. 
I heard a speech, all of it, delivered by Major Richardson on that oc- 
casion. I cannot state the words, but I can state what I recollect of 
the substance and drift of what he said. He said that he was a very 
strong pro-slavery man^ and yet he believed that the honest free State 
men would vote for him. He said he would get up at any time in the 
night to defeat the free State principles, and if elected he would op- 
pose their free soil principles in every way in his power, but in any 
other respect he would represent them impartially. I think that is 
about the substance of all he said upon that subject. I think the 
polls were closed when I left that evening. I got over the river before 
dark, and I think a little after sundown. I went over on a steamboat. 
I do not know how prominent and leading I was in the councils of 
the pro-slavery party on the ground that day. I was in consultation 
with those I considered the leaders of the pro-slavery party at that 
time. There was no fighting committee appointed and left there for 
the day, so far as I know. I think if there had been anything of the 
kind I should have known it, though there might have been such a 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 323 

thing without my knowledge. I never heard of anyhody heing shot 
there that day until within a few days ago^ and I do not believe there 
was any one shot there that day. I cannot say how the Missourians 
who went over there that day were armed. Some few I saw with 
rifles, but the rest had no arms except they were concealed. I had 
none myself. I remember of seeing a few guns on the ground, not 
more than half a dozen, and I do not know that they were all in the 
hands of the Missourians, and cannot say that I saw a single gun in 
the hands of a Missourian. I do not think I saw a pistol or Bowie 
knife in the hands of any one that day. I accompanied Mrs. Rich- 
ardson on the third day before the election to the Territory. I rode 
on horseback, and she went in a two horse wagon driven by a negro 
boy. I left her there, and I believe she returned to my house the day 
after the election, though it may have been later. I came home my- 
self on the day of election. The day after she came to my house, 
Major Richardson, Gary Whitehead, and one of the judges of elec- 
tion, Mr. Blair and Mr. Watterson, representatives elect, left my house 
for the purpose, as they said, of going to Shawnee Mission, where 
Governor Reeder was, for the purpose of making returns of the elec- 
tion, and getting certificates of election for the members elect. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I heard of these rumors that I have spoken of being in existence in 
Missouri in regard to the eastern people coming on here to vote in the 
early part of March, 1855. I heard the matter talked about a good 
deal. I did not hear about the steamboat load of passengers to come 
at the election precinct where I was until about a week before the elec- 
tion. I also heard that there was an emigration of some forty or fifty 
coming to Iowa Point either from Iowa or through Iowa. The report 
was that these persons were coming merely to vote and then return. 
I know nothing about the truth of these reports. I know these per- 
sons were not at the election where I was. It appeared to be generally 
believed, though I doubted it myself. I never tried to trace up this 
report to see where it came from, but I enquired a good deal about it 
to see whether it was reliable or not. I enquired of a good many who 
said they had taken pains to enquire, and they said they believed the 
report to be true. I believe now that a great many did come under 
the influence of the free State aid societies merely to vote, and that 
they did vote and then returned. I saw none at the precinct I was at 
that spring, but I believe they were here at ^this precinct, and that 
they came here that spring. I know nothing at this time about the 
truth or falsity of the report. It was my intention and those with 
whom I conversed to go over to the election and challenge the votes of 
these men if they were ofiered ; if they were ruled out we would have 
been satisfied. If they had not been ruled out I would not have voted 
under any circumstances myself, because I thought I had no legal 
riglit to vote. I would have advised no one else to vote, though I be- 
lieve there were many there, residents of Missouri, who would have 
offered to vote if the judges had decided that the residents of Massa- 
chusetts had a right to vote. I do not now remember that I saw any 



324 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

newly arrived eastern emigrants there that day, and from all I have 
learned I think there were none there. I saw two Missourians go up 
to the polls with tickets in their hands, and believe they voted ; one 
was Dr. Tisdall, who resided in Savannah, Andrews county, Missouri, 
but I do not know his first name ; the other was Nap. B. Wood, of 
Savannah. I did not hear any I knew to be Missourians say they had 
voted. From all I have heard I do not believe there were over ten 
Missourians voted there that day, but I think there were about that 
number of Missourians voted that day. I heard in almost every crowd 
and every little company, where Kansas matters were discussed at all, 
these rumors I have mentioned. I did not come over to Kansas till a 
few days before the election, for the first time that month. I think 
these rumors were very prevalent in our portion of Missouri. I do not 
recollect who was the first one I heard mention this rumor ; I do not 
think I talked with any but citizens of Missouri and pro-slavery men 
of Kansas about this rumor before the election. I think I heard ru- 
mors that there was information derived from steamboat captains and 
others perhaps, that there was a large crowd of these emigrants in St. 
Louis waiting for a chance to come up the river. Gen. William P. 
Eichardson has a wife, and he has lived in this Territory from the fall 
of 1854. His wife lived at my house in Missouri during that time, 
and lives there yet, I do not think that, in the opinion of a sound 
lawyer, a man's residence would be affected by the fact that he lived in 
the Territory and his wife in Missouri, for we hold that a wife's residence 
follows that of her husband. The farm I live on is sometimes desig- 
nated as Major Eichardson' s farm, but I do not think the title was 
ever vested in him. When the house was built it was built upon land 
that never belonged to Gen. Eichardson. I was in Congress at the 
time, and when I came home Gen. Eichardson lived in the house and 
cultivated the farm, and it was commonly known as the Major Eichard- 
son farm; He cultivated the farm before lie lived in that house, 
and continued to cultivate and manage it until the fall of 1854, 
when he ceased to have anything to do with it. His wife has made 
her home with me and he has made his home in Kansas Territory, his 
wife never going over except on visits. Major Eichardson has a farm 
in Kansas, and I think since he has been there the most of his atten- 
tion has been devoted to his cattle as the most important part of his 
farming operations. I do not remember that I know any Bird in the 
district where Major Eichardson resides, or in this part of the State of 
Missouri, and do not think I saw a man by the- name of Bird or of 
Ashburn at the place of election that day. If there were 250 resi- 
dents in the district, I think I was acquainted more or less with a 
fourth of them. John Fee was a candidate before the day of election, 
but on the day of election, before any votes were taken, he witlidrew. 
The following are some of the names of resident Missourians I saw 
there that day : Solomon L. Leonard, Bela M. Hughes, F. C. Hughes, 
John Scott, George Hall, my brother, Gen. Jonathan M. Bassett, 
Eeuben Middleton, W^alker Eead, Silas Woodson, Freston Eichardson, 
John Graves, Wellington Cunningham, Squire E. S. Castle, Captain 
James Craig, Alexander Davis, James Carson, Bean Hamilton, a 
youth of some 15 or 16 years of age, Benjamin F. Stringfellow, Col. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 325 

A. M. Mitchell, Mr. Tocld, and a great many more that I do not now 
remember. I am not aware that the farm I live on has been known 
as Major Richardson's farm since he moved to the Territory in 1854. 
I think it is not. 

WILLARD P. HALL. 
Leavenworth City, May 22, 1856. 



Benjamin H. Brock called and affirmed. 

To Mr. Propper : 

I reside in about five or six miles of the Savannah landing, opposite 
Savannah, Missouri, in the Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth dis- 
trict. I moved in the Territory in the last of September, 1854. I 
was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in the Burr Oak pre- 
cinct, at Bryant's. I got to the place of election after they had com- 
menced voting. Harding informed me that the free State candidates 
had withdrawn. The voting was going on. I then voted for Mr. 
Whitehead, Blair, and Watterson. I saw numbers voting. I saw but 
one man vote that I knew to be a resident of Andrew county, Missouri ; 
his name was Samuel W. Woodcock. There was a large concourse of 
people there. I had seen a young man some time previous to that come 
up and hand in his vote. I did not know the young man, and they 
objected to his voting, and said he was not of age. One of the judges 
presented the Testament or Bible to him. The young man would not 
swear, but left. I asked the judges about the time Mr. Woodcock 
yoted if they apjDlied the same rule to every one who offered to vote as 
they did to this young man, and they told me they would call for me 
when they wanted my advice. I saw a Mr. Castle there, and I had a 
conversation with him. I have known him for the last fifteen years ; 
he was a citizen of Andrew country, and is yet, I believe. His name 
is E. S. Castle, Squire Castle, as they call him. He and I got to talk- 
ing, and I told him jokingly that he must vote, now he had come over, 
and he said he was not entitled to vote. The judges intimated as 
much as if he could vote. It appears to my mind that they said 
he could vote. I think Mr. Whitehead was foremost, but I will 
not be positive about that. I was not very well acquainted in our 
district, and cannot say what the relative strength of parties .then 
was. There were some men I met there I was acquainted with in 
Andrew county^ Ex-sheriff" Crook, two of the Davis's, or Davidson, 

Fleming and Benjamin, I think, were their names. Dr. Baker, 

and many others whose names I cannot recollect. Mr. Teagarden 
and some gentleman I talked with claimed, as I understood, that they 
had a right to vote under the Kansas-Nebraska bill, and that every 
man on the ground had a right to vote ; that their presence in the 
Territory made them voters. Mr. Teagarden had an interest in a 
claim over here. I knew nothing of any the others having claims. 
They agreed that a man coming here and laying out a claim here, 
though still living in Missouri, had a right to vote here. I have seen 
a copy of the poll list furnished by the committee, and saw some 



326 KANSAS AFP AIRS. 

nameR there I was certain were residents of Andrew county at that 
time, Dr. Tisdale and P. 0. H. Craig, William K. Richardson, of 
Bushman county. I left shortly after Judge Leonard got up and asked 
the company to remain until the polls were closed, and I think he said 
the poll-hooks certified, and then they would all return together. I 
saw little disturbance, but it was some one hundred yards from the 
polls, at a grocery. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

I saw but one man vote there that I was positive was not a resident 
of the Territory. I saw numbers voting there. I will not be positive 
that it was Mr. Whitehead who said to Squire Castle that he could 
vote, but I am of the opinion it was. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I emigrated from Andrew county, Misssouri, to Kansas. The 
greater portion of those voting there that day were strangers to me, 
and I do not know whether they lived in the district or not. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I had never been to Major Richardson's place in the Territory. I 
had never seen his mill. At the time of the election I did not know 
what people lived in the neighborhood of Mr. Richardson. 

BENJAMIN H. BROCK. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Mmj 23, 1856. 



Benjamin Duncan called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I resided in the 14th district of this Territory on the 30th March, 
1855, in the Burr Oak precinct. I was acquainted a good deal in 
that neighborhood at that time; I was acquainted with John W. Ste- 
phens. I went over to Kansas in December, 1854, or January, 1855, 
and Stephens was living in the Territory at that time, at Major Rich- 
ardson's, where I went myself. He continued to reside there until 
after the 30th of March. Some few days before the election he went 
across the river on some business, and returned again. I knew Elijah 
Merrill, James Merrill, Mr. Tij)pican, Robert Whitsett, James Wa- 
terson, Gr. W. Bahn, John Doyle, Thomas J. Dolan, Anderson Grled- 
don, M. S. Swiniiey, Sabiot Gledon, Dr. E. F. Wells, William Mi- 
chaels, (was working for Wells,) James Sollers, Olney Evans, William 

H. Allen, Polite Laravier, Edward Snyder, Anderson, Joseph 

Ashley, Francois, a Frenchman, William Shelton, F. Trust, John W. 

Smith, E. M. Morris, Uno, Joseph Peters, Charles Slimer, 

Matthias Rapp, Ilezekiah Jackson, Peter O'Rouke, Benjamin Dunan, 
John W. Stephens, James Gillespie, Henry Lagua, were residents 
of the district. Major Richardson was a resident of the Territory. 
I worked for him about three months, and he was there pretty much 
all the time. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 327 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I have known John W. Stephens since I went to the Territory. I 
heard from him that he was from Virginia. He was a young man, 
•without a family. Mr. Stephens lives near St. Joseph's, Missouri, 
now. His parents are not living in Missouri. He left the Territory 
shortly after the election, though he had a claim in Kansas then, but 
has lost it now, so he told me. I think Elijah Merrill is a man of 
family, and James Merrill is married. They both live in the neigh- 
borhood of Major Richardson, but I do not know whether they live 
there now or not, as I do not live there myselt now ; they were there 
when I went to the Territory. I do not recollect exactly where Tip- 
pican lived then, and do not know where he lives now. I do not 
know where he was from, or how long he had lived in the Territory 
then, and do not know certain whether he has a family or not, but I 
think he has. I cannot say how old he was, and do not know as I saw 
him on election day, or where I saw him last. I never knew him 
anywhere else except in the Territory, and have never been very inti- 
mately acquainted with him ; I recollect of seeing the man there. 
Robert Whitsett had a claim there at that time, but I do not know 
where his family was, but I believe he had one. I do not know where 
he lives at this time ; I know that he lived on his claim on the day of 
election, but I cannot tell how long he had lived there or where he had 
come from. John Doyle had a place near where I was working, and 
had his family with him ; and so with Thomas Dolan. I think that 
a man who lives in the Territory, and has been living there for some 
time, and has his family with him, if he has one, he is a resident. I 
do not recollect much about M. F. Swinney. I think he was there on 
the day of election, and I have seen him there at other times. He 
has a family, and lived between three and four miles from Bryant's. 
Mr. Gladden had a farm there, and his family with him. Mr. Wells 
was living there. Joseph Sollers is a farmer, and had a family there ; 
he came from Missouri, and is between twenty-five or thirty years old. 
I left the neighborhood about two weeks after the election, and have 
not been back to that neighborhood since. Mr. Anderson is a man of 
family, and had his family with him. I think Mr. Trent's business 
is a farmer. I do not know that any of them even had any other 
house. John M. Smith had a claim, a,nd was living on it. E. M. 
Morris lives west of Major Richardson's place, and had a family, and 
was living there at the time of election ; he came there with his fam- 
ily sometime during the winter. 

To. Mr. Scott: 

I went from Major Richardson down on the bottom, opposite St. Jo- 
seph's ; got married, and went to California by the way of Salt Lake. 
I left mv wife here on a claim I had. I got back the last part of 
March, 1856. 

BENJ. DUNCAN, his x mark. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 23, 1856. 



328 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Charles W. Stewart called and sworn. 

To Mr. Propper : 

I moved into the Territory on the 15th of January, 1855. I came 
originally from Indiana, by the way of St. Joseph's. I moved in 
Doniphan County, in Burr Oak precinct, 14th district. I was at the 
election of the 30th of March, 1855, at the house of Mr. Bryant. 
There were a great many people there, more than I had expected. I 
should suppose there were something like 300 people on the ground. 
I arrived there about 10 o'clock in the morning, and the voting had 
been carried on for some time. There were a great many strangers 
there, and many I knew to be citizens of Missouri. I am of opinion 
that there was at least 50 persons from Missouri that I was acquainted 
with. I had lived near St. Joseph's five years, or something near it, 
and was acquainted with most of the citizens there at that time. 
Some of those I knew were William Hughes, an acting justice of the 
peace, F. W. Smith, Mr. James Clark, Merrill Willis, Evan Rich- 
ardson, Mr. M. Moore, Mr. Northcut, the proprietor of a mill, Squire 
Carson, and a great many others I know. Mr. Cundiff, the editor of 
the St. Joseph's Gazette, and Wm. K. Richardson were there. I am not 
very well acquainted all through the district ; well acquainted in 
some portions of the district, and not in others. At that time, I am 
of opinion that the free State party had a majority of the regular legal 
residents in that district. I voted that day. I think that the major 
part of the free State men did not vote. My understanding with them 
was that they would not vote, because the opposite party had driven 
their candidates from the track, and they did not intend to participate 
in the election. The crowd there broke up as persons usually break 
up at elections, and went off I do not know where. Some were on 
the ground when I left. I think I did not hear any speeches made 
that day. I do not recollect of seeing any persons vote. I had some 
conversation with some of them in regard to voting. They pretended 
to say that there had been a rush of abolitionists to the Territory to 
vote, and that they had an equal right to vote in the Territory. It 
^as contended by many that they had a right to vote, but I do not 
^now upon what ground except perhaps that they were j)resent. They 
gave as a reason for voting that it was in retaliation to the course 
pursued by the abolitionists. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

I do not know what free State men left the polls without voting. 
Matthew Isle told me he did not vote. I have looked at the poll 
lists, and I do not find the names of some free State men I know. I 
do not know of my own knowledge that any free State men went 
home without voting. I do not re'collect the persons who said that 
the other_ party had driven off our candidates. I think Mr. Fee, or 
Mr. Harding, I am not certain which, told me that they had withdrawn 
their names to prevent bloodshed, as a party had come over from 
Missouri the evening before with arms, and encamped upon the ground 
near there. No one tried to prevent my voting that day. I voted for 
Capt. Whitehead, and no one else. 1 made nothing like a speech 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 329* 

there. I said I was a candidate for " Congers/' as we used to say in 
Indiana wlien we were boys, and used to go sparking old Congers 
daughters, but I made nothing like a speech. I got some liquor at 
the Indian wigwam, took it with Squire Carson, Major Richardson, 
and Judge Leonard, some whiskey the Missourians had brought over. 

Mr. Evan Richardson tantalized me by saying "what will you do 
with your abolition sentiments to day, just look there, " pointing to 
the wagons. There was not I think the very best feeling there 
between the parties. I saw some guns in wagons, but am not positive 
about seeing any upon persons. One gentleman in company with 
Merrill "Willis told me he was from Grand river, and had come over 
with a wagon in which there were some guns, and showed me his gun. 
If I saw any person armed it was with nothing but side arms, but I 
could not say I saw even that. 

C. W. STEWART. -^ 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 23, 1856. 



Colonel A. M. Mitchell sworn. 

Question. Were you at the election at Burr Oak precinct ? 

Ansiver. I was. 

Question. How was that election conducted ; was it quiet and 
orderly? 

Ansiver. I considered it as much so as elections usually are. 

Question. Did you see many Missourians there ? 

Ansiver. I did. 

Question. Do you know the object of the Missourians being there ? 

Ansiuer. It was understood at St. Joseph's that two or three steam- 
boats were to arrive about the time of the election loaded with 
Emigrant Aid men from the north, for the purjDose of voting and 
carrying the election at this precinct for the free State men, and the 
people of St. Joseph's and vicinity determined they would be on the 
ground in large numbers and prevent them from voting who had 
come there merely for the purpose of voting. 

Question. Do you know where W. P. Richardson lives? 

Ansiver. To the best of njy belief he is a resident of Kansas. 

Question. Do you believe he was a resident of Kansas on the 30th 
of March, 1855. 

Ans2uer, I do. 

Question. Have you a knowledge that he was a resident of the 
Territory at the time of the first congressional election in the Terri- 
tory ? 

Ansiver. I believe he was a resident there, and has been ever since. 

Q uestion. Did you make a speech in St. Joseph's a few days before 
t he election ; and what did you advise the Missourians to do ? 

Ansiver. I did ; and advised them that they had no right to vote 
in the Territory. 

Questioned by committee : 

Did not other prominent citizens of Missouri take a different view 



330 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of the law, and claim that any one on the ground in the Territory on 
the day of election had a right to vote ? 

Ansiuer. I know of no one but General Stringfellow, who took that 
ground at the public meeting at which I spoke. I don't remember 
that the other speakers defined tlieir positions in that respect. 

A. M. MITCHELL. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 23, 1856. 



Henry S. Creal testifies. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I was residing in the Territory on March 30, 1855, and was at the 
election on that day, at Mr. Bryant's in Burr Oak precinct, in the 
fourteenth district. I was acquainted with very many of the resi- 
dents of the district, and I think the pro-slavery party had a decided 
majority in the district at that time, seventy-five ; perhaps more on 
the day of election. Major Richardson resided at that time in Kan- 
sas Territory. I know this from the fact that I was frequently at his 
residence, and he was our candidate for councilman. I took some 
pains to inform myself as to the number of resident voters in the dis- 
trict, and I think there was at least three hundred votes, and my 
belief is increased from the vote polled at our primary elections. 
The weather was very bad, and we polled at the primary election 
over one hundred votes, and I am satisfied not one-third of the voters 
in the district were out at that time. I was acquainted with a great 
many Missourians who were over there. Their object in coming, as I 
understand, was to make Kansas a slave State if possible. It was 
rumored there, and believed by many, that a great number of men 
would be sent into the Territory by the eastern aid society to be at 
our election, and that there would be some at our place of election, 
and the Missourians came over there to prevent them from voting, 
and to counteract their voting. I saw no arms there on the day of 
election. There was no disturbance of any kind at the polls, and it 
was as quiet and orderly an election as I ever saw. I think the free 
State candidates were not driven from the field by any threats or op- 
position. I did not hear Mr. Fee's announcement of withdrawal. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

The report about the Emigrant Aid Society was believed up to 
the day of election. It was said at that time, and the name of the 
captain was given, that many of these eastern people were on their 
way up the river, and it was determined by the captain of the boat to 
ground his boat below St. Joseph's. It was generally believed, I 
think. It was expected that these emigrants would arrive at the 
precinct the day before the election. It is likely, if the emigrants 
had been coming as was rumored, they would have landed at St, 
Joseph's, as that would have been their most convenient point. The 
boats going up and down the river almost always stop at St. Joseph's. 
I presume if they had arrived, it would liave been kno.wn at St. Jo- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 331 

seph's. Some of the citizens of St. Joseph's came over on the day of 
election, and some the day before. It is likely those who came over 
knew the rumor as to our district was not true in regard to these emi- 
grants. The reason I heard given was that they came over in conse- 
quence of this rumor, and they came over for the purpose of counter- 
acting this emigrant vote and preventing their voting. I think that 
rumor, judging from the actions of the leading citizens of St. Jo- 
seph's, was believed by them on tlie day of election. The claim was 
made by myself and by others, as a matter of right, that the citizens 
of Missouri had a right to vote in Kansas if they were on the ground 
on the day of election. I do not know how far this was believed. 
Some believed that and others did not. Some said they had no right 
to vote, and others that they had a right to vote and would vote. 
There was also the other claim in relation to counteracting the action 
of this eastern Emigrant Aid Society. 

•To Mr. Scott: 

I have heard resident Missourians claim that they had a right to 
vote merely because of their presence on the day of election at the 
j)olls in Kansas. The general doctrine was that if they were present 
on the ground on the day of election, and lived in Missouri at the 
same time, but had claims in the Territory, and intended to come 
over here to settle, they therefore had a right to vote here. I have 
no doubt but that Major Kichardson got a majority of the legal votes 
cast on that day. Very many of the freesoilers did not vote. I have 
no doubt but what Major Richardson received at least two-thirds of 
the legal votes cast that day. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I saw no force resorted to on that day to prevent the free State men 
from voting or attempted to be employed, and I do not believe such a 
thing was thought of by any of my part3^ I never attended an elec- 
tion vvdiere so much interest was felt where there seemed to be so 
much good feeling between the people there. 



H. S. CREAL. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 23, 1856. 



George W. Gillespie called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory on April 11, 1855. On March 30, 1855, 
I was at St. Joseph's, Missouri, on my way to the Territory, with my 
teams and goods, and I crossed the river there and voted in the Ter- 
ritory just below Whitehead's. There were a great many at that 
election. I should think there were two thousand of them. I had 
no conversation with them, and as soon as I voted I crossed back. I 
saw these men going up to the window where the votes were taken, 
but I cannot tell where they were from. I do not recollect whether 
they were armed or not. There was a dinner provided there free to 
all who wanted to eat. I eat there and paid nothing for my dinner. 
When I came over from St. Joseph's to vote, and ^ hen I went back 



332 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

to meet ray family on the road, there was a large crowd along. There 
was no charge for ferriage either way. The boats were passing back- 
wards and forwards all the day. After voting and returning I went 
down the river to meet my family, who were on their way to the 
Territory, and met them and crossed at Weston, some twenty-five 
miles below, and came to the Territory and have been here since. 
General Eichardson appeared to be the leader of the party that day. 
The place of voting was just opposite St. Joseph's some four and a 
half miles from the landing. I do not remember who were the can- 
didates, except that Eichardson and Whitehead were running for 
council. My two sons came over and voted at the same time, as did 
my son-in-law. Upon examining the poll list of the fourteenth dis- 
trict. Burr Oak precinct, I find that I voted No. 170. This I can 
onlv tell bv finding it on the poll books. 

G. W. GILLESPIE. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



Gary B. Whitehead called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I live in Doniphan county, in what was formerly Burr Oak pre- 
cinct, in the fourteenth district in this Territory. I moved from St. 
Joseph's, Missouri, in January, 1854, to the Territory; I made my 
claim in July^ 1853. I am at present sherifl" of Doniphan county; I 
was one of the judges of election at Burr Oak precinct at the election 
of the 30th of March, 1855, to which office I had been appointed by 
Governor Eeeder, and acted as judge at that time. I think I was as 
well acquainted, perhaps better than any other man there, with the 
residents of the district at the time of the election. I should judge 
that at that time there were about four hundred voters in that pre- 
cinct, though there may have not been over three hundred and fifty. 
There were no votes cast on the day of election but what we considered 
legal at the time. I have been examining the poll books and I find 
some names upon them I do not now recollect, and a great many I do 
recollect. There are a number of French and German names which 
I do not recollect now. There are French, German, and Norwegians 
living in that precinct whom I know by sight but not by name, and 
they were legal voters at that time and they voted. . In looking over 
the poll books I find the names of many who were sworn, as they were 
not naturalized and had merely filed their intention to become citi- 
zens. I know there were such persons living in the precinct at the 
time of election, but I do not recollect their names. I have examined 
the list of legal voters taken from the poll books and given in the tes- 
timony of Mr. Heed, numbering some 130, and I think I know pretty 
nearly every man on that list to have been a legal voter at that elec- 
tion. There are some few names I do not recollect. I have examined 
the poll books of that election and have made out a list of eighty-one 
additional names of legal voters, that I know the names of, and I 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 333 

knew to liave been legal voters at the election of the SOtli of March, 
1865, they are as follows: 

B. E. Lowen, John Edmondson, Oby Evans, J. Peters, H. Doyle, 
E. K. King, James Koberts, Sherrod Lawhorn, James Lawhorn, E. 
C. Smith, C. L. Parker, Polite Levier, K. Dodd, S. M. Gardner, J. 
Denoble, J. W. Stej)hens, Edward Snider, K. Osborne, James Lovel, 
S. P. Blair, E. Moran, S. J. Floyd, William J. Poland, J. M. Parker, 
Madison Osborne, Philip Manuel, W. H. Gillespie, William McGrew, 
William Chapman, William Ayres, Porter G. Koberts, P. H, Eob- 
erts, John P. Brady, J. Pecar, T. Reed, John Arnet, John Hender- 
son, N. Holmes, Q. Ball, Elijah Merrill, F. Duvall, J. Randolph, J. 
C. Stmup, E. F. Wild, David Jones, Levi Lyman, J. P. Irvin, J. 
Craft, William Davis, Benjamin Sproiise, John Kelly, S. K. Camell, 
Levi Shepherd, F. Lariman, Thomas Howell, James Taylor, F. Pur- 
cell, G. W. Gillespie, R. B. Ayre, J. Welsh, W. J. Copeland, C. M. " 
Gilmore, J. Morrow, Horace Teron, Henry Roat, Francis Murphy, 
Gaspar Lariman, G. W. Davis, G. Armstrong, J. Beattie, Joseph 
Gillespie, William Michaels, A. C. More, E. Taylor, Philip Kerlin, 
Jacob Osenberger, Samuel Anderson, James Michaels, G. B. Groomer, 
and William J. Palmer, eighty-one in all. There are in that county, 
in what used to be Burr Oak precinct, two ferries from St. Joseph's — 
one at Whitehead, one at Palermo, one at Bontown, one at Boston, 
one at Kelly's Ferry. They were all employing men, four to six 
hands to each boat, and they lived in the Territory, and were con- 
sidered legal voters, but I do not know all their names. There are 
names on the poll books that I cannot recollect anything about, and a 
good many that I know were present and voted, but I cannot recollect 
now where they lived. There were a great many more legal votes 
cast that day for Major Richardson than were necessary to elect him 
over Captain Whitehead, even if Captain Whitehead had got all the 
free State votes in that precinct ; and if all the free State ticket had 
run, I have no doubt they would have been beaten. I told the free 
State candidates that morning that I would bet them $100 that if 
they run we^would beat them one hundred clean votes, and there 
should be no illegal voting done that day. I went to the polls that 
morning tolerable early. Just as I got to the polls I met John Fee; 
he was the first man I spoke to there. He spoke to me, and said he 
wished me to do my duty as judge oi election on that day; that he 
and the other two free State candidates, Harding and Larzelere, had 
concluded to withdraw from the field, with the understanding that 
they were to use their influence for John Whitehead, my brother. I 
asked him his reason for withdrawing. He stated that he had can- 
vassed the district, and was satisfied their ticket could not be elected ; 
he thought Le liimself might be elected, but he could not pack Hard- 
ing and Larzelere. Just at that time Harding came up, and we con- 
tinued to talk for soujc few minutes, and Harding himself acknow- 
ledged that they had concluded to resign and use their influence in 
favor of Captain Whitehead; this was at least an hour or an hour and 
a half before the polls were opened or the judges elected. I told Fee 
that the pro-slavery party could beat them one hundred votes in the 
district ; that I had counted them and could tell him to a man the 



334 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

difference between the two parties. I told them that from the best 
calculation I could make the pro-slavery vote in that precinct was just 
eighty-seven votes more than the freesoil vote, and I told them they 
might run and we would show them that it was so. I tried to get 
them to run for that purpose. I put a hundred cattle in the rush 
brake, and I paid the Indians $50 for the privilege of doing so, and 
have done so since 1852. In this way, and because I herded alto- 
gether about a thousand head of cattle, I had a better chance than 
any one else to tell who lived in the district. Major Richardson 
resided at that time in Burr Oak precinct, in Richardson bottom, or 
Bontown bottom, or Big Trout Lake, about a mile and a half from 
the town of AVhiteiiead. Major Richardson bouglit that claim in the 
latter part of the summer of 1854, from William Jordan, and gave 
$250 for it, and has been living on it ever since. I have staid with 
him, I should think, a hundred nights, and I rarely ever found him 
away from the place. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard: 

By legal voters,, I mean that the greater portion were inhabitants 
of the Territory at that time. They had claims there, had property 
there, had houses there, and were living there, though some of them 
did not have their families there. Many came up and offered their 
votes, and declared they were resident citizens of the Territory and 
were willing to swear to it. A number of them I did swear, and I 
called on the people standing round, that if they thought proper, then 
was the i)ioper time to challenge their votes. I consideied those per- 
sons legal voters who had claims and property there, and were living 
on their claims, whether their families were with them or not. I knew 
at that time, and I know now where every man lived and lives that I 
have put on my list. The most of them had claims, though some 
were hired out, some in the saw-mill, some on the ferry boats. I am 
not very well acquainted in Missouri. I recognized some names on 
the poll books that I knew lived in Missouri at that time. Evan Rich- 
ardson was there and claimed to be a citizen of the Territory, but he 
has not moved into the Territory since. He claimed to be a resident, 
and said he had a claim, and we allowed him to vote. I have never 
seen his claim, and he has never moved on to any claim that I know 
of. A large majority of the men in the list I have given had claims, 
though all were not living on their claims, but some were out at work 
for other persons. One young man came up to vate, said he was a 
citizen and had a claim, and ninety-nine men out of one hundred 
would have taken him to be twenty-three or twenty-four years old. 
The other two judges were about to let him vote, and I questioned him 
about his age, and he admitted he was not twenty-one years of age, 
and he did not vote. J. W. Stephens is now in Kentucky, I think. 
He then lived in the district and worked for Major Richardson. He 
was a carpenter. Wm. K. Richardson was there. He had a claim in 
the Territory, and lived almost as much in the Territory as he does in 
St. Joseph's, where his family is^ but I do not know as he has ever had 
his i'amily over there with him. He has a farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres on the prairie, all fenced in. I do not know -whether the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 335 

names I have given on my list were all on the census. The county- 
was settling every day after the census was taken, and has been set- 
tling almost every day since. The men I put on my list came mostly 
from Missouri. The most of our county of Doniphan is settled from 
Buchanan, Platte, and Andrew counties, Missouri. I called all those 
who had claims, made improvements, and lived on their claims, 
whether they had their families with them or not, legal voters. There 
were some Missourians who had cattle and claims in the Territory 
without calling themselves citizens, though not many. 

GARY B. WHITEHEAD. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



Thomas W. Watterson called and sworu. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I reside in Doniphan county, Kansas Territory, and have resided 
there with my family since June, 1854. I removed to St. Joseph's, 
Missouri_, from Butler county, Ohio, lelt my family there some six 
weeks, and then took them to the Territory. I am quite well ac- 
quainted with the Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district, and 
was about the second family that moved into that precinct after the 
treaty was made with the Indians. On the 30th of March, 1855, the 
weight of the population of that precinct was contained in the Burr 
Oak bottom, the St. Joseph's bottom, the neighborhood of Major 
Richardson, and the Cadue bottom, or the bottom below St. Joseph's 
bottom. To the best of my recollection there was very little over 
thirty votes in other parts of the district. I was at almost every 
house in the precinct twice before that election. I was a pro-slavery 
candidate for the legislature before the preliminary conventions of 
the pro-slavery party. I think there was five of us |)ro-slavery can- 
didates, all desirous of receiving the nomination. The last time I 
passed over that precinct was immediately before the election, not 
exceeding two or three days. It was but a day or two before the elec- 
tion, when I got through canvassing that precinct. I took a good 
deal of pains in regard to finding out the number of voters in that 
precinct, and the way they would vote on the slavery question. I 
had a memorandum book in my pocket, and I took down the names 
of those voters who were in favor of the pro-slavery ticket, and also 
those in favor of the freesoil ticket, and also those who Avere doubt- 
ful, making three classes. The object I had in doing this was to find 
our strength. After dividing the doubtful ones among the pro-slavery 
and free State parties, our proportion was about two to one. And we 
had a decided majority if we gave all the doubtful ones to the free 
State party. I do not recollect precisely the number of actual resi- 
dents in that precinct, it was in the neighborhood of three hundred, a 
few more or less. This I made out as near as I could. In the Cadue 
bottom and the neighborhood, I should judge there was from fifteen 
to twenty voters ; there may have been a few more. All that I know- 
about the division in the free State party, is what I heard one family 



336 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

say who were called freesoilers. I cannot saj anything except in this 
particular instance. My opinion is, that the free State candidates 
could not have got the full strength of the fresoil party, though it 
may not have fell short much. I have conversed with Charles Slimer 
a number of times, both before and after the election, and he has 
always expressed himself in favor of the pro-slavery party. I did not 
see him vote on the 30th of March, 1855, but he said that he voted 
the pro-slavery ticket. I was a justice of the peace, appointed by 
Governor Reeder in November, 1854, and held the office until the 
assembling of the legislature. I went in comj^any with those elected 
in the Burr Oak precinct to Governor Reeder for the purpose of ob- 
taining our certificates, and we obtained them without any objections 
from any quarter. Governor Reeder told me we deserved credit for 
the manner in which our election was conducted. 

I believe that on our way down we did not meet any men from the 
east who had been here in the Territory and voted and was then on their 
way back. We met some coming in the Territory who told me that 
they were to have been here before the election, and appeared to be 
very much out of humor because the officers of the boat did not de- 
liver them here as soon as they had promised. I was not acquainted 
with any of them ; did not inquire their names. A large portion of 
what I saw was after we got to the main road from Kansas City, Mis- 
souri, into the Territory_, between there and the Shawnee Mission, 
and then we were hardly ever out of sight of groups of from two or 
three to half a dozen. Nearly all we met were men, on foot, with 
-carpet sacks and bundles in their hands. They said the agreement 
was that they should have been landed here before the election. We 
rather led them on to speak by saying they were too late for the 
election, and they said the agreement was that they should have been 
before the election, and seemed very much put out because the steam- 
boat had not got up sooner. They said nothing that I recollect of 
about voting if they had got here in time. I asked where they were 
from, and they said from Massachusetts. I do not recollect that they 
said anything about the Emigrant Aid Society ; whetlier they were 
sent, or came of their own accord. We remained at the Mission some 
five or six days, and as we returned we met a number of men travel- 
ling in a similar manner, going out of the Territory. I made no in- 
quiry of them, and I do not recollect that any of our company did. 
I could not say whether they were the same men or not that we met 
going in. My impression was that they were eastern men. I went 
over in a wagon to Willard P. Hall's, with Mrs. and Major Richardson, 
at the time we started down to see the governor, some day or two after 
the election, the 2d of April, I think, though I may be mistaken as to 
the time. Willard P. Hall was not in company with us at the time 
of the election of the 30th of March, 1855. Major Richardson resided 
in the Burr Oak precinct . Only two days before the election I was at 
his house, in what we called the Richardson bottom, about two miles 
east from where I live. Mrs. Richardson came over while I was there 
in a two horse or mule wagon, a black man driving. Major Richard- 
son has a double log cabin as good as most of us have, some servants 
there, some hands employed, and all carried on as if they were living 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 337 

at home. 1 think it was in Octoher, 1854, that he commenced house- 
keeping there. I had eaten at his house a number of times before the 
election. He liad cleared a pretty considerable field and prepared the 
ground, prior to the election, for planting. Messrs. Fee, Harding, and 
Larzalere did not canvass the district at the time of that election near 
as much as Ave did. I heard of them once in the Cadue bottom, and 
once in the Burr Oak bottom. I did not hear that they bad been 
from house to house as I liad. The Lawborns told me they voted the 
pro-slavery ticket, but they had intended to have voted tbe free-State 
ticket at first, but after they heard the speeches of the free-State can- 
didates they determined to go for the pro-slavery ticket, 

T. W. WATTERSON. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., Maij 24, 185G. 



Albekt HeeI) called and sworn. 

I live about four or five miles west of St. Joseph's, in this Terri- 
tory, in the town of Watbeua, and have been living near there sincfe 
July, 1854, with my family, and without my family from April to 
July, 1854. I was raised in Oliio, came to Missouri, and then to the 
Territory. I was born in Virginia. I live in the Burr Oak precinct, 
in Doniphan county, and have been since July, 1854. Governor 
Reeder appointed me to take the census of the fourteenth district, 
which I did, and got me to distribute the election blanks in the 
district, I. consider I was pretty well accjuainted with most every 
person in the Burr Oak precinct at the time of the election of the 30th 
of March, 1855. ' I had considerable conversation with Governor 
Reeder about that election, when I was down there and made the 
censu.s returns. He told me he expected a great many emigrants into 
the Territory before tbe election, and a great many of them from the 
east ; he came to speak of it when speaking of the annoyance he had 
from the many letters of inquiry he received in regard to the Terri- 
tory. He said he expected a great many into the Territory, especially 
from Pennsylvania, I had been in Pennsylvania, and had a great 
many connexions there. Some he knew, and that is the way the 
conversation came up. He" asked me for information in regard to 
laying ofi" the different precincts in tbe district, which I gave him. 
He said the only op})ortunity he had of getting such information was 
from those who had been taking the census. Burr Oak precinct was 
laid off according to lines recommended by me. He made a good deal 
of inquiry in regard to the politics of those in the district, and how 
they stood upon the slavery question, and that alone, I represented 
to him that in the lines of the Burr Oak precinct I proposed, there 
was a free- State majority ; this was while we were laying off the 
district, I do not know as he expressed any interest in having a free- 
State majority in the district thus laid out. I asked Governor Reeder 
then what time the election would take place. He said he did not 
know exactly, as there was one census return that had not come in, 
and he could not appoint the time until the census returns were all 
H. Rep. 200 22* 



338 KANSAS AFFAIRS, 

in. He said he sliould have some considerable trouble in apportion- 
ing the districts. I think this was in the last of February or the 
first of March, 1855. I was introduced by Governor Reeder to 
General Pomeroy^ and I have seen him but once since. I do not 
know what his business was. I think General Pomeroy told me the 
election would take place about the 27th or 28th of March ; this was 
while I was down with the returns to Governor Reeder. I think I. 
was pretty well acquainted with most of the actual resident voters in 
the Burr Oak precinct at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. 
During the time I was taking the census there were emigrants coming 
in almost every day. There were some few who had got in at the 
time I finished the census, which I did not put down. I noticed that 
as soon as I began to take the census they began to come in so as to 
be on their claims. I do not recollect distinctly the number of voters 
in that precinct. All the names of the voters for the district were 
given in together. I think the number in Burr Oak precinct was 
little over the proportion for two representatives and one councilman— 
that is, 215 ; but it was something near the proportion, so far as I 
recollect. I do not know how many was there at the time of the 
election ; there was more than when I took the census ; I think there 
were about 300. A great many who came in — a large majority — 
were pro-slavery men who came over from Buchanan county, Missouri, 
who had made claims and improvements previously, and who moved 
on their claims that spring. I have examined the poll-books of the 
30th of March, 1855, and find there the following names that I know 
to have been actual residents at that time : 

E. Blackstone, Thomas H. Baker, Mr. Dix, Samuel Montgomery, 
F. Ridge, B. D, Hodgwood, Wm. N. Irish, F. B. Anderson, E. G, 
Robinson, James Sollers, James Watterson, Thomas Dolan, W. 
Thomas, Joseph Skinner, George Shaw, Wm. Jordan, A. A. Hughes, 
Wm. Deckord, Wm, Ridge, A. Larzelere, Jerry Lewis, Peter O'Roke, 
Matthias Rapp, Wm. M. Morgan, J. W. Smith, J. M. Morrill, W. 
H. Allen, Samuel Piles, J. D. Armstrong, J. M. Fay, John Doyle^ 
Anderson Gladden, Henry Lewis, Robert Whitsett, John W. Cope- 
land, J. D. La whom, N. Bell, Matthew Elliot, R. Nyax, Hezekiah 
Jackson, H. Thompson, M. F. Swinny, Wm. Skelton, L. D. Cooke, 
Charles Eggers, P. Lowry, 0. Hulan, Joseph Ashley, J. Coke, E, 
P. Weaver, L. McLellan, J. Yonder, S. L. Sollies, Wm. Matthews, 
Benjamin Duncan, L. Copeland, Wilson D. Moore, H. D. Adams, 
H. Smallwood, J. W. Smith, W. B. Shoupe, J.^M. Farmer, Samuel 
Kirkpatrick, F. Trent, B. H. Brock, John Copeland, J. Kendall, 
Wm. Palmer, J. Groomes, John Fee, Philip James, James O'Toole, 
Peter Cadue, Major Adair, Jarrett Treble, A. Treble, Charles 
Cradier^ John Trottman, H. L. Creal, Charles Skinner, Eli Copeland, 
J. J. Lovelady, M. E. Bryant, Wm. Laforge, Fro^t Snow, Benjamin 
Harding, John McCafferty, Joel P. Blair, C. M. Stewart, Newton 
R. Carter, Thomas Blanherslap, Francis Torry, Mathew Toles, W. 
Dodson, Joseph Seliflf, James O'Toole, sen., A. G. Mansfield, Thomas 
Stewart, F. M. Morse, A. B. Groomes, H. H. Churnley, Noah Vogan, 
Richard Morris, S. E. Morris, R. L. Morris, Bart. McCall, Wm. P. 
Richardson, Thomas W. Watterson, Albert Heed, W; Fee, D. O'Toole, 



KAirSAS AFFAIRS. 339 

James R. Whitehead, C. B. Whitehead, H. J. Johnson, Wm. A. 
Hill, Wm. Arthur, Tapley Ralph, John H. Whitehead, Roberts, 

Howe, Gilham, Findle, Pendleton, Kincade, Reed, 

Treble— 130 in ail. 

There are a good many names on the poll-books I cannot make 
out. I was one of the judores of the election. At the time of the 
■election I was pretty well acquainted in St. Joseph's, Missouri, as I 
had lived there some five years. I find upon the poll-books : Nathan 
Newly, Nimrod Duncan, sen., William Salley, E. Richardson. 
There is a young Himrod Duncan living in the district, and an old 
man Nimrod Duncan lived in Missouri. I know an Evan Richardson 
in Missouri, but no E, Richardson in the district. I thought Wm, 
■Salley was a legal voter at the time of the election_, but now I think 
he was not. There were other legal voters in the precinct I did not 
know by name, or did not know their first names. Some few in the 
district who were legal voters did not vote. Major Richardson was a 
resident of Burr Oak precinct when I took the census, and I took din- 
ner with him ; Mrs. Richardson was there and sat at the head of the 
table. Mr. Blackstone, one of the judges of election appointed by 
Crovernor Reeder, said he could not serve, as he had to attend to his 
ferry opposite St. Joseph's, He was a pro-slavery man, and has been 
ever since I knew him. 

ALBERT HEED, 

Leavenwoeth City, K. T., May 24, 1856. 



Joel P. Blair called and sworn, 

To.Mr. Scott: 

I reside in Doniphan county, and in what was formerly the Burr 
Oak precinct^ in the fourteenth district, in Kansas Territory. I was 
a pro-slaver}'^ candidate in that precinct at the election of the 30th of 
March, 1855, regularly nommated on the ticket by the primary meet- 
ings in the precinct. I canvassed the precinct three days, and rode 
pretty much all over it. My business was to learn all I could about 
the strength of the free State and pro-slavery parties, and I went 
around until I was satisfied that there was a majority on the pro- 
slavery side of nearly two to one. I suppose I was acquainted with a 
majority of the voters in the precinct. Some neighborhoods I was ac- 
quainted in, and some I was not. 

I v/as at the place of holding the polls on the 30th of March, 1855, 
and was there when the announcement was made of the withdrawal 
of the free State ticket. I saw no indication of hostility between the 
two parties, either before or after the free State ticket was withdi*awn, 

1 have examined the poll-books furnished by this committee ot the 
election of the 30th of March, 1855, in Burr Oak precinct, with a view 
of finding what names of legal voters of that precinct I could find, 
in addition to those lurnished by Mr. Heed in his testimony, and I 
found some twenty or so that are not on Mr. Heed's list. 

Major Richardson lived, prior to and at the time of the election, in 



340 KANSAS AFFAIKS. 

wliat was called the Bontown bottom. I was at his honse in the win- 
ter previous to the election several times, and spent the night at hi? 
house. He had a double house, living as men do elsewhere, with bed- 
ding, turuiture, tl'c, and cattle and hogs on his place, and some dogs 
about the place. He has been residing there ever since. 

I went down to Governor Eeeder to get mv certificate of election. 
He told me his family was in Pennsylvania, and be was going for 
them in a few days, and could not convene the legislature tor some 
two months. He did not say that his family had ever been in the 
Territory, or how much family he ever had. I do not know as he 
ever had any family in the Territory. I knew him while he was 
boarding at the Shawnee Mission, after he came back, which was 
nearly if not quite all the time the legislature was in session. Gov- 
ernor Eeeder gave me a certificate of election to the legislature without 
any objection being made, as also to Major Richardson and Mr. Wat- 
tersfon. 

JOEL P. BLAIE, 

Leavenworth City. K. T., 3Iay 26, 1856, 



JoHiS' H. "Whitehead called and sworn. 

I moved into the Territory in the fall of 1854, from St. Joseph '^ff. 
Missouri, and settled about five miles northwest of St. Joseph's, in the 
Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth district. I was at the election of 
the 30th ot March, 1855, at Bryant's. Myself, Major Eichardson, 
and Mr, Harding were candidtites for council. Mr. Blair and Mr, 
Watterson on one side, Mr. Fee and Mr. Larzelere on the other, or free 
State side, were candidates for house of representatives. On the morn- 
ing of the election, Messrs. Fee, Larzelere and Harding, the free State 
candidates, withdrew. On the day before the election I held a confer- 
ence with Mr. Fee, as to the position that we all occupied before the 
people of the district, and our conclusion was, that Mr. Harding and 
Mr. Larzelere were not strong enough to carry the vote of the free State 
party, consequently there was no chance tor their success. He prom- 
ised that when they met the next morning on the ground of election, 
he would use his influence with those men to withdraw and cast their 
suffrages for me. It was generally rumored among our people that 
the people of Missouri were coming over to vote at our election. I do 
not know whether it was generally credited or not, but it was believed 
by some and not believed by others. Missoiirians did come across on 
the day before and the morning of election, a good many of them — I 
should suppose from one hundred and fifty to two hundred. I think 
some of them voted. My acquaintance in and around St. Joseph's 
was about as good as any man who lived there, I think, as I had lived 
there pretty much since 1S39. I was present at the polls most of the 
time, but not all — backwards and forwards during the day. My 
memory is bad as to names, and I may not be able to call over now 
those I saw there. I s^aw some of them vote. They claimed to vote 
"because people were coming to vote from the east right into the Ter- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 341 

ritory to the election, and their voting was but a set-ofF to the other. 
I do not recollect that they claimed any right to vote because of the 
provisions of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. I think the reason I have 
given was the only one I heard given. The polls opened about 
eight or nine o'clock in the morning. I think the judges ap- 
pointed by the governor did not serve, but I heard them assign no 
reason for their not serving. Mr. 0. Huron did not serve that 
day. He was on the ground part of the time. I do not recollect 
whether he was on the ground before the polls were opened or not. 
I did not hear them say why he did not serve. Mr. Blackston and 
Mr. Huron did not serve, and I do not recollect the third man ap- 
pointed by the governor as judge. I do not know how the judges who 
did serve were chosen, for it was not done in my presence Mr. Heed, 
Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Whitehead, my brother, served as judges that 
day, and were all residents of the district at that time. There was 
some objection made to the Missourians voting when they went up to 
vote. I challenged one man's vote myself, the vote of Mr. Newby, 
who lived in the east part of Buchanan county, Missouri. I think he 
was permitted to vote ; he was not sworn, to the best of my recollec- 
tion. I did not see any one sworn that day as to their qualifications 
to vote, though there might have been. When I challenged his vote, 
I do not know that any particular reason was given why he should 
vote, and we stood there awhile, and I asked the judges if they were 
going to allow him to vote, and no answer was made that I recollect 
of. I walked away then. He voted. I have known this man since 
he was a small boy, and he is a man of family now, and I was satis- 
fied he had not moved to Kansas, even if he had a claim I do not 
recollect now whether I stated to the judges the grounds why I chal- 
lenged his vote. I do not recollect whether or not he stated the 
grounds why he claimed to have a right to vote. I challenged no 
other vote that day. I heard Mr. Groomes, while I was standing a 
little way oS", challenge a vote, but I do not recollect the name of the 
man who offered to vote, or the disposition of it. I think three hun- 
dred and three votes were cast that d"ay, and between fifty and one 
hundred votes were illegal, and I thought at the time I knew that 
many persons there were not residents. There were many strangers 
voted there that day; probably some of them were legal voters, though 
I cannot say about that. Mr. Fee, one of the candidates, withdrew 
himself the morning of the election, giving as a reason that there 
was not a union among the party. He told me the morning of 
the election that it was the understanding that the free-State 
ticket should be withdrav/n entirely. I do not think the presence 
of non-residents had anything to do with it. Mr. Fee expressed 
no apprehension of danger to me, and I apprehended none myself 
from the presence of non-residents. I do not know who these non- 
residents voted for that day. I believe some of them voted for me, 
though I requested them not to do so. I do not think the free- 
State men voted that day as a general thing. Some of them did 
vote, and some went away without voting, because there was no 
ticket of their party in the field. If the vote had been confined 
to the actual votes of the district, I cannot say whether the result 



342 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

would have been the same. If the lines had been strictly drawn^ 
I think the pro-slavery party would have beaten. I had taken a 
good deal of pains to inform myself upon that point. If all three 
of the candidates for council had run, I cannot determine what the 
result would have been, but I think it would have resulted as it did, 
for it would have driven men to unite on the candidates of their 
party. I was running as a pro-slavery candidate. I cannot explain 
why the votes for council were niore than for representatives. I cannot 
say whether the free-State men who voted, voted for representatives 
or not, though I supposed they voted a full ticket, I thought the 
election on that day was as peaceable an election as I ever saw. I 
never saw better order on the election ground in my life. All voted, 
so lar as I knew, who wanted to. The contest was all on one side, 
except between General Richardson and myself. Some of the free- 
State men asked me if it was necessary to vote for me. I told them 
to use their own pleasure, but cannot say whether they voted for me 
or not. The free-State men were very greatly in the minority in the 
crowd about the polls, though there appeared to be a great many 
about the polls the first part of the day. I do not remember the 
names, or that I saw many persons there on the day of election that 
held offices in Missouri. Mr. Scott was attorney of St. Joseph's at 
that time, and was there on the day of election at our precinct. Mr. 
Stringfellow was there, but I do not recollect about those who held 
offices in Missouri at that time. A great many of the leading citizens 
of St. Joseph's were there, but I do not know what part they took in 
the election. I do not recollect any speeches made there that day, 
except by Major Richardson and myself. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

I understood, when I had a consultation with Mr. Fee the day 
before the election, that he was to use his influence with the free- 
State candidates to withdraw, and have the free-State men vote for 
me. The votes to be given by Missoiirians, I think, had no influence 
with either Mr. Fee or myself. He had no right to think that the 
citizens of Missouri would do anything to injure him, as he had long 
been a citizen of Missouri himself. The only apprehension seemed to 
be that he would not get votes enough of the actual residents to 
secure his election. Mr. Fee assigned as a reason for withdrawing, 
that Harding and Larzelere were unpopular in their party, and if he 
himself ran he would have to carry them, and therefore he thought it 
best for all to resign. When he announced, on the morning of the 
election, that he had succeeded in making this arrangement, I under- 
stood it to be in consequence of our arrangement of the day before, 
and not in consequence of the presence of Missourians there. There 
was a report in circulation that the Missourians came over there that 
day, because it was rumored that aid emigrants were to land there 
that day and go to the polls, but I do not know where the rumor 
came from. I inferred this much, that if the reports of the landing 
of these emigrants below were true, they might land at our place, but 
I knew nothing about the truth of those reports. I examined the 
poll-books afterwards and found the names of a great many there 
I knew to be actual residents of Missouri at that time, between fifty 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 343 

and one hundred, but I do not recollect their names now. I estimated 
the actual voters of that district at that time as between 150 and 200. 
There might have been a few more or a few less. I made as good a 
calculation as I could when I canvassed the district, and I was satisfied 
that we had a majority of pro-slavery men in the district, twenty-five 
or thirty, or more. Mr. Fee and myself had a great deal of talk, 
and we concluded that the ticket could not have been elected even if 
the free State men had a majority, because they were not united on 
their ticket. I reckoned that Major Richardson was a resident of this 
district at the time of the election, and I so regarded him when I ran 
against him. The first I heard of anybody being shot at the election 
was when I was told that Mr. Jamison had so testified before the 
committee. 1 saw none of the Missourians armed that I recollect of; 
if they were, they had them concealed. I judge they were not more 
so than men here to-day. I do not think that Greneral Stringfellow 
acted as clerk of the election at any time that day ; if he did, I did 
not know it, and I think I should have known it if he had so acted. 
If there was any fighting committee appointed, and left there that day, 
I did not know of it^ and I saw no necessity for it. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

There was a difference of opinion as to the majority, each party, 
the pro-slavery and free-State parties, claiming the majority in that 
district. No eastern aid emigrants landed in our district that spring, 
that I know of. Ex-judge Leonard, of Missouri, was there that day. 
In the evenings just before the polls were closed, as the people were 
going off" in every direction, he got up and asked them to stop till the 
polls were closed, and they would all go home together ; all of his 
own company, I suppose. 

JOHN H. WHITEHEAD. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 23, 1856. 



Fourteenth District — Doniphan Precinct. 

Richard Tuck was called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in the spring of 1854, and settled about a 
mile below Doniphan. I came from Boone county, Missouri. I was 
at the election at Doniphan on the 30th of March. I got to the polls 
very early in the morning. They had not commenced voting. There 
were about 200 or 300 around the polls when I got there. The crowd 
continued there during the day. Most of them were strangers to me. 
I knew a great many of the jieople round where I lived, and knew the 
settlers generally. Perhaps thirty or forty of the men around the 
polls were settlers. I knew some of these used to live on the other 
side of the river in Missouri. B. G. Wells, W. C. Wells, my father- 



344 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

in-law, Mr. Moberly, of Rusliville, Missouri, and another by the name 
of Watson M. Starboard, were among them. I was in their camp the 
night before the election. It was at the crossing of Independence 
creek, about one mile and a half below Doniphan. One of their party 
told me there were near 200 of them. They had tents, wagons, and 
plenty of arms. Their arms were double-barrelled shot-guns, pistols, 
bowie-knives, and rifles. Each man seemed well armed. They had 
plenty of provisions, and whiskey and brandy together. They had 
either three wagons of provisions, or drove up one wagon three times. 
I talked with some of these men at their camp — some five or six of 
them. They were free in talkmg about their purposes. They said 
their purpose in coming vv-as to vote and make Kansas a slave State. 
They did not tell me why they brought so many arms. Some of them 
said they were from Clay county, some from about Weston, and some 
from Buchanan county. I supi)osed that some of them had claims out 
back in the Territory, and asked them if they had claims, and they 
said they had taken claims as they were coming along up the river, 
by driving stakes down with their names on them. I asked them if 
they were ever coming back to their claims, and they said they might 
and they might not ; they didn't know as they ever would. They 
said nothing to me about any other inducements, except to make 
Kansas a slave State. They appeared to be all leaders; there was no 
one man who seemed to lead. They had no signs or ribbons attached 
to their coats. They did not appear like settlers. All I could gather 
from them was, that they were going to vote, and going back home 
next day. I saw no women in their camp. I think I saw trunks and 
carpet sacks. I saw no household furniture in the wagons. They 
came up to the polls very early next morning. I live within three 
hundred yards of where they camped, and went up to the polls at 
same time they did. I went up on foot, they in wagons, and had no 
chance to converse with them. I noticed no flags. They had drums, 
fifes and fiddles along. When they got near the polls they all got 
huddled up around the window and went to voting. I saw them vote, 
I stood right there and watched them all day. Their votes were re- 
ceived without objection. I did not see a man sw(Srn that day as I 
know of. They stacked their arms up under the house they voted in. 
They voted in Mr. Foreman's store. It was a frame building, a foot 
and a half high from the ground. They staid there all day, until 
they got ready to go home in the evening. They commenced stacking 
their arras under the building, and filled the sjmce so well, that if 
there was any more room there I did not see it. About all I heard 
the settlers say was that it was not worth while to vote. I don't 
know whether any of them went ofi" without voting or not. They 
commenced leaving tolerably late in the evening. I saw several vote 
more than once. Sometimes a man would go up and vote^ and then 
go back and change his hat or coat, and sometimes both^ and then go 
up and vote again. They would halloo out a difi'erent name every 
time. I saw some of them vote as many as eight or nine times, and 
one man might have voted a dozen times. Some three or four men 
were pursuing this course of voting. I was standing close by where 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 345 

I could see. I don't recollect as I sat or laid down all day. These 
men, in the evening after they got through, said they had voted up 
all their tickets and they would go home. The acquaintances whose 
names I have given did not belong to this party, but belonged just 
across the river. The large party made an "arrangement in the even- 
ing, right there at the store-door, where they would cross the Missouri 
river. Some of them I saw cross at Donij)han, and some were to cross 
at Atchison, and some were to come to Weston, they said. Those 
who were to cross at Atchison left that evening and went down along 
the river. I don't know that I have ever seen any of those men since. 
If they had been settlers in the country about there I should have 
thought I would have known them. If they had been back of Doni- 
phan, they would have come in from the west a different road from 
the one they did come. I was in Atchison the next summer after the 
election. I know that a protest was got up against the election, and 
I signed it. I do not know ot my own knowledge why it was not pre- 
sented. Dr. Stringfellow was there. I do not remember of seeing 
Mr. Foreman there, the candidate for Council. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

I said there were three or four men engaged in double-voting. 
They would stand right there and do it in the crowd ; sometimes they 
would change their hats and sometimes their coats, and sometimes 
both. I do not know that any person else saw it ; but if they had 
been looking at them they might have seen it. Sometimes these 
men changed their hats and coats with men who did not double-vote. 
They had as many arms as they could well carry ; some of them had 
their pockets full of pistols. I don't know what was in the trunks. 
When tbe judges were selected, I may have been sitting round about 
the house somewhere. I saw no line formed for tellers to elect judges. 
I started from home about the same time the Missourians did to goto 
the polls, but some of them beat me there. Parris Dunning was one 
of the original judges. If a line had been formed to elect judges by 
tellers, I think I should have seen it. I did not see any judges 
elected, and don't know how they got elected. It is customary for 
people here to carry arms. I had very little acquaintance at Atchi- 
son. I know nothing at all about where those men came from, except 
what they told me. I saw Dr. Stringfellow there from Atchison, 
and perhaps one or two more that I knew from the same place. John 
Hunter was one of them, I think. Doniphan was the only place for 
voting by the people of Atchison, and down as far as Walnut creek. 
There was a newspaper published at Atchison at the time, and some 
seven or eight houses there. I never heard that there were a hundred 
or a hundred and fifty voters down there, or anything of the kind. 
I have heard that there was a right smart of voters down there — 
others than the company of two hundred. I saw men coming as men 
usually do at elections, and I recognised some of them as settlers, and 
some of them I did not know. Part of the wagons were driven up in 
front of the store that day. I don't know whether all of tbem were 
or not. I don't know whether they put their arms in their wagons 



346 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

or not. They put their shot-guns and rifles under the house, and 
filled the space up between the ground and sills of the house. There 
were no political lights or disturbances there that day. I don't know 
but what the settlers all voted. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I think the free-State men had the majority of actual settlers in the 
Doniphan precinct at the time of that election. If there had been no 
voting except by the actual settlers, the free-State men would have 
carried the day. Mr. Foreman had no opposition at that election. 
My information relative to the political complexion of the precinct is 
based upon what I have heard others say. 

To Governor King : 

I have heard people say that the actual settlers would have no 
chance with the Missourians. I have heard them talking about the 
strength of parties. I may have heard pro-slavery men say that they 
had two to one against the free-State men of actual settlers, and I 
have heard free-State men say that tliey had ten to one against the 
pro-slavery party. 

his 
RICHAKD + TUCK, 
mark. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 26, 1856. 



Eli Hamilton called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory on the 29th of May, 1854, and settled in 
the Doniphan precinct, 14th district. At the time of the election of 
the 30th of March, 1855, I was clerking for Mr. John W. Foreman, 
then a candidate for the council. The election was held at Mr. Fore- 
man's store-house. Mr. Tschudy and Parris Dunning were the only 
two judges of election I knew appointed by the governor. They did 
not serve ; but one of them (Tschudy) was there, and I don't know 
why he did not serve. The judges were then selected by the by- 
standers. The new judges were Mr. Ireland, Mr. Alexander Dun- 
ning, and Mr. Lamb. Mr. Tschudy brought the poll-books to the 
store and left them, and the new judges got them. I do not recol- 
lect ol seeing either of the new judges sworn, I do not recollect of 
seeing anybody sworn that day. My opinion is that some two or 
three hundred were around the polls through the day. I did not 
know them generally. They were strangers to me. I was not much 
acquainted in the district. I had been in the store, off and on, ever 
since I was in the Territory, as clerk, and was working for Mr. Fore- 
man nearly all the time. I do not know whether many ot these per- 
sons were or were not residents of the Territory. I was there until 
the polls closed. There was a large crowd at the window voting most 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 347 

all the time. I saw one man challenged. His name was Hall, I 
think, and lie lived in the Territory. He was not old enough to 
vote. That was the only challenge I recollect of now. I was there 
when the votes were counted out after the election was over. The 
tally-list and the ballots did not agree. There was a difference of be- 
tween five and fifteen ; the precise number I cannot say. The num- 
ber of tickets were greater than the names. I saw one of the judges 
raise his hand from the tickets and put it in his bosom. I saw no 
tickets in his hand ; it was half closed. This was Judge Lamb. I 
think they then made the tally-list and ballots correspond. I have 
since examined the poll-list, and find upon it some six names of men 
who I believe to have resided in Missouri, Their names are W. H. 
Hinchman, John Martin, William Dunning, R. Smith, B. Gr. Wells, 
and W. C. Wells. I moved into the Territory from !St. Joseph, and 
came there from Athens, Missouri. I was born in Indiana and raised 
in Illinois. I have taken no part in politics. I voted that day for 
John W. Foreman, Dr. Stringfellow, and Dr. Cutler. The men I 
saw at the polls were generally armed with guns and pistols. I saw 
a great many pistols. They came very early in the morning. I saw 
them go back the way they came, down towards Atchison. I saw some 
crossing the river to Missouri. They were generally strangers to me. 
I do not know but what they were legal voters, except those I have 
named. There was a good deal of noise and confusion there that 
day. There was a good deal more cursing and swearing at the 
election than I have been accustomed to hearing. There was some 
fighting about personal difficulties, not political. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

Smith was there at Doniphan, building a house*, about the time of 
the election, and keeping a grocery in Doniphan. His family was in 
Missouri, and he ate and slept in that State. Previous to the election 
I sold Hinchman a claim, and was at the time putting up a house for 
him on it, and he boarded with me. Hinchman has since moved into 
the house, and is now living in it. He staid at my house two weeks. 
He moved his family into the house a year ago this spring. 

ELI HAMILTON. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Mmj 26, 1856. 



John Landis called and sworn : 

To the Committee : 

I moved into the Territory in December, 1854, and into the Doni- 
phan precinct, fourteenth district, and have resided there ever since. 
I came from Buchanan county, Missouri. At the time of the first 
election for delegate to Congress, I resided in Missouri. I was in St. 
Joseph the day before that election, and also on the day of the elec- 
tion. I was solicited there by some of my friends to go over into 



348 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Kansas and vote. The inducements held out was to make Kansas a 
slave State. I did not go. I knew a number crossed the river. 
They said they were going over to vote. I saw them when they re- 
turned. I had a conversation with one of them by tlie name of 
Andrew Dysert, and he told me they had carried tlu election. Mr. 
Dysert, James Carson, Johnson Carson, William Carson, Colby Gor- 
don, Harding Goixlon, and Samuel Gordon severally told me they 
were over the day before, and the morning of the election ; that they 
were going over to vote. I went as far as St. Joseph with them, and 
after their return from the Territory, went home with them. Quite a 
number accomi)anied them whose names I did not know, perhaj)s 15 
or 20. They were from the very neigh horhood where I lived, which 
is six miles from St. Joseph. I have examined the poll-books of that 
election, and have seen the names of several on there that 1 am ac- 
quainted with. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

I suppose I could give the names of all that went if I could think 
awhile. I don't know that any of them voted. I see the following 
names on the poll-lists of ray neighbors living in Missouri : Colby 
Gordon, George Catlett, Charles Carson, Andrew Dysert, James Car- 
son, Johnson CaTson. Those are all I recollect at present. I refused 
to go over and vote. I have no idea how many crossed the river that 
day, and don't know what they went for, except what they told me. 

JOHN LANDIS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



James F. Foreman was called and sworn. 

At the time of the March election I resided in the Doniphan pre- 
cinct, fourteenth district, and was present at the 30th of March election. 
I was present when the votes were being counted up, after the closing 
of the polls. There was a discrej^ancy between the poll-list and ballots 
of one vote. The judges explained it in a manner satisfactory to all. 
If there had been a discrci)ancy of from five to fifteen votes between 
the tally-list and ballots, I think I should have noticed it, for there 
would have been some questioning about it, but I heard nothing and 
saw nothing of the kind. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I feel almost positive there was a difference of only one vote between 
the tally-list and ballots cast. The only reasons why I think there 
was not more is, that it would have excited attention. 

JAMES F. FOKEMAN. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 349 



Luther Dickerson called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in October, 1854. I came from Saline 
county, Missouri, and settled in the Doniphan precinct, 14th election 
district. I was present at the election oftheSOtli of March, 1855. I 
saw a company of strangers passing my house, three-quarters of a mile 
. south of Independence creek and three miles north ofAtchis(m. It 
was between three o'clock and sundown on theday before the election. 
The company were in wagons, on horeseback, and some of them on 
foot. I did not count them ; I should say safely that there were one 
hundred. I did not count the wagons. I talked with them late at 
the creek after they e*" camped ; I went down into the cam]). They 
told me they came here to vote. They told me they came from Mis- 
souri ; they said they were from Platte, Clay, Saline, and Lafayette 
counties ; they said there was a large emigration from the east 
coming to the Territory to vote, and they wanted to balance their vote, 
and outvote them. I did not hear one of them claim to be a resident 
of the Territory. I did not know those men personally. I had a 
conversation with one man who said he lived in Saline county. He 
knew my acquaintances there. I do not remember liis name. He said 
nothing to me about how they were organized. They had their pro- 
visions with them and arms ; some of them shot-guns, pistols, and 
some few I saw with bowie-knives. I think pretty near every man 
had revolvers ; they were trying their weapons at the trees. I don't 
think I heard them say tliat they would make any disturbance if tliey 
were resisted. They said if the damned fanatics of the north came 
there to vote they would have to have a fight before they voted. I 
understood them to allude to men who were coming up the river to 
vote. I left them there that night and went home. I saw them about 
eleven o'clock the next day. A portion of them were at the camp, a 
portion wei-e along the road, and a portion at tlie polls. I went on up 
to the polls and votpd. I saw a portion of these strangers vote. They 
were constantly running back and forward to their camp. Sometimes 
new persons were coming up to the polls and sometimes the same. I 
saw a portion of their arms lying under the sill of the house in which 
tlie election was held. These were their heavy arms. I did not see 
any double voting that day. I heard no objection made to any of 
these men voting. The judges did not swear any of these men while 
I was at the polls. I don't think all the settlers voted. I don't know 
why. I never heard that Missourians were coming over to vote until 
I saw them coming. I did not see any eastern emigrants arrive. So 
far as I know, these strangers voted. I am acquainted about Atchison. 
I am tidtaably wcdl acquainted between the two creeks — Walnut and 
Independence. These strangers were not settlers in that region of 
country. In coming up from Weston to Doniphan the usual crossing 
place is Atchison. Tliey told me they crossed at Atchison. Those 
who would come from Saline and Lafayette counties would cross the 
river twice. I am pretty well acquainted in the middle, eastern, and 
southern parts of that precinct, but not so well acquainted in the ex- 



350 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

treme southern parts. The usual mode of making acquaintances in 
the Territory is by helping each other by building, &c., and the set- 
tlers generally become acquainted with each other as I did. I think 
the political sentiment in Doniphan precinct was about equally divi- 
ded. I could not give an opinion, satisfactory to myself, which would 
have had a majority at that election if there had been a fair contest^ 
and none but actual settlers had voted. These strangers returned the 
same way they came. I have never seen them since. They said they 
voted the pro-slavery ticket. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

I don't know when they crossed the river from Missouri. They 
said they came over the day before they came along there. The citi- 
zens about Atchison came to the polls the day oi election. I did not 
know all the citizens of Atchison at that time, but I knew them nearly 
all. Some of these strangers in the company may have been citizens 
of Atchison, but if so I did not know them. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I voted that day for Mr. Cutler alone. 

LUTHER DICKERSON. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



Joseph W. Beattie called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in Aiigust, 1854, from Missouri, Buchanan 
county ; I settled in the Doniphan precinct, and have been there ever 
since. There was a party of men encamped near me on the evening 
of the 29th of March, the day before election ; the camp was near my 
home, at the crossing of Indpendence creek, by the Doniphan road. 
I suppose there was somewhere near a hundred of these strangers ; 
there were sixteen two-horse wagon loads, and some on horseback. 
They applied to me to ferry them across, and I did so ; they had tents 
and provisions along with them ; they were armed. I asked them 
where tliey were from, and they said they were from Missouri ; I asked 
them where they were going, and they said they were going to Doni- 
phan ; they said they were going there to vote. They remained there 
all night, and next morning went up to Doniphan. I went up also 
after they did. I did not see any of them vote, as I did not go to the 
polls until towards evening, when nobody was around tlie polls. They 
poked their guns under the sill of the building where they voted. 
After the polls were closed tliey came back to my house, crossed the 
creek, and went back to Atchison. I am not much acquainted about 
Atchison. These men told nie they crossed the river at Atchison. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

I knew Mr. Cutler and Mr. Sanders ; I do not hardly think they 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 351 

could command the full strength of their party. I don't know whether 
Dr. Stringfellow and Mr. Kirk would command the strength of their 
party or not. I don't know either of the men now. 

JOSEPH W. BEATTIE. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 26, 1856. 



James Lynch called and sworn. 
To Governor King : 

I landed in St. Joseph on the 13th of March, 1855, and reached the 
Doniphan precinct on the 14th of March, and have been residing there 
ever since. I was at the election on the 30th of March, and present 
every hour of the day ; I saw the voting going on ; there was no po- 
litical quarrel or excitement going on. I did not know any Missou- 
rians there except Major O'Driscall ; I took them all to he actual 
residents, as I was myself. I heard nothing about the MissouriaUvS 
being there to take the polls. I voted myself on that day ; I saw 
no one prohibited there from voting. The order and quietness at the 
election was better than I had been in the habit of witnessing in Ken- 
tucky, where 1 have been residing. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

I did not see any arms under the sill of the building where the 
election was held. 

JAMES LYNCH. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



David Fizer called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in August, 1854, from Missouri — from 
Buchanan county, Missouri — and have resided here ever since. I set- 
tled on the Doniphan precinct, fourteenth district. I was at the elec- 
tion of the 30th of March, 1855. The day before the election, about 
sundown, about one hundred men or upwards encamped near my 
house ; they came in wagons, some on horseback, and some came 
a-foot; this was one mile from the polls ; they were armed, from double- 
barrelled shot-guns down to butcher-knives — all of them had more or 
less of arms ; I did not see a man but what had arms ; tlie fact is, I 
was astonished to see it. I might as well tell the thing just as it 
was ; my attention was first called to them when they were about half 
a mile off from my house, when I saw the wagons ; 1 then went down 
to where they had encamped, and near enough to see them stretching 
their tents. I did not know any of them — they came from toward* 



352 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Atchison. I had some conversation with a young man that evening, 
and next morning I had a right smart chance with him. They broke 
up their camp about 9 or 10 o'clock next morning, and as I went to 
the polls at Doniphan some were ahead and some were behind me. I 
had some conversation that morning with a young man — I do not re- 
member his name ; he said he was the cook of the party. He asked 
me if I knew any person in the neighborhood who wished to hire a 
hand ; I told him I. expected he could get work in the neighborhood. 
I asked him if he lived in the Territory ; he said he did not. I asked 
him where he was from ; and he told me he was from Missouri, I 
asked him if they were all from Missouri ; and he said they were. I 
asked him if he voted ; and he told me he did. I had no talk with 
any other as to their purposes incoming. I went to the polls and 
voted. The same men that I had seen in the camp were there ; they 
went as I did, and, and put into the ballot-box a little piece of paper. 
I staid until I saw fifteen or twenty of these men vote, and then not 
feeling well I went off and sat down. I was at the polls some fifteen 
or twenty minutes ; there was a pretty smart crowd around the polls ; 
there was a right smart show of settlers there, but the great body were 
strangers to me ; no objection was made to their men voting. I don't 
know whether they claimed to vote in the Territory or not. Some 
three or four of the free State men that I knew went off, and told me 
they would not vote ; I do not know that they were hindered, but they 
said that there were so many Missourians there that there was no use 
in their voting. A man by the name of Eph. Falcull and a Mr. Page 
said they would not vote ; I don't know whether they voted or not. 
I got home tlie after part of the day ; I went into a doctor's shop most 
part of the time. Some of them crossed Independence creek that 
evening, and some left the next morning. I saw some of the men at 
the creek returning ; they had their provisions with them. I helped 
one wagon through the mire going up hill ; I looked into it, and saw 
bacon, bi-ead, and cooked provisions ; they did not look to me lik-e 
settlers coming over to settle; I never saw the like of them, all armed 
so, and cutting up. They were all pretty well — as we would call it — 
pretty well corned, and were noisy and boisterous. I have never seen 
any of tliem since — I have never seen any of these men before nor 
since ; if they had been settlers about Atchison I think I would have 
known them ; I live within about three miles of Atchison and 2^ miles 
from Doniphan, and am some acquainted in both places, but better in 
Doniphan than Atchison; my trading is usually done in Doniphan. 
I was in Atchison at the time of the sale of lots there, but I can't say 
when it was. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

I know nothing about where they came from, only what the young 
man told me. The road they came was the one leading from Atchi- 
son to Doniphan. It is usual for new settlers to camp out, but I never 
saw them in such large squads ; settlers generally bring women and 
babies. Parties of men frequently come to seek claims in numbers 
of seven or eight ; it is usual for parties of men to come into the 
Territory to make their claims. I was not acquainte(^ with the in- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. . 353 

habitants about Atcbison ; I believe at that time I knew two below 
Atchison ; I knew two or three men in Atchison, at which place a 
newspaper was published. I cannot say I understood that there was 
a considerable number of inhabitants below Atchison. 

To Mr, Sherman : 

Persons crossing the river from Missouri, from Weston and below, 
cross at Atchison, and come up on this side of the river, 

DAVID FIZER. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



E. L. Kirk called and sworn. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I resided, on the 30th of March, 1855, in the 11th representative 
district ; the pro-slavery party had, in my opinion, a majority of three 
to one. The 11th representative district was composed of the 18th 
and parts of the 14th and 15th election districts. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

The whole of the eighteenth election district ; election held at W. 
W. Moore's; the Doniphan and Wolf River precincts of the 14th elec- 
tion district, election of the Wolf River precinct being held at the 
house of Aaron Lewis ; parties of the voters of the 15th district were 
attached to the Doniphan precinct, and voted then at Doniphan. 
These together formed the 11th representative district. My acquaint- 
ance was pretty thorough in the 11th district. I knew, I think, two- 
thirds of the voters there. I think some 60 odd votes were polled in 
the 18th district. I think there were some 150 to 200 voters from 
the 15th district who were obliged to vote at Doniphan, the people 
of the town of Atchison being obliged to go there. I do not recollect 
how many votes were polled at Doniphan. I tJiink some 60 or 65 
votes were polled at Wolf River precinct. My opinion of the relative 
strength of the parties is based on the district as above described. 

R. L. KIRK. 

Leavenavorth, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



Dr. John H. Stringfellow was called and sworn. 

I reside in Atchison, Atchison county, Kansas Territory. I moved 
to Atchison in July, 1854, and I took my family there in the fall of 
the same year, and have resided there ever since. The district was 
changed at the 30th of March election from the district of the fall 
before, according to which the census was taken in February, when 
the snow was probably fifteen inches on the ground. Most of our 
citizens were emigrants from the adjoining counties in Missouri, 
having left friends and comfortable ouarters in Missouri. A large 
H. K-p. vou 2;j* 



354 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

number of our citizens, about the time the census was taken, were 
absent from their open cabins, temporarily, by visiting their friends 
in Missouri. The consequence was, that a large number of our citi- 
zens were omitted from the census returns. Knowing this fact^ we 
had the census taken by some of our citizens, which showed a gain of 
about one hundred and fifty voters over the census taken by Jolly, 
which when represented to Gov. Eeeder induced him to append to 
the census returns made by Jolly upwards of fifty votes. The rest 
were rejected, because the persons so taking the census would not 
swear that the persons thus rejected were on their claims at the time. 
After the census returns were made, the districts were re-arranged ; 
so that the old district, the census of which Jolly took, was divided, 
part in the Doniphan district and part in the Kickapoo district. The 
list of voters furnished by Governor Reeder to the judges of the Doni- 
phan precinct, purporting to be a correct list of all the persons enti- 
tled to vote at that precinct, did not contain the name oi any person 
south of Independence creek, which said portion of territory thus 
omitted contained at least from two hundred and fifty to three hun- 
dred actual voters. This portion of the district thus omitted em- 
braced the town of Atchison,, being a breadth of ten miles north and 
south on the Missouri river, and running back some fifteen or twenty 
miles. The consequence was that a much larger vote was polled at 
the Doniphan precinct than would have been supposed from the list 
of voters furnished to justices by the governor, as taken from the 
census returns taken by Jolly. 

I was in the town of Doniphan the day after the election ; there 
were about three hundred votes polled ; there was no disturbance of 
any kind resulting from the election. I was one of the candidates for 
the house of representatives of the Territory of Kansas. There was 
no effort made to prevent any man from voting because of his political 
sentiments ; on the contrary, urged upon Mr. Sanders, the free-State 
candidate, to bring up all his friends and they should not be molested. 
He brought to the polls a number of free-State men, and some of 
them came from Buchanan county, Missouri. The last vote, 1 think, 
that he brought was a boy about seventeen years old ; upon being 
questioned by the judges, he admitted that he was not twenty-one 
years old, and he was the only person presented by Mr. Sanders, who 
did not vote. Mr. Sanders owned the ferry at Doniphan, and his 
voters who crossed the river were known to be free-State men in 
Missouri. They claimed, however, to have claims in the Territory ; 
but their families were living in Missouri, and were allowed to vote. 
I knew a good many of the gentlemen who voted there to have 
formerly resided in Missouri ; but a great many, if not all, had made 
claims in the Territory, and many of them are now on those claims 
with their families. From all the information derived from my per- 
sonal knowledge of the Doniphan district, and from the various 
elections held in said district, I am disposed to think that four-fifths 
of them who have ever voted, have voted the pro-slavery ticket. At 
that election I received some free- State votes myself. The day after 
the election I started down to the Shawnee Mission in company with 
a good many other members elect of the legislature for the purpose of 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 355 

protesting against tlie power claimed by Governor Reeder in liis elec- 
tion proclamation, to decide contested elections. 

A committee was appointed to prepare a protest assigning our 
reasons for this denial. A committee of three was then appointed to 
wait upon the governor, and present him the protest. The committee 
consisted of Gen. Wm. P. Richardson, Samuel Williams, and mj'self. 
We denied, in our interview with the governor, that he had any power 
to decide a-s to contested elections, and contended that that power was 
with the legislative body ; and that the presentation of the returns 
of the election formally made, were prima facie evidence of the right 
of members to their seats ; and to these propositions the governor 
assented. We further contended, in our interview with him, that he 
had no right to order a second election, except in cases provided by 
the organic act. To this last proposition the governor read us a 
communication addressed to the Attorney General of the United States, 
asking his advice as to all the matters in controversy between the 
legislature elect and himself ; asserting that if sustained in his opinioa 
by the Attorney General, he would order new elections in those districts 
where the returns were informally made. But if not sustained, then 
he would grant certificates to those persons who had received the 
largest number of votes, or who had been returned as elected. 
During all this conversation there was no threat of any kind made 
against Governor Reeder, and no angry words used; but, on the con- 
trary. Governor Reeder was treated with the utmost respect due to 
his station, and to the last day upon which I met him we were on 
amicable terms. We made our report to the members elect of the 
legislature ; and I assured them that the governor's decision would 
be all we could require of him, as I was satisfied that he would grant 
certificates of election to a majority of each house, and recognise in 
that house their right to go behind his decision and investigate the 
entire matter. On the next day Governor Reeder made his decision 
knov/n in writing to the members present, which was assented to by 
them, as it agreed with the assurance the committee made them on 
the day before. And on this last occasion no insults were offered to 
Governor Reeder, and no demonstration was made by him of anything 
like personal difficulty ; the whole affair went off, so far as I could seq,, 
in the most amicable and friendly manner. 

There was quite a large number of citizens of Missouri present on 
the day of election, who were drawn there from the reports which 
had reached us that large numbers of persons would be thrown in upon 
us from the fi'ee States for the purpose of controlling the election. 
The determination of the Missourians present was, to resist by all 
means this operaton of free-State men upon us ; to prevent by mild 
means, if possible, this forcible control of our internal affairs, or by 
force if necessary. 

I have been controlling a paper ever since February, 1855, and 
I have never urged any but bona fide settlers to emigrate to this Ter- 
ritory, either for the purpose of voting or for any other purpose. 

There w6re numbers of Missourians at the polls on the 30th of 
March, pro-slavery men, who did not vote, and were not solicited to 
vote. I don't know that any citizen of Missouri voted; but some 



35 G KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

may have done it, and I not know it. The result of tlie election 
would iu no manner have been changed, had the Missourians voted 
or not voted. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I never saw a circular purporting to he from General Stringfellow, 
or any circular circulated on the day of election, advising Missourians 
to vote at that precinct. There was no such circular published at my 
office. I saw at my. office one cojiy of a paper purporting to be a re- 
view of Governor Eeeder's proclamation, which spoke of the manner 
of conducting the election, and the returns thereof; and I think that 
portion of his proclamation ordering the judges of election to destroy 
any whiskey that might be on the ground for sale. I don't know, but 
I do not believe that General Stringfellow wrote the paper referred to, 

^JOHN H. STEIKGFELLOW. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iai/ 27, 1856. 



Henry Addoms called and sworn. 

To Governor King: 

I first came into the Territory in 1847, and have been here since 
the organization of the Territory, and reside at Atchison. So far as 
I have heard the testimony of Dr. Stringfellow and J. W. Foreman, I 
concur in it relative to the several elections in the Doniphan precinct. 
I was born and raised in the city of New York, and in 1838 came to 
Platte county, Missouri. I know of the first excitement in Weston, 
Missouri, in relation to the settlement of Kansas Territory ; which 
was the report of the Emigrant Aid Societies which had been formed 
for the purpose of throwing vast quantities of men into this Territory 
lor the purpose of making it a free-State. The report was that there 
were to be twenty thousand men sent forward, and the Emigrant Aid 
Society was formed by the principal abolitionists, who had been agi- 
tating the United States for some years to make Kansas a free State, 
and thereby to make it an entering- wedge for the making of Missouri 
a free State ; which was believed by the people when they first saw the 
companies coming on from the east. 

The object of lorming organizations in Missouri was to bring per- 
sons living in that State over into the Territory who designed to emi- 
grate, and to counteract the movements of the aid societies. And I 
believe, but for the eastern movements, there never would have been 
any more excitement in the Territory than is ordinary in settling new 
Territories. 

HENRY ADDOMS. 

Lea^^enworth City, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 357 

FouKTEENTH DISTRICT — WoJf liiver Precinct. 
Dr. G. A. Cutler called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in Feliruarv, 1854. I settled in the four- 
teenth district. I came from Andrew countr, Missouri, here, and 
from Tennessee to Missouri. I resided in the tourteenth district until 
the 4th or oth of March, 1856, and then removed to Topeka. I was 
among the first settlers in the fourteenth district, and practised medi- 
cine there for fourteen or fifteen months. I knew most every person 
in the Doniphan portion of the district, hut did not in Wolf River 
and California, or what was subsequently made into the eighteenth 
district. 

The day previous to the election of the oOth of March, 1855^ at the 
Presbyterian mission, in the TTolf River precinct, commonly known 
as the Yandersluyce. on the morning of that day a large body of men 
came in in wagons, &c. ; they themselves said 80 persons in number. 
There was considerable whiskey demolished there. They were all 
armed to the teeth. I did not know any of them. "While there, they 
held a convention to unite on two men for the assembly. This crowd 
was under the command of General Atchison. The pro-slavery citi- 
zens there wished to have Mr. Thomas Yandersluyce and Joel Ryans ; 
and Atchison's company wanted Stringfellow and Kirk elected. They 
could not agree very well. A man got up and made a speech, and, 
as near as 1 can recollect his words, he said: " Gentlemen, we want to 
unite on one ticket. There are 1,100 coming over from Platte county, 
and if that ain't enough we can send you 5,000 more. We came to 
vote, and we are going to vote, or kill every God-damned abolitionist 
in the district." I think he said ••district;" but it was " district" 
or ''territory." I asked a man nigh to me, a stranger, who that 
was, and he said it was old Davy Atchison. I never saw Mr. Atchi- 
son before or since. The Missourians succeeded in uniting on String- 
fellow and Kirk. The majority of that party started up to what we 
called California or Nemaha, or in the eighteenth district, which I 
understood was afterwards put with the fourteenth district for coun- 
cil. Some of this party remained. The next day the election com- 
menced at Wolf river in very good order, and everything went on 
right for about two hours. The ice was running in the Missouri 
river, and none could get across till ten or eleven o'clock. Finally, 
a crowd of men came from Missouri, and came into the house where 
the election was being held, stepped up to the ballot-box, and one of 
them offered to vote. His name was Felix Blakely. He was a resi- 
dent of Missouri, and made the town of Atchison his home. Mr. 
Richardson — I do not know his first name — one of the judges of the 
election, spoke to him and said : •'• Mr. Blakely, you are a resident of 
Missouri, and have no ri^-ht to vote in Kansas, and I cannot take vour 
vote. ' Blakely told him that he was as much a resident m Kansas 
as he was, and that he had come there to vote, and would vote. Mr. 
Richardson still persisted in refusing to let him vote, and told him 
he had to take the oath as'a judge, and he would not perjure himself. 



358 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

There was a great deal of disturbance ; Mr. Eichardson was threatened 
considerably ; they threatened to whip him if he would come out of 
doors, and wanted to do it in where he was, and he finally resigned. 
As soon as he resigned they elected in his place a man by the name 
of Mr. Wilson, a pro-slavery man, but I don't recollect his first name. 
After that they took all the votes that were offered. I went out, and 
advised my friends to go home, as there Avas no use in staying here, 
which a number of them did. I was a candidate for the assembly. 
I started home, and on my way there I overtook a wagon load of men 
going back. I asked them where they were from: they said they 
were from Platte county, Missouri. I conversed with one of them, 
and he told me that he had voted, and a number of his friends had 
also voted ; that he did not live in Kansas, and never expected to. He 
said he had not violated the organic law ; that Atchison had helped 
to make the bill, and had told them they had a right to vote, and he 
knew a God-damned sight better than I did. I had his name on a 
slip of paper, but have lost it. I had a conversation with Mr. Thos. 
J. B. Cooper, judge of the election of the Nemaha district — the eigh- 
teenth district. 

[Mr. Eees objected to the detail of this conversation, as being evi- 
dence. 

Mr. Keeder stated he expected to prove that Mr. Cooper partici- 
pated with a large number of Missourians in their illegal voting ; was 
elected by them as a judge of the election, and served. 

The committee overruled the objection and allowed the evidence, with 
the distinct understanding that the declarations of Cooper will be ex- 
cluded and erased, unless he is distinctly connected with the alleged 
combination. From which Mr. Oliver dissented.] 

Witness resumed : He said that the election was not conducted fairly 
in that district, but excused it on the ground that the Missourians had 
as much right to vote as tlie pauper emigrants from Massachusetts. 
He said that there were about eighteen resident votes given, of which 
all but two or three voted for me. He said it was his firm belief that 
there were not forty legal voters in the district. The eighteenth dis- 
trict lies about sixty miles west of the Missouri river, and runs to the 
Nebraska line — the voting place being about six miles from the line. 
There is a large prairie, forty miles wide, to cross before getting to 
the voting place. I am confident that there never was, up to that 
time, in the fourteenth and eighteenth districts, an emigrant sent out 
by the Emigrant Aid Society, because I had made diligent inquiries 
all over the districts. The principal part, I suppose some four-fifths, 
of the emigrants there, were from Missouri. I voted before these 
strangers came to Wolf river, but required them to swear me before I 
would vote. 

I did not continue to canvass as a candidate, and advised my friends 
to refrain from voting, because I saw citizens of a neighboring State 
coming over in sufficient numbers to control the election. I heard a 
great many threats in regard to contesting that election. Major Gen- 
eral Richardson said, in a crowd in Doniphan, that myself and office 
should be thrown into the Missouri river if I contested the election or 
sent a protest against it. We all believed that if a second election 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 359 

was held It would be a bloody one. I afterwards lieard threats ao;ainst 
the governor of the Territory — that if he failed to sign the certificates 
he should not live two hours. I heard these threats in Doniphan and 
in Missouri. I also received an anonymous letter, stating that if I 
contested the election I should he put out of my misery, or something 
to that effect. These threats were frequent. 

I have examined the poll-list of Doniphan for the 30th of March, 
1855. I find on that list about fifty-five names that live there now ; 
but a number of those have come over since, I think. I cannot tell 
how many of the fifty-five have come since. I think some eight 
or ten, I can be positive, have come over since, but there are others I 
cannot be positive about. These Missourians professed to come from 
Platte county, in which county I am not acquainted. I find on the 
poll-lists some names of those who live in Missouri, right opposite, as 
follows : J. Christopher, B. G. Wells, William Christopher, W. C. 
Wells ; Mr. Norris, whose first name I do not recollect ; Mr. Fenton, 
who keeps store in Rushville, Missouri ; W. Duning, B. 0. Driscol ; 
Dr. Brown — I think his name is A. Brown ; a Mr. Mobley, a miller in 
Rushville. I find the names of three boys on the poll-list — John 
Thomas, Wm. Smith, and Ely Ward. 

To Mr. Eees : 

I savv-- no violence ottered to any voter, except doubling up of fists, 
&c. ; no blows struck. Everybody voted after llichardson resigned 
that wanted to, so far as I know, until I left, which was a few min- 
utes afterward. A few of Mr. Achison's party stopped at Wolf river — 
a half dozen or more — for I went back with a wagon load. 

Question. You sjjeak of Missourians voting ; do you know they 
were citizens of that State at that time ? 

Answer. — Those of Doniphan precinct I know to be residents of Mis- 
souri. Those at AVolf River precinct told me they were. 

Question. Do you know that the same names you have spoken of 
were the same persons you knew in Missouri ? 

Answer. Yes, sir ; I may be mistaken in two of them, Mr. Fenton 
and Mr. Norris, whose first names I do not know, but I think I am 
not mistaken. 

Question Did you not propose to run on the pro-slavery ticket, in 
that district, as a candidate for the legislature ? 

Ansiver. No ; being from the South, when I first came to Kansas I 
took no political grounds. In a conversation on the subject with John 
W. Foreman, I told him I was not ultra in my views, and gave him 
to understand that I was a free-State man, but not ultra in thoso 
opinions, which I was not. 

Question. Did you not state, after you were a candidate_, that you 
were fooling the free-State party, and that you were all sound? 

Answer. No, sir ; I did not. 

Question hy Mr. Reeder. Was the name of the judge of the ISth 
district Cooper, or Cramer ? 

Ansiver. I find the name of the judge of the Doniphan district on 
my memorandum a Thomas J. B. Cooper. Upon hearing the name 
mentioned I am positive his name was Cramer. I wrote it, I think, 



360 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

on my memorandum throngli mistake as Cooper, and here never 
thought, of it since. He told me he was judge of election for the 18th 
district ; was a pro-slavery man, and was taking the returns to the 
governor. At the time I had this conversation I was not acquainted 
with ]Mr. Cramer, and put d'own the name at the time on my memo- 
randum-hook as Cooper, and have not locked n\ it since. Since then 
I became acquainted with Mr. Cramer in Benicia, at Dr. Brooks's, and 
am now positive that it is the same man I put down as Cooper. 

GEO. A. CUTLER. 
Tecumseh, K. T., Maij 6, 1856. 



John "W. Foreman called and sworn. 

To Governor King : 

I was a candidate for the office of councillor for the Tth council dis- 
trict, emhracing the Doniphan and Wolf River precincts, and ISth 
district. I had no opposition that I ever heard of: I was a pro- 
slavery man, and known as such over the district. I attended the 
Wolf River precinct on the day of the election ; I was well acquainted 
with every man who voted that day, eitcept perhaps one or two. The 
judges were James M. Irving, E. V. Rogers, and William Richard- 
son, all appointed hy Governor Reeder. Ricliardson and Irving were 
known to be free-State men ; Mr. Rogers was known to be a pro-slavery 
man. The election was conducted very quietly and orderly through- 
out the day. There were a number of gentlemen there — some live 
or six from Holt county, Missouri, which lay across the river — with 
whom I was acquainted. These neither voted nor attempted to vote 
that day, nor were there any illegal votes given that day, in my 
opinion, except two ; these were James Williams and Charles Blakely. 
It was said that Mr. Williams was not a citizen of the United States, 
and had not filed his intention to become such ; he voted, and was not 
challenged at the time ; he was recognised as a free-soiler. Mr. 
Blakely's vote was challenged by Mr. Richardson, and he was sworn 
to answer questions; and upon his answering was admitted by two of 
the judges to vote, whereupon Mr. Richardson resigned. Mr. Wil- 
son was appointed in his stead, after which but few votes more were 
taken that day. 

There was a general attendance of the voters in.the Wolf River pre- 
cinct that day. and seventy-five or eighty votes cast, of whicli number 
the pro-slavery men got about sixty votes ; the balance of the votes 
were given to free-State men. 

I have examined, very slightly, the poll-books of the Doniphan 
precinct, and believe that a large majority of tlie names on the poll- 
book Avere then, and are now, residents of the Doniphan precinct. I 
noticed some on it that I believed were residents ot Missouri and not 
entitled to vote — Major Rucker and Mr. Moberly were among them. 
There were a number of names on the poll-book with which I was not 
acquainted, and do not know whether they were legal voters or not, as 
I Avas not well acquainted in the Atchison part of the, district. With 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 361 

the exception of the neighborhood of Atchison and on the Nemaha, I 
knew nearly every man in the district. 

The vote in the Wolf Hiver precinct I consider a fair test of the 
strenp;th of hoth parties ; the ]iro-slavery ticket may have overrnn its 
strength a little. Including the Atchison vote, I think there were 
fully two to one pro-slavery men in the Doniphan precinct. 

I was postmaster of Doniphan, and got through the post office north- 
ern and other newspapers, by which we were led to expect that under 
the auspices of the Aid Societies of the east a very large emigration 
would be brought into the Territory prior to the election in ]\[arch. 
I remember distinctly an article published. I think, in the New York 
Tribune, about the middle of Marcli, in which it was stated that if 
the elections were held before the opening of navigation, the free- 
State men would be routed or beaten ; but upon the opening of spring 
an avalanche of free men would be poured from the North into the 
Territory, and the slaveocrats would be routed. I recollect distinctly 
that I was excited, as were my neighbors, by the obvious efforts of 
the North to abolitionize Kansas. I was an old settler in the Terri- 
tory and a slaveholder in a small way, and I saw no reason why I and 
my neighbors should be exjiatriated, while the fanatics of the North 
were to" occupy my place. The excitement was general on both sides 
of the river. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I was not on the 30th of March a resident of the "Wolf Eiver pre- 
cinct, but I was a resident of the Doniphan precinct. 

JOHN W. FOREMAN. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1S56. 



John Landis testifies : 

I moved into Kansas Territory in December, 1854, into the Doni- 
phan precinct. 14th district, from Buclianan county, Missouri. I was 
on the Nemaha one night about a Aveek before the election of the 30th 
of March, and stopped at the house of Mr. Moore. Mr. John W. 
Foreman was there, who is now a member of the Council from the 
Doniphan district. We had some conversation relative to Mr. Kirk. 
Mr. Foreman stated to Mr. Moore that he expected, in a few days, 
that Mr. Kirk would emigrate into the IStli district, jMy understand- 
ing wag, at that time, that they would run Dr, Stringfellow, from 
Doniphan, and Mr. Kirk, of the Nemaha, as representatives, and 
Mr, Foreman as councilman. I met Gen, Atchison on Wolf river 
the Monday before the election, which was held on Friday, Theye 
were from six to twelve wagons in his party, containing six or eight in 
each wagon. Some were on horseback, I knew Gen. Atchison,' and 
he was the only one of the party I did know. I met him as he was 
going to the crossing of Wolf river, and told him that he would have 
to turn back and take the other road, because the bridge had washed 
away. He turned back, and we rode half or three quarters of a mile 



362 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

together. He asked me several questions about tlie Nemaha country. 
He wanted to know whether I was acquainted there or not. I told 
him I had been up there and learned what sort of men they were. 
He asked what sort of people they were, and I told him they were 
principally Pennsylvania Dutch. He made no reply, but some of 
his men spoke up and said they were abolitionists, and they would 
rout them. I was at the election of the 30th March, at Doniphan. 
I went down there about 10 o'clock. When I came in sight, there 
were between 200 and 300 men there, probably, electing their judges 
by forming a line and taking the vote by tellers. They elected a man. 
by the name of Lamb, and Ireland and Alexander Dunning, and then 
proceeded to receiving votes. The great body of those there were 
strangers to me. I knew a few of them. I knew B. G. Wells and 
another Wells. They resided in Missouri, across the river from Doni- 
phan, and they were the only ones I knew, except those v/ho resided 
in the Territory. I had no conversation with them. I did not see 
the two Wells vote. I voted myself that day. I remained at the 
polls until late in the evening. I v\^as a candidate for representative 
myself that day on the free-State ticket. I had taken some means to 
canvass that district. At that time there were about 200 actual set- 
tlers there ; of that number about 50 or 60 resided in Doniphan pre- 
cinct. The Atchison precinct was attached to the Doniphan at that 
time, and contained more voters than the Doniphan precinct. My 
opinion is that the majority of actual settlers in my district are "free- 
State men," if the vote had been confined to the legal resident voters. 
I did not think the body of men I saw there that day were residents 
of the Territory. I did not know them as such. I saw some 25 or 
50 of them returning after the election, going across the river to 
Missouri. I do not know that these men voted. 

I saw one of the judges beckon to a man, who was a stranger to 
me, and he came up to the polls, and I heard either Judge Ireland 
or Lamb say to him, that all he had to do was to say that he was a 
citizen, and he could vote. The man made no reply, but handed in 
his ticket. He was asked if he was a citizen, and answered that he 
was. He was a stranger to me, and I don't know whether he was a 
citizen or not, nor do I know but the judge knew him to be a legal 
voter. 

I took measures to contest this election. Dr. Cutler and myself 
got up a petition that evening and got signers to it. It was agreed 
between us that he was to go down to the governor and attend to the 
matter himself. Then I returned home, supposing he would attend 
to it. I came down a few days afterwards, and he told me why he 
had not pursued the contest. No threats were made, that I heard 
myself, about the contest. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

From information I got, there were from 40 to 60 voters on the 
ground. I knew none of them except Moore and Baker. I do not 
know that the 200 or 300 men I saw at the polls were not citizens of 
the Territory. I knew but two men in the Atchison part of the dis- 
trict at that time. I don't know, from my personal knowledge, that 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 363 

any of tlie votes given in the Doniphan district that day were not 
legal, for I don't know their residence. I did not know but one of 
the judges personally, but presume tliey all lived in the district. I 
saw no person prevented from voting that day. There were, accord- 
ing to the census, 247 legal voters at tlie time of taking the census, 
in February, 1855, in the 14th representative district. My opinion 
is, that tlie increase of j)opulation between the census and the election 
was about one-fifth. My means of information on that subject was 
by inquiry and by canvassing the district, except the Atchison dis- 
trict. I know nothing of the increase of population in the Atchison 
district. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

I believe I have looked over the poll-book of that district, and find 
upon it the names of three persons I know to live in Missouri. Their 
names are William Dunning, B. G. Wells, and his brother. The 
other names on the list are generally strangers to me. The free-State 
men did not generally vote that day. Some eight or ten of them met 
there, and were there when I came, and declined voting. I persuaded 
some few of them to vote. They said there was no use in voting, as 
they were overpowered by the Missourians, and it would have no 
effect. As far as I can judge, about ten or twelve of the free-State 
party voted that day ; but there were a great many free-State men in the 
district I did not know, and whether they were there or not I do not 
know. I heard no general rumor prevailing that Missourians were 
coming over to vote. I only heard one man say so. This conversa- 
tion occurred in this way : I was arguing that we had a majority of 
free-State men in that one district. He observed that if we had, he 
would beat us by Missouri votes. At that time I had heard nothing 
of eastern emigrants. This was Saturday before the election. The 
man's name was Beeler with whom I had the conversation. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

All that I know about the free-State men not voting was what I 
got from Collins and others on the morning of the election while the 
voting was going on. I don't know whether these men voted after- 
wards or not. Collins was one of the men I induced to vote. 

JOHN LANDIS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



Fifteenth District — At Hayes's. 

E. K. Zimmerman called and sworn. 

I came to the Territory in the beginning of December, 1854, from 
Reading, Pennsylvania, and settled at Kickapoo, and have resided 
there, or near there, ever since. This is the fifteenth district. I was 
at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Hayes's, about seven 
miles from Kickapoo, on the Fort Laramie road. I was one of the 



364 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

judges of the election. I went there the afternoon before the elec- 
tion, and remained there all night. There were camp fires all around 
there of persons who had come there in the afternoon. The next 
morning but one other judge, Jef. Thompson, appeared. Mr. Fisk, 
the otlier judge, did not make his appearance at all. 

These strangers commenced crowding around the polls, and in- 
sisted upon having the polls opened. The residents left when the 
crowd came up. Mr. Thompson and myself agreed upon a man by 
the name of Bailey for the third judge, and also ap])ointed two clerks, 
whose names I do not now recollect. I had considerable difficulty in 
getting the other judges to commence the election. They would go out 
and whisper to the crowd outside; both of the other judges were pro- 
slavery men. I finally told them there was no necessity for deferring 
the matter longer, and we should open the polls. We all agreed that 
it was not necessary to examine the votes much, and we agreed upon 
a short oath to be taken by the voters before they would be allowed 
to vote. The first man who came up, when the oath was put to him, 
answered, "I'm here." The other judges were at first inclined to 
take the ticket, but' I would not agree to it ; and then they told him 
lie must swear he was an actual resident of the fifteenth district, or 
his vote would not be received. After some grumbling, he took the 
oath. A number would come up, and when the oath was put to them, 
would say they had a claim, or held a claim, or owned a claim_, or 
was there, or something of that sort. But all who voted were obliged 
to take the oath. As they came up from their wagons they had 
hemp in their button-holes, and the pass-word that day was, "All 
right on the hemp." A greater portion of the time there were men 
stationed where the votes were received, and would examine the men 
as they came up, and would announce that they were "all right on 
the hemp." I do not recollect that a man voted that day but what 
had hemp in his button-hole, or on his hat, or some other place 
where it could be seen. I did not go out to see any of the delega- 
tions coming in, but 1 heard it announced that delegations were 
coming in, and I would hear cheers, &c. Speeches were generally 
made to them as they came in ; but I did not go out to hear them. 
There was a great deal of drinking and swearing that day ; curs- 
ing the abolitionists ; and some intimated at the polls that I 
ought to be taken out, but none interfered with me further than by 
threats. There were no regular free-State candidates at that election. 
We had it in contemplation to nominate a free-State ticket ; but, 
upon hearing that the Missourians were to come oVer in such force, 
we abandoned it as useless, although I am confident that, at a fair 
election, we could have carried that district. At the polls I had a 
list of the regular voters as given in the census returns ; and as a man 
gave his name, I would look on the list for it, and I found but very 
few names there of those who voted that day. This list has been 
destroyed by fire since then at Kickapoo, at the time of the invasion. 
Not finding any abolitionist to fight that day, having expressed a 
strong desire to fiq,d one to whip, they got fighting among them- 
selves. I saw one old grey-headed man, about fifty-five or sixty 
years of age, and a boy about ten years of age by his side crying. 
The old man was all bloody, having been beaten. Those men there 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 365 

Tvere armed, and one of them brandished a pistol in the window be- 
fore my face. The man was drunk, and put the pistol in the window, 
with pointing it at me, though he said he would like to kill an 
abolitionist. 

I heard a good deal of talking among them, but do not recollect 
that I heard them say where they came from. I do not suppose one- 
fourth of the actual residents of the district voted. Tliere were two 
pro-slavery tickets started ; but on the morning of the day of election 
the ticket the Missourians were opposed to was withdrawn. Judge 
Freeland for council, and, I think, Kellogg for the lower house, were 
on tlie ticket withdrawn. 

I heard it announced publicly where the delegations came from. 
Kellogg, when he withdrew his name, said he did not want to run 
when Missourians came over here to decide the elections. He was 
cheered, but I heard no reply made to him. He was a conservative 
pro-slavery man. 

The reason the election was not contested, was because there was 
no one there to take the responsibility of doing so ; and we thought 
if we had another election, we would fare no better. After the re- 
turns were made out, the officers wanted me to sign a certificate to 
the governor that the election was fairly conducted, which I refused 
to do. The other judges signed the certificate to that effect. Thomp- 
son was the return judge at his own request. 

Cross-examined by J. W. Whitfield : 

D. A. N. G-rover was the candidate for council, and Dr. Harris and 
Mr. Weddell for the lower house were the candidates voted for on 
that day. There were no other candidates run. Some withdrew 
their names in the morning who were pro-slavery men. There was 
no opposition to Grover, Harris, and Weddell. I did not see any one 
prevented from voting, though there was a throng about the polls all 
day. Grrover, Harris, and Weddell did not get a majority of the legal 
voters of the district. I saw Colonel Burns from Missouri there. I 
have been in the Territory since December, 1854, and have never 
attended elections in the western country except in Kansas. We 
have generally been very peaceable at our free-State elections, though 
when we had an invasion the elections were generally pretty stormy. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I did not consider it safe to contest the election. As the delega- 
tions came up, I heard it publicly announced that they came from 
Missouri, but not from what part. 

To Mr. J. W. Whitfield : 

No threats were made to me regarding contesting the election ; nor 
did I hear any particular threats made. I did not consider it safe, 
judging from the common talk in the streets and groceries ; though I 
do not now recollect the names of those I heard talking about the 
matter. 

EDMUND R. ZIMMERMAN. 

Tecumseh, K. T., May 7, 1856. 



366 KANSAS AFFAIRS. ^ 

J. B. Craxe testifies : 

To 3Ir. Howard: 

I attended the election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Charles Ha- 
gis's. about six miles from my house. I think a Mr. Fist was one of 
the appointed judges ; Mr. Zimmerman another ; the other I do not 
remember. Hagis's is a little out of Kickapoo. Mr. Grover was one 
of the candidates that day, but I do not remember much about them. 
I did not vote that day, because the party I belonged to had no candi- 
dates that day. I saw a great many people there that day, and saw 
them voting. I should judge that from the time I went there until I 
left, there were at least four hundred there, coming and going all the 
time. The greater portion I saw come, came up the Fort Laramie 
road from towards the river. I saw no encampment. I should think 
there were more strangers and non-residents there at that election 
than at that of the 29th of Xovember, 1854. I know some of these 
non-residents : one Alfred Allen, of Platte county, and a Mr. Hodges, 
I think, lived in Platte county, Missouri ; a Mr. Ray, from Mercer 
county ; but I do not know whether these people voted, thoufjh Mr. 
Allen and Mr. Hodges told me that they came to vote. Mr. Hodges 
claimed the right to vote because he had a claim. Mr. Allen had no 
claim in the Territory, and did not say what right he had to vote. 
The most of these strangers were armed with bowie-knives and pis- 
tols. I heard quite a number of persons say that they were from Mis- 
souri. There were some speeches made there that day. Mr. Grover 
made a speech. A gentleman was speaking when I got there ; they 
told me it was Mr. Oliver. I heard but little of it. I did not know 
what was going on all the time, as I stood pretty well back. A great 
many of these strangers had little wisps of hemp on their arms or 
their hats, or somewhere about their persons. I cannot say that I 
heard anything in the speeches about the right of the strangers to 
vote, though I heard some talking there : one, who said that he cut 
a few poles and laid them in the shape of a square, and that made 
him a claim ; another, that he had cut a few sticks of wood, and that 
made him a claim ; and others, one thing and another. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I saw no disturbance until just about the time I left. I saw none 
the fore part of the day, except some pretty rough talking. Xo fight- 
ing ; no interruption of the voting. There was, as I understood, one 
set of candidates. 

To. Mr. Howard : 

I do not recollect of hearing these strangers say in what county in 
Missouri they came from. I should think one-half of the people on 
the ground had hemp on, but I saw no one I knew to be residents 
have it on. I should judge, from what I saw and heard that day, that 
there was not over one-third on the ground, if that many, who resi- 
ded in the district. I know of no free-State men in the district who 
voted that day, and I believe that the free-State party generally did 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 367 

not vote at that election. I did not vote because I was a free-State 
man. and there "were no free-State candidates. A good portion of the 
time there was a considerable crowd about the polls, but I presume 
there would have been no difficulty in voting for the candidates who 
were running. The word was, that the free-State party should have 
no candidates, and we brought none out. I heard the pro-slavery 
men say that the free-State men, or abolitionists, as they called us, 
should not run a candidate. I took it that they did not intend that 
the free-State men should run a candidate, if they could help it. 
They made no threats to me — merely that statement. I think that 
was the reason the free-State party did not run their candidates. I 
did not hear Mr. Keller resign. I heard but little of Maj. Oliver's 
speech, and I heard nothing from him about free-State men not being 
allowed to run a candidate. I heard from others on the ground, who 
were strangers to me, that no abolitionist should vote. I have seen 
a few of these strangers — hemp men — in the district since. Some 
two or three have moved into the district since ; Mr. Hodges is one of 
them. I think one-half or two-thirds of those who voted that day at 
that election were strangers in the district. I do not know of a free- 
State man in the district who voted that day. According to my best 
knowledge and information, I think that at that time the pro-slavery 
party in the district had a small majority, but I do not positively 
know how many, perhaps twenty-five. I presume the majority has 
not varied much since, though I do not know. 

To H. Miles Moore : 

I do not remember that in the speeches I heard, I heard any in- 
ducement held out to strangers to vote. 

Cross-examined by Mr. D. A. X. Grover : 

I live about six miles, nearly south, from Hay's house, as we call it, 
but I do not know what the exact distance is. I saw no one camping 
in the neighborhood of the house where the election was held the 
evening betore the election. I saw the day of the election, some time 
about noon, or after, a party with a flag coming up from towards 
Kickapoo. I do not know who those men were, or where they came 
from, though I heard some of them say they were from Missouri. 
They did not tell me so, but I heard them tell others so. On the flag 
was a design of a negro breaking hemp, and was carried "by some men 
in a wagon, but I did not notice what was written on it. I know only 
from what I heard said, that those persons came from Missouri. I could 
not be positive those I heard say they were from Missouri were that 
party, though from all appearances I judged them to be so. They 
might probably be of some other party. I do not know many of the 
citizens who live in and around Kickapoo. I know there were a good 
many settlers around and above Kickapoo. I know a great many of 
them by sight, and where they live, but do not know their names. I 
do not know the politics of those men as a general thing. "Within 
three miles ot Kickapoo, up the river, I know of but five or six free- 
State men. Some of their names I have freq^uently heard. There is 
a Mr. House. I do not know that House has voted for Whitfield, bat 



36g KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

lie has represented himself to me as a free-State man. There is a Mr. 
Jones there, a free-State man, and several others there, whose names 
I cannot tell. I know from their conversation that they are free-State 
men. I do not know how many free-State men there are in my neigh- 
borhood, thongh tliere are a considerable number. The family and 
residence of Mr. Eay were in Mercer county, as I understood the term 
residence. He has been over here frequently a week at a time, work- 
ing on a claim ; but his family were not here. He has been contest- 
ing a claim with Martin Hefferton, and I think he made improvements 
on the claim, but I do not know whether he has got the claim. I date 
my residence in the Territory from the 20th of August, 1854, when I 
landed with my family. People generally attempt to hold their claims 
from the time they make it, and some pretend to claim their residence 
from that tim6, but I do not think that is the general doctrine in the 
Territory. I think what constitutes a residence is when a man moves 
on to a claim with his family and goods, though he may hold a claim 
until he gets a chance to move on it. In regard to citizenship, I would 
relinquish all right and title I had to my claim before I moved on it 
with my family. But I think a man does not become a citizen until 
he settles j)ermanently on his claim. I think that a man's family, 
when he has one, makes him a citizen ; that is, where his family is, 
there his home is. I do not know whether that is free-State doc- 
trine. According to what I have stated I do not think Lewis Burns 
was a citizen on the 30th of March, 1855. I knew he had a claim, 
and had built a house on it, but I did not know that he had lived 
there with his family before that time. I did not know of my own 
knowledge that he had not lived there with his family. The free- 
State party did not run a candidate, so far as I know anything about 
it. I intimated to the committee that the pro-slavery party meant 
to intimidate the free-State party, so that they should not run a can- 
didate, for I heard persons say so ; but they were strangers to me, and 
I did not know where they were from ; and it is from the words of 
those strangers I inferred that the pro-slavery party of the fifteenth 
district meant to intimidate the free-State party. I cannot say that 
I heard any man of the pro-slavery party, that I knew personally 
to live in the ninth coancil district, say that the free-State party 
should not run a candidate. I do not know where those men lived 
that I heard say so. I saw no one prevented from voting at Hagis's 
on the 30th Of March, 1855. I cannot say as I heard any one threat- 
ened if he attempted to vote. I saw no fighting there before I left. I 
heard no quarrelling between free-State and pro-slavery men, and can- 
not say that I saw any violence in any way. Hodgis has liad a claim 
in the district, and was over occasionally before the election, but did no 
work except to move an old Indian cabin from an old farm to a claim he 
made, and put it up. He has sold his claim and bought another, which 
he has moved on since. I do not know anything about Jolly taking 
the census of that district before the election. I think he went out to 
take it in winter, when there were three or four inches of snow on the 
ground. I do not know of any one in my neighborhood who made a 
claim in the fall, lived there until the cold weather, went over into 
Missouri, and came back in the spring. I have no idea of the number 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 36 D 

of men I was acquainted with in the district. I think I knew one- 
fourth by sight, but I did not know their names. I was not well ac- 
quainted above Kickapoo and along towards Port Williams, though I 
have frequently rode through there hunting ujj cattle, and conversed 
with some I saw there. There were many men in Salt Creek valley 
whose faces I knew, but not their names. I do not know how many 
free-soilers I could point out. I know of many whose names I do not 
know. I knew free-soilers in Salt Creek valley at that time — one was 
K. Riddle ; but I do not know as I knew others at that time.. I think 
there was a majority of pro-slavery men in the district. In my own 
neighborhood there are free-State men ; Mr. Nichols, three Mr. Ro- 
binsons, Mr, Wiley, two Mr, Harrisons, Mr. Parks, Mr. Buckner, 
Mr. Heath, Mr. Gordney, Mr. Sutton, Mr. Foster, Mr. Klein, Mr. 
Baker, and a good many more. 

J. B. CRANE. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 19, 1856. 



Joseph Potter called and sworn. 

I live in Atchison county, in Mount Pleasant township, from thir- 
teen to fifteen miles from here. I have lived there since the 16th of 
October, 1854, and came from Buchanan county, Missouri. I was 
born in Kentucky. I was at the election at Hagis's on the 30th of 
March, 1855. I did not vote there that day. My acquaintance in the 
fifteenth district was quite limited at that time. There was quite a 
crowd there on that day ; I should judge from 300 to 500. I saw 
some there from Buchanan county that day, and who lived there then, 
I judged. I saw Benjamin Yocum, James and Lafayette Ellison, and 
a young Mr. Dunlap — Allen Dunlap, I believe. I do not remember 
that I had any conversation with these men. I judged they were resi- 
dents of Buchanan county, because they formerly resided there, and 
were my neighbors, and have resided there since. I did not hear of 
any there from Buchanan county that I did not know. I saw some 
there from other counties. I saw Major Oliver there, from Ray county, 
and I think Laban Withers, from Platte county. I never knew of 
any of these men I have named living in the fifteenth district. I 
do not think the people on the ground were generally armed. I saw 
one revolver, a bowie-knife or two, and some rifles; I left the 
ground in the afternoon, and do not know whether these men voted 
or not. I should judge from all I saw and knew of the people of the 
district, and of Missouri, at least one-half of those on the ground that 
day were not residents, perhaps more or less. There were many resi- 
dents about Kickapoo 1 did not know. I paid but little attention to 
what went on, that day. Major Oliver made us a fine speech. Col. 
Burns, and I think a Daniel Burns, made speeches. I do not know 
where they lived ; but they sold goods, and I think lived in Weston. 
Major Oliver gave us some grounds, I think based on the Missouri 
compromise, in regard to the right of voting. I was in no fix to listen 
H. Rep. 200 24* 



370 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

to a speech as a man ouglit to, for I was somewhat sick and did not 
pay much attention. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

The first position Major Oliver took on that occasion was, to guar- 
anty peace to us all. He was called on to speak by a number. I 
think the Major urged upon all present to use no harsh words ; ex- 
pressed the hope that nothing would he said or done to wound the 
feelings of the most sensitive on the other side. I think the speech 
was a first-rate speech, and was a peace speech. I voted for General 
Whitfield at his first election, but on the 30th of March I fell over the 
fence and became a free-State man. I took no exception to anything 
the Major said in his speech. The Major made a very fine speech, and 
a peaceable speech ; and said that he felt that all were brothers, whether 
free-State or pro-slavery men, and that all had an equal right to vote ; 
and undertook to guaranty that if there were free-State men there, 
they would be protected in their rights, as would the others. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I do not recollect that I heard, in any of the speeches, about what 
constituted residence ; I think Major Oliver excused the Missourians 
for voting, but I do not recollect upon what grounds. Colonel Burns 
said to the men there all to vote, as they had all come to vote, and 
he hoped none would go home without voting. I do not recollect of 
his saying anything about counteracting the eastern emigrant vote. 
I do not know that I heard any one who lived in Missouri say any- 
thing about that. It appeared to me that the people there generally 
voted, going up in order in a line of twenty or twenty-five. I got 
over the fence that day because I thought we had men enough in 
Kansas to regulate our own afiairs, and would have preferred to do 
so, and I fell over the fence in consequence of seeing so many there I 
thought were non-residents. I do not know of any free-State men 
who voted that day, and do not think that any voted. I came from 
Kentucky to Saline county^ Missouri, in 1836, then to Lafayette 
county, and then to Buchanan county. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Grover : 

I was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky ; lived some years in Jef- 
ferson county, Kentucky. I never lived in Indiana ; merely passed 
through that State. I was at the election at Hagis's in the 15th dis- 
trict, on the 30th of March, 1855, but did not vOte. I had intended 
to vote for Grover, Kellogg, and Harris that day. I was not pre- 
vented from voting that day. I saw no one prevented from voting. 
I heard no threats made in regard to voting. I was at the election 
at Pensenau's on the 29th of November, 1854, and voted for General 
Whitfield. I saw some strangers there, but they did not throw me 
over the fence, as the sight of strangers on the 30th of March did, 
because I had not then begun to study into matters right. I do not 
know that the charge was made that I was a free-soiler before the 
30th of March, though I must say I began to get pretty tolerably 
softened on that subject before then. I had begun to look into public 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 371 

affairs, and had about come to tlie conclusion that I would rather live 
in a free State than a slave State. I had come to that conclusion 
pretty much before I went to the election of the 30th of March, 
though I had not fallen over the fence then. I do not suppose the 
free-State men were prohibited by the pro-slavery men from bringing 
out a candidate. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I heard Mr. Kellogg' s speech that day, in which he declined to run 
as a candidate. I do not recollect what were his grounds for declining, 
as stated in his speech. 

To Mr. Grover: 

I was one of the supporters of Mr. Kellogg, and was somewhat dis- 
satisfied when he withdrew, as he was one of my friends I had known 
in Missouri, and had been with me a great deal, and I thought a heap 
of him, and that he was a man well qualified for the office. If Kel- 
logg had run as a regular candidate that day, I reckon I should have 
voted for him. He told me that the occasion of his withdrawing was,, 
that there were so many strangers there that day. I did not vote, 
because Kellogg, whom I considered our regular nominee, did not 
make the race that day ; and one cause why I did not vote was his 
withdrawing. I was not generally acquainted through the district. 
My acquaintance was quite limited. I do not suppose I know one- 
fourth of the residents in that district, or even one-fifth. A great 
many persons I saw that day might have been residents of that dis- 
trict, and I supposed that all or the greater portion of those that came 
from Kickapoo were residents, and many there that I took to be resi- 
dents, were strangers to me. I can tell a resident, generally, when I 
see him ; they are generally a little rougher dressed than those who 
come across the river, though that is not invariably the case. I do 
not know how many voters there were in the district at that time. 
Kickapoo I supposed to be a pro-slavery place ; there was a majority 
of free-State men in my neighborhood. It may have been that there 
was a pro-slavery majority in the district ; though, in my oj)inion, 
there was not far from a tie in the district of free-State men and pro- 
slavery men. I saw several there that I supposed to be from Missouri, 
and to the best of my knowledge they lived on the other side of the river, 
and I have good reasons to suppose they were residents in Missouri. I 
think I saw more than five there that day I had good reasons to be- 
lieve were residents of Missouri. Mr. Benjamin Yocum is another 
family from those who lived near Atchison. It may have been B. F. 
Yocum, but he was called Benjamin Yocum ; and if he had a claim 
on the Stranger I never knew it. I have good reason to believe that 
all the names I have given were residents in Missouri. 1 do not 
recollect whether I had been in Missouri that spring or not. I had 
been over during the winter — some time, I think, in January, though 
it might have been in February, or even in March. I saw some of 
those men when 1 was there in Missouri, but not all. I saw James 
and Lafayette Ellison there, but I do not think they talked with me 
about coming over into the Territory that spring, and do not recollect 



372 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

that I spoke to tliern. I saw those men in the town of De Kalb, I 
think. I left them in Buchanan county, and found them there when 
I was over there then, and also this spring ; and, therefore, I call 
them residents of Missouri. I saw one revolver in the hand of a 
young man who got up on a wagon to make a speech. I do not recol- 
lect of seeing any other revolver. I think the men were not generally 
armed ; if they were, they carried them about their persons. The 
young man with the revolver had no difficulty with any one, and 
made no threats against any one that I know of. I think he held 
it in his hand during a part of his speech, and then put it away, but 
did not notice what he did with it. 

JOSEPH POTTER. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 20, 1856. 



Thomas Hodges called and sworn. 

I reside in Platte county, Missouri, seven miles from "Weston, north- 
east ; I have resided there nearly seventeen years. There were a 
good many of my neighbors made preparations to come here on the 
30th of March, 1855. They were residents there and owned property 
there. They said they .were coming, and I saw them going and com- 
ing. I saw Esquires R. Gr. Baber, Thomas Stockwell, Dr. Samuel 
Rixey, and Wiley English, coming or making preparations to come ; 
I do not know that they had provisions with them when they came 
here. I had a good deal of conversation with some of these men ; 
Dr. Eixey said he would give me five dollars if I would come over 
here and vote. I never asked or heard these j>eople say what they 
voted. Esquire Baber said he had voted ; I asked him how he felt 
over it. He said he "did not feel very well ; did not think it was 
right, and should not do so any more." 

I know that persons were going and coming at that time ; there 
were a number of persons going over with a view of voting, a good 
many of them. That was the case more or less in regard to other 
elections had, but not so much so as at the election of the 30th March. 
They claimed that they had a right to vote by virtue of the Kansas- 
Nebraska bill ; that it fixed no limited time for acquiring the residence, 
but they were merely to be here ; and that such was the interpreta- 
tion given to the law by Mr. Atchison. They said they wanted to make 
Kansas a slave State, and that they had as good a right to vote as the 
people of the north who were coming to vote, and had come. These 
are the substantial reasons I heard. I do not know as I heard these 
men say anything about means or organization to carry out their ob- 
ject. I do not know of any secret political society for the purpose of 
making Kansas a slave State. 

I never came over here to vote myself. I saw Mr. Baber and others 
return the day after the election, and all my neighbors returned soon 
after the election, and are now residents of my neighborhood. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 373 

Cross-examined by Mr. Grrover : 

I have lived in Platte county, Missouri, seventeen years next fall ; 
was originally from Tennessee ; to Indiana, and then Oliio, vrliere I 
lived ten years, and then I came to Missouri. I did not volunteer to 
come here and give my testimony, but was caught here in town to- 
day. I live six or seven miles northeast from Weston. On the day 
of election, the 30th of March, 1855, I was at home,, and the day be- 
fore I did not see the persons who were coming over here across the 
Missouri river. I saw them on the road, and they said they were 
coming. I did not see them come over the river to Kansas on the day 
of election, or the day before. 

[Mv. Grover objects to the testimony as to what was said by those 
who were on the road coming, as hearsay testimony ; objection over- 
ruled.] 

I did not see Esquire Baber, T. Stockwell, Dr. S. Kixey, Wiley 
English, cross the river at the time of the election. I saw all of them 
but Wiley English pass Hughes's mill, on the Weston road, towards 
Weston. I do not know whether they went to Weston, or where 
they went. I don't know what day they came into Kansas. I never 
saw those men in Kansas, for last night was the second night I ever 
staid in the Territory. It was talked of freely in my neighborhood, 
that large parties were coming from the north and east. I have heard 
Judge Flannigan spoken of. I heard it said that Mr. Reeder had gone 
to Pennsylvania and brought out Mr. Flannigan to run for Congress, 
and as soon as the election was over he returned ; but whether I heard 
many or few say this, I cannot tell. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

I have never said what I would swear before I came on the stand. 
I told Mr. Patrick Orr, in private conversation, what I knew about 
these matters. 

THOMAS HODGES. 

LsAVEifwoiiTH CiTTj K. T., Mai/ 21, 1856. 



M. T. Bahet called and sworn. 

To Mr. Grover : 

I live on what is called the Round prairie, Atchison county, in this 
Territory, on the military road, about a thousand yards from Hays's 
house, where the election was held on the 30th of March, 1855. I 
made my claim in June, 1854, and moved there in September, 1854, 
and have lived there ever since. 

I was at the election of the 30th of March, in that district, and 
acted as one of the judges, the other two being Mr. Zimmerman and 
Mr. Thompson. I thought at that time I was about as well acquainted 
with those living in the district as any person in it. I knew a good 
many in the district when they lived in Missouri. I have practised 
medicine in Missouri, and also since I have been in the Territory, and 
my acquaintance extends over portions of the Territory and Missouri. 



374 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I had generally attended the meetings of the squatter associations 
in our district, and at those meetings I had an opportunity of "becom- 
ing acquainted with a large portion of the settlers in the district. I 
was at all the little claim disputes and neighborhood quarrels. It 
was a general rule for persons when they got into a dispute about 
their claims to call on their neighbors, and I generally attended them, 
if nothing more than as a spectator. I thought a large proportion 
of the voters of that district were at Hays's house at the election of 
the 30 til of March, 1855, and the voting was conducted regularly 
and orderly, as far as I ever saw at any election, all being allowed 
to vote who were entitled to vote, whether pro-slavery or free-soilers, 
and no persons tried to be kept from voting, and no threats made, as 
far as I saw and heard. 

D, A. N. Grover, H. B. C. Harris, and Jonah Weddell, were the 
candidates on that day. Mr, Kellogg having withdrawn, there was 
no opposition. I never heard that the free-State party had any can- 
didates in the field, because I suppose they thought there was no use 
in it, as they would be beaten. I never knew or heard of any pro- 
slavery man preventing them from bringing out a candidate. At 
that time I believe the pro-slavery party had at least two-thirds ma- 
jority in that district, and the district has always been considered one 
of the strongest pro-slavery districts in the Territory. 

I think a large proportion of the resident voters in the district 
voted there that day. Some of the free-State men voted the pro- 
slavery ticket that day. My house is in plain sight of Hays's house, 
where the election was held. I do not think I saw any wagons 
camped about Hays's house the night before the election, though there 
may have been and I not noticed it, as we paid but little attention to 
such things, it being common for persons looking at the country to 
camp out. I do not know anything of a crowd of strangers coming 
around the polls and insisting upon the polls being opened, and did 
not hear of such a thing until a year afterwards. I had no private 
conversation with any one with regard to the election after I was 
appointed judge by Mr. Zimmerman and Mr, Thompson, in the place 
of Mr. Fisk, one of the judges who had been appointed by the gov- 
ernor and declined to serve. There was no agreement between me 
and the other two judges not to examine those who offered to vote. 

Mr. Zimmerman came and brought all the necessary documents with 
him, and instructed us throughout according to the instructions of the 
governor. At that time I had never seen or heard of the form of the 
election law until Mr. Zimmerman showed it to us. Mr. Zimmerman 
acted as foreman until we opened the polls. I had gone to the polls 
very early in order to take a table for the judges to write upon, and 
Mr. Zimmerman was there when I got there. I had no idea of serv- 
ing as judge until I returned from breakfast. I received the tickets 
of the men voting part of the time, and so did Mr. Thompson, while 
Mr. Zimmerman sat there examining the census returns ; I turning 
over the leaves, and now and then saying, "that man is right." 

I heard nothing said about taking Mr. Zimmerman out of the 
judge's room, or any threats of the kind. I do not know when the 
canvass was taken. I heard that Mr. Jolly had been taking the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 3f5 

census, but I never saw him in my neighborhood. About three 
weeks afterwards Thompson and Weddell came round and took a cen- 
sus. I think it was in the winter that I heard Jolly was taking the 
census, but I do not recollect whether there were any more on the 
ground or not. There were many settlers in my district who had 
gone over in Missouri — some to bring their families over in the spring ; 
some on business, and were prevented from returning by the state of 
the river ; and some went over into Missouri for the purpose of gather- 
ing their crops, and with the intention of staying until the river 
opened. I think a perfect census return could not have been made 
during that winter, except the person who took it should go round 
the district and inquire for all who really belonged in the district, 
but happened to be away. I know of more than a dozen men who 
moved before the election, and after Thompson and Weddell had 
been round into the district, and live there yet. 

I heard of no pass-word used on the day of election by any person 
OT party. I think on the 30th March, 1855^ there were some four or 
fiye hundred actual resident voters in the district, and a large portion 
of the settlers were from Missouri, because it was right on the border, 
and people could easily come across. I think the heavy settlements 
were made earlier in our district than in any other district in the 
Territory. 

M. T. BAILEY. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Mmj 26, 1856. 



Wilt Williams testifies : 

To Mr. Scott : 

I have lived in this Territory, in what was the fifteenth district, and 
now Leavenworth county, since June, 1854. At the time of the elec- 
tion of the 30th of March, 1855, I was pretty well acquainted in and 
around Kickapoo for some two or three miles, and I should judge that 
in that distance there were at least 300 legal voters. I should think 
ttat there were at least ten pro-slavery votes to one free-State vote. 
I was at that time acting as constable for that fifteenth district under 
t3ommission from Gov. Eeeder, and my knowledge of the setiments 
Ci'the people in and around Kickapoo was acquired by the opportuni- 
ties that position gave me to associate with them. I was not at the 
election of the 30th March, 1855^ on account of sickness. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

My opinion in regard to there being ten pro-slavery men to one 
free-State man had reference to those in and around Kickapoo, where 
my acquaintance was principally confined. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I have been living in this Territory since June 15th, 1854, on the 
bank of the Missouri, at Kickapoo city, in what was formerly the 
fifteenth district, and now in Leavenworth county, and have never 



376 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

been absent from there at any one time more than ten days. I know 
a good many of the Missourians who are residents in St. Joseph, 
Weston, and Lexington, Missouri, having lived in all those places 
myself. I have conversed with a good many of them concerning 
eastern emigration, and the unlawful voting that was expected of the 
eastern emigrants. We had heard that a great many were being sent 
here to the Territory for the purpose of voting and making Kansas a 
free State, and then they would return home, I frequently told them 
I heard they were coming over to vote in the Territory at our elections, 
in case these eastern emigrants who were shipped here came and 
voted unlawfully, and asked if they thought it would be right for 
them to do wrong because others did. They generally said, in reply, 
that they were not coming to vote, but they had a right to come here 
and prevent eastern emigrants from voting, and they would do so ; 
but they would not vote themselves until they should come and get 
themselves claims, and stay here long enough to make themselves 
legal voters. I did not know of any emigrants being shipped heie, 
as I was sick part of the time during the principal season of emigia- 
tion, and never knew of any Missourians voting at any election heie. 
I was at the first Congressional election on the 29th of November;, 
1854, at Pensenau's. Gen. Whitfield was the pro-slavery candidate, 
and Judge Flannegan the free-State candidate. I voted at that elec- 
tion and saw a great many others voting, a large majority for Whit- 
field. I saw some voting for Flannegan. I sawFlannegan's nephew 
there electioneering for Flannegan. He seemed to be considerably 
excited, and I thought considerably intoxicated. I did not know him, 
but I was told it was Flannegan' s nephew. He was very solicitois 
and a little overbearing in favor of Flannegan. He offered me a 
ticket, and said that Flannegan was the man. I told him I had a 
ticket, and was a Whitfield man, and everybody had a right to vote 
as he pleased. I saw him approach several others in the course of 
the day with tickets. I saw no person do, nor heard any person of 
the pro-slavery party say, anything out of the way to him in any way. 
I saw no difficulty on any side. Both sides voted as peaceably aid 
quietly as I ever saw at any election. I remained there till pretty 
near night, and when I left all was quiet. I saw some Missouriansat 
Pensenau's — Mr. Douglass and his son, I think, and a Mr. Johnson, 
and others I do not now recollect. The Missourians did not interfere 
by word or act, that I saw. I saw none of them vote. I asked oneor 
two Missourians if they came to vote, and they «aid no, as they had 
no right to vote. 

WILY WILLIAMS. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., Maij 29, 1856. 1 



S. W. TuRNNELL called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I resided on the 30th March, 1855, in the fifteenth election dis- 
trict, and have resided there since the 6th of June, 1854. I was 
about as well acquainted with the people of that district as almost any 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 377 

man in it, and was generally acquainted with their sentiments upon 
the subject of slavery. I took no particular pains to find out their 
sentiments, except to try and find out where each man stood on that 
question, and at the time of that March election I should judge the 
pro-slavery were two to one of the free-soil party in the whole pre- 
cinct. 

Kickapoo is about midway on the river in that district. I was at 
that election that day. D. A. N. Grover for council, and Dr. H. C. 
B. Harris and Jonah Weddell for the house of representatives, were 
the pro-slavery candidates. Mr. Kellogg was a candidate for a time, 
but withdrew the morning of the election. Kellogg claimed to be a 
pro-slavery man, but was an independent candidate. I never knew 
of the free-State party having any ticket for that election. I heard 
Kellogg announce his withdrawal, but I do not recollect the reasons 
he gave for withdrawing, and cannot say whether he gave any reason, 
though I think he did. I think he withdrew before there w^s any 
voting done. I saw no sign of difiiculty about the election, either be- 
fore or after the polls were opened, and no indications of interference 
with any one voting. I do not know as I saw more than three or four 
persons vote. I saw a great many residents there, but I did not see 
them vote, though I think they did. I do not know that anybody 
was prevented from voting. In the morning it was very crowded 
about the polls, and persons might not be able to get to the polls when 
they wanted to, but in the afternoon all could get up. I do not think 
that at th« beginning of the crowding at the polls there was a free- 
State man among them. But as soon as the first crowd got to vote, 
every one could vote. After that, and during the day, there were fre- 
quent calls for more voters. If the free-State party had had a ticket 
in the field, and there had been no Missourians there, I think the pro- 
slavery men could have elected their ticket over all opposition by a 
considerable majority. 

S. W. TUENNELL. 

Leavenworth 'City, K. T., 3Imj 29, 1856. 



Thomas J. Thompson called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I reside some three or four miles northwest of Kickapoo, in Atchi- 
son county, in what was formerly the fifteenth district of this Terri- 
tory, and have resided there since June^ 1854. At the time of the 
election of the 30th of March, 1855, I was well acquainted with the 
residents of that district. In the winter of 1854 and 1855, the gover- 
nor appointed Mr. Jolly to take the census in our district. He came 
into the district in the very coldest of the weather, and seemed to be in 
great haste, and we thought he was not making out a just census of 
the district. I concluded I would take the census over on my own re- 
sponsibility, and I did so, and made the returns to the governor on 
the same day Mr. Jolly made his return. Our lists did not correspond, 
I having made out some fifty to one hundred voters more than he did. 



378 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Tlie governor took my returns and paid me for my services. I made 
it my business, while taking the census, to find out as far as possible 
what were the sentiments of the people on the subject of slavery, and 
I found that a great many men I count as residents of the Territory, 
who had no other homes but in the Territory, had gone to Missouri to 
pass the season of cold weather there. These persons generally re- 
turned before the election. I did not include these names in the census 
list. The district was largely pro- slavery ; so I judged from all the 
information I could get. People were all the time coming into the 
district from the time I finished the census to the time of election, 
and thus there were many more voters there at the time of election 
than when the census was taken ; and there was a general complaint 
among both parties that the census should have been taken, and the 
district laid off, when many of the actual residents of the district were 
absent for the winter in Missouri, with the intention of returning in 
the spring. Mr. Jolly gave as an excuse for not having all the resi- 
dents, that he was not acquainted with that portion of the country ; 
and as it was pretty broken, he could not find all the little cabins stuck 
round in the hollows, but he put down all he saw. 

I was acquainted with a great portion of the residents who returned 
after the census and before the election, and I was acquainted with a 
great many settlers who were from Missouri, as I had lived in Mis- 
souri some time and had known them there ; and pretty much, proba- 
bly two-thirds, of the returning residents and the new comers were 
pro- slavery. I attended the election at that precinct on the 30th of 
March^ 1855, and was one of the judges of election appointed by the 
governor. The other judges appointed by the governor were Mr. Fisk 
and Mr. Zimmerman. Mr. Fisk did not attend. Mr. Zimmerman 
and myself were on the ground early in the morning, and when the 
hour for opening the polls arrived, which was 9 o'clock, Mr. Fisk v/;,^ 
not there, and we waited, according to our instructions, an hour, before 
we proceeded to appoint one his place. At 10 o'clock we selected 
Mr. Martin T. Bailey, and proceeded to open the polls immediately, 
as soon as we could be qualified and choose our clerks. H. C. B. 
Harris and Jonah Weddell for representatives, and D. A. N. Grover 
for council, were the pro-slavery candidates. There were no free-State 
candidates running. Mr. Kellogg, for the lower house, withdrew 
about the time the polls were opened. I think the free-State party 
had not at any time a full ticket for that election ; I never saw nor 
never heard of any. Mr. Kellogg gave some reason for withdrawing, 
but I do not recollect what it was. I think^ from all I could learn, 
that he had brought himself out, and finding none of the free-State 
party would vote for him, he withdrew. I was in the house, and I did 
not see many who were on the ground. I had been living in the Ter- 
ritory for nearly a year. I saw some men who had lived in Missouri, 
but I did not know whether they lived there then or not. I have no 
knowledge of their interfering with the election by voting, or in any 
way. The election was as quiet as any I ever saw, and there seemed 
to be good feeling prevailing on both sides, so far as I saw. I did not 
know of any complaining of opening the polls so late, and leaving 
without voting. Some said they wanted to vote soon,'but I explained 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 3T9 

Tvliy we did not open sooner. I told them tliat we would open at tlie 
time fixed, when one of the judges was absent. I knew of no one 
going away on that account. The free-State men voted without any 
hindrance^ so far as they desired to vote. Some of them did not vote, 
because they had no ticket. There were two ballots put in with the 
words '' no slavery," but with no names of candidates. Even if Mis- 
sourians did vote, the pro-slavery ticket would have been elected with- 
out their votes. There may have been some votes given by Missouri- 
ans who had claims here, and were working on them, but had no 
families here. The members elect called on us for certificates of elec- 
tion, and Mr. Bailey and myself granted them, Mr. Zimmerman say- 
ing he saw no use in it, but we could do as we wished ; he would go, as 
he had some ways to talk. The poll-books had been closed and cer- 
tified. 

THOMAS J. THOMPSON. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 29, 1856. 



Edward Bourne called and sworn. 

I live in what is called Atchison county, in this Territory, and 
my family has been living there since November, 1854. I was at the 
election at Charles Hayes's house, on the military road, on the 30th 
of March, 1855. I was there a good portion of the day, but I did not 
get there very early. I did not vote. I went there for the purpose 
of voting, and a man came up and put a ticket in my hand, and said 
if I did not vote that ticket I should leave. It was a man named 
Jonathan Smith, who lived in the district, who said that to me. The 
day previous to the election I had been across in Platte county, at a 
■pAace called latan. Some men there gathered around me, and wanted 
f (find out my political opinions, and how I would vote. I told them 
that I did not exactly know ; that the question about this being a 
slave or a free State was one I did not much care about. One or two 
said that if I did not promise to vote for making Kansas a slave State 
they would throw me into the river. One of them, named Creek 
Gum, of Platte city, a son of one who keeps a hotel in Platte city, 
pulled off his coat, and wanted to get a party to throw me into the 
Missouri river. I came across the river that day safe and sound. 
There was an immense body at the election, and as I was going to the 
polls I met considerable bodies coming from the election polls. I got 
there about ten o'clock in the morning. The man who attempted to 
make me vote made me angry. The crowd was then around, and 
shooting off their revolvers, and making a great noise. I knew a 
number of the men in the crowd. I knew most of the residents in the 
crowd, though some of them, probably, I did not know. I should think 
there were three hundred men in a body, besides those who were coming 
away. I saw a good many, while I was there, go up to the window and 
hand in tickets. I saw several there I knew were not residents of the 
district ; one of them was Captain John Eeed, from Clinton county, 
Missouri ; Mr. Brooks ; Mr. " Bungar," I think, from Clay county; 



380 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Mr. Cuck, from Clay county, I think— I do not know his first name ; 
Mr. Gabbord, deputy sheriff of Platte county at one time ; N. J. Alex- 
ander, a merchant in Platte county ; Mr. Turner, a magistrate from 
Platte county ; Mr. Seward, from Platte county ; Mr. Ellaford, from 
Platte county, I think; Geo. W. Smoothe, from 'Platte county — he 
made a claim in the Territory, but never lived on it ; and several 
names I cannot call to mind. I was acquainted in three or four 
counties of Missouri. I saw Mr. Brasspeard, from Platte county ; John 
and Wm. Forbes, from Camden Point, Missouri. I never have known 
of any one of these I have mentioned who had ever lived in the dis- 
trict. Captain John Eeed said he had a perfect right to come here 
and vote. I was talking with him about his making: his claim, and 
he said he did not know when he would make it. There were little 
pamphlets in circulation as to the right of people to vote, and who 
would have a right to vote. Captain Eeed seemed to think that the 
moment he landed here he had a right to vote ; and that appeared to 
be a somewhat general impression. I think he told me he liad voted, 
and I think Mr. Brooks told me he had voted. I cannot now call to 
mind the names of any others who may have told me they had voted. 

To Mr. Propper : 

I think I know a good many persons in my district, but I do not 
know any James Moore in my district. I think I met a man from 
Platte county there of that name, on the day of the election. I do not 
know a Mr. Oliver Sweeny in my district, but I know several Sweenys 
in Platte county. I do not know a Mr. G. W. Calne in our district. 
There is a Calver living in the district. I do not know whether 
Thomas Baker was living in the district or not at the time of the 
election_, but I think not. I do not know a Mr. E. E. Bywaters in the 
district. I know some Bywaters in Platte county, but not the initials 
of their names. I know Enoch Stoggs, and he lives in Platte county ; 
I saw him the day of the election. I do not know G. W. Kyle in our 
district at the time of election. G. W. Smoothe lives in Platte county, 
and I think he sold his claim before the election. A. B. Sesson lives 
in Platte county, and I saw him at the election. I never knew him 
to live in the district, though I heard of his making a claim and sell- 
ing it again. He told me he had voted that day for peace. I know 
a Eoss in our district, but cannot say whether there is a B. F. Eoss or 
not. I know a Thomas Scott, and I think I saw him at the election ; 
I think he lived in Platte county. I know Lee'Olham, but I never 
knew of his living in the Territory, though I heard he made a claim 
near Kickapoo. I should think about one-third of the crowd I saw at 
the polls were actual settlers of the district. I cannot say how many 
legal votes there were in the district at the time of the election. I went 
to the election because I was dared to go there, and they said they 
would duck me ; and I went there to show that I would go. I am a 
free-soiler myself, but I do not try to influence others. I came to 
Kansas just to get a piece of land cheap. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

"When they threatened to throw me into the Missouri river at latan, 



KANSAS AFFAIES. 381 

if I did not proinise to vote the pro-slavery ticket, I would not promise 
any such thing. They did not throw me into the river. One stripped 
off his hat, hut did not attempt to do it. Mr. Jonathan Smith put a 
ticket in my hand, and said if I did not vote that ticket I should have 
to leave there. I did not vote that ticket, and I did not leave there 
immediately. No one else tried to make me vote hy coercion. Others 
argued with me, hut no one prevented me from voting. I got mad 
when Mr. Smith said that to me, and I would not vote, especially as 
there was only one set of candidates — the pro-slavery candidates. I 
know over one-tenth of the persons who live in the district, I think. 
I do not know how many lived in the district at that time. I have 
been nearly over the whole district. I cannot state the exact number 
of persons there are in the district. I know two hundred, I think, of 
the residents of that district, and I think there are more there. I think 
there were persons there of both pro-slavery and free-State. I should 
think that at that time there were a majority of free-State men. 
There were two men by the name of Logan, and a Mr. Roberts, free- 
State men. If I am obliged to tell who are free-State men, I will tell; 
but I do not want to tell the names of men who do not want their 
names known, as they do not think it safe. I think there were more 
free-State men there than now. I think there were free-State men 
there, because I talked to them at different times. I have been beaten 
and bruised because of my political opinions, and had to show my 
pistol to defend my life ; and I think I am in danger now, when I tell 
what I do here. My wife has scarcely changed her clothes for the last 
six weeks, and a mob has come about my house and threatened to 
hang me if I did not leave in ten days, and called me an abolitionist, 
which I am not. The primary cause of my difficulty may have grown 
out of a disputed land claim ; but politics has given it a different 
complexion. Only one of the persons I had the difficulty with had 
anything to do with the claim. The man who struck me, and the 
man who drew the pistol on me, never had anything to do with the 
claim. The man who drew the pistol on me I never spoke to in my 
life. This difficulty did not occur on the claim, but at Kickapoo, 
where I went to get some corn ground. 

[Mr. Scott wishes it noted that he did not call out the account of 
the difficulty on cross-examination, but that it was a voluntary state- 
ment of the witness.] 

One of the Logans is on the same claim with myself, and he pointed 
me out to the Kickapoo bully that they might beat me. He is not a 
free-State man now, but he told me at one time that he would not 
live in Kansas if it was a slave State. 

Captain John Reed told me his residence was in Clinton county, 
Missouri ; that he came over to vote, and was going back home the 
day of the election. Mr. Benjamin Brooks came up to me, and we 
had some talk about claims. He asked me if I knew where he could 
buy a claim. I think he acknowledged to me that he had voted, but 
had no claim ; he owns land in Clay county. My understanding of 
the matter is, that I should be living in the Territory before having a 
right to vote, but I can live in the Territory without having a claim. 
Brooks was on his way back to Clay county when I met him ; he was 



382 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

in Kansas Territory wlien I met liim, but lie told me lie was ou liis 
, way back to Clay county, Missouri. I think tbe residence of George 
Gabbord was in Platte county, Missouri, at tlie time of tbe election. 
I have never been tbere since. He has a farm and placer in Platte 
county, and I never beard of bis coming to tbe Territory to live, 
and I am satisfied be never lived in our district. M. J. Alexander 
was and is a mercbant in latan. I saw 'Squire Turner on bis way 
home ; be was tben acting magistrate in Platte county. M. Len- 
mud's residence is near Mr. Turner's. I saw bim coming from tbe 
election. I do not know of any one voting except tbose who told me 
they bad voted. 

To Mr. Grover: 

I bave been quite frequently in Missouri since I moved to tbe Ter- 
ritory. I bave been over tbere for four weeks at a time. 

EDWAKD BOUENE. 
Lea\t:nworth City, K. T., May 22, 1856. 



0. H. Brewster called and sworn. 

I bave resided in Lexington, Missouri, nearly four years, and came 
originally from New York State. I was about tbree miles from town 
here at tbe time of tbe difficulties at Lawrence, Kansas Territory, 
last fall, working for Col. Ewing at my trade of carpentering. I 
was tbere when tbe news of Governor Shannon's proclamation first 
came. Col. Ewing urged bis bands, just as soon as bis house was 
finished, to go up to Kansas. He stated as a reason that Governor 
Shannon in his proclamation bad called upon tbe citizens of Missouri, 
and they bad a right to go up there and enlist in tbe militia of tbe 
Territory, and that Governor Shannon's proclamation was sufficient 
authority for them to do so. I attended a public meeting afterwards, 
and heard speeches made by citizens of this place, as far as I knew 
them. Men were called on to enrol their names, and I saw quite a 
number go up and write their names to go up to tbe Territory, It 
was said that those who bad no horses should be furnished with 
them, and that provisions should be furnished them, and it should 
cost young men nothing to go out to tbe Territory and come 
back. I think a hundred or more went from here or through this 
place, and I heard a large number state that they intended to 
burn Lawrence and wipe out the abolitionists.' I heard several 
of them converse after they came back, and one, in particular, 
(Captain J. Reese, a lawyer of this place) said that tbe Missourians, 
with the militia, would have rushed into Lawrence and destroyed it 
if it bad not been for tbe Sharpe's rifles, I beard others converse, 
but it amounted to about tbe same thing. 

I have seen Major Oliver, the representative to Congress from the 
district across tbe river. I heard bim make a speech at the pro- 
slavery convention for the State of Missouri, held in Lexington, 
Missouri, on the 26th of June, 1855. It was the same meeting at 
which President Shannon, of the State University, addressed those 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 383 

present. A man by the name of Samuel Young, from Boone county, 
also made a very strong pro-slavery speech. Mr. Young argued in 
his speech that it would be right to drive the free-soilers out of Kan- 
sas Territory and prevent them from settling there. Mr. Oliver 
replied to him, and in the commencement of his speech seemed to 
condemn any unlawful movement ; but before he had finished he 
stated that he had been up to Kansas Territory and voted himself, 
and would go again under similar circumstances. He went on then 
to justify his voting and the whole proceeding, on the ground that 
the northern people had formed an Emigrant Aid Society and sent 
men out to the Territory of Kansas. He went on to describe the 
Emigrant Aid Society, and stated that hundreds had been sent out 
here, and on this ground he justified his voting. He did not say at 
what election, time, or place, he had voted in the Territory. I re- 
member very distinctly that he said he had gone to the Territory of 
Kansas and voted, and would go again under similar circumstances. 

0. H. BREWSTER. 

Lexington, Mo., June 10, 1856. 

[See affidavits of Mr. King and Mr. Shot well.] 



John "W". Martin testifies : 

To Mr; Scott: 

I resided on Plum creek, about a mile and a half from Kickapoo, 
in the fifteenth district of this Territory, on the 30th of March, 1855. 
I was born in Kentucky, but when an infant was brought to Mis- 
souri, where I was raised and lived until the 12th of June, 1854, 
when I came into the Territory, and have resided in the fifteenth 
district ever since. 

I was present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Mr. 
Hays's in the fifteenth district. There was but one set of candidates 
at that election : the pro-slavery candidates, Grover, Weddell, and 
I Harris. I did not hear of any free-State candidates there. I saw 
j nothing done by the pro-slavery party to keep the free-State party 
' out. There was such a rush among our party to the polls that we 
I would crowd one another out, but that was all that I saw. 
I There were Missourians there, and some of them may have voted, 
but I saw none of them vote. I was toler^-bly well acquainted with 
, the inhabitants of that district, and there was a general turn out of 
' the voters of the district that day. We have very few free-State men 
' there, I think, and all voted who desired to. I never heard any one 
j complain of not being allowed to vote. There were a good many 
I men from Missouri then on the ground at that election. I under- 
' stood they came there to counteract these emigrant aid voters who 
j were expected there, and if the aid-emigrants voted they intended to 
I vote themselves. I did not see any of them vote, and I did not hear 
j any of them say they would vote^ except in the case of aid-emigrants 
\ being allowed to vote. I saw many of the legal voters of the district 
I voting that day. 



384 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I suppose the pro-slavery party had a majority of ten to one in that 
district, if not more. There were hut one or two free-State men scat- 
tered ahout, who were quiet men and did not care to take any part in 
the election. Mr. Kellogg was out as a pro-slavery candidate, as I 
understood^ hut I did not hear him decline to run that morning, as 
that took })lace hefore I got to the polls. The pro-slavery party had 
no fear of heing defeated by the free-lState party, except by some such 
thing as the Aid Emigrant Society were said to he getting up, and 
we heard every day^ and were told, that the election was put oif in 
order to allow the emigrants time to get here. 

Major Mordccai Oliver made a speech and urged the Missourians 
not to vote, as there was no necessity for it, the aid-emigrants not 
having come in. He said that the reason for the Missourians coming 
was to counteract the emigrant aid movement, and as the aid-emi- 
grants had not come to that election in that district, there was no 
necessity for Missourians voting, and they ought not to vote. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I have known the boundaries of the fifteenth district, but I cannot 
give them exactly now. It embraced the upper settlements of the 
Stranger creek, north of Fort Kiley military road, up to Walnut 
creek, the Kickapoo settlement, Port William, &c. I sliould think 
that in and about Kickapoo there were not more than one hundred 
and twenty voters at that election ; in the Stranger settlement there 
were about thirty or forty families, and about that many voters ; in 
the Walnut neighborhood there were from eighty to one hundred 
voters ; Port William I have included in Kickapoo and Walnut, thus 
giving from two hundred and forty to two hundred and fifty voters 
in the district. At that time, if the free-State men had liad a ticket 
in the field, I could not tell how many they would have polled. Sev- 
eral free-State men voted the pro-slavery ticket that day ; but there 
were two pro-slavery men on the ground to one free-State man, let 
the free-State men vote as they may. I am better acquainted about 
Kickapoo than other portions of the district, but I have estimated the 
relative strength of the two parties in reference to all the district. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I had been over the disti;ict once or twice before that election, and 
had taken a great deal ot pains to find out the relative strength of 
parties, and 1 know that the pro-slavery party had a very large ma- 
joritv ; that there were very few free-State men at all. 

J. W. MARTIN. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Maij 27, 1866. 



M. P. RiVELY testifies : 
To Mr. Matthias : 
I have resided in this Territory some five years, and came here from 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 385 

Pliiladelpliia, Pennsylvania ; I was present at the election of the 30th 
of March, 1855, at Mr. Hays's, in the 15th district. The pro-slavery 
candidates were D. A. N. Grover for Council, and Dr. PI. C. B. 
Davis and Jonah Weddell for the House of Representatives ; I do not 
recollect whether there were any free-soil candidates or not. There 
was not much of a contest in the district ; there was quite a number 
of persons at the polls, and voting when I got there ; there seemed to 
he no objection to any one of cither party voting. Calls were made 
by persons on both sides for voters to come up and vote; I was pretty 
well acquainted in the. district, from the fact that I had a store tliore ; 
and many, perhaps a majority of the persons in the district, were at 
my store, and I was acquainted with the political views of most of 
them. 1 think the pro-slavery party had a majority of at least three 
to one ; the election was conducted peaceably and quietly while I was 
there ; I saw no persons armed there. I do not know why the free- 
State party took no decided part in the election by bringing out 
candidates. They were not prohibited in any way from doing so. I 
think Governor lieeder's conduct had the effect of making the people 
dissatisfied here, by showing a decided preference for making a free 
State of Kansas, in a short time after he was here, by choosing free- 
soilers to do what business he had to be done ; by appointing free-soil 
canvassers, and a majority of free-soil judges of election ; and letting 
eastern people know when the election was to take place before he let 
us know it here ; and thus leading the people to believe he would make 
a good governor for the free-soilers, but not for the pro-slavery men. 
Information was also received here that he was interested in the East, 
in importing votes from Massachusetts and other States to malce this 
a free State. The people in Missouri became aroused, and they came 
over here to the election to counteract the votes of the eastern men ; 
that is about the cause, I believe, of all our difficulties here. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

It was a general rumor that Governor Reeder was interested in 
bringing voters here ; I had no specific information on the subject. 

To Mr. Matthias : 

I came into the Territory some five years ago from Philadelphia, Pa. 
I was not present at the election of 29th November, 1854. General 
Whitfield was the pro-slavery candidate, and Mr. Flannic^^an was the 
free-soil candidate for Congress at that election. I was introduced to 
Judge Flannigan shortly after he arrived at Fort Leavenworth ; he 
canie to Fort Leavenworth with Governor Reeder. Shortly after he 
arrived Judge Flannigan came out to Salt Creek valley, where I then 
lived, and went to the house of John Cody, and announced himself as 
the free-soil candidate for delegate to Congress, and he made a free- 
soil speech to a number of free-soilers at Mr. Cody's ; this was pro- 
bably ten days after his arrival in the Territory. He made the race, 
and was defeated by General Whitfield. Some three or four days 
after the election was over, Mr. Flannigan returned to Pennsylvania ; 
I do not know where he resides in Pennsylvania. I have heard he had 

H. Rep. 200 25* 



386 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



a family in Pennsylvania ; he had none with him here in the Terri- 
tory. 

M. P. RIVELY. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., Mmj 31, 1856. 



Sixteenth District — Leavemuorth. 

Daved Brown recalled. 

I came into the Territory about the middle of September, 1854, 
from Minnesota. I reside in Leavenworth city at present, and have 
resided in this district since the 27th or 28th September, 1854. On 
the 30th of March, 1855, I was in this place in the forenoon ; I was 
at the election, but did not vote. I had been appointed as one of the 
judges of the election, but did not serve ; I resigned. I was here the 
day previous to the election for the purpose of making some prepara- 
tion for holding the election ; and that evening I offered my resigna- 
tion to the other two judges, and told them they might fill my place 
with some one else. I did not offer my resignation publicly until the 
next morning, announcing it to the audience present. I concluded 
that violence would come to my person if I served, and that I should 
not be able to carry out the election as my instructions required me 
to do. There was a diiference of opinion between me and Mr. Rees, 
one of the other judges, in regard to the oath to be taken by the 
judges. He stated that there was something more required of judges 
by the governor than he would subscribe to. I thought I could refer 
it to no other authority but the governor, and if I acted I would have 
to subscribe to the oath prescribed. He'stated he would not subscribe 
to the oath. The other judge, Mr. France, said he would subscribe 
to the oath. Mr. L. N. Rees, Mr. M. France, and myself, were the 
three judges appointed by the governor. A Mr. Panton was ap- 
pointed in my place. I concluded that there was a portion of the 
people present who wanted to vote, who wanted judges who would 
not ask such questions as I would have asked; and Mr. Rees made the 
proposition that we should all resign, and let the voters choose judges 
to suit themselves. I remonstrated against it. Mr. France likewise 
remonstrated. After talking some time, I remarked that I saw no 
opportunity to get a house for the election ; and owing to excitement 
and some personal prejudices against me there, I said I would resign, 
and I asked them to fill my place. He remarked, in reply, that he would 
a little rather we would all resign. I then made the proposition that 
we should take our seats as judges, and I would sit unarmed there 
until the crowd should take me and sit me politely down in the street. 
I had been interrogated previously in different matters concerning 
the oath, and what I considered necessary to constitute a legal voter. 
My answers had been, that I should want to ask a man if he was 
a citizen or resident of the Territory. When they would ask me 
what I should want further, I said if I doubted a man was a citizen, 
I should ask if this was his only home, believing a man could not 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 38*7 

liave a liome in New York and here at tlie same time. I insisted tliat 
I should ask these questions, and that was one objection to me. 
Another was, that Reeder^ acting governor then, had appointed two 
free-State and one pro-slavery judge here. These were the principal 
causes. I thought they would want to get another man in my place 
who would not subscribe to the oath prescribed. On the morning of 
the 30th March, 1855, about 9 o'clock or after, I got up and cried out 
to the audience that I, David Brown, being appointed by Grovernor 
Eeeder as one of the judges of the election, under existing circum- 
stances could not and would not serve. I do not state the reasons. 
I will state, that when I proposed to Mr. Rees that I would take my 
seat as judge unarmed until they politely took me off it, Mr. Rees re- 
marked, that would be carrying the joke too far ; that neither he nor 
any other man could control the people. 

I remained around about the polls until somewhere near noon. I 
was but little acquainted in this district. From the time I came into 
the Territory up to that time, I do not think I had seen the face of a 
man I had seen before. The people I met here at the election 
were strangers to me, except some I had got acquainted with here 
and in Salt Creek valley. I should think there were from 300 to 500 
persons in the forenoon when I was here, to make a rough guess. I 
saw no encampments here. On two nights previous to the election^ 
there were various parties camping about my neighborhood — Salt 
creek — some in tents and some in wagons ; three or four wagons to- 
gether sometimes. I do not know where they came from or where 
they went to. There was a good deal of stir and fuss around town ; 
some pretty much in liquor, some wanting to get sight of an aboli- 
tionist or a free-soiler. When they got up to the polls, a rope was 
stretched from one corner of the building to a stake, then to another 
stake, and then back again, so as to make a kind of square lot or pen. 
I could hear the question asked, on my way up from the levee, "How 
shall we vote, by messes or companies?" Others would say they 
did not know how, but they would go in and vote. The voting was 
done in a window, and there were few about. The word seemed to 
be, " I am all right on the goose." As I belonged to the ganders, I 
had but little chance. Some of them said they could tell an aboli- 
tionist as far as they could see him. I heard no one say, while voting, 
where he came from, that I recollect. A steamboat arrived here while 
I was here from up the river, but I do not know her name. She had 
a crowd of men on, who got off, and the boat lay here some time. I 
saw none of those men vote, as I kept away from the polls and did 
not notice who voted. I heard some men say that day, that a man's 
presence constituted a residence here ; others, that they had made 
claims, or staked out lots, or laid out a town. Some two or three in- 
dividuals were here that day that I considered residents of Missouri. 
They earnestly urged me to resign in the morning, saying they would 
offer my resignation for me. I told them I had a tongue of my own, 
and would offer my resignation myself when the proper time came 
around. One of these men was named Malcolm Clark, the one shot 
by McCrea ; another was Charles Dunn. The reason I regarded them 
as citizens of Missouri at that time was, that I had been to Mr. Clark's 



388 ' KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

house and placo on the otlier side of the river, and his telling me that 
was his home. This was a montli and a half or two months before 
the election. Mr. Dunn had a claim adjoining me, and was frequently 
over to it. I had seen Mr. Dunn in Weston, and he had told me that 
he was going to move over here. Ho moved in May, 1855, on his 
claim, and has lived here since. These were the reasons why I re- 
garded these men as non-residents, and should have objected, as a 
judge of election, to their voting. 

I did not vote, because I thought I had no business crowding inside 
that rope, where all were goose men ; and from the prejudice about 
my appointment, and other circumstances, I did not think I would 
have been safe in going up there to vote. I saw a great many men 
with pistols and knives hanging about their persons. There was 
rather more stir about the election than I have been accustomed to 
see, and I felt it was my place to say but little, as tliey seemed to be 
considerably excited against the free-State party. I went home about 
noon, and did not come back again that day. Previous to the eleo- 
tion, for some days, a good many had been running to me and soli- 
citing me to resign. ; and one gentleman came to my house, who said 
he was from Missouri, and staid over night with me, and urged me 
strongly to resign, and said that if I did not, the consequences would 
be disagreeable. My family liad heard the conversation, and as my 
wife was much frightened^ I concluded I would be better at home, 
after I had got through my business here, tlic day of the election. 

I wish also here to state, that after I had been in here on the day 
before the election, and had told the judges I would resign, and I had 
returned home about ten or eleven o'clock at night, Mr. Charles Dunn 
came to my house, and urged me to resign. He said that there was a 
company of some four hundred men below Scragg's mill, at the mouth 
of "Three-mile" creek, and that they were twisting a rope, and 
making preparations to hang me if I did not resign, and he asked me 
to authorize him to say to these men that I would resign. I told him 
I had told the other two judges to fill my place. He afterwards told 
me til at tliat communication quieted these men. 

[Mr. Oliver objects to this evidence, in regard to what was told wit- 
,11688 by Dunn.] 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I had concluded to resign before I heard this oTMr. Dunn, and had 
.■authorized the judges to fill my place. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Rees . 

I left the town on the day of election, somewhere near noon, be- 
tween 11 and 12 o'clock. I saw no resistance ofl'ered to men voting. 
I think I saw none I knew to be free-State ])arty offer to vote. I saw 
no further opposition to the voting of free-State men, except the con- 
versation I heard about. I did not hear it proclaimed that day that 
there should be free voting. I heard it proclaimed by some outside, 
" Come on, we have the right kind of judges." The rope was fall 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 389 

when I came away. I did not consider that necessary to aiford facili- 
ties for voting and keep the crowd away. 

DAVID RROWN. 
Leavenavorth City, K. T., Maij 17, 1856. 



Francis A. Hart called and sworn. 

I reside in Leavenworth county, some four miles, a little east of 
south, from this. I emif^rated into this Territory with my family on 
the 20th of September, 1854, from Buchanan county, Missouri, and 
have lived here ever since. I was here at the election of the 30th of 
March, 1855. I am not very well acquainted out back in this dis- 
trict. I have lived from the 9th of November, 1854, till the 17th of 
September, 1855, about a mile west of this. I was here all the day 
of election, except a little time about noon, when I went home and 
then came back. I was acquainted with many in this district, and 
many I saw I did not know. I estimated the number on the ground 
here the day of election and the day before, at from 1,000 to 1,400. 
A great many were sti-angers, and a great many had hemp tied in the 
button-hole of the coat, or about the waist, or in other places. 

On the 28th. and 29th of March wagons came near where 1 was 
living, about a mile from here, and camped on both forks of Three- 
mile creek. One wagon drove up to a shanty there, and I went over 
to see about it, and observed to them that I had supposed probably 
Fayette Mills had sold his claim, and they were coming to take pos- 
session of it. They said they had not bought the claim, but had per- 
mission to camp there. I then asked them where they were from ; 
and they told me they were from Chariton county, Missouri, and that 
there were about three hundred in tlieir company, but they had not all 
got in. It is this company that I refer to as having encamped on the 
two forks of the creek. They did not tell me at that time what 
they came for, that I recollect. On the 29th I saw a good many 
down here, where the candidates were speaking, and also down here 
on the day of election. I do not know that I saw any of them vote. 
I did not vote myself at that election. I heard something about 
voting from some of these men, but I don't recollect what it was. On 
the day of election, as I went home in the afternoon, some of the 
wagons that came down to town did not come back. There was a 
new party, some one or two wagons, and from twelve to fifteen men, 
who were making their camp in the road to my house. They re- 
mained there till next morning, when they left. Some of those men 
who were there pitching their tent said they had voted, and were 
from Missouri ; and a young man, whom I have seen before and since 
in Missouri, said, as I came up^ something about " All right on the 
goose ; " to which I responded, '' All right ; " and then he said some- 
thing about voting, and said that they had come over to vote ;^ had 
made claims, and he reckoned they were legal voters. I told him I 
thought it was hard to find claims near here. He said they had just 
gone up on the hill here, (pointing to Pilot Knob,) and stuck stakes, 



390 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and said tliey did not care whether the claim was on any other claim 
or not. Their object was merely to make a claim in order to entitle 
them to vote, and they had done so. I then passed them, and went 
towards home. There were a good many persons camped around 
here at that time. It was a season when there are generally a great 
many i)ersons camped ahout here, intending to go across the plains. 
There had been Mormons here, and I do not think they had all left at 
that time. I thought that three hundred men. armed with bowie- 
knives and revolvers, and eight hundred or. one thousand more with 
hem23 tied in their button-holes, came from Missouri, and that Missouri 
had run the thing into the ground that time. I thought all those 
who had hemp came from Missouri, from the fact that I knew some 
men from there that did have it. Malcolm Clark Avas here, and took 
the most active part in the election of any man here. He lived at that 
time opposite the fort, in the bottom, in Missouri. I had seen him at 
his home there, but had never heard of his moving over here. The 
greater part of the men here that day had hemp tied about them. I 
do not recollect that any residents in Kansas had hemp tied about 
them, but some may have had. 

I heard a great deal of talking as I was passing about. I was fre- 
quently close to the house in which the election was held. They had 
a rope fastened to the building, or close to it, on each side of the 
window, and run back some forty feet, widening out, and I saw the 
hemp men crowding the lane. I saw tickets handed in and heard 
names called, but I did not notice anything about voting. After 
they had voted they passed usually on the west side of the lane, and 
I saw some men come out at the end by the window, go round and 
get in the lane, and come up again. 

During the canvass there was nothing said about what constituted 
a residence here. There was difference of opinion among squatters 
about that matter. The pro-slavery party generally contended that 
if a man had landed here but half an hour he was entitled to vote ; 
that his mere presence here made him a voter. I did not consider 
that as right. The greater part of the day there was considerable of 
a crowd about the polls, but not so much in the after part of the day. 
I did not vote myself, because I considered squatters directly in- 
sulted by Missouri, by taking our rights in voting away from us ; I 
tjiought if I went up to vote I would be insulted^ therefore might get 
into difficulty. I saw no fuss, or anything of that kind, except a 
great pressure about the polls. I think there was a majority of free- 
State men in this district ; some from the west end of the district, 
that I knew to be free-State men, did not come in. Most every man 
that had the hemp had bowie-knives and one or two revolvers. They 
all seemed to think they had a right to vote ; said that the candidates 
and the papers had told them so. I saw no fighting that day, or any 
one prohibited from voting. I saw a boat that was lying here that 
had come down the river, and she went up the river. I saw it coming 
down, but do not recollect as I saw it land. I saw a great many men 
on it, but I do not recollect as I saw any women on it. I do not recol- 
lect as I saw any hemp on the boat. I think more, went up on the 
boat than came down on it. I had lived in Buchanan county, Mis- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 391 

soiiri, but about twelve months, and do not recollect of seeing any 
from there over here. I do not recollect of having any conversation 
with any men who represented themselves as Missourians, except 
those I have referred to on the creek. I saw considerable many of 
my acquaintances of the district here that day. I think there were 
not many who went into the line the second time, so far as I saw at 
the time of voting. I saw some try to crawl under the rope, but they 
were prevented, and told to take th'eir time. I would estimate the 
resident voters in this district, at that time, at some four hundred or 
five hundred, letting the district extend out as the governor prescribed 
it in his proclamation. The candidates that day were Captain Eastin, 
Mr. Richard Rees, for council on pro-slavery ticket ; Mr. Twombly 
and another I do not recollect, candidates for council on free-State 
ticket. Mr. Mathias, Mr. Payne, and Mr. McMeekin^ pro-slavery 
candidates for house of representatives ; and Mr. France, Mr. Braden, 
and another I do not recollect, free-State candidates for house of rep- 
resentatives. Mr. Braden withdrew his name, in the midst of great 
acclamation, before the hour for voting. I should judge twenty-five 
or thirty, or forty, or fifty, came down in the boat on the day of the 
election. It remained here till tolerably late in the afternoon. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Rees : 

I was here the greater part of the day- of election. The crowd 
around the polls the after part of the day was not so large as in the 
forenoon. I think I heard some one call out for more votes, at which 
time I did not see anything to obstruct the polls ; and from about 
two hours by sun there did not seem to be many about the polls. I 
heard, in the fore part of the day, something said about letting all 
vote who desired to vote. I do not know of any having been prevented 
from voting on account of his political principles. I did not vote, 
but I saw no violence or resistance to any one's voting. I thought 
that the crowd with bowie-knives and pistols, and hemp about them, 
would knock down a man they did not want to vote. I did not see 
anything the after part of the day to prevent any one from voting. 
I do not know as there was anything to prevent any one from voting 
the after part of the day. I suppose all could have voted who wished 
to vote. I think I saw John Wells, of Rialto, on the other side of 
the river, here, and Mr. Washburn, who was concerned with him. 
I do not recollect the names of any others^ and I do not know that 
these men voted. I do not know as I should judge the crowd with 
hemp with them were Missourians, except that some told me they 
were, and that I had seen some in Weston. Weston was not the 
principal trading point for the settlers for this part of the country, 
and I do not know of any who traded there. This town was the prin- 
cipal trading place. There were some here who I considered Missou- 
rians who had claims here, and who, I understand, now live on their 
claims, with their families in Missouri. I do not know that any of 
the men who came down on the steamboat voted that day. I do not 
know how many votes were polled after 3 o'clock that day. I do not 
know as I could say I saw any Missourians, whom I knew to be such, 
vote that day. I do not know how many revolvers and bowie-knives 



392 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I saw that day, but I saw a great number. Men who said tbey were 
free-State men have carried bowie-knives and revolvers ; and it is a 
common thing for men of all parties to carry them here. I knew 
Malcolm (Clark) had had a house built — a house on a lot in town 
here, as I was told ; but I do not know as he had refused to rent it. 

F. A. HART. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 17, 1856. 



F. A. Hart recalled. 

I saw Judge Almond here on the day of election, whom I under- 
stood to live in Platte county, Missouri. I saw him on horseback 
riding round giving directions as to how the ropes should be placed 
at the polls. I do not know that he lives in Platte county, but 
judged so from what I heard him say. I saw persons I had seen in 
Missouri go up to the polls with tickets, and heard names called, but 
did not myself see their votes given in. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

According to the color of the tickets these men gave in, I judged 
they were pro-slavery tickets, because in the morning Mr. Panton, 
who had been appointed j^dge of election in the place of David Brown, 
observed to tlie voters to hold on, because the abolition tickets were 
of the same color as theirs, (the pro-slavery tickets,) and in a short 
time they would have tickets of a different color. In a short time 
after this other tickets, of a different color, were printed and brought 
on the ground, and the men I spoke of had tickets of that color. I 
do not know that I read the tickets, and cannot tell, from my own 
knowledge, what side they were for. I do not know of any Missou- 
rians voting the free-State ticket. I know several from Missouri that 
live here and are free-State men, and vote tlie free-State ticket. I do 
not know of any free-State men from Missouri on that day, except 
those who live here. I saw H. Miles Moore here that day, or the day 
before, and heard him make a pro-slavery speech. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I understood Mr. Moore lived in Weston at that time. I did not 
know that he lived here, though I heard he was interested in town 
lots. I did not know that he was not a pro-slavery man, until the 
nomination of delegates to the State convention here. I came here 
myself a pro-slavery man, and voted for Gen. Whitfield at his first 
election. 

F. A. HART. 

Leavenworth, K. T., May 19, 1856. 



T. A. JVIiNARD, testifies : 

I came into the Territory in August, 1854, and have resided here 
since, I was at the election at Leavenworth, in the 16th district, on 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 393 

the 30th of March. There was a large crowd here, 000 or VOO men. 
I knew a good many of the residents of the district. These were nearly 
all strangers. When I came into town, I unhitclied my horses and 
fastened them to the wagon, and started towards the ])lace where the 
election was held — the bnilding of Mr. Wood, I think. I came up, 
and there were two ropes fastened to stakes near the hiiilding, and 
carried out so as to form a lane, some fifteen or twenty yards long, 
and that was crowded with men. » I passed along outside of the 
lane, and on the east side of the lane I met a couple of men I was 
acquainted with — Mr. Cole Brown and his father ; I do not recollect 
his first name. They live about three miles back of Parkville, Mis- 
souri. I have been at their house, and bought cattle of them. I 
spoke to them. I remarked ''You have come over to hel}) us to-day 
with the election?" They said they had. I inquired of them if 
many of their neighbors had come, and they said 200 or 300 had come 
from their section. I then asked if they had voted ; they said tliey 
had not, but they intended to vote, and were waiting for the crowd to 
get through. I passed on down there, to see what was the intentiopi 
of our candidates. I met Mr. Twombly, candidate for council, and 
Mr. Browning, candidate for house of representatives. I inquired of 
them what they intended to do, and Mr. Twombly stated that his 
advice was not to vote at all ; that there was no need of our voting, 
and there would probably be difficulty if we did vote. I did not vote, 
because of this advice. I never attempted to vote, but did not see or 
hear of any hindrance by violence. The men about the polls seemed 
to be voting as fast as they could. There was one man, I think Mr. 
Panton, who stood at the door where they were receiving votes, and 
men came up and handed their votes to him, giving their names at 
the same time, and he took their ballots and handed them in, repeat- 
ing their names. I saw a number of votes given in this way, and 
that is the way the votes seemed to be taken. I think Mr. Panton. 
was one of the judges. I could not say, positively, that it was Mr. 
Panton, though he has been pointed out to me several times as Mr. 
Panton. There were probably 100 to 150 about the polls. The ropes 
were crowded full, and there were little groups standing about. I 
think, probably, but 10 in 100 were citizens. Mine had been one of the 
first white families settled in the district, and I had ridden all over 
it, and had become pretty well acquainted in the district. The only 
man I recognised as a resident was Mr. Hyatt, who lived on Five- 
mile creek then, but now on Salt creek, and Mr. Panton. There 
might have been more there, but the majority of these I did not know. 
There were several persons I had seen in Missouri, and recognised at 
the time ; but the only names I could give were the two Browns. I 
recollect of seeing a boat land here, shortly after this, somewhere 
towards noon ; I do not recollect the name of the boat, but my im- 
pression is, that it was the Clara. There was a young man from our 
neighborhood, named John Scott, who stood on the levee and lianded 
the men tickets as they got ofi" the boat. I recognised some of my 
acquaintances from Weston, Missouri, and spoke to and shook hands 
with tliem. The boat was pretty well loaded — between 100 and 200 
men on it. There was music playing on the boat wliile she was 



394 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Ijing:, at the levee. The boat came down the river, and I recognised 
Mr. Wood, Mr. Walker, and Mr. Conger, who were citizens of Wes- 
ton at tliat time. I presume they are yet. I saw none of them vote, 
as I did not go to the polls again. These men took the tickets Scott 
handed them as they came on shore; and,after stopping awhile, some 
one said. Let us go up and see how the election goes, and tliey started 
off towards the polls. I left the city that day between 2 and 3 o'clock, 
I think, and I think the boat was here when I left. A platform was 
raised down on the river, and several speeches were made there. 
John Doniphan, who was the representative from Platte county, Mis- 
souri, to the Missouri legislature, made a speech. Another man, 
whom I was told to be Judge Almond, said that they had carried the 
polls, and they could do it again, and that Missouri would wade knee- 
deep in blood before Kansas should be a free State. Mr. Doniphan 
made rather a mild speech. H. Miles Moore also made a speech of a 
moderate character, but a pro-slavery speech. He lived in Missouri 
at that time^ I think, though he had an interest in this town. Col. 
Johnson, who lived here, also made a speech. All those men seemed 
to take it for granted that they had a right to vote, because, if a man 
was actually in the Territory on the day of election, he had a right to 
vote. The general expression was, that they had a right to vote. 
There was no violence here. There seemed to be a general good feel- 
ing. I saw no here, more than is usual in this county. I 

thought we had a respectable majority of free-State men in this dis- 
trict, judging from what I had heard. I thought it would be a pretty 
close vote, but still that the free-State party had a majority. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

I saw but two persons at the polls from Missouri that I can name 
now, but I do not know whether they voted or not, for I did not see 
them. At that time we had no town or villages in the Territory. 
It was about the 15th of September, 1854, that I saw the Browns at 
their home in Missouri, and I believe they live there to-day. I do not 
know mj^self where these men have resided since September, 1854. 
In September, 1854, I lived in Kansas Territory, on Stranger creek, 
about a mile west of Stranger creek, on the Fort Riley road. I know 
one person who lived here on the 30th of March, 1855, who lived in 
Missouri in September, 1854 — Mr. Langley ; and I have no doubt there 
were a good many of these, as they were coming all the time at that 
time. My impression was that the actual votes of the district, at that 
time, were between 300 and 400, not to exceed 450 at all events. I 
live twelve miles from here. I was nearly all over the district, in two 
months before the election, hunting up my cattle, which had strayed 
away. There was considerable emigration coming in before the elec- 
tion, but few by steamboats, so far as I saw. I do not know positively 
that any man I can name voted on that day. The votes I saw handed 
in to the one I tliought was one of the judges of the election, were 
handed in by persons I do not know, or cannot recollect. I was dis- 
gusted at the election, because I was satisfied, as soon as I came up, 
that ]\Iissouri had carried out her threat, and had come over to carry 
the election. I did not know those persons by name, except some 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 395 

few I could have named at the time ; but the two Browns are all I can 
call by name now. My knowledge of the district^ and the members 
assembled here, and their appearance and language, convinced m« 
that they were not residents of the district. They said they had come 
over here to carry the election ; it seemed to be a generally understood 
thing in the crowd. It was not the free-State men I heard make these 
assertions. I did not see any man positively vote ; and I do not know 
that any citizen of Missouri voted, except from their own assertions. 
I have heard residents of Missouri say they voted on that day at that 
election. The men T knew from Weston, Missouri, Mr. Wood, Mr. 
Conger, Mr. Walker, Mr. Neil Burgess, Mr. Dick Murphy, (now a 
resident of this place,) told me they had voted. I believe I knew that 
Mr. Conger^ Mr. Burgess, and Mr. Walker, lived in Missouri at that 
time, because I have been backwards and forwards, and knew them to 
be residents of Missouri. I was in the habit of going to Weston 
weekly almost, and might have been there three days before the eleo- 
tion ; but I cannot tell exactly how many days before the election I 
was up there. I saw some of them land from the boat which came 
down the river ; but Mr. Burgess came, I think, on horseback. They 
might have come from Kickapoo, or Atchison, perhaps. 

THOS. A. MINARD. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 22, 1856. 



George F. Warren called and sworn. 

I emigrated from New Hampshipe three years ago last November. 
I came into the Territory March, 1855. I was running as carpenter 
on board a steamboat between St. Louis and New Orleans, prior to 
coming here. I first came into the Territory at Leavenworth city. I 
was present at the election of the 30th of March in that district. It 
was held in a small building west of the Leavenworth hotel. The day 
before the election people began to come up the river and down the 
river from Weston, Independence, Lexington, and other parts of Mis- 
souri. I was then clerking at the Leavenworth hotel. The house 
was very much crowded by these strangers. They said they came 
there to vote. They said that the Emigrant Aid Society were send- 
ing out men, and they had as much right to come as they had, and 
were entitled to vote under the Nebraska bill. They did not deny 
that they came from Independence and other places in Missouri. 
They were armed with bowie-knives, revolvers, shot-guns, and rifles 
— principally small side-arms. One man I noticed, from Platte 
county, had a double-barrelled shot-gun, bowie-knife, two pistols, and 
a large clever, such as butchers use. The morning of the election 
the noils were opened between 9 and 10 o'clock. There was some 
delay on the part of the judges. Only one of the judges that were 
q^ppointed served. There were about 1,200 people at the polls at 
that time. They put a rope round the polls at difierent j)laces. A 
number of men came forward and introduced several men as captains 
of companies. They sang out, " Platte county boys, come this way," 



396 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and ''Clay county boys, come this way." They did not vote by 
companies. They rushed in together. I coukl not say that the 
crowd all voted. Some of the free-State men got together about 11 
o'clock, and came to the conclusion not to vote any more. I think 
some 50 or 60 votes had then been polled by them. I saw no vio- 
lence. The polls continued open until about dark. They were voting 
all day. These men voted for L. J. Easton and R. R. Rees for coun- 
cil, and Mathias McMeekin and A. Payne for representatives. 
Three of these candidates, Rees, Eastin, and Mathias, resided in 
Leavenworth. McMeekin and Payne resided in Weston, as they told 
me before they came down. I had made charges against them at the 
hotel. One or both afterwards moved into the Territory. The free- 
State men withdrew because they were intimidated, and because they 
deemed the voting illegal in the presence of the force from Missouri. 
We contested the election afterwards. A protest was got up by the 
citizens, addressed to Governor Reeder. The steamer " New Lucy" 
came down from Weston with a large crowd of strangers on board, 
and colors flying. I think there were 200 or 250 on board. They 
claimed to reside in different parts of Missouri. A great many of 
them voted. Don't know whether they all did vote or not. They 
declared their purpose to vote under the Kansas-Nebraska act. They 
returned after dinner in the same boat. Other boats came up the 
river on the morning of the election, and one came up the night be- 
fore, late at night. People were on board from points in Missouri 
down on the riyer. They said they were going to vote, and some of 
them I saw vote. A portion of the party that came the evening be- 
fore stopped at our hotel, and it was so crowded that we had to put 
thirty in one room. At that time there were but few buildings in 
Leavenworth. It was laid out the fall before the election. There 
were about twenty frame buildings at the time of election. It is 
situated on what is called the Delaware lands. There were but few 
settlers there then ; but emigrants were coming in fast. I knew 
most of the settlers in the town. If none but residents had voted on 
the day of election, the free-State party would have had a large 
majority. 

a. F. WARREN. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



Richard R. Rees re-called. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I was present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I do not 
recollect of being present when Mr. David Brown resigned as judge of 
the election. I do not think I can state the relative strength of the 
free-State and pro-slavery parties in this district at that time. I re- 
collect at about the time and prior to the election, we were making cal- 
culations as to our chances of success, and we felt satisfied we had a 
clear and decided majority here, but I cannot now sa^y, from my own 
observation, that there was a majority one way or the other. I was 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 397 

satisfied there was a pro-slavery majority at that time of citizens living 
here Judging from the usual tests applied by candidates in canvassing 
the strength of parties. From consultations we had together, we 
came to the conclusion that there were from 75 to 100 majority in the 
pro-slavery party. Mr. McAuley had a memorandum at that time, 
and from that and other estimates, I came to the conclusion I have 
stated. The election for this district for the members of the house of 
representatives was contested, and an election was held on the 22d of 
May following. I was not a candidate at that election, and don't 
recollect of estimates, but presumed that the relative strength of par- 
ties here remained about the same. The estimate I made in rela- 
tion to the relative strength of parties, was of persons who resided in 
the Territory prior to the election. It was a general rumor and report 
at that time, spoken of generally and published in the papers, that 
the abolition aid societies were sending out large crowds to abolitionizK 
this Territory, and that they were to reach here before the election, 
and that the boats Avere crowded with such persons. I saw a great 
many men — large numbers of them — here on the day of election, whom 
I recognised as having been citizens of Missouri, and a great many of 
them I have recognised since as citizens of Missouri. I talked with a 
great many of them, who were my old acquaintances. I heard reasons 
lor tlieir coming here given about that time, and I think on that day, 
and these reasons were that an effort, had been made by a forced 
emigration to abolitionize this Territory, and they felt justified in 
using the same means to counteract it. The prevailing sentiment 
among those from Missouri was, that they came to that election merely 
to counteract the abolition movement, and that but for that they 
would not have come over here. I read some papers when I could get 
them, though we did not get papers very frequently at that time, as 
this was a new country, and mail facilities were not as good as at this 
time. The men who were over from Missouri in companies and par- 
ties, seemed to be actuated by the apprehension that this Territory 
would be controlled by this abolition emigration, as they stated to me 
in conversation. It was rumored generally that the day of election 
was known in the northern States before it was known here. These 
rumors I believed myself, and those with whom I conversed who were 
from Missouri said they believed it; the rumor was general, 

I think the election here on the 30th of March, 1855, could have 
been carried for the pro-slavery party without assistance from Mis- 
souri. It was generally rumored here that there was a large number 
of emigrants at St. Louis, waiting to get here by the day of the elec- 
tion. I was not a great deal at the polls on the day of election. I 
was near enough to notice how it was conducted, and I noticed that 
there was less fighting and confusion than I had been accustomed to 
see at elections. There was a large crowd on that day, and upon con- 
sultation it was thought that the facilities for voting would be increased 
by stretching ropes from the window out, so that the voters could go 
in to the polls in regular order and then pass out. I am satisfied that 
was done not to prevent persons from voting, but aid them in voting. 
I was around in the crowd and saw no resistance whatever, or force 
employed, or threats against any man who wanted to vote. There 



398 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

were pretty liard things said against abolitionists, but tbat was all. 
In the after part of the day the polls were clear, and I heard the 
judges calling out for more votes, and anybody could have voted who 
wished and was entitled to vote, whether he was an abolitionist or 
not. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

I received a certificate of election as a member of the council from 
Governor Reeder, and took my seat there without any contest. We 
were informed by the governor, that Mr. Eastin and myself got our 
certificates as council men on account of the votes at Hickory Point, 
and not on account of the votes here. The affidavit of Phillips was 
sent up as a contest, but did not cover Hickory Point precinct. There 
were two representative districts in our council district — the 16th and 
a part of the 13th constituting the 10th council district. Mr. W. H. 
Tibbs, a representative from the 13th district, got his ceriificate on 
the Hickory Point vote. 

Cross-examined by Mr. H. Miles Moore: 

Of those who were here from Missouri on that day, I do not recollect 
of seeing any one vote. The position I took as one of the candidates, 
and which was assumed by a good many others, both on the stump 
and on the ground, was, that any man who was present at the election 
was, under the Kansas-Nebraska bill, a legal and competent voter ; 
that by the act of voting, he expatriated himself from the State from 
which he came ; and I proclaimed it, that any man who held any 
other doctrine was, in my opinion, either a knave or a fool. Prior to 
that time, I knew Abel Gilbert to be a citizen of Weston, and I have 
known him to be a citizen of Weston since. The following names I 
see on the poll-books are in the same position, as regards Platte 
county, Missouri : Dr. Thomas Baumont, A. T. Guthrie, George 
Quimby, now a citizen' here, Wm. Dicky, Wm. J. Norris, R. W. 
China, now a citizen of this Territory, Wm. B. Almond, W. Chris- 
terson, now a citizen of this Territory, Smith Calvert, N. A. Wilkin- 
son, Jesse Yine.yard, George W. Dye, John D. Harper, Wm. A. 
Galbott, Jacob Pitts ; I know Captain Conolly, of the New Lucy, but 
not his first name; Joseph Holliday, Harvey Bunch, Michael Bunch, 
and John B. Wells. I think there were altogether 1,000 or 1,200, 
perhaps more, men on the ground that, day; and some from Platte 
county, Clay county, and Chariton county. I saw a crowd here who 
claimed to be from Chariton county ; Squire Hyde was here from 
Chariton county. I think there were some here I had known in Clin- 
ton county, and also from Carroll county, and from Ray couuty. I 
saw companies of men here who claimed to have come from Missouri, 
who had their tents, wagons, and provisions with them, I think 
that within this district, and living here on the 30th of March, 1855, 
upon a rough estimate, there were from 400 to 500 ; there may have 
been more, and there may have been less. 

To Mr. Howard: 

I think, from the best information I could get, there were from 75 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 399 

to 100 majority in tlie pro-slavery party wlio lived in this district prior 
to that time. It was generally understood, that if our friends would 
come over here from Missouri and help us to counteract the movement 
of the aid societies of the North, they would be very kindly received. 
I do not recollect of any circular for that purpose, though there may 
have been ; I recollect we kept our friends in Missouri pretty well 
advised so far as we knew, hut I do not recollect any special person 
sent over for that purpose. I recollect of a boat coming down from 
Weston on that day with some men, but I do not recollect her name ; 
I know of no William Connolly, who resides in this district, though 
there may be. I think that the Missourians who came here came in 
consequence of counteracting the abolition movement of the North, 
and those who voted, voted with that understanding. I know that 
Mr. Mcx\uley was over at the circuit court in the year 1855, but I do 
not know what he went for. I think I heard several Missourians state 
that they had voted on that day, and for the reasons I have stated; I 
do not recollect of hearing any other reason assigned. I think there 
were but two or three boats here from St. Louis by the 30th of March, 
1855 ; but I do not recollect of there being a large number of eastern 
emigrants landed here, and I did not see many eastern emigrants 
newly arrived here by the day of election ; and as far as this district is 
concerned, I do not think many were here. We understood they were 
coming, and expected them at every point ; I cannot say how many 
had arrived here at that time. I heard many of the Chariton county 
men say that they intended to vote, for the reason that they construed 
the Kansas-Nebraska bill as I did ; some of them said they came here 
to vote. 

By Mr. Oliver : 

The Chariton men said they came here to vote to counteract the in- 
fluences brought to bear by the Emigrant Aid Societies, as they un- 
derstood many to be on their way here to be at the election. The 
names given by me from the poll-books I do not know as being the 
persons I knew in Missouri, though the names are the same. I can- 
not undertake to say that they voted at this election except from the 
poll-books. The name of C. M. Burgess is on the poll-books. Mr. 
Burgess claimed his residence here as early as the fall of 1854. I 
understood he had a farm and negroes in Platte county, but he had a 
claim in the Territory. I am not aware whether his family are here 
or not. 

By Mr. Whitfield : 

I saw no one vote here that day I did not consider a legal voter. I 
do not recollect of seeing any free-soilers here from Missouri. I can- 
not say that I saw persons here from the eastern States whom I did 
not recognise as living here before. 

[Whitfield objects to the question propounded to E. R. Rees in ref- 
erence to the residence and right of the named persons to vote, for 
the reasons — 

1st. That witness does not know that any one of the persons named 
voted at all. 



400 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

2d. Witness does not know tliem to be the identical persons whose 
names are upon the roll before the committee. 

3d. They are competent witnesses themselves, and are within reach 
of the process which the committee have a right to issue.] 

EICHAKD E. REES. 

Leavenworth, K. T., 3Iay 19, 1856. 



Alexander Eussell called and sworn. 

To Grovernor King : 

I came here on the 9th of June, 1854, and have resided here ever 
since. I was judge of the last election, at which Whitfield was elected, 
October 1, 1855. I was present at all the elections since I removed 
here. At the October election the voting was conducted legally, and, 
go far as I know, no illegal votes were given. I was present on the 
30th of March election, and the character of that election was about 
like all other elections that ever I attended, and was as quiet as any I 
have ever been at anywhere. I did not see men voting who I thought 
were not entitled to vote. There were a good many people here that 
day, and, in order to promote the voting, they made a passage in front 
of the window by the use of ropes, to prevent crowding, and the voters 
passed through in single line. I went up to vote several times, and 
in consequence of other men, some of whom I knew to be resident 
citizens, I gave way until they had voted. I saw no disposition to 
crowd to the polls. Tolerably late in the evening I heard some per- 
sons at the windows calling for more votes. At this time the crowd 
of voters had generally dispersed. I have an extensive acquaintance 
in the district, being one of the first in it. If any illegal votes were 
given that day, I feel confident that the result would have been the 
same, and I do not know as any illegal votes were given. It has al- 
ways been my imjjression that the pro-slavery men had a large ma- 
jority in this district. I have frequently made estimates which have 
satisfied me of this fact. The census taken by Dr. Leib was in very 
cold weather. At the time it was taken it may have been correct, but 
after the census was taken, and prior to the election, a great many 
settlers came in, and who have lived here ever since. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I saw a good many of the citizens of Missouri over here on the day 
of election. I do not know whether or not any of these men voted, 
but I heard some of them say they had not and would not vote. There 
may have been some voted, but I did not see them. 

ALEXANDEE EUSSELL. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Mmj 29, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 401 



Patrick R. Orr called and sworn. 

I live about fifteen miles from here on the west side of Stranger creek, 
in this district. I moved my family here to the Territory on the 15th 
March^ 1855, from Platte county, Missouri, where I had lived about 
ten years. 

I attended an election in this town on the 30th March, 1855. On 
the day of election, and some two or three days previous, I had been 
over the river in Missouri, on business. I reached here about twelve or 
one o'clock, and crossed the ferry at Rialto, between Weston and the 
Fort. There seemed to be a good deal of business done by the ferry 
in the evening. I crossed over there in the evening, nearly at 
twelve o'clock. 

I was around the polls, and in the vicinity of the polls, after I arrived 
here. I voted the free-State ticket that day. At the time I voted, 
there was not a large crowd. When I came in here, it was about dinner 
time, and there were a number of groups of persons that appeared to 
have their meals spread on the grass, and were eating their dinners. 
There were hardly any persons about the polls then, and I think the 
polls were not open Avhen I came in here. I was absent some two 
hours, to a house of a friend, who lived some two miles from here. 
I then came back, voted, and returned to Platte county, to attend to 
business there which was unfinished. I recollect of seeing a boat 
lying at the landing just below Weston, but do not recollect of seeing 
it here. I was in Weston just before I started to come down here, and 
I saw a number of gentlemen who said they were fixing to come down 
to this election here, and the boat was just coming out as I left ; but I 
do not recollect of seeing it when 1 got here. 

There appeared to be considerable of a crowd on the boat when I 
left. I do not recollect the names of those I heard say, in Weston, 
they were coming here. I saw many persons here, I thought were 
citizens of Platte county, on that day, and I had some conversation 
with some of them about voting — but little, however. I think there 
were probably five gentlemen in a group, acquaintances of mine, whom 
I asked how the election was going, and they said it was going finely. 
I asked them if they had voted, and they said all but Mr. James 
Rees, and he could not be screwed up to it;, and the}'" thought his 
conscience had got a little tender, and they could not get him to vote. 
They did not express themselves as to their right to vote, as I now 
recollect. These gentlemen were Mr. Stockwell, Mr. Cavenaugh, 
and Mr. Rees. The others I do not now remember. Mr. Stockwell 
and Mr. Cavenaugh lived northeast of Weston, some six or seven 
miles. I never heard of these men residing in this district, and I 
have seen them living on their fiirms in Missouri since that time. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott : 

My family were residing at the time of the election about fifteen 
miles west of this, and near Stranger creek. I do not recollect the 
number of days I had been in Missouri previously to the election ; but 
H. Rep. 200 26* 



402 KANSAS AFFAIRS- 

it was some days, to settle up some business, and IMudnrs ie-trtou 
souri on the day of election. 

I do not know how long it had been since I saw Mr. Stockwell and 
Mr. Cavenaugli actually residing in Missouri. I know that these 
men lived there on the day of election, exactly where they live now, 
and I know that of my own knowledge. I knew it, because I had 
seen them from time to time, before and after the election, working on 
their farms and about their buildings. 1 do not know which way the 
boat went from Weston that day, for I do not recollect of seeing it 
after it started. I know the ferry had a good deal of custom in the 
evening, because I saw a crowd of men there, and saw them go over. 
I saw about one hundred men and horses, and about nine wagons — 
as many men, horses and wagons as could conveniently get on the 
coat — cross over when I did. I saw no other load go over except 
when 1 went. I did not see and do not know of any other loads 
going over that evening. Tl\ere were but few persons about the polls 
when T voted, and no one objected or ofi'ered any hindrance to mj 
voting. 

PATRICK R. ORK. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 22, 1856. 



LuciAN J. Eastin t-estiiies : 

To Governor King : 

I reside in Leavenworth city, and have done so since October, 1854, 
and was present at the 30th of March election, in 1855, for members 
of the Territorial legislature, and was a candidate at that election for 
the council. I was not much about the polls on that day. Every 
time I was at the polls, or in sight, the election was going on quietly 
and persons voting without difficulty. There were frequent calls 
during the day for more voters. I saw a good many Missourians here 
at that election. I do not recollect wliether they had hemp badges or 
not. I think I saw one man, a wild, rattling, drinking fellow, with 
a piece of hemp around his hat. I did not see any votes given in on 
that day but such as were legal, so far as my knowledge extends, but 
I do not pretend to say that illegal votes were not given. Being a 
candidate, I Avas all over the county, and in the district. I was very 
conversant with the voters of the district, and tliink I know pretty 
near about the strength of parties. Our estimate was about two 
to one in the tenth council district in favor of the pro-slavery party. 
In the sixteenth representative district we made it about one and a 
half to one. _ There was a protest filed against the election in this 
district, setting forth that the free-State men were deterred from voting; 
I believe there was no ground for it. I believe that no one was de- 
terred from voting, cither by force or violence ; and ]\tr. Phillips, one 
of the signers of the protest, and the man who made the oath, ex- 
plained it to me, that lie was not afraid of violence or force, but 
believed that Missourians would carry the election, and that was what 
he meant by being deterred. The conduct of the 'Missourians and 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 403 

pro-slavery men was of a character to prevent no one from voting who 
wished to, whether legal or illegal. I, as a candidate, (nor do I know 
of any others who did,) did not invite or procure Missourians to come 
here on that day to vote. I did not want them to come, for I believed 
and said wo were strong enough to beat the free-State men easy, with 
the legal voters of the district. I heard a great many of the Mis- 
sourians who were here at that election say that the Emigrant Aid 
Society was importing voters into the Territory to abolitionize it, and 
that tliey were determined to fight the devil with fire ; and that their 
object in coming here was to counteract the efforts of what they under- 
stood to be the aid societies. The general rumor, both in the Terri- 
tory and in the border counties of Missouri j was that voters were to 
be imported here into the Territory^ for the purpose of carrying the 
elections in favor of the free-State party. It was reported the night 
before, and on the morning of the election, that there were 300 voters 
from the northern States who would be here that day. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

It is my opinion that a goqd many of the votes cast at that election 
were cast by non-residents. I don't know whether or not all the free- 
State men voted that day. There were about sixty or sixty-three free- 
State votes cast at that election, and there were, in my opinion, more 
than that number in the district. I think one of the free-State candi- 
dates declined. He was here, and I heard him give some reasons for 
declining, but I forgot what they were ; but I do not think the reasons 
he gave were that he liad been unfairly dealt by. The 300 emigrants 
I have alluded to did not arrive, nor any portion of them. I have a 
list, made before the election, of voters in the district. I think there 
are nearly 400 names on the list. This included some who had made 
claims in the district, but had not moved on to them, and of these I think 
the pro-slavery party had about one and a half to one. Mr. France, 
Lewis N. Rees, and George B. Panton were the judges. Upon refer- 
ence to the proclamation, there were France, Posey, and Brown, but ] 
think Rees' name was substituted for Posey by the governor. I do not 
think France signed the returns. I don't think he challenged a voter ; 
he told me he did not, and gave some reason, that it was no use, 
or words to that amount. I don't remember exactly, but he remained 
there during the whole time of taking the votes. I remember seeing 
the "New Lucy" coming down that day from Weston, Missouri, 
with a large number of persons on board, and returned the same day. 
The list I speak of as having, may be of the first election. I will 
look for the list and produce it, if I get it. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 29, 1856. 



L. J. EASTIN. 



A. T. KYUi called and sworn. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

I came into the Territory in Jane or July, 1854. I came from Platte 



404 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

county, Missouri, since 1839. I settled in this city, and have resided 
here ever since. When I first came here I was one of the keepers of 
the Leavenworth hotel. The election of the oOth of March, 1855, 
was held near my house. 1 have seen PI. J. Wolfe, clerk of the court 
of common pleas in Weston, Missouri. The following persons I know 
to live in Missouri : John B. Wells, Franklin Yocnm, James Doni- 
phan, who I think is a lawyer ; Wra. Dicky, Joseph Nowers, C. E. 
Woolfolk, Jesse Vineyard, Joseph Murphy, George W. Dyer, J. C. 
Cockrill, Samuel Fernandis, Frank Gilbert, Ilarvey Bunch, II. Miles 
Moore, N. B. Brooks, John B. Harper, W. T. Woods, Joseph HoUi- 
day, and W. A. Newman. These men, to the best of my knowledge, 
lived in Weston at the time of the March election, 1855. I think the 
steamboat New Lucy came down the river that day. I saw some of 
the men I have named here that day, but whether they came on the 
boat or not I do not know. I did not vote myself that day, because I was 
very busy, and I saw many persons here that I thought had no right 
to vote, and I thought I would not vote. I don't know whether they 
voted or not. There were a great many here who were not citizens, 
to the best of my knowledge. They came around the polls. I know 
Samuel J. Finch, editor of the Weston Keporter. He has never 
resided in this Territory, as far as I know. There are names on the 
poll-books, and I know persons living in Missouri wliose family names 
are the same, but whose first names I do not know, and I have not 
included them in the list above. 

To Governor King : 

I did not pay much attention to the election that day ; was but little 
about the polls, and not at them at any time. 

Q. How is it that you saw persons around the polls who were not 
citizens when you w^ere not there, and when you state that you do not 
know at what place the election was held on that day ? 

A. I never went right up to the polls to vote, but I Avas where I 
could see the polls, and see persons around the polls. To the best of 
my knowledge the polls were held at the Leavenworth hotel, in this 
place. The Avindow where the votes were received at the LeaveuM'orth 
hotel was at the south end of the building. This was tlie 30th of 
March election. 



LEAVEiNWOimi City, K. T., 3Iay 30, 1856. 



A. T. KYLE. 



A. T. Kyle recalled. 

I wish to correct my testimony in this particular ; The election of 
the 30th of March Avas not held at the Leavenworth hotel, but at a 
little building about one hundred yards from the hotel. It AA'as the 
election of the 29th of November that Avas held at our hotel. Come 
to think of it, they applied to hold the election at our hotel, but we 
declined, as 've feared some disturbance. 

' A. T. KYLE. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 406 

AuAM Fisher called and sworn. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I came into the Territory in October, 1854, and settled in this 
town. I came from the State of Illinois. I was here at the election 
of March, 1855, and at that time was well acquainted with the citi- 
zens of the town. I first noticed the gathering of strangers here the 
evening before the election. I was merchandising at that time, and 
did not go out around much to see what was going on, but some men, 
who said they belonged to companies that were outside of town, came 
into my store. I did not converse particularly, except with one gen- 
tleman, and he told me that he had come over from Cooper county, 
Missouri, to vote. He asked me what my politics were, and I told 
him I was in favor of making Kansas a free State. Then he asked 
if I wasn't afraid they would kill me, and I told him I guessed not. 
Then I told him what my policy was, and he told me, if that could be 
the case he would go in with me. He then bought some little articles 
and went out. He gave me to understand that they had companies, 
but I did not ask him hoAV many there were in them. There were a 
great many men, apparently, around town that night ; they were 
firing pistols and guns, &c., all night. I heard of no fights and 
troubles that night. The place of voting was about one hundred 
yards from my store, and I lived on the adjoining lot to my store. 
The evening of the election there was a large crowd of people in town. 
I don't recollect of seeing a very large crowd of people collected 
around the polls, but they were around in the neighborhood. I did 
not think at the time tliey were unusually noisy. Malcom Clark 
told me that the captains of the companies said they had done 
everything in their power to keep order, and we relied a good 
deal upon him. I understood that Clark lived in Missouri. He 
had an interest in the town ; he had dealt with me and had been 
friendly. I am not positive, but 1 think I voted that day. After the 
election this crowd dispersed. I don't know that I ever saw them 
afterwards. I don't know whether these strangers voted or not, as I 
was not about the polls. I am not acquainted in Missouri. I did 
recognise the people about the polls as citizens of the Territory ; I 
had not seen them before ; they were strangers to me. I was not 
well acquainted outside of this town, and these strangers may have 
been residents of the district ; if so, 1 have never seen them since. 

To Governor King : 

I believe Malcom Clark is one of the original proprietors of the 
town. He built a house on the outskirts of the town. He was here 
ofi" and on, looking after his interests. He said he was going to move 
here and make this his home. As far as I knew, everybody was 
allowed to vote that wanted to. My impression is that 1 voted that 
dav ; but if I did not, it was not for the want of opportunity. 

ADAM FISHER. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 30, 1856. 



4Q6 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

J. H, Day called and sworn. 

To Mr. Matthias : 

I came into tliis Territory on the 11th of October, 1854, from St. 
Paul's, Minnesota Territory. I was present at the election of March 
30, 1855, at this place. I was about the polls and town the most of the 
day. The polls were held on Cherokee street. They were opened in 
the morning. There was considerable of a crowd here, and some persons 
acted as a hind of committee to arrange for the voting to be carried on 
as quietly as possible. Eopes were carried out from each side of 
the window so as to form a lane, in order to prevent the polls from 
being too much crowded, as I understood, at the time. 1 attempted 
to vote myself the fore part of the day, and got into the lane and up 
to the window, but found I was on the outside and could get no chance 
to vote. I slipped out under the rope without voting, and did not till 
the after part of the day ; and when the polls were clear, I saw no fuss 
or riot, and saw no men prevented from voting, except by the crowd 
in the morning. The election passed off quietly ; more so than I have 
seen at elections before. I heard the judges crying out in the after- 
noon for more voters. The polls, I think, were closed in the evening, 
and the people went home without any unusual excitement. I was 
tolerably well acquainted with the peoj^lo in this portion of the district; 
and from all the knowledge I had upon the subject, and from a pretty 
close count that we made at that time, I should judge we had some- 
thing over three hundred voters in this district. There was consider- 
able difference of opinion between the pro-slavery and free State 
parties, as to who had the majority. The matter was considerably 
canvassed : and from reports I saw, the district was shown to contain 
something over three hundred voters, of which the pro-slavery party 
had from sixty to ninety majority. That was before the March elec- 
tion. From that time to the election quite a large number of settlers 
came into the district. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard: 

I have no idea how many settlers came into the district before th<^ 
election. Public rumor was, that an immense crowd were to be her^ 
by the election. I cannot tell how much this district increased. 
Many from Missouri, who had claims here, had been in Missouri to 
pass the cold weather, and returned in the spring. This list I have 
referred to was being made up to within a few days of the election, 
and was the one that Mr. McAuley testified about here. 

To Mr. Matthias : 

Actual settlers came into the district up to the time of the election 5 
and, I suppose, by that means the pro-slavery majority was increased • 

J. H. DAY. 
Leavenworth, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 407 

D. J. Johnson called and sworn. 

To William G. Matthias : 

I came to this Territory on the ITth of February, 1855, from the 
State of Georgia, and have resided in Leavenworth ever since. I wa 
present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. The polls were 
opened at the usual hour; and when they were first opened there was 
quite a crowd around. Ropes were stretched out from the road, so as 
to form a lane for voters to come up in, that voting might he facili- 
tated. To draw oif the crowd, public speaking was proclaimed to take 
place on the levee. After that there was no time in the day when the 
polls were again crowded, and the election passed off in an orderly and 
quiet manner. I saw no arms more than usual. I saw none but some 
side arms, which were usual here at that time. Most of men in this 
community carry side arms on all occasions. I never saw in the old 
States a more quiet election than that was. If any persons had any 
henap badges on that day it escaped my notice. I was about the polls 
and among the crowd all day. If any man of either party failed to 
vote that day, it must have been from choice or false timidity. I 
heard calls for all who were desirous to vote to come up and vote. I 
was tolerably well acquainted with the voters in the district, and had 
made it my business to become acquainted with them, and learn their 
political views. Most of the residents I knew here voted ; though some 
in town did not vote, I think. At that, I think, in this district, the 
pro-slavery party had a majority of some eighty votes. When my 
estimate was made, it was about the time of the nomination — some 
ten, fifteen, or twenty days before the election. After that estimate 
was made, I think there were twenty, perhaps more, increase of pro- 
slavery majority. Richard R. Rees and Captain Eastin for council, 
and William G. Matthias, Mr. Payne, and Mr. McMeekin were the 
pro-slavery candidates for the house of representatives. I do not re- 
collect the different candidates of the free State ticket, Mr. Braden 
and Mr. Twombley, I think, were candidates. Mr. Braden declined 
running that day ; but I do not recollect of hearing any reason for so 
doing. The polls were held on Cherokee street, in this city. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

At the time of the pro-slavery nomination there was a majority of 
eighty, I think, and 'some one hundred by the time of the election. 
Some men in town took pains to find out the' names and political oen- 
timents of the minority of this district. I think this was done Avith a 
great deal of care and thoroughness by Mr. McAuley, with the assis- 
tance of others. This was some fifteen or twenty days before the elec- 
tion. Men in Missouri had claims here, and moved over here before 
the election to settle on their claims, and I judge that by the weans 
the majority of the pro-slavery party here was increased about one hun- 
dred. This is my opinion merely, and is not based, like the other 
estimate, on any calculation. 

To Mr. Matthias : 

I knew H. Miles Moore on the 30th of March, 1855, and am pretty 
certain he claimed to be a resident of the Territory, and so represented 



408 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

himself to me at the nominating convention, some two or three weeks 
before the election, and received the nomination. I myself was the 
president of that nominating convention. 

D. J. JOHNSON. 
Leavenworth City, K, T., 3Iay 30, 1856. 



Matt France called and sworn. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

I came into the Territory in November, 1854, from Indiana, and 
settled in this place. I was appointed one of the judges of election 
of the 30th of March, 1855; L. N. Kees and Mr. Brown were also 
appointed. There were persons who tried to persuade me not to act 
as judge on that day. C. Cockrell, of Platte county, Missouri, was 
one, and several others spoke to me. I don't remember that any 
other residents of Missouri spoke to me except Cockrell; he said I 
had a brother who was a candidate, and it wouldn't look well ; I told 
him I wouldn't resign on that account, and he replied that threats 
were made, and he thought it would be dangerous for me to serve; I 
told him I could not help it, and would serve now any how. Mr. 
Kees proposed that we should all resign, as we could not go on with 
the election unless we let all vote who came here. The idea he ex- 
pressed was that we Avould have to let them vote or they would use 
violence. I concluded not to resign, and Eees said he would not re- 
sign unless I did. Brown resigned the morning of the election. 

The conversation I have referred to was the evening before the 
election. Mr. Kees and myself met at Mr. Keller's hotel, the place 
appointed for the election. Mr. Keller objected to its being held there, 
and we adjourned to Wood's[saddler shop, a short distance off. I took 
the oath prescribed by the governor. Mr. Kees declined to take that 
oath, but took one of a different character. We appointed George B. 
Panton to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Brown. 
He took the same oath that Kees took, refusing to take the oath pre- 
scribed by the governor. We opined the polls and proceeded to take 
votes. I think I challenged the third vote ofiered that day, on the 
ground that I did not think him a resident. I 'asked him where he 
resided, he replied that his family resided in Saline county, Missouri, 
that he came into the Territory the day before, and intended to go 
back home immediately after the election. I then insisted upon 
swearing him before I took his vote. The other judges decided that 
we had no right to swear any man, that every person on the ground 
was a legal voter. They would not administer the oath, and received 
the vote. I objected, and told them that I should insist upon every 
man being sworn whom we did not know. They objected to it, and 
continued to take votes over my head. Everybody who applied to 
vote that day voted, except some Delaware Indians. The Wyandotts 
voted. There were a great many^ probably several hundred, who 
voted that day that I did not know and believed them, to be residents 
€f Missouri. Panton, one of the judges, seemed to be acquainted 



XANSAS AFFAIRS. 40^' 

with a good many of them, would talk to them as an old friend, and 
would ask them where they came from, and they would mention from 
different counties in Missouri, Mr. Panton then resided at the fort on 
one of the farms. I think the free State men generally that day did 
not vote. I was acquainted with them generally. There was a large 
crowd around the polls in the forenoon, hut in the afternoon the polls 
were clear, and any one could have voted who wanted to after three 
o'clock that afternoon, when the crowd commenced to disperse. I did 
not vote. I did not consider anything legal about it, hut remained to 
see the thing through. I signed the return after scratching out the 
words "lawful resident voters." After counting out the votes, we 
proceeded to make out the return list. I objected to signing the 
return unless those words were stricken out. After some discussion 
between the judges, we all signed the return in the same way. They 
decided that all who were on the ground were resident voters. Lewis 
N. Rees, the judge, is a brother of Richard R. Rees, the councilman 
elect. About ten or eleven o'clock the steamer New Lucy came down 
from Weston. There seemed to be a crowd come to the polls soon 
after her arrival, but I do not know whether they came from the boat 
or not. That crowd all voted. The New Lucy was billed to return 
at four o'clock in the afternoon. Did not notice when she left_, but 
she was gone in the evening when we adjourned the polls. I saw a 
number of camps below the town the night before the election. A 
number of the persons on the day of the election had small bunches 
of raw hemp either in their button-hole or on their hat, twisted in 
their beards or around their waists. Most of them wore the hemp in 
their button-holes. I noticed a great many, but I cannot say how 
many. Thei'e were no disturbances that day except the crowding. 
Ropes were stretched to facilitate voting, and no one was allowed off 
the ropes, except in two or three instances where the crowd would 
point out some one as their captain, and request that his vote be taken 
outside the ropes. The total number of votes cast that day 964, over 
30 of them were Wyandott Indians. 

To Governor King : 

I held on as judge of the election after I found that the election 
was not to be conducted according to the instructions of the governor, 
because 1 wanted to see how it was conducted, and such I believed to 
be my duty. I told them at the time that I would not sign the re- 
turns. The men with badges wore different kinds of hats. I carried 
the returns to Governor Reeder, and tohl him verbally the facts I 
have stated. 

MATT FRANCE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



William H, Adams called and sworn. 

To Governor King : 

I came from Missouri to the Territory, and settled in Leavenworth 
City in August, 1854 ; I was among the first here and knew a great 



410 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

many of the settlers, and was here at the election on the 30th of 
March, 1855 ; I saw several Missoiirians here on that day, and think 
I know the inducements which brought them here. For about a 
month or six weeks previous to the election a general rumor pre- 
vailed among the free State men in this place that a large number of 
eastern emigrants would be at the election — this before we knew 
when the election would be, and before the proclamation was pub- 
lished. It was rumored that it was known in the east that the elec- 
tion would take place here before we knew it ourselves ; and that there 
would be a sufficient number of emigrants here to elect the free State 
ticket. It was also rumored, and believed by the people here and by 
the people in Platte county, Missouri, that this was the work of regu- 
lar organized societies in the eastern and northern States. Owing to 
those rumors, as they said, they came ever at that election, "^or about 
that time. I never heard an}'' threat that they intended to'take con- 
trol of polls, or to take tlie election out of the hands of the bona fide 
residents. They said that they came over here to offset the votes that 
might be shipped up here by the Emigrant A'id Society.^ The first 
notice that ever I saw giving the time of the election was in' the Bos- 
ton Atlas. I stated that it would be on the 22d of March. We re- 
ceived the notice, and gave it to the public through the^ Kansas 
Weekly Herald about two weeks previous to the election. I think we 
had some three or four hundred majority in this election district if no 
Missourians had voted. I think the election was conducted orderly. 
I saw no badges except one or two hemp badges on the hat ; one of 
whom was a Wyandott, and one was a white man. I was here 
when Felix G. Braden declined being a candidate of the " free State 
party." He said he was in favor of making this a free white State, 
but that he had made the canvass of this district and was thoroughly 
convinced that it would be utter folly for him to run ; that the pro- 
slavery party had a large majority in the district. He said he would 
prefer seeing it a " free white State," but that he did not want to see 
it an abolition or a free soil State, that he was neither himself. He 
said by running, it would cause fathers and sons to have hard feel- 
ings, and cause contention, and for that reason he Avould not run. H. 
Miles Moore, Avhose name is said to be on the poll book, and who was 
said to be a Missourian, voting here, was in the Territory at the time 
of the election and before ; he was a shareholder here in this town, 
said this was his home, was here at our nominating convention, made 
a speech, and sought a nomination as candidate for a legislative office, 
but was not nominated. I heard no one dispute the legality of his 
citizenship. I looked upon him in the same way that I looked upon 
many others who had property, and lived here most of the time. He 
had no family or property that I know of in Missouri. He staid at 
Weston a portion of the time ; said he intended to move here and stay 
here all the time as soon as he could get an office here. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Mr. Braden withdrew the day before the election at about eleven 
o'clock. He made a short speech at the Kansas house ; he said h 
did not want to run as a candidate, and wanted his name off. Ther© 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 411 

were a good many people in the town at that time, say 250 ; there 
was public speaking by the candidates in the town that day. It was 
rumored that there would be several hundred emigrants at our polls 
on the 30th of March, and this induced the Missourians to come over. 
The eastern emigrants did not arrive that day. I cannot explain 
why the Missourians voted, and 1 do not know how many did vote. 
I know, as a matter of fact, that a great many of those eastern emi- 
grants came up in a few days. They told they Avere eastern men, and 
were generally Massachusetts emigrant aid men. They returned a 
few days afterwards, and told me that tliey came here just to vote, 
and did not intend to settle. They did return. I was one of the pro- 
prietors of the "Kansas Weekly Herald" at that time, and am now. 
I was here at the time Phillips was taken across the river in May. I 
decline to say what occurred there on the ground that it may impli- 
cate me. 

WILLIAM H. ADAMS. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1850. 



A. Macauley called and sworn. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

I came into the Territory on the 23d day of November, 1854, from 
Iowa. I know Frank Marshall, member of the legislature from Ma- 
rysville, as I understood. I am acquainted with a man known as 
Judge Almond, living in Platte City, Missouri. I never was in Mis- 
souri to induce people to come here to vote, unless they had a right to. 
A number of persons had claims in this immediate vicinity, and were 
temporarily absent in Missouri. Shortly before the census was taken 
ordered by Governor Eeeder, I notified persons who I thought ought 
to have been taken in that census that I thought they had better be on 
their claims, so as not to be overlooked by the assessors. This notice 
was without regard to party. I was in Missouri at another tim.e, be- 
fore the election of the 30th of March, and at Platte City during the 
sitting of the circuit court. On that occasion there was a meeting of 
citizens, and several speeches were delivered ; among the rest, I was 
called, and gave them the best turn I could. 

The object and purpose of that meeting was to discuss the affairs of 
Kansas. The subject discussed in that meeting bore upon the subject 
of the coming election and the affairs of Kansas generally. I did 
make a list of what I considered to be legal voters in this district, and 
took a good deal of pains with it, prior to the election of the 30th of 
March. I included in this list none but those that I considered set- 
tlers on the soil. It was for the purpose of giving information to the 
pro-slavery party and to satisfy my mind. I now have in my posses- 
sion, and in my hands, the list of voters made by me. 

Question. Please either furnish a copy of that list or allow^ one of 
our clerks to copy it. 

[The witness desires time to determine whether he will allow it to 
be copied.] 



412 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Witness resumes: The number of names on tlie list is 305. I esti- 
mated 112 to be free State men and 192 to be pro-slavery men. I 
gave general information of these facts to my party and friends, and 
I called in others to assist me^, and, among others, Mr. Payne, one of 
the candidates. I have made on the list my own private marks, to 
designate the two parties. In this list there are a great many who 
are doubtful, and all those I have put on the free State side. 

By Mr. King : 

At the meeting of Platte City subjocts were discussed of the affairs 
of Kansas and opposition to the Emigrant Aid Society, It was gen- 
erally the belief, as expressed in the speeches, that the Emigrant Aid 
Society was importing paupers into Kansas to control elections in an 
unjustifiable and extraordinary manner, and to make Kansas a free 
State. The majority of the speakers, and I think myself among 
others, took the ground that the object of the Aid Society was to make 
a thrust at the institutions of Missouri. This was the pro-slavery 
sentiment of the people at the meeting. They expressed themselves 
that, if Kansas was made a free State, it would be through these so- 
cieties, and, if they succeeded, they might as well give up every nig- 
ger they had in the State. 

Tliis list I have Avas the best one I could make. It was taken 
about the time the census was taken, and about the time I notified the 
settlers that they had better be on their claims. After this list was 
made, and before the election of the 30th of March, a great many ad- 
ditional settlers moved into the district, and how^many I have no 
means of knowing. 

I was present in this place on the 30th of March. That election 
was a good deal like other elections. I am satisfied that no person 
was prevented from voting. I was satisfied of the strength of parties 
before the election as well as afterwards, and think that the pro- 
slavery party increased considerably before that election, and after my 
list was made. I do not believe there has ever been a time when the 
pro-slavery majority has been less than one hundred in the district. 
At the polls on the day of election the ropes spoken of by the wit- 
nesses were drawn to give men an opportunity to vote at the polls in 
two diverging lines, so as to afford an easy access for voters. Men 
were appointed to see that voters should be admitted, and to keep 
order. 

[The witness here states that he will furnish k copy of the list. 
The marks designating the political opinions of men will be explained 
in the copy.] 

At the meeting at Platte City it was a cause of complaint that 
Pieeder was delaying the elections to give the eastern emigration time 
to arrive, and I think it was also charged at that meeting that G-reeley, 
of the New York Tribune, knew when the election would come off be- 
fore we here in the west did, and this had a tendency to produce ex- 
citement among the people. 

A. MACAULEY. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 30, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 413 

List of Voters in the Sixteenth District, by A. Blacavley . 



J. Chappel 

Ames 

J. Snider 

D. Dawson 

Mr. Larkerman 

John Henderson . . 

Mr. Henderson 

J. M. Tiu-ner 

Chas. H. Allen ... 

F. A. Roberts 

Wm. Bohart 

John Pancalce 

Thomas Hickman. 

Mr. Sympho 

John Scott 

A. J. Scott 

J. Moore 

Mr. Narville 

Mr. Hoppur 

Mr. Dawson 

Minard 

Unknown 

Neighbor 

S. Sparks 

N. Sparks 

S. Sparks . , 

J. Spark., 

Mr. Elliott 

Neighbor _ . 

McMurtry.. 

John Right 

Samuel Burgess . . 

John Burgess 

Wm. Borden 

Col. Brown 

Miles Shannon 

F. Shannon 

G. Segin 

C. Hamiaond 

J. Renfroe 

G. Thompson 

John Eenfro 

J. Pyhs 

Pyhs 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Syms 

Mr. Syms _. 

Jim Thompson .. 
Mr. Thojnpson .. 

R. C. Briggs 

James Wells 

H. Staffor 

Mr. Wilhs 

J. Finly 

J. Mundy 

Mr. Gunter 

Mr. Garrett 

C. Garret^ 

E. A. Lang 

H. C. Lang 

J. N. Lang 

James Lang 

Wm. Osborn 



D. 

F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 

F. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 

p. 8. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. s. 
F. S. 

P. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 

F. S. 

p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 



Joel Walker 

Wm. Walker 

Math. Walker.. - 
Mr. Daphelmyer. 

Rue Dennis 

Mr. Suyhr 

John Randero 

F. Plicks 

Mr. McClane 

Q. McClane 

John Anderson . . 

Mr. Huggins 

N. Kirk! 

Alex. Russell 

J. Russell-. 

J. Thomas 

Mr. Mize 

Mr. Mize 

Isaac Cana 

G. X. Young 

J. Young 

Z. Gruning 

P. Taylor- 

H. D. McMeekin. 

Passom Smith 

Cole McCrea 

J. Bickum 

Mr. Bickum 

James Chance 

C. Cruch 

Mr. Rum 

C. Mondu. 

C. M. Burgess--. 

J. Rice 

Hyats Naud 

Carman 

Hippie 

H. Lang 

L. Hurds 

S. McCray 

John Usry 

Mr. Stafford 

Lyman Astor 

Riley Lack! 

J. Barbor 

Mr. Drummond-. 
Peter McGill ... 

J. Hurt , 

P. H. Biddies -- 
James Blakely. . 

D. Robison 

Jacolj 

Peter ]\laainor . . 
Thomas Blakely 
Wm. Warasley . 

Yv^alk 

Benj. Huggins.. 

B. Hamman 

Kanard 

• lliomas 

-Clark 

Churchill . 

Dickey — 



414 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



List of Voters — Continued. 



Green D. T(i<ld 

Thompson Aluller 

George Gmbam 

H. Nolan.l... 

B. M. Crust 

D. Crust 

C. Shaw 

B. Dallas 

C. Harrison 

Mr. Cummings 

John Keefer 

Mr. Howell 

G. B. Panton 

Dr. Phillips 

Win. Mathias 

Leandes Kerr 

Col. Eich 

James Rich 

Wm. S. Yoke 

J. C. S. Foss 

B. Becke 

B. C. Card 

Theodore Mix 

Wm. S. Murphy 

Julius Tromel 

John Daily 

Old Gould-. 

J. Wallace 

Mr. Parker 

Mr. Michell 

Mr. Boles . . 

B. Markam 

Mr. Arterbury 

J. Sirat 

C. Harris 

Mr. Large 

Matt France 

James Davis 

G. Davis 

Neighbor 

H. B. Kelley 

Benj. McCrary 

W. Carum 

Wm. Sparks 

James Zanes 

I. Zanes 

N. Zanes 

jdr. Bateman 

Mr. Kightman 

Mr. Wolf 

C. Neflf --. 

Jacob Kehm 

C. F. Millar 

W. Turnell 

Tusler Turnel) 

Amos Rees 

Mr. Gilbert .-. 

W. G. Wood 

W. A. McDowell 

Nathan Roberts 

Richard Cook ley 

R. N. Rogers 

Mr. liuice 



P. S. 
P. S. 
P. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 

F. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. s. 
p. s. 

D. 

P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
D. 
D. 
D. 

P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. ! 
P. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. s. 
p. s. 

F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 

f; s. 

D. 
D. 
D. 
D. 
D. 

P. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 
p. s. 

D. 

P. S. 
D. 



Mr. Baker 

\lv. Lain 

James Y. Hook 

James Wallace 

C. A. Dunmer 

John Dunmer 

J. Lusk 

Mr. Lane 

Old Dr. France 

J. M. Alexander 

J. B. Quim 

Foster 

E. H. Rankin 

J. L. McAleer 

T. F. Slocum 

Young, at Mrs. Noble's 

J. M. Saylar 

J. Campbell 

F. S. Abny, (shoemaker') 

Y. S. Abny, (blacksmith)-. 

Mr. Thompson 

Old Hart 

Mr. Tanner 

Wm. Henderson 

Lyne Hart 

Joseph Hyatt 

W. 0. Webster 

Sir. Stoddard 

J. Hick. 

D. J. Smith 

Mr. Daily, (shoemaker) 

Mr. Dunning 

Twombly 

Englishman 

John C. Gist 

George Russell 

S. D. Picker 

A. Payne 

Mr. Wallace 

George Walker 

Dr. T-'ew .. 

R. E. Saimders 

Daniel Long 

James Skinner 

Frank Silkman 

H. M. Hook 

N. Siige 

Bird 

R. B. Roberts 

J. R. Edsell 

Bowers 

N. J. Bateman 

James M. White — 

Samuel Farr 

Wm. Pur 

I^Iumford - 

A. T. Patty 

W. H. T^ng 

Tb.omas Bishop 

A. Willson-./. 

Eli Moore - — 

Wm. H. Hipsley '.-.- 

Wm. Cime 



D. 
D. 

P. S. 
P. S 
D. 
D. 
D. 
D. 

P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
F. S- 
P. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
F.'S. 
D. 
D. 

F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
D. 

P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P."S. 
F.^^S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F-,S. 
F. S. 
F'S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
D. 

P. S.. 
P. S, 
D. 
P. S. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
List of Voters — Continued. 



415 



Patty's hand 

George Keller 

A. T. Kyle 

J. E. Grant 

M. Kelly 

John Smith 

James M. Syle 

Col. Johnson 

Posy 

J. Cunningham 

Maginty 

Irish stone-mason at Keller's . 
Irish stone-mason at Keller's. 

L. N.Rees - 

R. R. Rees- 

Wm. Saunders 

L. J. Eastin 

Win. H. Adams 

J. S. Grun 

John Owens 

Wm. Engleman 

F. Engleman , 

George Stephenson . 



P. S. 
D. 

F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
P. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
F. S. 
P. S. 



John Bentz 

Adam Fisher 

George Fisher 

S. Scruggs 

J. Williams 

Furgerson - . 

J. Hall-/- 

A. Macau] ey 

J. H. Day - 

Ames 

James Kirpatrick 
Henry Erubak(;r . 
John Brubaker . . 
J. P. Richardson - 

Jerry Clark 

Dr. Fackler 

A. Hood. 

Adam Deits 

B. L. Sellers 

Wm. Phillips 

Eddings 

Edings 

Dr. France 



Pro-slavery. 

Y^ita State and doubtful. 



Pro-slavery majority. 



Those marked P. S. are Pro-slavery. 
Those marked F. S. are Free Stjite. 
Those marked D. are doubtful. 



You ask this account of me, 
And sure enough you've got it; 
But unless you have the key, 
It's of no use — drot it ! 

You also want the key 
To spread wide op'n the lock. 
By which to let the Dashes see 
Which way the Gander hops. 

The right-hand hooks, 

All, are for the Goose — 

The left are for the Gander ; 

The side which all the straight-oute ch<NK,, 

I've left in doubt to wander. 



A. Macaulat. 



To Mr. Soott 



Adam T. Pattie testifies. 



1 came from Virginia into this Territory in September, 1854, and 
resided in the sixteenth district until after the 30th of March, 1855. 
I attended the election of the 30th of March, 1855, in this district. I 
should think there were eight liundred if not ifiore voted in this dis- 
trict then. I was pretty generally acquainted with the voters here at 
that time. I think there were one hundred nersons on 



the ground 



416 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

the day of election. 1 was most of the day at the polls. All facili- 
ties for voting were furnished, and all voters urged to come \:]) and 
vote. I think that Malcolm Clark, Captain Pitcher, and others were 
appointed for the purpose of keeping the way to the window clear. I 
saw Missourians over here then, many of whom I was acquainted with. 
I saw nothing more of arms than is usual in the western country, 
pistols and Bowie knives, but not out except in a difficulty about some 
liquor. I saw no guns here that I recollect of, though there may and 
I not have noticed,- as it was not unusual to see that here. The citi- 
zens and strangers were alike in regard to arms. I saw no violence, 
and heard no threats in regard to voting. The election passed off as 
peaceably as in the older States, and more so than some elections I have 
known in my native town. Mr. Rees, Mr. Eastin, for council, and 
Mr. Matthias, Mr. Payne, Mr. McMeekin, for house of representatives, 
were the pro-slavery candidates. I forgot the free State candidates, 
as I cannot separate their candidates at the two elections last spring. 
I was personally acquainted with all the candidates of the pro-slavery 
and free State party, and they were all residents of the district. I knew 
all the free State candidates except one, whom I only knew by sight 
I never heard how many votes the pro-slavery ticket got, but I think 
that it got about eight hundred. The highest vote the free State ticket 
got was sixty-one. The pro-slavery party was gaining strength all 
the time from the first election, and at the time of the election of the 
30th of March it had a large majority, and on that day they polled a 
large majority of legal votes. I saw no hemp or other badge that 
day used, either by Missourians or citizens. I saw persons voting 
during the day, and I saw a great many I knew to be residents here 
vote. I knew nothing personally of any secret society of the free State 
party at that time, but I have learned something since. There is a 
secret society in the town in which I live, but I do not know what is 
the object. There is a free State man liviDg in my house for seven 
months past, named Peter Taylor, an honest freesoiler. Mr. Taylor 
went to one election in this district^ the first one, and he tlien said he 
never Avould vote again, because the free State men and abolitionists 
were working together. He went so far in the society as he told me, 
and then drew back and would have nothing more to do with it. The 
motives of the society he communicated to me in confidence, and I de- 
■ cline telling what it is. 

I reside now at Grasshopper Falls, in this Territory, about thirty 
miles from here, and have resided there some time past. I have un- 
^derstood that Patrick Laughlin started this secret society. 

The election of the 30th of March, 1855, here was contested, and the 
representative election ordered for the 22cl of May following, by Grov- 
ernor Pieeder. The free soil candidates had been changed for the 
second election; one was Mr. Gould, and another Mr. France, ![ think. 
I am sure that Mr. Gould was in the second election. The pro-slavery 
candidates were Matthias, McMeekin, and Payne, for the lower house, 
and no council election. I was present at that election. It was con- 
ducted orderly and quietly. There was a steamboat arrived here that 
day, and votes were polled ofl" the boat, but I do not know what her 
iname was, or where she came from, except from rumor; said to be 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 417 

from Pittsburg. I saw Mr. Gould down on the boat, and those per- 
sons on the boat came up to vote with him, he saying they had as 
much right to vote as any one. Nothing was said about it, as we 
knew we were too far ahead for that to affect us. They voted the 
free State ticket. Mr. Matthias, Mr. McMeekin and Mr. Payne were 
elected by a large majority. I did not see as many Missourians here 
that day as at the March election. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard: 

I think there were from eight hundred to nine hundred resident 
voters in this district on the 30th of March^ 1855 ; so I judged from 
what I had seen of the district and knew of the town. I do not 
know the limits of the district, and I judge wnly from the settlements 
I knew here in the district. Leavenworth, and between that and 
Alexandria, and Alexandria, the Stranger, and down beyond the 
Stranger, towards the Kaw river. On the Stranger I include Alex- 
andria, about northwest of here, and then up the Stranger to Dawson's, 
or Eastin, as I believe it is called. There were a great many persons 
coming in and looking for land. I think the population nearlj 
doubled between the 1st of February and 30th of March, 1855, mostly 
from Missouri — some from Kentucky and Indiana. Tliere were boats 
up before that election, with a great many emigrants who got off here, 
but I do not know how many. A good many had got off at Kansas 
City and came up by land. Two men who said that they had come 
out under the Emigrant Aid Society, and had got off at Parkville, Mis- 
souri, came to me for work. I was then carrying on the carpenters' 
business. I think there were fully six hundred in the district at the 
time of election, and there might have been eight or nine hundred, 
and on the 30th of March, I have no doubt there were eight hundred 
voters. I cannot say how many were here who lived here and had no 
other homes, but I suppose that all who lived here at the time were 
about eight hundred voters. I should suppose there may have been 
one hundred Missourians on the ground on the 30th of March, 1855, 
those who lived in Missouri at that time, perhaps more or less. I do 
not know of one who voted. I suppose I saw some two or three hun- 
dred go up to the window to vote, and heard their names called. At 
one of the elections that spring there was a boat down here from 
Weston. I do not recollect the name of the boat, but I think it was 
the New Lucy. I saw some of the citizens of Weston who said they 
had come on it, and I saw other persons after they got off, but I can- 
not tell whether a great many came on her or not. I do not know 
how long the boat stayed here. She was here about one o'clock, but 
I did not see her when she left. There were, I should think, one 
hundred Missourians, more or less, here that day, but I saw none vote. 
I heard tliem say they did not intend voting as long as the emigration 
from the east, they were expecting, did not get here. I have not got 
my oi)inion of the number of voters in the district from the number 
of votes polled, instead of what I knev/ of resident voters. The 
county was pretty thickly settled. I saw no illegal votes polled on 
tlie 30th of March, 1855, though there might have been. Malcolm 
Clark was building in town here and his children stayed just across, 
H. Rep. 200 27* 



418 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

from the Fort on some property he had there. I have heard him state 
hat as he did not vote in Missouri he had a right tojote here. I did 
not see him vote. Mr. Gould is living m this city yet. I do not 
recollect th^ name of the hoat from which the hands came and voted. 
She came from down the river. I took them to he hands from their 
aT>Larance I think there were eight or ten of them who voted ; 
Smight have heen more or less. I do not know where these men 
lived I went up to the edge of the ring and saw hem cast their 
votes They voted hy hallot, I believe, and their ballots were differ- 
Int from ou/s in color-a red color. They stood around some time 
before they did vote. I do not recollect the color ol the pro-slavery 
tic^^et but I hink they had two colors of pro-slavery tickets. I know 
these men said they were going to vote for the man hey were going 
up with' What I mean by ballot, is a ticket with the names I vote 
for which are read oif when my name is recorded, and that I think is 
Ihe w^ It was done at that election. I believe Jolly made his home 
at Oxrasshopper Falls, which I think was m this district at that time. 
ThfrtSTook in'Osawkee, a town on the Grasshopper and is 
about nine or ten miles beyond Hickory Point. I call it thirty miles 
to GrasXpper Falls. This district extended beyond the Stranger, 
towards the^Kaw river, some eight or ten miles so far as I was ac- 
niSed and I think it extended further than that, and I think it 

three or four miles beyond Fort Leavenworth 

I think it was in the spring or winter of 1855, that I fi/^t heard 

about the secret societies of the free State pa.' ties ; before the March 

election I think. I cannot say that I ever heard from any one who 

belonged to this secret society what its object was, ^^}\^'''^^.\''^']l 

is to Sake Kansas a free State at all hazards, even at the point o the 

knife, and to work together for one another s interests, and help and 

aid e^ch other in every way and form This I have ^^eard from pretty 

reliable men who were free soilers and who now say they will not vote. 

I iudge from the meetings held out our way that those secret societies 

stm elist. I know persons who are not Odd FeUows or Masons who 

attend those secret meetings. I am a Know-nothmg and that is not 

such a society. I was in favor of a counter lodge m this city to coun- 

eract the one that was exposed here. But I never heard of any secret 

society in Missouri or Kansas Territory to make this Territory a slave 

State. 

To Mr. Scott: 

I found out on the day of election that the tickets were to be of dif- 
ferent colors; the pro-slavery, I think, using ^uff o^^ll^^j.^T^^, *^^ 
free State some other color. In the first voting I had some tickets to 
distribute to my friends, and some of my friends came to me and took 
Zem all away, and said the other side had the same colored tickets 
and in a short time tickets of another color were given to me i hav< 
for-otten whether the names of candidates were read ofi the ticket, 
when they were handed in or not. I could tell who a person votec 
for in some way besides the color of the ticket, as it was a genera 
thing at the window to call out, -here is a free State ticket," an. 



4 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 419 

''here is a pro- slavery ticket." I think Captain Pitcher held the 
rope at the side as they came up, and let them out after they voted. 

A. T. PATTIe! 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 1856. 



H. Miles Moore testifies. 

I came into the Territory to reside in September, 1854, from Wes- 
ton, Missouri, w^here I had been residing for five years, practising as 
an attorney at law. For seven weeks previous to the election in the 
Territory, on the 30th of Marcli, 1855, meetings of the Platte county 
self-defensive association were held in Platte county. I also learned 
that like meetings were being held in all the border counties of Mis- 
souri, to make arrangements to come over to the Territory to attend 
the election for members of the legislature and vote I know that 
secret meetings of what was called the Blue Lodge were held in the 
Masonic Lodge room in Weston. I saw persons going up, and I learned 
from members of the association that their objects and plans were to 
come over to the Territory and vote on the 30th of March, 1855. I 
did not myself belong to that association. From what I have heard 
said, I have good reason to believe that the nominations for the pro- 
slavery party for members of the legislature were decided upon at 
these secret meetings at Weston and Platte City, so far as the fifteenth 
and sixteenth districts were concerned. For two or three days pre- 
vious to the election large companies formed through the City of Wes- 
ton, en route for the Territory^ from Platte, Clinton, Clay, Bay, 
Chariton, Carrol, and some from Howard and Harrison counties, Mis- 
souri, bringing with them tents, forage and provisions. These men 
were generally armed, some with guns, and others with revolvers and 
bowie knives. Some of these men were on horseback, and some of 
them were in wagons. Among those from the back counties, that I 
recognized particularly, were Squire Hyde, of Chariton county, who 
said he had about seventy or eighty men with him, and several men 
from Brunswick, Chariton county, who were not of his party, whose 
names I do not now recollect. I also saw several from Howard county 
and from the counties above mentioned. Most of the parties from 
Platte county and those near by went to the back districts of the Ter- 
ritory, as they told me after they returned, to Hickory Point_, Marys- 
ville, Nemaha, and Wolf river precincts, and that they made a clean 
thing of it. I saw a company under David R. Atchison as they 
passed through Weston, and some of them told me they were going 
to Nemaha or the eighteenth district. I also learned that they were 
from the counties of Missouri on the north side of the Missouri river, 
were to go to the district on the north side of the Kaw river, and those 
on the north side went to the north side. Companies were ibrmed 
from Platte county and went over to Nemaha, and then to Hickory 
Point, and then to Marysville, &c. Squire Hyde's company from 
Chariton county came to Leavenworth, together with a large number 



420 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



of citizens from iu ami about Weston. Some from Weston came in 
carriages and some on horseback. 

The steamboat New Lncy was lying at the levee at Weston, and 
we chartered her to l)ring down from eighty to one hundred for $2 50, 
round trip, meals included. I think each man paid his own i'are on 
the boat, as this was considered rather a luxurious way of travelling 
here. As regards the other companies, money was raised to pay their 
expenses, or a portion of them, to buy their provisions and outfit, by 
voluntary contributions from those who could not come, but were 
friendly to the cause. The captain of the New Lucy was Captain 
William Conolly. The boat started from Weston and got down here 
in the course of an hour. I should think there were one thousand 
men on the ground here, armed with bowie knives and revolvers gen- 
erally, some few guns among them. The citizens of Missouri were 
generally distinguished by a badge of hemp in the button hole, or 
elsewhere about their persons. A very large crowd was gathered about 
the polls. Ropes were carried back from the window so as to form a 
lane, up which persons went to vote and then passed out. During 
the forep:ir oi the day there was a great deal of crowding about the 
polls, ihe free State men, I think^ did not take much part in that 
election. I voted that day the pro-slavery ticket, as the rest of the 
Missourians did. The pro-slavery ticket were Rees and Eastin for 
council, Matthias, Payne, and McMeekin for house of representatives. 
I have carefully examined the poll books for that election and find on 
it the names of persons I knew to have been then citizens of Missouri, 
as follows : 



Thomas Baumont, 

J. M. Guthrie, 

James H. Hall, 

John B. Wells, 

George Grimsby, 

William H. Spatt, 

William H. Nems, 

John Venemon, 

Judge William B. Almond, 

Joseph Guvnard, 

B. W. McGee, 

N. A. Wilkinson, 

R. M. Gordon, 

Robert Rents, 

J. M. Summers, 

A. T. Guthrie, 

R. B. Chinn, 

E. F. Pierce, 
John Many, 
Jackson Summers, 
R. W. Chinn, 
John W. Beding, 

F. Marshall, 
Samuel B. Ofiutt_, 



B. W. Mitchell, 
A. P. Walling, 
Franklin Yocum, 
Jeremiah Crabb, 

D. S. Leech, 
James Saunders, 
T. R. Buckhart, 
James Doniphan, 
William Dickev, 
W. A. Wilson; 
John B. Camp, 
W. Christiam, 
Smith Collant, 
Joseph Nowers, 

C. E. Woolfolk, 
R. H. Stewart, 
Jesse Vinevard, 
W. S. Ofiat, 
James Barber, 
William A. Gabbet, 

E. H. Pierce, 
David Large, 
Isaac Arclicr, 
L. P. Stiles, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



421 



W. A. Guthrie, 

G. W. Robins, 

W. L. Daraeal, 

Joseph Murphy, 

John Gunsollis, captain of 
steamboat Golden State, 

William Conolly, captain of 
steamboat New Lucy, 

George W. Peirce, 

H. J. Woolf, clerk of Wes- 
ton court of common pleas, 

William C. Kimber, 

H. Miles Moore, 

John B. Wells, 

D. A. Johnson, 

N. B. Brooks, 

John R. Congers, 

John T, Owens, 

George W. Dye, 

G. U. Baumont, 

W. W. Woods, 

D. S. Gordon, 



Israel Dougherty, 

A. Gilbert, 

J. C. Cockrill, 

R. F. Fisk, 

Samuel Fernandis, 

Frank Gilbert, 

Harvey Burch, 

D. J. Pence, 

John D. Harper, 

P. K. Wagoner, 

Jacob Pitts, 

John Moor, 

W. T. Barbee, 

W. T. Woods, 

Edward Duncan, 

Am. Owens, 

John W. Corser, 

Joseph Holiday, 

G. W. Robins, 

George Kimper, 

W. A. Newman, 

Michael Burch. (89 in all.) 



I should think there were 500 or more votes cast that day by Mis- 
Bourians, at the election at Leavenworth city. Several speeches were 
made by gentlemen from Missouri, and the candidates exhorting the 
people to vote, that they had a perfect right to vote under the princi- 
ples of the Kansas-Nebraska bill. My opinion that most of those 
who came from Missouri to the Territory to vote were induced to do 
so from representations made to them that there were large numbers 
of emigrants coming from the north and east, under the aus})ices of 
the Emigrant Aid Society, for the ])urpose of voting to make Kansas 
a free State, and then returning. Such statements were published in 
the papers through western Missouri, together with statements that 
these eastern emigrants threatened, after making Kansas a free State, 
to come over into Missouri and interfere with slavery there, and I 
think that very few of the free State men voted at Leavenworth at 
this election. I had conversation with several free State men who re- 
sided in Leavenworth city and its vicinity, in which they stated that 
they were disgusted with the manner in which the election was being 
conducted, and that the free State men would not vote, but would 
contest the election. I tried to persuade them to vote, and their re- 
ply was, that the people of Missouri were controlling the election, and 
they would not take part in it. I know those free State men I con- 
versed with were citizens of Leavenworth and vicinity from that I 
had been one of the town proprietors from its inception, and I was 
the first secretary of the town association, and tliese free State men 
were some of those who had bought shares and lots in the town, which 
I had transferred to them as secretary. I had attended all the public 
sales of lots as secretary oi the association, and had been here nearly 
every week on business connected with the association, as well as on 
my own business. The free State men generally had nothing to do 



422 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

with the election. I did not see an}^ attemptt; to prevent any one 
from voting. The polls were ver}'' much crowdeil during the fore part 
of the day. In the afternoon the polls were clear, and at times calls 
were made for more voters, and I think any one could have voted who 
had so desired. Just before sundown the "New Lucy returned to 
Weston, there being more persons going back on the boat than came 
down on her in the morning. For several days after the election 
many persons passed through Weston back into Missouri, among 
whom I saw most of those I knew, and had seen going into the Ter- 
ritory, and they stated to me the several precincts they had been to 
and voted, and said they had made a clean sweep that time. 

I came into the Territory to reside in September, 1854. Shortly 
after that an election for locating the county seat was held in this 
county, at wliich large numbers of Missourians, from Platte county, 
Weston, and Platte city, came to Delaware city and Kickapoo and 
voted at that election. I had believed that the ]\Iissourians had had 
some justification for endeavoring to come and control the territorial 
legislation, in order to afibrd more security to their slave property in 
Missouri, and for that reason I had come with them; but their course 
with regard to tlie mere local election for county seat was so high- 
handed an outrage upon the rights of the people of the Territory, of 
whom I had then become one, that I came to the resolution that I 
would no longer act with a party so regardless of the rights of others 
that they would interfere in a matter in which they could have no 
personal or political interest, I determined to act with the free State 
party so long as they were actuated by what I considered proper mo- 
tives, though I would have continued to act with the pro-slavery party 
had they not acted as they did. I therefore concluded to act with the 
free State party so long as they were willing to act consistently with 
the principles of the organic act, and submit to the territorial laws 
while in force. At the election for county seat, Delaware county, with 
a population of not more than forty voters, jiolled nearly a thousand 
votes. A large majority of the votes polled at Kickapoo were by 
Missourians. The people of Leavenworth polled between 500 and 
600 votes, all given by actual residents, so far as I was able to find 
out. 

In consequence of my uefermination at this time to act tliereafter 
with the free State party I became obnoxious to the pro-slavery men. 
both in ^lissouri and in the Teri'itory. ]\Iy persop and property has 
been irequently threatened with violence and destruction by them for 
six months or more past. I was elected at the election for State offi- 
cers, under the Topeka State constitution, attorney general of the 
State of Kansas. In Mai-cli last I took tlie oath of office, with the 
express understanding that it should not be binding on lue, and 1 
should not enter upon the discliarge of my official duties until Kansas 
had been admitted into the Union as a St"ate by Congress. On Wed- 
nesday, May 28, 1856, I was arrested Avhile standing at my office door, 
about noon, by Major Warren D. Wilkes, who had a posse with him 
of some twenty or twenty-iive men, armed with United States muskets 
and bayonets. At the time of the arrest I was converging with Marcus 
J. Parrot and Hon, John Sherman, a member of the Kansiis investi- 
tigating committee of the House of Representatives. This posse 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 423 

marched down tlie street in column in platoons of four, and when 
they readied my office they faced about and formed in a line, with 
8houldere<l muskets. A man hy the name of Eli Moore, who has been, 
and I think is now, deputy sheriff of this county, a])proached with 
Major Wilkes, and jjointed out to him Mr. l*arrot and myself. Major 
Wilkes said to us, "Gentlemen, I have to arrest you temporarily." 
Mr. Parrot said to Mr. Sherman, "What sliall we do'?" Mr. Sherman 
said, " 1 can do nothing ; I am powerless in this matter." Mr. Sher- 
man then turned to Major Wilkes, and asked him if he had a warrant 
for our arrest, and he said he had not. Mr. Sherman then askcnl him 
hy what authority he made the arrests, and he said, "liy an authority 
higher than my own ; I am not acting on my own responsil)ility ;" 
and then holding out his hand witli a crumpled piece of paper in it, 
he said, " I have a list of names here for arrests." I then went into 
my office, locked up my desk, got my hat, and came out and locked 
my office. I then inquired of Major Wilkes hy what authority he 
arrested me, or if he had a warrant from anybody for my arrest. 
Major Wilk(;s replied, " I have no time to j)arley ; take your place in 
the ranks;" which Mr. Parrot and mysell" did. Martin F. (Jonway 
and Mr. Weibling were then prisoners as we were. Mr. Sherman 
then approached Mr. Conway, and inquired when he was taken. Just 
as he spoke the word of command was given to "forward, march." 
As we started Mr. Conway turned to Mr. Sherman and said, "I have 
left the j)apers I was coj)ying with Mrs. Sherman." We were then 
hurriedly marched down and })laced in a warehouse of Captain Clark- 
son, and kept there, under a strong guard, until the next morning, 
when I was sent for by the commissioner. A guard went up to the 
committee room with me. The committee refused to examine me 
while I was under guard, unless some legal authority was shown for 
my detention. I was tlien taken back. Subsequently, and wliile 1 
was in custody, I was informed by Captain Clarkson that a secret 
council had been held, and had determined that J must leave the Ter- 
ritory. I asked him what were the charges against me, and if I 
might not go before the congressional investigating committee and 
make some explanation. He said tliat I had taken a prominent 7)art 
in tlie free State movement, and had accepted an office under the State 
organizati'-n, and therefore 1 had become obnoxious, and with other 
free State men, a list of whose names they had, must leave the '^J^erri- 
tory. I expostulated with him, but it was insisted upon that 1 should 
leave the Territory. 1 explained to him that I had great interest in 
this town, and I should be pecuniarily ruined if obliged to leave so 
summarily, and that J expected my wife here shortly, and looked for 
her to arrive on each boat. He said that under those circumstances I 
would be allowed a little longer time than otherwise, but I must leave 
the Territory in a very short time, at all events, and his orders were 
imperative. 

Being compelled thus to leave, I have been requested by Messrs. 
Howard and Sherman, who deem my evidence important, to give it 
thus in private, believing as T do that my person and life would be 
endangered at this time should 1 give it in public. 

H. MILES MOOKE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 30, 1856. 



424 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Samuel KixKY called uiul sworn. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I am acquainted with Thomas Hodges, oi' Platte eonntv, IVIissonri. 
He lives one mile above me on Bee ereek. 1 have never had any eon- 
versatiou with Air. llodj^es in regard to any election in this Territory. 
I have never conntenanced him in any way, as I have always regarded 
liim as an abolitionist, and never regarded him except with contempt; 
and I declare the statement made by him, that 1 otTered him five 
dollars to come over and vote, or for anything connected in any way 
with coming to this Territory to vote, at any time, is false. 1 have 
not seen him since 1 understood that he was here testifying belore this 
committee. I never heard oi' his testifying in regard to my offering 
to bribe him until this morning. I have no recollection of ever 
soliciting him to come to any election in the Territory. Mr. Thomas 
Hodges I refer to is the one I understood has testitied before this com- 
mittee. 

SAMUEL KIXEY. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Mai/ 31, 1856. 



William G. Matthias testifies. 

To :Mr. Scott: 

I came into the Territory of Kansas and settled at Leavenworth 
City on the -3d oi' Kovember, 1854. 1 was present at the election of 
the 30th ]\larch, 1855, at Leavenworth. The candidates at that elec- 
tion were L. J. Eastin and 11. li. Eees for council, pro-slavery, and 
A. J. AVhitney and Mr. Twombley, free State, for council; II. D. 
McMeekin, A. Payne, and myself, pro-slavery, Felix Braden, Dr. 
France, and Mr. Browning, free State, were the candidates for tlie 
house of representatives. During this s])ring I was boarding at Fort 
Leavenworth. There was a ferry at the Fort, and there was also a 
ferry above the Fort on government land, and all crossing at both 
ferries were necessarily com})elled to pass along the public road along 
by the Fort. During the month of March there was a great deal of 
emigration, wagons and people coming across the ferries into the Ter- 
ritory, so that 1 concluded that the resident voters of our district, 
which extended out as far as Soldier creek, had increased very con- 
siderably. 

AVe Avere anxiously looking for the j)n">ciamation of the governor, 
so as to find out when the election was held. About the early part 
of March, about the first week, we heard a rumor that the election 
was to be held on the 2od of March, and tlierefore the pro-slavery 
party called a convention on the 10th of March. At that time we 
had not learned positively when the election was to be, but I tliink 
a messenger came there that niglit with the proclamation of the 
governor. We had given but four or five days' notice to the people of 
the district to meet in mass convention. There were over one hundrcvl 
pro-slavery voters there at the convention of the 10th of March. On 



^ KANSAS AFFAIRS. 425 

tlie first Ijallot for candidates there were oint hundred votes given, 
and there were a nuni))er of pro-nhivery men wlio were not there when 
the IjaHotting was going on, and I do not remember of seeing a man 
there who lived further than Htranger creek. I was therefore satis- 
fied tliat not half the pro-slavery men of the district were there. It 
was always my impression, from all I could learn, that we had a large 
majoi'ity in that district. 

On tlie day of election there were a great many persons present 
whom I did not know, Itut several hundreds I did know, having met 
them in convention and in canvassing the district. I was about the 
polls a good deal, but I could not tell that I saw more tha^i one man 
vote besides myself. There were two ropes extended back from each 
side of tlie window some twenty or thirty yards, and there was a sort 
of police to keep men from crowding on and breaking the rope down, 
but near the window tliere were a great many jiersons, both inside and 
outside of the ropes to watch the voting. Our tickets were red tickets, 
and the crowd I suppose had ascertained that and were standing tliere 
to see the red tickets go in. Before many votes were cast some of 
those who were acquainted with free 8tate men of Leavenworth dis- 
covered they were V(jting red tickets also. It was proclaimed in the 
crowd, by several men who got up in the crowd, that all pro-slavery 
men who had I'ed tickets should destroy them and not vote them. We 
then had yellow tickets printed, and I remained at the printing office 
until we had what we supposed were enough of yellow tickets. There 
were sixty-one free State tickets jjolled that day; I saw some of them 
go inside the ropes, but I did not see tliem vote. I was acquainted 
with thirty or forty free State men in town, and I called on several 
who were near tlie polls to come up and vote, as several of tliem had 
indicated they would vote for me, as they boarded at the same house I 
did, A few of them have since told me they voted for me. I saw 
some of tliose I spoke to go between the ropes and go up to the win- 
dow, and I su]:»pose they voted; but several of those I spoke to said 
they would not \oUr, I asked the reason; they said they thought 
their party was Ijadly beaten and there was no use in their voting. 
The election passed off as orderly and peaceably as elections I had 
attended in Carroll county, Maryland ; I knew of but one fight there 
that day, and that I think was between two pro-slavery men. In 
Maryland, where I came from, we frequently had half a dozen bruised 
faces during the day. In mixing with the crowd at Leavenworth on 
the day of election I noticed that most of them had belts on, and I saw 
in some of them jiistols and Bowie knives, but that was the custom of 
the country. The citizens of the town I think were not armed. I 
saw, I sujipose, all the people who were about that day, and I do not 
think I saw three men in the whole crowd there of one thousand and 
upwards with hemp about them ; I did see one man who had a hempen 
cue fixed to his hair and hanging down beliind. 

I think we made four appointments to address the people while we 
were canvassing the district; one at Alexandria, on Stranger creek, one 
at Sornerville, on Little Stranger, near Mr. Minard's, one at Salt 
Creek Valley, and one at Leaven v/orth city. There were but few peojile 
present at Alexandria; they were all pro-slavery men, and we made 



■426 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

no {ijuvohos tlioiv. The oaudidatos ot" both sulos wont round t1\o dis- 
trict tojjother. Tlio next vlny wo wont to Sonunvillo, whoio wo 
arrans^'od so that Mr. 'l\votnhlov oponod tho disoussioti that vhiy. Wo 
ibund prosont about tho tiino tho spoakiui;- oomnionood sonio forty or 
tbrty-tivo porsons. Mr. TwonUdoy oontiuuoil spoaking sonio throo 
hours. In tho moan titno a tigl\t ooonrrod botwoon a tVoo Stato and 
a pro-sh»Yory man. and tlio tVoo Stato man was oloamnl out, and tVoiu 
tho sidos tho ]HV}do took wo disoovorod many moro thoro on our side 
than wo thou;;ht wo had. AYo diil not disoussany oursolvos tliatday, 
as thoro was not muoh timo tor it. Mr. Koos mado sonio tow romarks 
just attor Mr. Twombloy oU>sod, and whilo spoakiuii' mado somo rotbr- 
omv to tho V.migrant Aid 8ooioty , and somo oi\o in tlio orowd oriod out, 
"Don't you say anytliing" agaiiUNt tho Emigrant Aid Sooioty, tbr tlioy 
sont me out hero.'" Tho next day wo had a disoussion at Salt Creek 
VaUoy: at that plaoo I tl\ink thoro must liavo boon somo sixty per- 
sons present. Tliere was good tooling, as tar as tl\o oandidatos wore 
(.xmivrnod. all tho oanvass through. 

I was not muoh aoqnaiiuod in tho distriot until 1 ooinmonood oau- 
vajisiiig it: and tVom what I learned in everyway during the oanvass, 
I eoneluded we had a large majority ot'aetual residents in the distriot. 
The election. I think, was on ITriday. and on the day before wo spoke 
at Leavenworth to a orowd of several hundred. Many of them I 
know to have been residents of the Territory, and I have rooognized 
many others sinee as residents. 1 do not think there were many 
Missonrians there at that pnblie speaking. 1 think I must have seen 
threi* or tour hundreii resident voters in the canvass in the district. 
and there were some pro- slavery men who were not at the election. 

The crow*d who were at the polls on the day of election did not 
interfere with tb.o voting of any one; and by three o'clock the bulk 
of the crowd were gone, and during the day, a good portion of the 
time, the bulk of the crowd were down on the levee listening to the 
speeches that were made there. 

The judges told me that I lost several votes, as. in cutting the 
tickets apart, my name being on the bottom was cut in two, and they 
would not count those tickets tbr me. The pro-slaverv party were 
uniteil on their ticket, and I think 1 never saw more union in any 
party at any eUvtion. I think I must have been aev|nainted with 
probably four b.undroii resident voters on the ground that day, and 
there were many there, I am eonlident, 1 was not aoipiaintod with. I 
think there wei^e thrtM? pro-slavery to one free State man on the 
ground. 

That election was contested and a new election was ordered by 
(.lovernor Reoder. I think on the -nl of April tb.e Poniphau, 
Atchison. Kickapoo. and Leavenworth members elect left for Shawnee 
Mission, and tound most of the memlxMS oleot in West port, Missouri. 
The next day we went to Shawnee and I'oimd a protest tiled against 
our election signed by some ten or a dozen persons. Governor Reeder 
set the representatives elect aside in our distriot, and ordered a new 
election, which was held on the *22d of May following. The same 
pro-slavery oandidatos for representatives ran again. There were six 
or seven hundreii votes polled that day. But there Wivs not much 



KAM&AS AFFAIRS. 427 

luUrdHt takcTi, as far tut our «idc' wa» concerned. Mr. HcMctjkio anrl 
tnym\i' dedan-'J that day that w<; w^rro not candidat/js ; thiit wf; di/1 
not h';li<!Vfj Governor Mci-AoA had a rij^ht to sH anldo t}j<r Utait-U'M't'm,, 
that w<; ha^J U-r.n t-.lox-u-A \^'St)i(i, and 'inU:in\f:d i/> clairu our fe^::at« und/jr 
tho firht <;hrction. I had a conv<;r>iation with HOine of th<; fr<^: StaU; 
rnon that day, and they a<;know|r^ij(e^i that that election v/a« all lair, 
and th<;y Itad iKj^^n hs'dUiU fairly. 

1 Haw Gov«^:rnor Mcj-Ativ mvava] timeK before the lej^i^lature rnet at 
I'awfU'j',, and ho naid he would give iw our w;rtific'at<;K at any time. 
No onfj H\H)t"<ir(A to contowt our »«<^at«, and titere were no ]>t-sh'>un in 
I'awn<:e elainiing Keatf^ for any di«trict« exc<;pt in tlK>«^j GoveruoT 
Jloeder had net a»j'l'- 

WILLIAM G. MATHIAB. 

WPitTKmT, MlisT'OlKi. ./'//'/; ^i. 1850, 



mvesTKKSTH lAwtayn. 



\'j:\. 'J'homas Jointma called an«i «worn. 

To Mr. Kin^': 

I have lived in Kan«a» Territory for nineteen year«. I wa« elected 
a member of the cjaiik^X of the, territorial legislature, in the fir«t 
council diwtrict. I wa« ],r<:iH'Mt at the election on the 30th of >larcb, 
1855, at the Shawnee .Methodist meeting hou.«e, in the »evente^.'nth 
district. Governor ii<;eder and Judge I>rf;ompte were l>ot!» preft'rnt at 
that election, Mr, Chouteau, one of the judges of election appointed 
by the governor, asked me a few flays Usi'ora the eUx.-ti^^n about the 
nature of the oath prescril^ed by the governor, and I told him I pre- 
sumed it was substantially correct, and there v/ould be no difficulty in 
taking it. liut 1 informed him at the same time that Judge JiCcompte 
would he at the election, and he could ty/nwoit with him al>^,>ut the 
oath. On the day of election, at the phux' where the i>oll« were held, 

heard the judges sf>eak to Judge Ler;ompte about the oath pre«cril>ed 
(>/ the governor, J did not hear all that passed \n:tw(Ucn them, for I 
paid but little attention to it. hut I nrKhtraUffA that Judge Lecompte 
would and did make sf^me slight verbal alterations, which met their 
objections, but did not materially change the effect and nature of the 
oath. He a/lministered that oath to the judges of election, and after 
tliat I aske^l Governor Keeder if the changes in the oath affected it» 
validity. He told rne that it did not, that he did not see any necessity 
for making any change, but still he consi/Iered it a gf>o<l oath. J be- 
lieve X wa.H acqiiaint^^l with all but three or four vot^^rs tliere on the 
ground, I ha/1 no knowledge of there luring any illegal voting that 
day, and thone three or four I did not know were free Htate men, and 
there were some questions passerl l^tween them and the judges as to 
how long they ha/1 resided in the district, and then their votes were 
allowed and received. 



428 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Question. Will you state what conversation you had with Governor 
Eeeder prior to the meeting of the territorial legislature at Pawnee, 
and after the governor had issued his proclamation convening them 
there, concerning the propriety of calling them there, and the absolute 
necessity of the legislature when they met there, removing to some 
other place, and what the governor said as to the power of the legis- 
lature to remove, and his co-operating with them in whatever they 
should decide to do in reference to that matter? 

[Mr. King here states that he proposes to prove that after the gov- 
ernor issued his proclamation convening the legislature, the witness 
had a conversation with him, in which the witness objected to the pro- 
priety of calling the legislature together at Pawnee, stating that there 
were no accommodations there that would be at all suitable for the 
legislature, and that if the legislature was convened there, they would 
certainly have to remove to some other place, where they could get 
suitable accommodations. Also that Governor Reeder admitted that 
there were no suitable accommodations at Pawnee at that time, but 
said he had made arrangements for having suitable accommodations 
prepared, and that if, upon the meeting of the legislature, those accom- 
modations were not to be obtained there, it would be the right of the 
legislature to adjourn to some other place where they could be suitably 
accommodated, and that he would co-operate with the legislature and 
acquiesce in whatever they might do in regard to that matter, admit- 
ting the right of the legislature to adjourn to any point they pleased. 
Also, that the governor stated that if lie could he satisfied before the 
meeting of the legislature that preparations could not be made for them 
at Pawnee, he would call them together at some other point. He also 
proposes to prove further, that on the same evening after the above 
conversation took place between Governor Reeder and the witness, a 
messenger came to the governor from Pawnee and informed him that 
it would be impossible to make suitable preparations for the accommo- 
dation of the legislature hy the time they would convene, and that 
the governor, instead of complying with the promise he had just 
made to the witness, still persisted in calling the legislature together 
at Pawnee, and never undertook to give any explanation to the wit- 
ness as to the reasons for his course. Mr. King also proposes to prove 
further by the witness, that upon the meeting of the legislature at 
Pawnee there were no sort of accommodations there for the legislature, 
and they were therefore compelled to abandon the performance of their 
duties or to adjourn to some other place. Also, to prove that when 
the legislature assembled there the members had to make their own 
camps and camp out, and do their own cooking, unless they were for- 
tunate enough to get others to do it for them ; that there were no 
boarding houses around in the country anyAvhere, except two little 
log shanties erected at the place, with no doors or partitions hut 
clothes hung up, and not sufiicient to accommodate one tenth of those 
who were necessarily obliged to be there during the sitting of the leg- 
islature. Mr. King also offers to prove further that the cholera was 
raging at Pawnee at tliat time, and that a man died of the cholera at 
one of these shanties before the legislature removed ffom them, and 
that several members had strong symptoms of cholera, and were 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 429 

prostrated by the disease. Mr. King states that his object in offerinp 
this testimony is not to show that the legishitnre had the right /to ad- 
journ from Pawnee^ because Governor Reeder admitted it, but to ex- 
hibit Governor Reeder's conduct in the whole afi'air in what Mr. King 
considers the proper light. 

A majority of the committee overrules the question, und excludes 
the evidence offered ; Mr. Oliver dissenting.] 

To Mr. King: 

My council district was composed of the 1st, 4th, and 17th election 
districts. I did not canvass the district, and know nothing about the 
vote at Lawrence, and did not go there aip til after the election. I 
objected to be a candidate, but was brought out by the party. 

THOS. JOHNSON. 

Westpokt, Missouri, June 3, 1856. 



Cyprian ChouteaXt called and sworn. 
To Mr. King: 

On the 30th of March, 1855, Jr was a resident of Kansas Territory, 
and liave lived in it some twenty or twenty-two years. I was one of 
the judges of election, appointed by Governor Reeder, for the seven- 
teenth district, and served as such on the day of election, taking an 
oath, administered by Judge Lecompte, in the presence of Governor 
Reeder. I heard nothing to lead mo to suppose the judge and the 
governor did not acquiesce in the oath administered. I knew a great 
many of the legal voters of the district at that time. I allowed no 
man to vote except those who liA'^ed in the Territory. In judging of 
the qualifications of voters we applied the rule laid down in the 
instructions of the governor. There was no disposition to prevent any 
men from voting, and all whom we considered legal voters, and who 
presented themselves, were alhnvcd to vote. I know of no reason why 
any person in the district should not have voted tliat day; and I know 
of no free State man in the district who did not vote. The pro-slavery 
party had a majority, not very large, in the district at that time. I 
think the vote on tlie poli books is a pretty correct exhibit of the rela- 
tive strength of the two parties in that district at that time. 

Cross-exaunned by M)\ Slierman: 

We had tlie printed Ibrm of the oath prescribed by Governor Reeder 
before us. Tliere was something in that oath to Avhich the judges of 
election objected, but I do not recollect wliat it was. We applied to 
Judge Lecompte in reference to it; we tohl him we did not like to take 
the oath, and lie said lie would put it in a different shape and it would 
answer jnst as well. Some of the judges of election noted our objec- 
tion to the oath, as prc-cribed by tlie governor, to Judge Lecompte, but 
he expressed no opinio:), t](at 1 know of, in regard to our objection, but 
wrote, at^ the request of Mr. Bowles, a different form of oath, which 
was administered to us. 1 am unable to say what was the objection. 



430 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

tufeo'.n to the prescribed oath, or whether it was to the words, ''by law- 
ful Ifesident voters/' being in it. Mr. Bowles and Mr. Donaldson 
■were^ihe two judges, beside myself. I do not think a different form 
of oatR.was administered to the clerks from the one prescribed by the 
governor^ The election was held at the Shawnee Methodist 'meeting 
house. Gov.ernor Reeder was present at tlie time the oath was admin- 
istered to us,^ though he may not have been present when we stated 
the objection to Judge Lecompte. I saw him and the judge talking 
together, but did not hear what they said, thougli I understood it was 
about the oath to be taken by the judges. 

To Mr. King: 

It was not the intention of the judges, in objecting to the oath as 
prescribed, to get any other form under which we could allow non- 
residents to vote, for we allowed none but legal resident voters to vote ; 
and wlien Judge Lecompte was applied to by us, being a judge of the 
United States court, he told us he could put the oatli in a different 
shape and it would accomplish tho same })urpose. 

CYPRIAN CHOUTEAU. 

Westport, Missouri, June 2, 1856. 



John A. Haldeman 'called and sworn. 
To Mr. Mathias : 

I first came into this Territory in year 1854, from Kentucky. I 
returned in July, 1854, to Kentucky, and then came back to the 
Territory again, reaching here about November 1^ 1854. About two 
or three weeks afterwards Governor Reeder tendered me the post of 
private secretary, which I accepted. On March 30, 1855, I was at 
what is known as Gum Springs or Shawnee Missionary House, in this 
Territory, about live miles from the Shawnee Mission, where the polls 
were held for that precinct, according to the proclamation of the gov- 
ernor. I was found at the polls during the day. There was no 
disturbance or fuss of any kind that I recollect. It is so long since 
that I do not think I could name five persons there. ■ I was ac- 
quainted Avith but few of the inhabitants of that precinct, not a 
majority. There were not many persons there, among whom was 
Governor Reeder. That precinct comjjrises a great i:)ortion of the 
Shawnee reserve. I do not know whether Governor Reeder voted 
that day or not. I left the polls after they were closed and returned 
to Shawnee Mission. I was not in Leavenworth making a speech 
according to the testimony of some persons before this committee. 
Governor Reeder and myself had been up upon the half-breed Kaw 
lands, and we got to ShaAvnee Mission on March 29, 1855. I do not 
recollect of making a speech during that canvass. I had not been 
in Leavenworth before or after the 30th of March for some weeks. 

To Mr. Howard: 

I was not in Leavenworth at the election of November 29, 1854? 
or the election of May 22, 1855. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 431 

To Mr. Mathias ; 

I knew Judge Flannigan before November 29, 1854, but do not 
know what induced him to come out here to run as candidate for 
Congress. Judge Flannigan reached the Territory about the first of 
November, 1854, perhaps before, I am not certain. He left in a few 
days after the election of November 29, 1854, and I have never heard 
of his being back in the Territory afterwards. I do not know 
whether ho was a man of family or not. Governor Recder has told 
me he himself had a family in Easton, Pennsylvania. No one of 
his family has been in the Territory to my knowledge. I think if 
any one of his family had been here I would have known it. I acted 
as the private secretary of Governor Reeder till about the middle of 
June, 1855. The following candidates at Gum Springs were Thomas 
Johnson and Edward Chapman for council, and Alex. Johnson for 
house of representatives. I think S. N. Wood was one of the candi- 
dates of the free State party for council ; the other candidates I do 
not recollect. I think the free State party had a full ticket. After 
the returns of the election of March 30, 1855, were made to the gov- 
ernor, I think certificates were given to the pro-slavery candidates in 
the Shawnee Mission district. He also gave certificates to General 
William P. Richardson, John W. Forman, L. T. Eastin, R. R. Rees, 
D. A. N. Grover, William Rarbee, Mr. Lykins, Mr. Coffee, Martin 
F. Conway, for council for other parts of the Territory; to Alex. 
Johnson, Mr. Younger, Mr. Heiskell, Mr. Scott, Allen Wil- 
kison, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Williams, Dr. Tebbs, Dr. Stringfellow, 
Mr. Kirk, Mr. Waterson, Mr. Blair, Mr. Houston, Mr. Marshall, 
A. J. Baker, for the house of representatives. There may have 
been others who received certificates whose names I do not recol- 
lect. There were protests filed in some cases, and new elections 
ordered. I am not prepared to say whether all the protests received 
were received before the certificates were issued to the persons I have 
named above. I think protests were so filed in the sixteenth repre- 
sentative district, in the first, second, and third districts. I do not 
remember about the Fort Riley district, whether Governor Reeder 
appointed a day to hear the case of Conway and Donaldson or not. 
The certificate was issued to Conway I know. I think the matter 
of some districts for new elections was held in abeyance by Governor 
Reeder for some days, and I do not know whether any jjrotests were 
received after the certificates had been issued or not, 1 do not know 
of any. 

To Mr. Ploward : 

There was a time fixed by the proclamation issued previous to the 
election for protests to be received. I do not know whether any pro- 
tests were received after that time or not. None to my knowledge. 

JOHN A. HALDEMAN. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



432 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Eighteenth District. — Moorestown. 



D. H. Baker called and sworn. 
I came into the Territory about July 10, 1854, from Indiana, and 
settled on the Nemaha, at the crossing of the California road from St. 
Joseph's, in what is now called the Nemaha county, in the eighteenth 
district. I was present at the election of March 30, 1855. The elec- 
tion was held at W. W. Moore's at what was called Moorestown. I 
was there between eight and nine o'clock, before the polls were 
opened. Thomas Cramer, Mr. Belew, and Elijah Adarason were the 
iudo-es. I think there were about seventeen or eighteen settlers of 
the district at the election, and I thought I knew all in the district. 
Some persons tl\ere told me they were from Missouri looking for 
claims, and had a camp about two miles off, but I was not in it. 
They told me there were about sixty of them. All I saw there were 
armed with shot guns, bowie knives, and pistols. I should think 
about forty voted. They said they were hunting claims, and they 
said Cramer said that all who were on the ground had a right to vote. 
Some of those told me they were from Missouri. They said they 
came to hunt claims and vote. Some said they had taken claims, but 
I do not know as I have seen a man of them since. I was not present 
when the voting commenced. I think there were some sixty votes 
cast at that election. I did know the number for I was there when the 
polls closed. I heard no threats used or saw any resistance. After 
these men voted they went to the camp, and I did not see anything 
more of them. They did not claim to be residents of the district. 
They agreed that their residence was there at that time, and they 
had a right to vote. But they did not claim to be citizens. I did 
not know any of those men. I did not see General Atchison that 
day, or, if I did, I did not know him. The following names on the 
poll books are settlers: S. J. Cramer, George H. Baker, John Bal- 
lon, S. J. B. Cramer^ Samuel Crozier, Greenberry Keys, Benjamin 
Winkles, H. M. Newton, Thomas Newton, Isaac B. Miller, Jesse 
Adamson, Nath. D. Beals, Richard Clancy, W. W. Moore, James 
0. Laughlin. There is one more citizen who voted whose name I do 
not recognize on the list, making seventeen in all. The others are 
not settlers of that district, and I have never seen them there since 
that day. The arms they carried were not cbncealed. There are 
two crossings on the California road, about half a mile apart. I 
live on one and Mr. Moore on the other. I saw some companies, a 
few days before the election, who said they were going out to the Big 
Blue to take claims. One company had about fifteen men in it. 
They said nothing about votings and I did not see them return. 
'They had guns with them. The election at the Big Blue w^as at 
Marysville ^here the crossing is. 

Cross-examined by J. W. Whitfield : 

Some few of these men told me they were from Missouri. They 
«aid they were 60 in number, but there were not that many that voted. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 433 

Some wlio told me they were from Missouri I saw vote. There had 
been none along so early in the year before to look up any claims as 
it was most too cold for that. They had arms. A great many who 
go out on the prairie carry arms, and a good many do not. I came 
down here without any. All of them I saw had arms. Mr. John 
W. Forman was candidate for council, and I think got all the votes 
that were cast, for all parties voted for him. I heard no threats made; 
I saw no violence ; no one was prevented from voting that I know of. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I thought the judge of the election, Thomas Cramer, was the leader 
of these men, and he went out and called for more votes. They came 
up in a body and stacked arms, and then voted one after another. I 
do not know that any were deterred from voting in consequence of 
threats. I think not exceeding three or four staid away. Our district 
was attached to the district down towards St. Joseph's at that election. 

To Mr. J. W. Whitfield: 

Mr. Cramer, the judge of the election, was a citizen of the district. 
I did not go with these men when they went away. I do not know 
that they went to Missouri. Sometimes men go from one part of the 
Territory to another for claims. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Dr. G. A. Cutler and John Landis were the free-State candidates 
for the house of representatives, and J. H. Stringfellow and Mr. Kirk 
were the pro-slavery candidates. The settlors who voted that day 
were generally free-soil, all but three or four of tbem. Our settlers 
are from Virginia^ New York, Indiana, and Missouri, the majority of 
them from the western States. 

To Mr. Whitfield: 

Some of the free-soilers told me they had come from Missouri and 
settled in that district. 

a. H. BAKER. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 14, 1856. 



John Belew called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory in April, 1854, from Illinois to St. Joseph's, 
and thence to this Territory and settled in the 18th district, commonly 
called the Nemaha district. I was one of the judges of election for 
March 30, 1855, appointed by the governor, and served as such. 
There were but few settlers in my district, some twenty or twenty-two, 
I think. I believe I knew nearly all about there by being around 
with them, helping them to raise houses, &c. Some of them were 
from Iowa, some from Illinois, who had lived in Missouri. They 
were generally from the western States. There was no village there. 
The election was held at the house of W. W. Moore. I think nearly 
all the settlers voted that day. Others voted also, who came up on 
the day of the election just about the time the polls were opened. 
H. Rep. 200 28* 



434 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

There were a little over forty of them, from forty to forty-five. They 
were armed with pistols and bowie-knives, but I do not recollect of 
seeing any guns. They came generally on horseback. They said 
they had taken claims round through the Territory and came there to 
vote. They said that some of them had done work on their claims, 
and others intended to come back to work upon them. I never saw 
one of these men after the day of election about our place. I do not 
know as they said upon what grounds they claimed the right to vote. 
They took the oath prescribed by law, and all were sworn. No 
objections were made to taking the oath. The judges had all been 
sworn. After they voted they all disappeared, and I saw nothing 
more of them. The following are the names of those on the poll-books 
I know to have been residents at tnat time : S. J. Cramer, Geo. H. 
Bohn, John Belew, S. J. B. Cramer, Samuel Crozier, Grimburg Key, 
Benjamin Winkle, H. M. Newton, Thomas Newton, Isaac B. Miller, 
Jesse Adamson, Walter D. Beeler, Richard Claney, W. W. Moore, 
James 0. Laughlin, John 0. Laughlin. R. L. Kirk came to my house 
about a week before the election, and boarded there until the day after 
the election. He said he had bargained for a claim and intended to 
settle on it. I do not know where he lives ; I have not seen him since. 
I do not know the residence of any of these men. I have not seen 
them anywhere to know them. Mr. Owen and Mr. Davis, who 
remained at my house the second night before the election, told m© 
they were just over from Missouri and had taken claims. They left 
the next day, but were there on the day of election and voted. 1 have 
not seen them there since. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

I do not know exactly the size of my district. I was one of the 
judges of the election. I regarded no vote I received as illegal, as I 
went by the oath that was taken by them. The election was generally 
peaceable and quiet, more so than at some elections I have seen. 
There has been a good deal in Kansas of men coming and taking 
claims and then never coming back. I do not know where all these 
people live ; they may live in Kansas now for what I know. I was 
subpoenaed at Iowa Point by a man named Weaver. I have under- 
stood that he lives near Lawrence. I have never voted, or had any- 
thing to do at any election but the one in March, 1855, and the 
1st of last October. It is very common lately to see men passing 
through the Territory armed. In speaking of taking claims, they 
named Four Mile creeek and Big Timber or Walnut creek as where 
they had taken claims, but I do not know to this day whether it was 
in our district or not. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

I do not know that it is usual for armed bodies of men — 40 or 50 
men — to come together to take claims. I was at the election of the 
1st of October last, and I do not know of more than eight or ten who 
voted. As far as I know, Nehama county is pretty much the same as 
thi eighteenth district, W. W. Moore's house in Nehama county is 
back in the country, about 60 miles from Iowa Point,* and between 80 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 435 

and 90 miles from vSt. Joseph's, I was subpoenaed to go to Lawrence, 
and went there, and then came here. 

By Mr. Whitfield: 

I saw no man take claims, and do not know when these men took 
their claims that they said they had taken. I did not see 4i or 50 
men go to the polls together. I saw them about the polls, but do not 
know that many came together. 

By Mr. Sherman: 

I think the largest mimber I saw come together was about 15 or 20 ; 
about the first who came. 

By Mr. Whitfield : 

At the last October election I did not understand that there was any 
•'opposition to the election of Gren. Whitfield, 

JOHN BELEW. 
LBAVENWoaxH, K.. T.J May 16, 1856. 



Arnet Groomes called and sworn, 

1 came to the Territory in April, 1854 ; I settled in the Bnrrdoch 
precinct in the I4th district, and have lived there since. On the (Sun- 
day night before the election, which was on Friday, Greneral Divid 
E. Atchison stoppeti with me to stay over night. A partner of Mr. 
Johnson, of Platte City, a Greneral Dorris, introduced me to General 
Atchison. One of tliem asked to stay, and I refused ; he said he had 
a company of men and had h)st them, and wanted to stay all night. 
I said I was not fixed to do so. He said he would let his horses stay 
in the lot without anything to eat, and he vvould lay down on hie 
blanket. I then said he could get down, and I would let him have 
what little I had. Both persons were present at the time. After 
they came into the house both were particular in their intjuiries as to 
whether their v/agons had passed. I said that I had been to St. Jo- 
seph's and had seen them cross, and supposed they were on the Kan- 
sas side up about the widow Briggs' claim. He said he had heen to 
Blackstone's and Thompson's, and could not make out where the 
wagons had taken off. Mr. Dorris then got up and introduced me to 
General Atchison, and also to himself. General Atchison took me 
with a candle to look in his blankets for a Bowie knife he sai<l he had 
lost, and while he was looking for that I saw the handles of two or 
three Bowie knives and some revolvers. They were not on his person, 
but in his blankets, and he said he had lost one of his Bowie knives. 
I turned away when I saw that, as I was surprised to see a man witb 
more than one knife or pistol. The next uKjrning we had anotlier 
conversation about the wagons, which General Atchison seemed to 
think were ahead. He said he had about eighty men and twenty- 
four wagons. I asked him where he was going with theru. He said 
John Bold had sent for him to come up above, as there were person* 
coming over there all the nime to take the polls. I asked what he 



4S6 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

^vas taking so many men up there for ; and one of them said, I do not 
know which one, that they were going up there to guard the poUs^, 
and not let certain persons vote. I asked him if they were not going 
to see a littU^ town called Atchison, and he said he might and he might 
not, hut he did not know. Ahout that time some of his men and 
wagons came up. I did not see as many men or wagons pass at that 
time as I had understood from him there was. I went to the election 
on the oOth of March, 1S55, at Mr. Bryant's, in the 14th district ; I 
saw one illegal vote given, and I objected to it veiy strongly. It was 
a man by the name of Charles Gilmor ; when I objected, Colonel 
Craig was sitting in place of one of the judges or clerks who was gone 
to dinner I supposed. I objected to Cary Whitehead, one of the 
judges. They took the vote, and said I had no right to object. I 
asked them to swear him, and they said they had no right to swear 
him. This Gilmor was not a citizen, and I never heard of his being^ 
a citizen of the Territory since. 

Cross-examined by M. Scott : 

I judged, from what General Atchison said, that the persons refer- 
red to by John Boler were coming over from Iowa, but I do not know 
aa that was so. I do not know as I saw more than two Bowie knive& 
and four pistols at the time General Atchison was looking for the 
Bowie knife. Gilmor said at the polls that he had no claim, and 
that he had come from Illinois to get a claim, and would have one. I 
was born in Virginia, married in Kentucky, and raised a family in 
Missouri. 

ARNET X GEOOMES. 

Qiark. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 23, 18^6, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 437 



Copies of the returns of the election held in the Territory of Ko/mo^ on 

the 30//<- day of 3f arch, A. 1). J 855, toJcen frf/ra the ofjiciol rdv/ras (/a 

fde in the olJi<:e of the Secreto/ry <f the Territory, in Ler^/mcptfrn, on 

the IHth day of Aj/rit, A. J). '\Hi')i\, hy the special cf/mraittee of the 

House of Representatives of the United States. 

First District. 

Form of oath to be taken Ly the judges of election, take* from printed 
form filled up and on file. 

I, Hugh Cameron, do Hwear that I will perform my duticH as jud^ 
of the election to be held this day at the house of William H. E. 
Lykins, in the first election district of the Territory of Kansas, to the 
best of my judgment and ability ; tliat I will keep a true, correct, and 
faithful record or list of all persons who shall vote at said election ; 
that I will poll no ticket from any person who is not an actual inhab- 
itant and resident of said Territory on the day of election, and whom 
I shall not honestly believe to be a qualified voter according to the 
provisions of the act of Congress organizing said Territory ; that I 
will reject the votes of all non-residents who I shall believe have come 
into the Territory for the mere purpose of voting ; that in all cases 
where I am ignorant of the voter's right, I v/ill require legal evidence 
thereof by his own oath, or otherwise; and that I will truly count 
and r<iCord the votes received, and make a true and fiaithful return 
thereof to the governor of said Territory. 

HUGH CAMERON. 

Sworn and subscribed March 30, 1855, previous to opening tke 
polls, before me. 

J. S. EMERY, 

Justice of tlie Pea/:e, 

Each judge will subscribe, at the right hand, two of these oathiii, 
and the person who administers it will sign on the left. One copy 
■of which will be deposited in tlie ballot-box, and the other three ea- 
closed with the returns of election. 

[Similar separate affidavits^ subscribed by Robert A. Cummins and 
James B. Abbott, and sworn to beiore J. S. Emery, and also one sub- 
scribed by Theodore E. Benjamin and sworn to before Hugh Cameron, 
as judge of election, are on file.] 

List of voters — First district. 

1 Robert A. Cummlnis 8 James ChriBtian 

2 Hugh Cameron 9 J. A. Fenly 

3 J. B. Ablx^tt 10 C. H. lliornton 

4 0. S. Pratt 11 Geo. N. Talbott 

5 J. H. Page 12 Geo. N. Bryant 

6 Samuel A. Young 13 C. C. Mann 

7 Wm. C. Jones 14 Geo. Young 



438 



MiSKSAS AFFAIRS. 



fr 



15 W. F. Stcwart^ 
It: 'i'hos. Ouiupbcll 

17 Luko (\.rlud 

18 John W. Chirk 
li> Win. v.. ('(ukrcll 

20 E. r. C5ordt)u 

21 E, Cwoke 

22 M. K Wiuldlo 

23 8. N. Wiirrea 

24 W. S. I'lirr 

25 J. A. Sniith 
2(i Jesse Noland 

27 John Forgriisoii 

28 E. F. Uiu-luT 

29 John J. Umry 

30 J. F. V. ThoiupsoE. 

31 Geo. AV. Allen 

32 J. W. Wiivlimd 

33 A. F. Uonloy 

34 Jiunes McSullivau 
36 Wm. Grimes 

36 Wnr. VivriMe 
3.7 Hezekitih Muir 

38 Thi^. 0. Gordon 

39 r. L. Peake 

40 Jams V. Lyon 

41 W. T. MoGlasson 

42 John Hieks 

43 F. C. Virian 

44 Henry Lamite 

45 Jere. K. Kippcj 

46 l\ivid Clifton" 

47 Joseph Allen 

48 Stephen Ljicey 

49 Smith B. New 

50 Wade Moseley 

51 'I'aylor Cave 

62 Toter Virian 

63 Reuben Samuek 

54 J. H. Hewins 

55 D. Pinin^rton 
66 Dudley Hopper 

57 A. Jones 

58 Norman Allen 
69 C. R. SehuU 

60 Colos Day 

61 Sauuiel i>;irker 

62 Joseph Wolf 

63 l^nj. Vaughn 

64 John Piice 
66 S. W. LouiT 

66 C. C. Runihly 

67 G. R, Paue 

68 W. A. Withers 

69 Geo. Quisinburv 

70 R. G. Irvine 

71 John Peratt 

72 Jas. H. Heed 

73 Geo. Lechliin 

74 Sol. W'ildes 

75 Alfred King 

76 L. W. Roberts 

77 M. T. Harrison; 
7S N. R Lewis 

79 Peter Withei-s- 

80 L. Ch^in 



81 0. R. Rums 

82 Clav S. Cunninghami 

83 Wn"i. Davis 

84 Jas. A. Haw ley 

85 R. H. Coutts 

86 L. P. Wills 

87 Lewis K, Harrisoir 

88 W. C. Sehuek 

89 Thaiker li. Webb- 

90 F. N. Davis 

91 J. P. Powell 

92 ]\liehael M.oC^ill 

93 Jellerson Morrow 

94 Nathan lUker 

95 W^ Halbtfrt 

96 R. S. Crystal 

97 Wm. H. Oliver 

98 Wm. F. Harris 

99 N. M. MeClellau 

100 Jo.-^eph Chaueellot. 

101 S. C. Harriiigtoa 

102 Wm. Hale 

103 Geo. Cowhen 

104 L. J. Pratt 

105 Stephen A. Walken 
IOC Thos. J. Slade 

107 Ji)s. S. Carlisle 

108 Jos. N. Hargesa 

109 C. H. Lovd 

110 Jos. G. Follep 

111 R. S. Wildes 

112 R. Crawu>rd 

113 C. H. Carpentesj 

114 J. B. Taft 

115 Wm. Drake 

116 J. M. Neff 

117 James Crawford: 

118 John J. l}»uker 

119 Allen iNhHJeo 

120 Flick Lejissoa 

121 FaI R. Fiteh 

122 L. M. Maxey 

123 Michael Hunt; 

124 N. C. Ewing 

125 F. N. Paine 

126 M. H. Mitchell 

127 Albert Wright 

128 John B. Nichols- 

129 Eram l\ice 

130 N. J. Burgamer 

131 John S. Joijies 

132 W. J. l^itten 

133 Higgins Bothom 

134 John Z. Matthew* 

135 Wm. Mr.lky 

136 Stillman Andrews 

137 Geo. Muer 

138 Samuel Merrill 

139 Meredith Fowler 

140 T. JI. Lewis 

141 F. M. Smith 

142 John A. Porter 

143 Harvey McHadden 

144 Young Gwin 

145 Andrew Kilgore 

146 J. Riddle 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



439 



147 Monroe F. Matthew 

148 Wm. Martin 

149 Wm. L. Smith 

150 John H. Price 

151 John M. Gwin 

152 R,obert AndorBon 

153 Chatham L. Gwin 

154 Charles M. Dennis 

155 John R. WilUg 

156 Henry Anderson 

157 Thomas Emery 

158 Lewis Wilbert 

159 Thomas E. Fristor 

160 Christo. EsteU 

161 Philip Warren 

162 B. J. Collins 

163 John H. Birch 

164 John Lothing 

165 Henry Rhodes , 

166 William Cirtly 

167 John Yager 

168 J. Campbell 

169 Alex McCansby 

170 Joshua Cummings 

171 G. R. Christian 

172 Geo. Wm. Johnsoa 

173 Patent Huatt 

174 D. J. Cunningham 

175 Wm. Campbell 

176 L. W. Ficklin 

177 C. Dillard 

178 J. W. Liftwick 

179 E. F. Dunwidfiie 

180 William Foster 

181 John J. Simmons 

182 Samuel M. Salter 

183 Jos. M. McDowell 

184 John Gallagher 

185 F. M. Tucker 

186 Jas. F. Robertson. 

187 Iron Hunter 

188 Thomas Nelson 

189 Alfred McDaniels 

190 JoliQ Speer 

191 Thomas Stark 

192 Newton Mallaiy 

193 G H. Gordon 

194 John J. HoUiday 

195 Isaac A. Luaddy 

196 J. J. Hickison 

197 Jas. E. Corbitt 

198 Jas. R. Anderson 

199 Robert Nelson 

200 Thomas Shelby 
201 

202 Boselv Powers 

203 N. Knight 

204 W. W. Fiend 

205 James Scott 

206 John Neff 

207 F. E. Knight 

208 J. W. Fleece 

209 Pveuben F. Humes 

210 Wm. Edmundson 

211 W. W. WUls 

212 H. Smith 



213 
214 
215 
216 
217 
218 
219 
220 
221 
222 
223 
224 
225 
226 
227 
228 
229 
230 
231 
232 
233 
234 
235 
236 
237 
238 
239 
240 
241 
242 
243 
244 
245 
246 
247 
248 
249 
250 
251 
252 
253 
254 
255 
256 
257 
258 
259 
260 
261 
262 
263 
2C4 
265 
266 
267 
268 
269 
270 
271 
272 
273 
274 
275 
276 
277 
278 



W. Goode 
Jas. Fitzpatrick 
John Gri<ier 
Marshall W. Houston 
George Lewi« 
G. W. PkCning 
James H. Lynch 
Hampton Green 
John F. Woodiioa 
Wm. Hocker 
Thos. Hufison 
Thos. Callagan 
John F. Houstoa 
L. N. Pile 
J. F. Swatron 
E. R. Barnet 
C. L. McGrue 
John Lee 

Rudolph A. Manger 
James Woodson 
Jas. H. Cooper 
Wm. Harrison 
John Duncan 
Jos. Whltlock 
Ptandall Sullivan 
Jas. G. Moore 
E. M. Pattoa 
Micha'^1 Groogoii 
R. Ca.sk ins 
M. D. Piaeisay 
Peter Spenakle 
Anderson Hadley 
Jas. H. Moore 
E. J. Lanchart 
George W. Can 
Henry C. Ferrimaa 
E. P. Armstrong 
John Runell 
C. T. Wood 
Charles Smith 
L. H. Ballew 
Clifton Tonley 
William Grinon 
N. Grant 
Berrymaa Browm 
Thomas J. Murray 
Samuel Drysler 
J. Walker 



John Belt 
L. E Swader 
H. N. Bent 
John Sim.s 
Henry M. Po\yeIl 
Thomas Field 
Jos. PvoV>erts 
Daniel W. Pwoberte 
J. L. Jenkins 
Gustavus Brown 
Hendley Cooper 
E. D. Ladd 
James Mangon 
Tbovasm J. Jones 
J. R. Campl>ell 
J. H. Edward 
Berry Tager 



440 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



279 

280 

281 

282 

283 

28-4 

285 

286 

287 

288 

289 

290 

291 

292 

293 

iU 

295 

296 

297 

298 

299 

300 

301 

302 

303 

304 

305 

306 

307 

308 

309 

310 

311 

312 

313 

314 

315 

316 

317 

318 

319 

320 

321 

322 

323 

324 

325 

326 

327 

328 

329 

330 

331 

333 

333 

334 

335 

336 

337 

338 

339 

340 

341 

342 

343 

344 



C. 0. Catron 
W. B. C. Brown 
Levi Gates, jr. 
G. W. Dretzler 
J. L. Price 
Zenas Kirkpatrick 
H. P. Mitchell 
John Hutcheson 
Horace W". Fabei' 
James Wither 
H. H. Pearson 
J. H. Kimball 
F. 0. Jolifes 
N. Thomas 
Francis A. Abbots 
C. C. Kemp 
J. C. Mossman 
R. M. G. Price 
Simon Hill 
Lash ell Carson 
John W. Hubbard 



John W. Barker 
H. R. Bledsoe 
H. R. Toban 
Lyman Allen 
AJidrew "Wiuu 
Brown Chancellor 
W. L. Halsley 
J. J. Fleming 
Sixmnel Bell 
John Levi 
Daniel L. Crigler 
J. W. Page 
ISeth W. Tucker 
Charles Dicksoiv 
Isiiac Neai 
F. M. Colman 
O. P. Ripatoe 
Thomas Route 
"William P. GoodsoQ 
Zach. Johnson 
Josh. Lewis 
B. E. Evans 

F. M. Adams 

G. F. Wood, jr. 
Job Van AMnkle- 
Milton Hull 
John Powell 
William Saunders 
James Harris 
Siimuel B. MagA> 
Thomas Mago 
Newton Duncaa 
John Milligan 
A. Lambert 
J. E. Staples 
James F. Kemp 
Jonah Wagoner 
John A. Lowry 
John Bishop 
William Kitchenman- 
William Marshall 
Richard Andrew 
William Brady 
Nimrod Milles 



345 Thomas B. Rogers 

346 William J. Barker 

347 A. C. Smith 

348 S. F. Tappan 

349 David Nail 

350 John Smith 

351 H. S. Crane 

352 John Hagan 

353 Thomas E. Jorbcrfe 

354 W. L. Glorer 

355 James Shelton 

356 William Gores 

357 James D. Carpenter 

358 J. B. Chouteau 

359 A. N. Johnson 

360 Elbridge G. Ross 

361 D. H. Barney 

362 G. W. Cunningham 
3^3 William Evans 

364 E. W. Bennett 

365 Simeon Cook 

366 Newman J. Mitchell 

367 Clark S. Crane 
S68 William Allen 

369 John Wood 

370 James E. Drake 

371 Ellick Collins 

372 J. G. Price 

373 Andrew J. Kason 

374 Lewis Koon 

375 John B. Clayton 

376 Stephen Stafford 

377 William Robinson 

378 John Miller 

379 Jonathan Roberts 

380 J. F. Withart 

381 R. Woodson 

382 Samuel Stewart 

383 James Neff 

384 Henry S. McClellan 

385 Edward Gray 

386 E. B. Johnson 

387 James E. Page- 

388 J. H. Wilder 

389 L. S. Bacon 

390 J. H. Samson 

391 E. S. Simms 

392 H. E. Babcock 
398 James T. Chapman 

394 John Doherty 

395 Samuel Muffan 

396 William Cummings 

397 A. N. Wilbright 

398 J. A. Price 

399 George Neff 

400 Laden Mansfield 

401 Joseph P. Webo 

402 Charles F. Mago 

403 George Long 

404 M. B. Collins 

405 John Snoddy 

406 W. J. Hewes 

407 William N. Baldwin 

408 J. F. Baker 

409 Jackson Schizen 

410 C. E. Cole 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



441 



411 J. N. Bledsoe 

412 A. G. Tucker 

413 A. J. Hendrick 

414 C. W. Fristoe 

415 R. S. Dinwiddle 

416 Henry Humphreys 

417 Thomas H. Browning 

418 Alonzo Morrow 

419 Hiram Crocker 

420 Harrison Grouse 

421 Leven S. Dockiu 

422 Hendley Cooper 

423 N. C. Finch 

424 Wm. Weeden 

425 Leroy Davis 

426 James Dysart 

427 F. M. Sappington 

428 E. W. Lane 

429 David McLane 

430 Wm. Smallwood 

431 Wm. M. Owen 

432 J. M. Hines 

433 Wm. McKeever 

434 John lloland 

435 B. C. Brown 

436 S. L. Carey 

437 J. P. Lay 

438 J. Turner 

439 W. H. Holmes 

440 Albert Walder 

441 Jas. G. Baker 

442 J. Lee 

443 John Early 

444 Eli Miles 

445 Eobt. lUlen 

446 Wm. T. Anan 

447 Thos. E. Carlisle 

448 Wm. H. Cooper 

449 John A. Barker 

450 Wm. A. Jones 

451 Adam Meinzelger 

452 W. Chin 

453 Jas. Fleming 

454 Roht. Edgar 

455 J. R. Johnson. 

456 R. Better 

457 E. D. Lucas 

458 W. S. George 

459 Thos. Angell 

460 Wm. Boatwright 

461 Wm. D. Cox 

462 John Austin 

463 Thos. Russell 

464 Jas. F. Samples 

465 W. C. Buffington 

466 Simon Hoffer 

467 Frank Girard 

468 J. W. Hudson 

469 Lucien Earles 

470 John R. Chandler 

471 Silas Woods 

472 F. A. Bush 

473 John W. Golden 

474 James H. Hayden 

475 L. H. Karon 

476 Lewis Criggler 



477 C. H. Stewart 

478 T. W. Robinson 

479 Samuel Scott 

480 Samuel F. Hickan 

481 George W. Vman 

482 James R. Chipley 

483 David Russell 

484 A. L. Graves 

485 Jeff. R. Howard 

486 L. G. Higgins 

487 Lysander White 

488 Ryland Dillard 

489 Wm. H. Drummond 

490 James Adams 

491 Wm. Delainey 

492 Ambrose Calloway 

493 George B. ToUson 

494 B. W. White 

495 Solon Shephard 

496 James R. Myers 

497 Lindley F. Pettre 

498 James H. Pitts 

499 Jas. C. Ban 

500 Wm. C. Yerby 

501 Chas. F. Overstreet 

502 John Cooper 

503 Samuel Bonham 

504 Richard Patten 

505 Wm. Lay 

506 A. J. Fort 

507 Wm. Lansbell 

508 Geo. Graves 

509 J. Ragsden 

510 Wm. Curry 

511 John Crump 

512 Joel Morris 

513 C. M. Neat 

514 John F. Renwick 

515 Lafayette Watts 

516 Ahner Davidson 

517 R. C. Johnson 

518 Jas. A. Davidson 

519 Wm. Thorp 

520 Edward Walker 

521 Calvin Adams 

522 Stephen Campbell • 

523 Francis Anderson 

524 James Zorh 

525 J. F. Snoddy 

526 Henry Burnett 

527 Walter H. Wihuot 

528 J. J. Whitson 

529 Thos. Burge 

530 Geo. W. Shoemaker 

531 M. Beall 

532 Geo. W. Parker 

533 David S. Rice 

634 G. D. Duroir 

635 Jas. A. Hall 

536 Geo. Young 

537 Jona. Morse 
638 Saml. Chickskall 

539 John 0. Talbert 

540 John B. Fletcher 

541 James H. Crooks 
642 Thos. N. Gosney 



442 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



543 James H. Overstreet 

544 Chas. Selby 

545 Thos. Hopkins 

546 Alonzo Boone 

547 Wfslcv Forney 

548 Wm. T. Reed 

549 Benj. Cornelias 

550 M. 'i\ INIcGore 

551 Miireus Kentfro 

552 F. M. Foincioxter 

553 C. R. CampKU 

554 C. M. Ciillahim 

555 Robt. C. Dunciin 

556 Thos. H. Cooley 

557 Geo. L. Hodges 

558 Philip Linehart 

559 Wm. Wallace 

560 Thos. H. aiorse 

561 Hamilton Thoruhill 

562 John Kinkade 

563 James Digby 

564 Jackson Crowley 

565 James McCrorey 

566 Siunpter Suddard 

567 Zadoc Llewellyn 
568 

569 Wm. Stanley 

570 John Broadhurst 

571 Parkerson Hopper 

572 N. H. JUQuirk 

573 Henry D. Keaton 

574 David Thompson 

575 Milford Jennings 

576 Gilbert Jennings 
577 

578 Henry Enson 

579 John Aberbach 

580 John Honk 

581 David Stewart 

582 Thos. Still 

583 F. P. Vanijhn 

584 Wm. C. Gritfin 

585 J. B. Thomanson 
686 E. S. Ballovv 

587 J. R. Saltonstall 

588 Cyrus W. Ballow 

589 James Jackson 

590 Carter Dale 

591 John AV. Kinkaid 

692 R. T. Gorham 

693 Wm. Willard 
594 C. W. Cline 
695 G. W. Coffee 

596 George Bopet 

597 Wm.^Groove 

598 Jos. Warden 

599 John Peters 

600 Jas. Jackson 

601 Jas. H. Vicehart 

602 Laskell F. Cooper 

603 John Wallace 

604 Jesse Cornelius 

605 A. J. Bivrnard 

606 A. B. Hill 

607 Wm. Alexander 

608 John Stewart 



609 
610 
611 
612 
613 
614 
615 
616 
C17 
618 
619 
620 
621 
622 
623 
624 
625 
626 
627 
628 
629 
630 
631 
632 
633 
634 
C35 
636 
637 
638 
639 
640 
641 
642 
643 
644 
645 
646 
647 
648 
649 
650 
651 
652 
653 
654 
655 
656 
657 
65S 
659 
660 
(i6l 
662 
663 
664 
665 
666 
667 
668 
669 
670 
671 
672 
673 
674 



John F. Bristoe 
Benj. lliorp 
A. P. Thompson 
C. Coleman 
Lewis George 
Horatio Owens 
Thos. Swearringgin 
F. N. Moore 
John Smith 

F. Smoot 

R. F. Wagland 
J. W. Christian 
N T. Sullivan 
Marcellus Care 
Geo. Morris 
R. Fisher 
J. T. Dysert 
lienjamin Bedford 
Daniel ."Pulley 
T. S. Firman 
Edward Smith 

G. L. Tavlor 
J. S. Percivixl 
J. W. Winn 

W. W. Thornton 
Eli Murray 
James Moseley 
R. M. Steiff 
H. F. Moore 
John Wood 
Wm. Wood 
Wm. Gritiiu Tates 
Isi\ac Allen 
Alexander C. Rogers 
Wm. Musgrove 
J. J. Waddle 
James A. Calloway 
Lucius Miller 
Philip H. Pitts 
Jackson F. Bunham 
Benjamin H. ToUner 
P. P. Colt 
T. D. Smart 
M. Mitchell 
M. Mitchell 



G. S. Elgin 
Eriiis Payne 
Wm. T. Gordon 
Wm. S. Lynch 
John C. Neal 
John R Rayner 
R. A. Cornelius 
^h^thew Arnand 
T. G. Lowry 
John P. Sebree 
H. C. Hawley 
Miles Baldrich 
C. M. Oliver 
James Howard 
P. W. Walton 
Wm. H. Bush 
Wm. W. White 
Jolm M. Watts 
James Williai^is 
Morgan A. Taylor 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



443 



675 James C. Boss 

676 Roln-rt Dohcrty 

677 Wiinun Kuiith 

678 Thoiniis K. Graves 

679 J. 0. Shelby 

680 T. L. Edgar 

681 George G. Allen 

682 J. F. Haskell 
C8.'i John M. Jager 

684 K. J. Southard 

685 Judson Cockran 

686 George Smith 

687 Samuel Hardin 

688 J(jhn Rogers 
68!) Geo. Bruchere 

690 John J. Price 

691 Reese B. Mathe-ws 

692 Wra. -C. Jackson 

693 Wm. Arnold 

694 Ebram Sparer 

695 Charles Martin 

696 James C. Ellis 

697 Nathan Herrick 

698 Mallory Gove 

699 Leander Holt 

700 John Groom 

701 John A. Robinson 

702 L. F. Robinson 

703 Wm. F. Thomson 

704 Benj. F. Barnes 

705 Stephen Clement 
70C Thos. Barker 

707 Green B. Ellis 

708 John Cleringer 

709 J. F. Becket 

710 Adam Gutsier 

711 Douglas Patterson 

712 J. H. Kinkaid 

713 Geo. H. Viley 

714 N. M. Moore 

715 John M. Brown 

716 D. A. Graves 

717 W. H. MendenhaU 

718 Wm. Hotchkiss 

719 David Hudson 

720 Wm. Snow 

721 Alison Vanvirder 

722 Chailes Niely 

723 Wm. Sherf 

724 Henry Luse 

725 J. C. Roy 

726 M. H. Kee 

727 David R. Hooper 

728 John L. Hopper 

729 Pujbert Allen 

730 (Jonrad Fifer 

731 Wm. W. Randolph 

732 Jas. W. Briggs 

733 Wm. Harmon 

734 B. Lee 

735 Robert Cobb 

736 Wm. C. Berry 

737 Henry Curl 

738 Imilar Franklin 

739 Richard Sherman 

740 Chas. Preston 



741 Frederick Donnely 

742 Patrick Donclly 

743 N. 0. Clayton 

744 S. H. Davis 

745 Francis Edrics 

746 John G. Davidson 

747 H. A. Gallagher 

748 Victor Dunoff 

749 Clark Stearns 

750 Addison John 
751 

752 Samuel Brown 

753 David Muncas 

754 Wierd Wells 

755 Stephen H. Folsom 

756 Albert Hastings 

757 Jordan Davidson 

758 Ira Luddard 

759 John F. Wilson 

760 Thos. Mallochs 

761 Ambrose J Burk 

762 N. D. Short 

763 Jas. Sharp 

764 B. F. Wood 

765 B. F. McDonald 

766 Oscar Harlow 

767 0. A. Hanscom 

768 J. D. Wisely 

769 J. J. Fort 

770 Howny W. Lewis 

771 G. C. Thompson 

772 Benj. Cooper 

773 Samuel McMahon 

774 D. 0. Carver 

775 Wm. E. Radford 

776 J. C. Fore 

777 A. Wilhelm 

778 I. W. Ackley 

779 James M. Clay 

780 John Fry 

781 N. F. Herrick 

782 John Scudder 

783 Charles Jordan 

784 John W. Robinson 

785 D. M. K. Bamett 

786 Wm. A. Holmes 

787 Wm. W. Austin 

788 S Y. Lum 

789 H. S. Major 

790 A. Payne 

791 J. J. Payne 

792 Joel Grover 

793 J. Ligon 

794 Thomas Johnson 

795 James Coyle 

796 C. G. Hoyt 

797 J. S. Nott 

798 E. F. White 

799 John Ritchie 

800 Horatio F. Archer 

801 John E. Stewart 

802 George H. Wallace 

803 Martin Adams 

804 E. Munroe 

805 Henry W. Gilhart 

806 F. K. Long 



444 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



807 James Miller 

808 J. Chin 

809 John Mash 

810 E. A. Landon 

811 J. B. Smith 

812 J. A. ()oiiew 

813 L. W. Plumb 

814 Hiram Dimbar 

815 J. I. Foster 

816 John Alexander 

817 E. A. Colman 

818 Hugh Pettingill 

819 Joseph Law 

820 J. A. Lewis 

821 Edward Picket 

822 Anthony Howell 

823 David Morris 

824 Abram Still 

825 A. Hyde 

826 Thomas Conner 

827 Wm. D. Wells 

828 Locke Adkina 

829 C. Willes 

830 ■ 

831 Henry Roff 

832 John L. Gordon 

833 David Pate 

834 Henry S. Everhart 

835 Henry D. Graves 

836 Edward Dickinson 

837 Wm. Lyon 

838 Lewis J. Everhart 

839 Michael Grover 

840 John W. Carlton 

841 A. T. Bassitt 

842 0. D. Smith 

843 John Ester 

844 F. Hill 

845 C. W. Rensall 

846 George Churchill 

847 George W. Reid 

848 F. B. Ackley 

849 Lysander Oliver 

850 Reuben Cornelius 

851 M. Gilmore 

852 Thomas Reed 

853 Thomas Garvin 

854 James Richmond 

855 James Campbell 

856 Samuel Anderson 

857 William Herris 

858 Oliver Hayes 

859 Ira Jones 

860 James Garvin 

861 Samuel H. Davidson 

862 Edward Jones 

863 Jonathan Bigelow 

864 Daniel Sayre 

865 John L. Crane 

866 Austin Cristraan 

867 Charles A. Haskell 

868 Robert Maddock 

869 J. W. Hague 

870 G. S. Leonard 

871 W. D. Atwood 

872 C. F. Doy 



873 John Howard 

874 John Derby (oath) 

875 G. W. Hutchinson 

876 J. S. Emery 

877 S. B. Sutherland 

878 Jona. Matthews 

879 Hiram Clark 

880 Charles Harrington 

881 William Yates 

882 J. F. Jalen 

883 S. G. Johnson 

884 G. W. Kent 

885 R. H. Waterman 

886 G. F. Earle 

887 F. Haskell 

888 S. N. Wood 

889 A. D. Searles 

890 C. Teft 

891 N. Snyder 

892 N. Snyder 

893 A. S. Potter 

894 H. A. Hancock 

895 M. Lewis 

896 A. F. Ricard 

897 John M. Bank 

898 C. P. Farnsworth 

899 G. W. Burgess 

900 S. 0. Pomeroy 

901 Thomas Bond 

902 B. G. Livingston 

903 Edward Clark 

904 Samuel Kimball 

905 B. Johnson 

906 John Davis 

907 Charles Robinson 

908 Daniel Low 

909 F. J. Locke 

910 J. A. Ladd 

911 S. J. Willis 

912 M. M. Hammond 

913 Ellis Bond 

914 John H. Deane 

915 L. D. Hubbard 

916 H. Bronson 

917 J. H. Miller 

918 J. H. Eliason 

919 B. W. Gannt 

920 E. H. Dernlett 

921 Increase Whitcomb 

922 0. H. Bino:ham 

923 A. A. White 

924 C. C. Preston 

925 John Baldwin 

926 A. B. Wade 

927 John Hutchinson 

928 J. F. Morgan 

929 E. W. Goss 

930 J. H. Firman 

931 Dorril Merrill 

932 Jas. S. Cur ran 

933 Asaph Allen 

934 George Perrine 

935 J. P. McCogee 

936 A. B. Perrine 

937 T. C. Webb ^ 

938 Elnor Allen ' 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



445 



939 Hermann Williams 

940 J. C. Gordon 

941 C. W. Babcock 

942 Harrison Nichols 

943 Geo. A. Gordon 

944 S. N. Simpson 

945 Wm. B. Lee 

946 Z. F. Reynolds 

947 Lemuel Reynolds 

948 John Haynes 

949 E. W. Br©wn 

950 J. L. Baldwin 

951 S. B. Dudley 

952 Charles Munroe 

953 David Conger 

954 Frederick Kimball 

955 J. T. Grant 

956 Curtis F. Keyes 

957 Abram Wilder 

958 Thos. J. Stone 

959 George Gilbert 

960 Joshua Smith 

961 D. C. Buffum 

962 0. H. Lamb 

963 William Cheny 

964 Edward Winslow 
965 

966 John Day 

967 Charles Campbell 

968 Samuel Kennedy 

969 Jacob E. Stewart 

970 J. L. Merrill 

971 D. L. Wells 

972 Adam Wilbart 

973 J. A. Brown 

974 James Carll 

975 B. F. Hoffiir 

976 William Carll 

977 Wm. B. Burke 

978 John Floyd 

979 Samuel Gray 

980 Loyd McHerrindin 

981 B. R. Hubbard 

982 Josiah Abbott 

983 Albert Irish 

984 N. E. Bidder 

985 William Marshall 

986 George Ballinger 

987 S. Hollister 

988 George French 

989 William Gookin 

990 Jos. W. Emerson 

991 AmosTrott 

992 William R. Butter 

993 James C. Disney 



994 George G. Kimball 

995 A. F. Whiting 

996 Orlando Rawiinson 

997 G. L. Crosby 

998 N. C. High 

999 L. Litchfield 

1000 H. M. Severance 

1001 H. C. Harman 

1002 Parsons Haskell 

1003 Edmund Jones 

1004 Charles Liscom 

1005 Jos. P. Lockey 

1006 Anson Abrason 

1007 John W. Luce 

1008 Converse L. Greaves 

1009 James McGubaums 

1010 Francis Davis 

1011 Moses Hubbard 

1012 Arthur Mecan 

1013 Wm. W. Henderson 

1014 Charles L. Wilber 

1015 H. F. Fisher 

1016 D. H. Moore 

1017 Wm. H. Brown 

1018 Edward Plummer 

1019 J. M. Fogg 

1020 Z. P. Page 

1021 Samuel Hall 

1022 H. C. Gardner 

1023 David F. Richer 

1024 E. S. Scudder 

1025 Josiah Reed 

1026 Charles Hathaway 

1027 G. H. Folsom 
1028 

1029 Province McDaniel 

1030 Luther Dame 

1031 Jos. C. Miller 

1032 Rufus Learey 

1033 Geo. W. Ryner 

1034 Gordon F. Carrier 

1035 David Ambrose 

1036 Geo. A. Willard 

1037 H. F. Fort 

1038 Theo. E. Benjamin 

1039 Noah Cameron 

1040 Jas. P. Wood 

1041 Holland Sumner 

1042 P. Richmond Brooks 

1043 David Brown 

1044 Thomas Brooke 
10 less for errors 

1034 total. 



We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of 
March, A. J). 1855, at the house of W. H. R. Lykins, in the first 
election district, for the election of members of the council and of the 
house of representatives, for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify- 
that the following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at 
such election, [by lawful resident voters,]* viz : 



«The words in brackets were erased from printed form. 



446 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

For members of Coimcil. For members of House Representatives- 

Thomas Johnson 780 James Whitlock ISO 

Edward Chapman 783 A. B. Wade 781 

Joel K. Goodwin 254 John M. Banks 781 

Samuel N. Wood 255 John Hutchinson. 252 

Charles Garrett 1 E. D. Ladd 253 

Noah Cameron 1 P. P. Fowler 254 

Samuel C. Pomeroy 1 

D. L. Crogsdale 1 

A.F.Powell 1 

Wm. D. Atwood 1 

K. G. Elliott 1 

HUGH CAMERON. 
ROBERT A. CUMMINS. 
THEODORE E. BENJAMIN. 



March 30, 1855. 

We, the undersigned, judges for the second representative district 
in Kansas Territory, do certify, that pursuant to a proclamation issued 
by Governor A. H. Reeder, dated 8th day of March, 1855, the election 
was called to order by Hugh Cameron and James B. Abbott, two of 
the judges appointed by said proclamation. A. B. Blandon not being 
present, the said two judges filled his place by appointing Robert A. 
Cummins to fill the vacancy ; and James B. Abbott resigning, the 
other two judges filled his place by appointing Theodore Benjamin to 
fill the vacancy. The election was then called to order by said judges, 
and proceeded to receive votes. 

James Whitlock received for representative 780 votes. 

A. B. Wade " '' 781 " 

John M. Banks '' " 781 " 

E. D. Ladd ''• '^ 253 " 

John Hutchison '' '' 252 '' 

P. P. Fowler " " 254 *' 

James Whitlock, A. B. Wade, and John M. Banks receiving the 
largest number of legal votes for representatives, are declared duly 
elected. 

Given under our hands and seals this 30th (Jay of March, A. D. 
1855^ at the house of W. H. R. Lykins, in the town of Lawrence. 

ROBERT A. CUMMINS. 
THEODORE E. BENJAMIN. 



To Ms excellency Andrew H. Reeder, governor of Kansas Territory : 

We, the undersigned, residents of the first district, Kansas Terri- 
tory, being duly sworn, would respectfully submit the following facts : 

We have resided for several months in the above district, and know 
most of the present residents in said district. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 447 

On the 29tli and 30th days of March, A. D, 1855, according to our 
best judgments and estimation, between six and seven hundred armed 
men, to us unknown, came on the road leading from Kansas, Mo., to 
this place, and encamped in the vicinity of the polls for this district. 
On the morning of the 30th, before any voting, most of the above 
number collected around the polls and kept them in their possession 
until late in the afternoon, preveiiting nearly every citizen of this 
place from voting before about four o'clock p. m., thus occupying the 
time in casting their own votes. 

During the day, violence was threatened to the citizens of this place 
by these strangers, and as we understand aud believe many were 
thereby put in fear, left the polls and did not vote. During the after- 
noon of the same day, and during the ensuing night, the whole com- 
pany started back towards Missouri, 

We heard several of the most prominent among their number say 
that they had come from Missouri for the purpose of voting, and that 
they should not take the oath required by your excellency, and they 
intended after voting to return to Missouri. And we further under- 
stand and believe that two of the judges of election, ofhcially ap- 
pointed, resigned, and that their places were filled by men selected 
by the leaders of the crowd of foreign voters. We believe that Joel 
K. Goodwin and S. N. Wood for the council, and John Hutchinson, 
Erastus D. Ladd, and Philip P. Fowler for the assembly, were elected 
by a majority of the legal votes cast in this district, and should they 
not receive a certificate of election from your excellency, we would 
hereby petition that the election of E, Chapman, Thomas Johnson, 
James Whitlock, A. B, Wade, and John M. Banks_, in this district, 
be declared void, and therefore ^set aside. 

Samuel F. Tappan J. C. Gordon 

Harrison Williams Samuel C. Harrington 

0. A. Hanscom G. F. Earles 

C. H. Carpenter G. W. Hutchinson 

Edward P. Fitch John W. Denis 

J. S. Emery S. Y, Lum 

A. D. Searl G. W. Brown 

Norman Allen A. H. Mallory 

Sworn and subscribed before me this 2d day of April, A. D. 1855. 

JOHN SPEER, J. P. 

A. Allen J. H. Gleason 

Joshua Smith John Doy 

H. Nichols 

Sworn and subscribed before me this 2d day of April, A. D. 1855. 

JOHN SPEER, J. P. 



ss 



United States, 
Territory of Kansas, 

N. B. Blandon being duly sworn, deposes and says, that after hig 
appointment as a judge of election for district No. 1, and immediately 



448 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

preceding tlie election held on the 30th inst., he was accosted hy cer- 
tain individuals who represented themselves as citizens of Missouri, 
and then on their way to Lawrence to vote ; and he was asked if he 
should peimit tliem to vote, and upon his saying tliat he could not, 
upon his oath, allow citizens of Missouri to exercise the riglit of fran- 
chise in Kansas Territory, the said individuals attempted to hribe 
this deponent, offering him money and other inducements to disregiardc 
his oath as a judge of election. 

And deponent further says, that the persons aforesaid threatened 
to kill liini if he would not allow them tlie privilege of voting at the 
said election ; and through fear of tliem and their threats made as 
above, this deponent did not dare to act as a judge of election on the 
30th instant; and deponent says, upon his information and belief, 
the said individuals were present and voted at the said election. 

NAPOLEON B. BLANTON. 

Subscribed and sworn before me this 31st dav of March, 1855. 

j; S. EMERY, J. P. 



I, Harrison Nichols, of Lawrence, district No. 1, Kansas Territory, 
of lawful age, being duly sworn, say that I am constable for the 1st 
district, and that I was present at the polls all the time of voting on 
the 30th instant, except about one hour; that I have lived in this 
district several months, and know by sight or name nearly all the 
residents in tliis district. I saw nearly every person who cast his 
vote while I was present, and should say that over six hundred persons 
that I never saw until the day of tlie election, or the day previous, 
voted. I saw several who 1 think came into this place on the day 
previous to the day of election, vote without answering any questions, 
and without being questioned by the judges of election. That a ma- 
jority of those unknown to me did not take the oath required by your 
excellency, but only said they were residents of the Territory and 
district. I heard Mr. Cummins, one of the judges, say he did not 
regard the oath required by the governor, and that he should not 
carry out his instructions. 

I saw on the 30th and 29th instant some eight hundred persons 
come into this plac«, who remained until the afternoon or night after 
election, and then started back towards Missouri: 

H. NICHOLS. 

Sworn before me this 31st day of March, 1855. 

J. S. EMMERY, J. P. 



I, David Conger, of Lawrence, Kansas Territory, being duly sworn, 
say, that I was present at a meeting of a company of several hundred 
persons, who came into this place, as I understand, on the 29tliday of 
March, A. D. 1855. That I heard a man called, I believe, one Grant, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 449 

from Liberty, Missouri, state, in a speech, that they came here to 
establish squatter sovereignty. That they would, on the morrow, 
defend this principle, if need be, at the point of the bayonet and 
bowie-knii'e. That they had some three hundred more voters than 
would be required to carry the election, and that two liundred could 
be spared for Tecumseh ; and he called upon that number to volun- 
teer for that point. That a large number did march out for some 
point. 

DAVID CONGER. 

Sworn to before me this 31st day of March, A. D. 1855. 

J. S. EMERY, J. P. 

Further verified by the affidavits of Edwin Bond and Samuel Jones. 



Second and Eighth Districts. 

This is to certify that the returns of the election held on the 30th 
day of March, A. D. 1855, in the 2d and 8th election districts in the 
Territory of Kansas, together with the poll-books, were delivered with 
the other returns of said election to a committee of the Territorial 
legislature in July last, and that they were mislaid or lost, and are 
not now on the files of the executive of said Territory. 



Third District. 

I, James M. Small, do swear that I will perform my duties as judge 
of the election, to be held this day at the house of Thomas N. Stin- 
son, in the third election district of the Territory of Kansas, to the 
best of my judgment and ability ; that I will keep a true, correct, and 
faithful record or list of all persons who shall vote at said election ; 
that I will poll no ticket from any person who is not an actual in- 
habitant and resident of said Territory on the day of the election ; 
;»:*** * * *^2) and that I will truly count and record the 
votes received, and make a true and faithful return thereof to the 
governor of said Territory. 

JAMES M. SMALL. 

Sworn and subscribed, March 30, 1855, previous to opening the 
polls, before me, 

JOHN HOMER, 
• Justice of the Peace. 

(l)At this point the following language is erased with a pen : — " and whom I shall mP 
honestly bdime to he a qv<jdijied voter. ^ according to the provisir/ns of the act of Cojiffress or<janizing said 
Territory ; thai. I vAU reject the votes of all non-resideni-i tcho I shall believe have come into the Terri- 
tOT}/ f</rih^ mere jmrpose of voting ; iluit in all cases where I am, ignorant qf the voter's right, I uiU 
require legal tvidence thereof, by his own oath or otherwise. ' ' 

H. Rep. 200 29* 



450 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

For Council. For Eepresentafive. 

H. J. Strickler 370 D. L. Croysdale 366 

Andrew McDonald 1 C. K. Hollidj 4 

G. W. Ward 1 

• 
The undersigned, judges of the election held on the 30th day of 
Marcli^ 1855^ at the house of Thomas W. Stinson, in the town of 
Tecumseh, in the Territory of Kansas, according to the proclamation 
and instructions of the governor of said Territory, certify, that the 
judges of said election, appointed by said governor, did, on said 30th 
of March, and after the hour of 9 o'clock a. m., each severally refuse 
to join in holding said election ; and that after said refusa,l, the voters 
on the ground did, by tellers, select the undersigned as judges of said 
election ; and they further certify, that the above is a true and 'perfect 
tally-list made out, according to the instructions of said governor, 
from the list of votes polled on that day at said election. 

JAMES M. SMALL. 

HORATIO COX. 

JOHN HORNER. 



We_, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of 

March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Thomas N. Stinson, in the third 

election district, for the election of members of council and of the 

house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby cer- 
tify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a 

true and correct return of the votes polled at such election by lawful 
resident voters, viz : 

1 Smallvrood Noland 28 E. F. Stegers 

2 John Dane 29 L. Ruffner 

3 D. llichmond 30 W. Hous 

4 John C. Anderson 31 M. Groverer 

5 John Bland 32 J. A McBride 

6 David Milton 33 T. Phelps 

7 W. H. Linam 34 d. Lona: 

8 0. F. Dougherty 35 W. Riley 

9 R. Jones 36 D. Payne 

10 G. W. Withers 37 S. Chandler 

11 G. W. Hall 38 C. B. Lijwe 

12 John Jones ' 39 J. McGuire 

13 L. L. Bennett 40 Otho Hall 

14 Gilson Thomas 41 A. Daniel 

15 John W. Johnson 42 J. M. Adams 

16 George Remick 43 Thomas Pemberton 

17 L. Tillery 44 J. F. Beman 

18 W. H. H. CanditT 45 H. S. Kelley 

19 T. A. Holloway 46 G. Cleveng'er 

20 Reuben Johnston 47 J. M. Baber 

21 H. H. Ratliff 48 R. Groutt 

22 Emett Allen 49 A. N. B. Hughes 

23 J. S. Journey 50 0. C. Steward 

24 W. P. Reeder 61 J. L. Whittington 
?5 G. L. Withers 52 J. N. McBride 

26 J. R. Hanson 53 T. Proctor ' 

27 T. W. Johnson 54 R. Strouse 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



451 



55 M. McConnan 

56 H. Wiiterhouse 

57 J. P. Bird 

58 B. Cherry 

59 C. N. Robinson 

60 C. Linsey 

61 J. W. Lawrence 

62 W. H. Paiple 

63 L. Disert 

64 G. P. Johnson 

65 W. Hall 

66 R. Tompson 

67 R. H. Robinson 

68 L. H. Shedd 

69 R. Mayberry 

70 C. Carter 

71 C. Duncan 

72 G. T. M. Harrison 

73 G. Bowls 

74 C. M. Palmer 

75 H. L. Routt 

76 D. C. Patterson 

77 J. Com 

78 W. W. White 

79 J. P. Henry ' 

80 W. M. Clark 

81 J. M. Cavanaugh 

82 W. Penn 

83 J. Estes 

84 J. Gooden 

85 S. L. McKinuey 

86 L. Dunham 

87 P. D. Pollard 

89 M. Nolan 

90 T. Windsor 

91 R. S. Dukes 

92 W. S. Poindexter 

93 A. W. Ljiwe 

94 Thomas Smith 

95 J. H. Combs 

96 A. J. Mapes 

97 W. Houston 

98 R. 0. Steel 

99 R. J. Long 

100 J. R. F. Hooft 

101 F. A. Wentworth 

102 J. C. Louse 

103 W. A. Sublett 

104 Philip Chisman 

105 G. M. Wright 

106 J. 51. Liddle 

107 J. 15. Davenport 

108 J. Mcj\Iurry 

109 R. D. Wood 

110 G. M. Halloway 

111 J. C. Ervin 

112 L. N. Ross 

113 J. M. Pitcher 

114 J. R. Warner 

115 A. C. Overstreet 

116 E. A. Hickman 

117 Jacob Sevabareh 

118 M. Wilson 

119 M. J. Collins 

120 J. Shelton 

121 W. L. Farrah 



122 J. Michenor 

123 A. Campton 

124 John Little 

125 L. Hays 

126 S. Smith 

127 J. Journey 

128 W. B. Howard 

129 E. Y. Shields 

130 E. A. Wile 

131 L. Madocks 

132 G. A. Yestc 

133 Joseph Vaughn 

134 W. H. Matocks 

135 J. A. Barton 

136 R. P. Matocks 

137 T. J. Carter 

138 J. Strother 

139 J. Piles 

140 J. CoUson 

141 H. Morton 

142 N. Hays 

143 C. H. Buzzard 

144 E. P. Smith 

145 P. Woods 

146 D. Colston 

147 J. McConnell 

148 D. D. White 

149 J. McConnell 

150 J. J. Fox 

151 J. L. Wyatt 

152 E. G. Vaughan 

153 J. C. Mason 

154 J. F. Thomas 

155 John Crud 

156 Thomas Warren 

157 H. Kerley 

158 F. McCruan 

159 R. Barron 

160 Beal Green 

161 A. N. King 

162 J. V. Emerson 

163 J. Piles 

164 W. S. Rodgers 

165 L. Scott 

166 H. Stickhall 

167 W. Riley 

168 L. W. Swarengen 

169 C. A. More 

170 H. Hamilton 

171 T. L. Fogle 

172 G. W. Smith 

173 S. J. L. Porter 

174 W. S. Shortridge 

175 W. Salerwhite 

176 J. Collins 

177 L. Steel 

178 James Hunter 

179 Charles Coward 

180 T. N. Stinson 

181 D. W. Hunter 

182 W. Smith 

183 J. Smith 

184 W. Botts 

185 R. H. Levuggs 

186 John Book 

187 R. Flornay 



452 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



188 J. C. Riggs 

189 G. W. Hinckle 

190 E. W. Donaldson 

191 R. H. Mathews 

192 11. Stone 

193 S. West 
19-t J. Laston 

195 A. McGruddy 

196 J. T. Wesley 

197 J. Stavestreet 

198 B. Wills 

199 N. M. Hedrick 

200 A. D. M. Hand 

201 J. Acres 

202 H. A. Chancellor 

203 N. R. McMurry 

204 J. A. Laneheait 

205 J. W. West 

206 J. S. Wood 

207 U. G. Reese 

208 J. Mecmn 

209 W. Dowen 

210 B. F. Wallace 

211 H. A. Hunter 

212 James Herron 

213 H. N. Watts 

214 G. B. Warfield 

215 James S. Piles 

216 J. H. Weaver 

217 J. Imkerson 

218 C. Copeland 

219 John Homer 

220 Samuel D. McCntchen 

221 James M. Small 

222 T. W. Hays 

223 Horatio Cox 

224 A. G. Doiiglass 

225 A. B. Earl 

226 W. B. Sterrett 

227 L. B. Kerr 

228 W. Mattenny 

229 M. Rule 

230 W. Coker 

231 Thomas Strode 

232 George Parker 

233 J. Leddle 

234 J. K. Waysman 

235 W. C. Staples 

236 G. W. Berry 

237 J. H. Warton 

238 W. Hill 

239 J. M. B. Mauss 

240 L. Liagarden 

241 J. B. Clark 

242 E. K. Atterberry 

243 B. W. Brown 

244 L. L. Kingsbury 

245 F. M. Grimes 

246 J. H. Hughes 

247 Solomon Coker 

248 A. E. Tyne 

249 D. C. Baggs 

250 R. A. Edwards 

251 G. W. A. Patterson 

252 R. Brown 

253 Peter Croco 



254 A. G. Brown 

255 J. C. McCoy 

256 T. C. Coons 

257 G. H. Brown 

258 A. J. Kelley 

259 J. T. Vance 

260 J. W. Young 

261 W. F. Gorden 

262 G. C. Beck 

263 M. Morton 

264 Ed. Updegraff 

265 James Robinson 

266 Timo. Malie 

267 W. M. Aikens 

268 W. R. Boggs 

269 Peter Simmons 

270 W. Haines 

271 A. G. Mosely 

272 Ed. Bvrnes 

273 T. Pichar 

274 J. Ellis 

275 J. T. Rickets 

276 F. Jackson 

277 Thomas P. Woodruff 

278 James Price 
.279 M. George 

280 J. Anderson 

281 B. F. Thompson 

282 R. H. Hicks 

283 Eli Nolan 

284 C. S. Stark 

285 James G. Adkins 

286 Thomas Strickland 

287 A. H. Cravens 

288 George Brown 

289 E. C. Strode 

290 W. H. Brady 

291 Thomas Hough 

292 James Hollen 

293 L. Jemmerson 

294 R. J. Lamb 

295 B. S. P. Xley 

296 M. A. Chuslear 

297 B. M. Leach 

298 W. Presby 

299 C. H. Vincent 

300 L. Haugh 

301 B. J. Thompson 

302 J. H. Payne 

303 J. M. Allen 

304 J. N. Nelson 

305 J. Dunlap 

306 J. Wallas 

307 L. B. Slateler 

308 James Waland 

309 Thomas Johnson 

310 Jas. Dyer 

311 James R. Leach 

312 J. Morris 

313 W. S. Henry 

314 James Caragill 

315 W. H. Abbfjtt 

316 J. B. Wiley 

317 James Young 

318 Charles Ales.ander 

319 John Ward 



I 



KA.NSAS AFFAIRS. 



453 



320 Francis Grassmiick 


349 W. Stanley 


321 Thomas Johnson, jr. 


350 John A. Winn 


322 H. J. Walker 


351 James H. Cowherd 


323 H. A. Hutcherson 


352 E. J. McClannehan 


324 J. M. Dimkland 


353 J. M. Edwards 


325 Jos. Jelfers 


354 J. A. Lobby 


326 Hugh Brent 


355 Samuel H. Woodson 


327 Thomas Arington 


356 W. Daley 


328 W. H. Henry 


357 William Sumer 


329 M. Steward 


358 A. D. Mallery 


330 John Sailing 


359 Frank Moon 


331 Fisher Pruett 


360 Richard Steward 


332 Samuel Hayes 


361 James Brant 


333 W. H. Maug 


362 Thomas J. Crusve 


334 George Ward 


363 Jos. Drennen 


335 A. T^ Byler 


364 William Mateny, sen. 


336 Tliomas H. Hendricks 


365 J. H. McMurry 


337 John Waller 


366 L. D. Chilson 


338 JohuR. Price 


367 John R. Ageh 


339 Robert Collins 


368 Thomas Guesenbery 


340 W. C. Price 


369 W. W. Sellery 


341 Thomas J. Shaw 


370 Richard Hunter 


342 J. F. Stonestreet 


371 H. G. Guesenbery 


343 E. H. McLanahan 


372 H. J. Strickler 


344 J. H. Hockaday 


. 373 D. L. Croydale 


345 James Jackson 


374 William Pickercll 


346 L. Mason 


375 Wm. A. M. Vaughan. 


347 David Anderson 


376 George Holmes. 


348 L. ToUiner 






JAMES M. SMALL. 




HORATIO COX. 




JOHN HOMER. 



Fourth Distict. 

We, tlie imclersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Dr. J. Chapman, in the 4th 
election district, first council and representative district for the elec- 
tion of members of council and of the house of representatives for the 
Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of 
said election, that the following is a true and correct return of the 
votes polled at said election. 

For Councilman. For Representative. 

Thomas Johnson 78 A.S.Johnson 77 

E. Chapman 78 A.F.Powell 3 

S.N.Wood 2 — 

J. H. Goodin 2 80 



160 



DAVID PULTZ, 
THOMAS MOCKBEE, 
J. B. DAVIS, 



Judges. 



1 B. T. Kozer 

2 John Johnson 



PoU List. 



3 Rerxben Hacket 

4 W. W. Mitchell 



454 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



5 Wm. P. Baily 

6 J. H. Price 

7 J. 0. Bangs 

8 J. F. Lock 

9 Sam'l W. Hamilton 

10 J. H. Lockridge 

11 John Thompson 

12 Wm. Care 

13 John Homer 

14 George Rhodes 

15 Milton Row 

IG W. R. Hamilton. 

17 John H. Sanders 

18 Wm. P. Bruce 

19 P. W. Holly 

20 J. E. CIrucker 

21 B. B. Brown 

22 J. C. Sherman 

23 C. Martin 

24 J. Wilson 

25 Ben. T. Brown 

26 W. H. N. Daniel 

27 Daniel Cushenherjr 

28 Rees B. Young 

29 W. W. McFartere 

30 B. M. Steele 

31 John Johnson 

32 E. T. Douglass 

33 S. E. Thompson.' 
34r Saui. Kimsy 

35 John Ball 

36 J. T. Kezer 

37 J. M. Wells 

38 David Tate 

39 R. Ball 

40 Joel LiscomI> 

41 George Harper 

42 H. C. Harper 



43 E. Poage 

44 A. H. TwimaK 

45 G. W. Pool 

46 S. Hamilton 

47 Joseph Bradbury 

48 Joel Crumton 

49 J. D. Basy 

50 William Goraut 

51 John Cutleet 

52 F. H. Lane 

53 T. J. Lockridge 

54 D. J. Kezer 

55 A. R. White 

56 Ebenezer Dixon 

57 David Pultz 

68 Thomas Mockbee 

59 T. B. Davis 

60 C. M. White 

61 Joseph M. Bernard 

62 W. G. Collins 

63 C. C. Hamilton 

64 Henry 0. Lowdry 

65 1'homas J. Lincb. 

66 Elizer Hill 

67 John Edie 

68 Alfred Dale 

.69 Wm. G. Lucket 

70 Thomas Essick& 

71 R. B. Harris 

72 C. J. Hardy 

73 Wm. Essicks 

74 S. Writter 

75 Chas. Haming 

76 Richard McCammisIi 

77 A. S. Jchnson 

78 Henry Kuntz 

79 Robert Acles 

80 J. Chapman. 



We, David Paltz, Tliomas Mockbee, and J. B. Davis, do swear 
that we will perform our duties as judges of the election to be held 
this day at the house of Dr. J. Chapman, in the 4th election district 
of the Territory of Kansas, to the best of our judgment and ability ; 
that we will keep a true, correct^ and faithful record or list of all 
persons t> ho shall vote at said election ; that we will poll no ticket 
from any person who is not an actual inhabitant and resident of said 
Territory on the day of election, and whom we shall not honestly be- 
lieve to be a voter, according to the provisions of an act of Congress 
organizing said Territory ; and, further, that we will deliver, as soon 
as possible, the papers to the governor of said Territory. 

DAVID PALTZ. 

THOMAS MOCKBEE. 

J. B. DAVIS. 

Sworn and subscribed to before me, this 30th day of March, A.D. 1855. 

KEUBEN HACKETT, J. P. 



Fourth District, K. T., March 31, 1855. 
Pursuant to a call^ we, the actual residents, met at the house of 
Silas H, Moore, in said district. On motion, John F. Javins wa& 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 455 

called to the chair ; K. Mayficld, secretary. On motion of the house, 
the president stated the object of the meeting to be to contest the 
election of the 30th of March, 1855. On motion, a committee was 
appointed to draught the cause of complaint. On motion, Mr. J. C. 
Carpenter, Silas H. Moore, S. T. Shore, Samuel Workman, John 
Wilson, C. Hill, Charles Clark, Peter Barringer, A. B. Gilliland, and 
J. W. M. Shore, were the committee. 

The committee brought in the following report: We, the com- 
mittee, set forth the cause of complaint to be, that we assembled at 
the house of Dr. J, Chapman, in the 4th district of Kansas Territory, 
the place designated by the proclamation for the election to be held 
for the offices of council and representative, at the hour appointed. 
The doors of said house were closed, and no persons assembled at the 
said house. And we. Perry i^'uUer and E, W. Moore, the appointed 
judges for holding said election, were informed that the polls were 
opened some half mile above by David Paltz, James B. Davis, and 
Thomas Mockbee ; that said polls were opened about 8 o'clock a. m., 
and that tliere were some lifty or more non-residents voting indiscrim- 
inately, without questioning or oath, with their fire-arms surrounding 
the polls ; and we, the residents and actual settlers, did not consider 
the election legal, consequently did not vote at said polls, and retired 
to our homes. 

We, the citizens, do hereby, in witness hereof, annex our names, 
without reference to party. 

John F. Javens, President. William B. Hogden, 

R. Mayfield, Secretary. David Hendricks, 

A. F. Powell, James Scott, 

D. A. Barker, • J. E. Carpenter, 
James J. Moore, Perry Fuller, 
John S. Soil, E. W. Meire, 
Franklin Barnes, John Wilsoa, 
Thomas Ditez, P. Baringer, 
Thomas Shurlez, J. W. M. Shore, 
Mansfield Carter, A. B. Gilliland, 
William Moore, Samuel Wortmain, sr., 
William Grace, Jamuel T. Shore, 

B. Hill, Charles Clark, 
Samuel T. Shore, Silas H. Moore, 

E. H. Berginger, E. HilL 
Christopher Ward, 



United States of America, ) 
Territory of Kansas. ) 

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, an acting justice 
of the peace, on the 31st day of March, 1855, Perry Fuller and E. 
W. Moore, and stated that the within cause of complaint is true and 
correct, to the hest of their knowledge and belief. 

PERRY FULLER. 

E. W. MOORE. 



456 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Sworn and subscribed to before me, tbis 31&t day of Mareb, 1855.. 

EEUBEN KACKETT, 

Justice of the Peace. 



FIFTH DISTRICT. 

Returns of Little Sugar Greek Precinct. 

'We, tbe undersigned, judges of an election beld on tbe 30tb day of 
March, A. D. 1855, at tbe bouse of Isaac D. Stockton, at Little Sugar 
creek, in tbe fiftb election district, for tbe election of members of coun- 
cil and tbe bouse of representatives for tbe Territory of Kansas^ do 
hereby certify, upon our oatbs as judges of said election, tbat tbe fol- 
lowing is a true and correct return of tbe votes polled at sucb election j. 
by lawful resident voters, viz : 



For Council, 

A. M. Coifee 

David Lykins 

Mablon T. Morris 

James P. Fox 



1 S. W. BowtoR 

2 Andrew Tyler 

3 Charles Polk 

4 Thomas Sears 

5 Enoch Estep 

6 John Estep 

1 Thomas Wine 

8 James Adams 

9 Zachariah Eowe 

10 M. M. Martin 

11 G. W. Joj-ner 

12 Charles Waggoner 

13 Julius Willhote 

14 Harden Goodall 

15 Andrew Owens 

16 Ambrose Eipley 

17 David C. Finley 

18 Surges AVright 

19 Calvin Ford 

20 William Griffith 

21 John H. Dwill 

22 Abner Hargus 

23 William Hargas 

24 G. E. Sands 

25 T. W. Folk 

26 Alexander Jamos 

27 VmiiamDoolin 



For Representatives. 

SI William A. Heiskell...... 33J 

34 Allen Wilkinson 32 

62 Henry Younger 35 

70 Samuel Scott 35 

Jobn Surpell 62 

Adam Pore 62 

Samuel H. Houser 64 

William Jennings 66' 

William Dyer 1 

J. D. STOCKTON, } 

WM. PARK, V Judges. 

HIRAM HOWDESHELL, > 

28 Thomas Hargas 

29 Nathaniel Yestill 

30 Lemuel Vestill 

31 John Brown 

32 James G. Eay 

33 William HobsoQ 

34 Lemuel Medling 

35 William Medling 

36 B. F. Ford 

37 F. E. Mans 

38 Phineas T. Glover 

39 Hiram Snjith 

40 James B. Pile 

41 J. P. Ford 

42 Abraham Gardner 

43 Hiram J Dingus 

44 Francis Medlin 

45 John Medlin 

46 Clayton Ellis 

47 James M. Howe! 

48 Benjamin Bunch 

49 Asher P. Wyckoff 

50 Henry A. Gibbs 

51 Thomas E. Julian 

52 William Murrey 

53 Samuel Nichols 

54 Daniel N. McOuickly 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



457 



55 Nathaniel Lamarr 

56 James M. Hagiiis 

57 B. J. McHenry 

58 John Fonts 

59 J. B. Reece 

60 John C. Jameson 

61 A. F. Jackson 

62 Henry Eidson 

63 Matthew Kirk 

64 Levy Ward 

65 Thomas Duncan 

66 John Field 

67 Martin B. Eeece 

68 Barney Richardson 

69 B. F. Thomson 

70 Jesse McNew 

71 L. C. Susnange 

72 Wiley B. Pengry 

73 Daniel T. Ficklin 

74 William T. Ficklin 

75 Philip Copple 

7G Leandren Fowts • 

77 Alexander Fowts 

78 Peyton Williams 

79 McCailel Canovan 

80 C. F. Peecket 



81 

82 

83 

84 

85 

86 

87 

88 

89 

90 

91 

92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

100 

101 

102 

103 

104 

105 



Isaac Hargis 
C. W. Hargis 
Francis D. Ford 
G. J. W. Holland 
William Young 
William Williams 
James Oshorne 
Henry Miller 
Allen James 
Benj amin^Bartmoss 
John Michiel 
Isaac Bledsoe 
John Beckett 
L. H. Grimes 
Adam Pore 
John 0. Starr 
John B. Hedelson 
Thomas Eeece 
Samuel Scott 
James P. Fox 
Hiram Hovv'dcshell 
AVilliam Parks 
Isaac D. Stockton 
David W. Carmon 
E. H. Hutchinson. 



(No affidavit of the judges of Little Sugar creek is on file.) 



Belurns of Pottaioatomie Creek Precinct. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Henry Sherman, in Pottawatomie 
creeh, in the fifth election district, for the election of members of 
council and of the house of representatives for the Territory of Kan- 
sas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election^ that 
the folloAving is a true and correct return of the vote polled at such 
election, by lawful resident voters, viz : 

For Representatives. 

William A. Heiskell 198 

Allen Wilkinson 198 

Henry Younger 198 

Samuel Scott ;98 

John Surpell 61 

54 

.. 64 

.. 62 

.. 11 

6 



For Councilman. 

A.M.Coffee 199 

David L. Lykins 199 

Mahlon T. Morris 65 

James P. Fox 63 



Adam Pore 
Samuel H. Houser 
AVilliam Jennings 

J. Shufi" 

Scatterino; 



SAMUEL C. WEAK, } j . 
W. S. FUKGUSON, ^ -'^«5'e*- 



Fifth District. 

We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of an election opened and 
held at Plenry Sherman's, in the fifth district of Kansas Territory, as 



458 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



well as the voters in said district, do hereby certify that the usual oath 
was administered in due order to William Chesnut, one of the judges 
of said election, (who was appointed by his excellency,) who acted 
through said election as one of the judges, and boasted that the said 
election was conducted with quietude and harmony, and that he ob- 
jected to but one vote, which was set aside by the judges. Previous to 
which time he had furnished this same voter, Mr. Devitlers, with a 
free-soil ticket, tliinking he would use it, but, upon seeing this voter 
ofter a pro-slavery ticket, he challenged his vote, audit was set aside. 
Testified by us this SOtli day of March, 1855. 

SAMUEL C. WEAK. 
W. S. FURGUSOX. 



(No oath or other certificate on file.) 



L. P. BAENEBEY, CZer/i:. 
0. ANDERSON. 
0. S. HEATH. 
A. CARNES. 



A list of voters taJcen at Pottaioatomie Creeh precinct, in the Fiflli dis- 
trict, Kansas Territory. 



1 W. L. .Boyce 

2 G. J. Morcc 

3 F. Aiistin 

i A. Wilkinson 

5 J. Calaway 

6 J. Callaway 

7 T. F. Bhortridgc 

8 W. Austin 

9 T. Neal 

10 Edward Robinson 

11 B Brown 

12 R. Samuel 

13 W. Benton 

14 B. West 

15 J. M. Youns; 

16 J. N. Willett 

17 Wm. Hutchins 

18 A. W. Moiri 

19 R. Bravton 

20 J. Hamilton 

21 J. Baker 

22 Wm. H. Williamson 

23 J. Bryant 

24 J. Dorcev 

25 E. Fox 

26 W. Giffin 

27 C. Scott 

28 C. A. Brown 

29 A. Patterson 

30 H. C. Boostlast 

31 F. Leyvaneo 

32 F. Collins 

33 W. C. Bounds 

34 J. McFaden 

35 E. Corder 

36 J. Yomi!? Sherman 



37 N. Carder 

38 D. Cockerill 

39 J. Walker 

40 J. Hinton 

41 W. L. Harris 

42 J. M. Smith 

43 J. Goodwin 

44 G. 0. Washman 

45 L. G. Fulton 

46 J. F. Brockhart 

47 J. L. Merill 

48 H. P. Callaway 

49 W. R. P. Poston 

50 H. AVhalley 

51 James Wyhat 

52 .J. R. Williams 

53 N. H. Reader , 

54 J. E. Atchison 

55 F. M. Scott 

56 J. M. Hamilton 

57 L. M. Berven 

58 J. F. WebK 

59 J. E. Fulton 

60 J. H. Meanche 

61 J. Hogin 

62 J. M. Taylor 

63 W. F. Brown 

64 T. Green 

65 J. Robinson 

66 J. Easton 

67 H. Ronalds 

68 A. Castle 

69 R. W. Ranghoyle 

70 J. Collins 

71 T. Wilcox 

72 A. Corden 



KANSAS AFFAIES. 



459 



73 A. J. "Willson 

74 E. B. Smith 

76 W. n. Maxwell 

77 W. E. Bosworth 

78 A. Whitsit 

79 S. McCallem 
70 A. Jackson 

81 A. Bembcrton 

82 T. Green 

83 J. D. Haker 

84 L. Bemberton 

85 Wm. Mills 

8G J. Bemberton 

87 J. Martin 

88 C. Blackburn 

89 E. Haskell 

80 C. P. Payne 

91 A. Ervin 

92 J. A. Harris 

93 H. Ansberry 

94 W. H. Earlin 

95 W. D. Payne 

96 J. F. Yokchim 

97 W. Bullock 

98 W. Woods 

99 T. Elsie 

100 H. Sassifer 

101 H. Shopin 

102 H.Mills 

103 P. Long-nice 

104 J. P. Goodwin 

105 E. Farmer 

106 D. G. Water 

107 A. D. Farmer 

108 J. Preston 

109 T. Good 

110 K. L. Bell 

111 F. Smith 

112 S. T. Sabbin 

113 W. Burford 

114 J. Foster 

115 J. P. Macer 

116 J. AV. Warrens 

117 J. Austin 

118 F. Walker 

119 S. Swatto 

120 I. J. Smith 

121 R. Austin 

122 C. Dailey 

123 W. H. Blanton 

124 J. C. Brooks 

125 W. S. Bauldwin 

126 J. Bristo 

127 J. A. Green 

128 J. Mcnt 

129 A. D. Bearson 

130 S. Vanmeter 

131 Wm. Yellow 

132 T. F. Freeman 

133 D. Brookhart 
1.14 H. Asher 

135 R. Maxwell 

136 T. Parker 

137 C. Christin 

138 M. Adams 

139 L. B. Ellis 



140 G. W. Henry 

141 B. L. Burbege 

142 T. P. Seamana 

143 Minor Childs 

144 L. W. Frazier 

145 J. Preston 

146 J. Frazcr 

147 C. F. Thompson 

149 J. Bufford 

150 C. Muffler 

151 J. Anderson 

153 F. M. Thomas 

154 S. Tucker 

155 0. Jackson 

156 J. H. Houser 

157 J. H. Morse 

158 A. B. Jackson 

159 J. B. Hook 

160 H. Blecdso 

161 J. F. Smith 

162 J. W. Green 
103 F. Horde 

164 F. Mori 

165 Roldin Girth, (oath) 

166 W. Long, (oath) 

167 T. Thrinle 

168 T. Atchison 

169 W. H. Day 

170 E. Elliott 

171 N. Williams 

172 A. Finch 

173 S. J. Chaffee 

174 G. G. Grout 

175 J. S. Haffort 

176 W. W. Jones 

177 A. G. Stompall 

178 P. E. France 

179 W. R. Willmott 

180 J. R. Underwood 

181 J. Grant 

182 J. Ragan 

183 S. M. Hays 

184 J. Rayold 

185 W. Eberhard 

186 J. Hitchings 

187 0. F. Cleaveland 

188 A. Laros 

189 H. Dace 

190 R. Tovey 

191 H. Cock 

192 T. Crawford 

193 ^Y. H. Pinncll 

194 J. Denn 

195 J. R. Ferris 

196 S. L. Adair 

197 J. Yockum 

198 L. Shields 

199 AV. Tayling 

200 J. Rose 

201 H. P. Morse 

202 C. N. Arroll 

203 W. C. Melborn 

204 Adam Curran 

205 A. Carpenter 

206 A. Carr 

207 W. H. Kmcade 



460 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



208 T. 

209 N. 

210 A. 

211 J. 

212 J. 

213 J. 

214 J. 

215 0. 

216 T. 

217 J. 

218 S. 

219 L. 

220 R. 

221 H. 

222 C. 

223 S. 

224 W 

225 E 

226 J. 

227 T. 

228 E. 

229 W 

230 T. 

231 — 

232 J. 

233 P. 

234 J. 

235 P. 

236 H. 

237 J. 



B. Morse 
T. Morris 
D. Carey 

Stotis 

R. Yokeum 

Jackson 

D. Swift 

C. Swift 
Jones 
Yelton 
M. Merrit 
N. Burt 

E. Franklin 
Rice 

W. Patridge 
Sarmond 
. Cromphite 

Yanorbike 
M. Hayes 
Blair 
Moodie 
. Moodie 
G. Blair 

Dudley 

Callaway 
Carrens 
Whiteman 
"\Yoodbury 
Evans 
Heckland 



238 H. Humphrey 

239 J. P. Barnaby 

240 Wakeman Partridge 

241 J. Lesem 

242 H. Taylor 

243 A. Taylor 

244 J. Smilie 

245 K Billinaby 

246 C. Mellet 

247 C. Heath 

248 J. Hughes 

249 S. Gleason 

250 S. H. Honser 

251 J. Swingane 

252 W. Bradley 

253 J. Burr 

254 H. Walton 

255 B. F. Harris 

256 D. R. Mclnuey 

257 J. McCulloch 

258 T. Ewbanks 

259 H. Sherman, (oath) 

260 T. Whitsit 

261 W. Chesnut 

262 S. C. Weare 

263 W. S. Fiirguson 

264 H. Harmon 

265 E. Clavton 

266 R. W." Sturgeon. 



PoU-hooh of an election held at Bull Creeh precinct, in the fifth election 
district, in the Territory of Kansas, at the house of Baptiste Peoria, 
an the oQth March, 1855, /or the election of four representatives and 
tiuo members of the council for said Territory, begun at 9 o'clock a. m. 



1 William King 

2 Enos McDaniel 

3 Lot Coffmau 

4 G. Thomason 

5 John Wells 

6 W. C. Hall 

7 Ed. McPherson 

8 C. Caniso 

9 A. Harris 

10 Ed. West 

11 Wm. Templeton 

12 Jonas Alford 

13 G. W. Willson 

14 P. T. Reynolds 

15 J. W. Campbell 

16 John Coonse 

17 Thomas Sharp 

18 Henry Alico 

19 William McKinney 

20 Henry Melville 

21 J. Robin'^on 

22 Jacob Hicldan 

23 Hugh Dickinson 

24 James Barrett 

25 Humphrey Dobbins 

26 Marcus Gill 

27 John Hicklln 



28 Howell Lewis 

29 Joseph Saimders 

30 Richard Marshall 

31 Isaac Vanbibber 

32 Alex. Griffith 

33 Smith Keith 

34 Walker John 

35 H. L. Trunell 

36 Thomas Carter 

37 Alby Edgar 

38 Albert Williams 

39 M. Graham 

40 H. T. Young 

41 John Harper 

42 William Rvan 

43 H. G. Plunkett 

44 Jo. Kimberly 

45 John Taylor 

46 H. C. Taylor 

47 R. S. Richie 

48 Elijah Doman 

49 Charles Woods 

50 Hvram West 

51 John M. Gentry 

52 John Strong 

53 J. C. Christian 

54 N. Byllingsle.v . 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



461 



55 T. J. Smarchigin 

56 William Saunders 

57 E. White 

68 Robert St. Clair 

69 William iSpaia 

60 John Wilson 

61 Jer. Morgan 

62 Thomas Clayton''' 

63 C. S. Thornton 

64 William Davis 

65 W. Lewis 

66 Mark Lasum 

67 Dewit Williams 

68 T. V. Ellis 

69 Thomas Annut 

70 Jacob Everhart 

71 A. M. Nelson 

72 James Atkinson 

73 W. T. Eubanks 

74 J. Dobbins 

75 N. Dix 

76 G. Jones'^ 

77 J. Hackersmith 

78 Sam. Blackburn 

79 C. W. Dicklcv 

80 E. Marrion 

81 W. V*". Dimkon 

82 William Junkins 

83 G. C. Puliiam 

84 C. J. Drake 

85 T. G. Curtis 

86 Abner Hicks 

87 Shelby Carter 

88 James McFarland 

89 J. North 

90 James Sydnor 

91 J. Smiley 

92 C. Mullett 

93 G. W. Zion 

94 James Marshall 

95 J. M. Adams 

96 Thomas Cummins 

97 D. 0. Glasscock 

98 Thomas Milan 

99 J. Snyder 

100 T. H. Wilson 

101 George Jackson 

102 W. Payne 

103 James Scroggins 

104 H. L. Barksdale 

105 T. Williams 

106 Thomas Peyton 

107 J. M. McCuUoch 

108 A. G. Nugent 

109 T. Myers 

110 William Bridgwater 

111 Calvin Powell 

112 Henry Chilton 

113 E. Triplett 

114 J. P. Jackson 

115 H. W. Davidson 

116 Charles Tracey 
U7 J. D. Walker 
118 J. Charles 



119 William Walker 

120 William Glasscock 

121 Henry France 

122 J. H. Warren 

123 Harris Jackson 

124 F. M. Green 

125 Thomas Hall 

126 C. Mockaby 

127 Samuel Wade 

128 P. W. E. Winston 

129 Pv. Winston 

130 W. W. Britt 

131 James Landers 

132 0. P. Tliompson 

133 Thomas Hilton 

134 P. Tyree- 

135 J. W. Reynolds 

136 Horace Humphreys 

137 J. S. Whitsett* 

138 Jesh. Kyle 

139 Noah Redford 

140 Nat. Hunter 

141 A. Bradley 

142 R. McCord 

143 Thomas Emmerson 

144 David Hinkle 

145 F. Young 

146 A. Carter 

147 W. M. Ervin 

148 William Rice 

149 Noah Shaw 

150 J. A. Armstrong 

151 F. R. Fields 

152 Thomas Loman 

153 J. C. Dinwidie 

154 W. R. MciJride 

155 A. W. Pipes 

156 George McBride 

157 William Parker 

158 Lewis Ward 

159 John Cox 

IGO W. T. Gillinwatcr 

161 Jo. Dart 

162 W. G. Bifs 

163 T. Toliver 

164 G. T. Bohon 

165 S. J. Robinson 

166 George Shelton 

167 Jarhes McFadden 

168 S. Butts 

169 Stephen Hobkins 

170 John Brady 

171 A. Young 

172 Wildie McKmney 

173 Jo. D. Campbell 

174 P. J. Potts 

175 Jo. F. Brooks 

176 J. C. Plunkett 

177 Green Beats 

178 James Cusliingthoy 

179 William K. Jones 

180 F. G. Staples 

181 L. P. Scroggins 

182 J. E. Liarhtner 



Rejected, refusing to swear. 



462 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



153 James Potts 

154 Daniel l>ivant 
185 M. B. Lulkford 
ISG W. r.vaiulon 

IS 7 T. J. Hawkins 

155 D. P. Cook 
18!) B. K. Bowles 
190 Dav. Wil-lit 
11)1 Honry Calvin 

102 Chas.'st. Clair 

103 Wilson Smith 

104 Joseph Do»,<;"herty 

105 Alex. Giegor 

106 J. L. Jaekson 

107 A. a. Havden 
198 Pat. Woods 
]!)9 E. F. Nettle 

200 Aimer Ward 

201 Anderson Warren^ 

202 John Fauntlerov 

203 Jlark Cole 
20-1 Jas. Wadef 
205 Kobert Cirver 
20G John Dillard 

207 Martella Ferrill 

208 Ed. Price 
200 V. M. Brady 

210 John Fnlkerson 

211 Henry Shields* 

212 ..lolmToenni 
313 J. B. HoiTdon 
311 M. D. Warren 
215 James White 
21 G G. W. Williams 
217 T. J. Hughes 

2 IS Jesse Hariiravo 
210 William Shaw 

220 A. P.. T.iylor 

221 John Jackson 

222 W. M. Brown 

223 John Westerhonse 
22-1 Hvram Stephens 
225 B."Hall 

220 Thomas Mclvey 

227 James French 

228 Brah Cooper 
220 William Fields 

230 H. Palmer 

231 C. Shaw 

232 Ben. Kice 

233 James Nichols 
23-1 J. Colier 

235 J. P. Dodd 
23G James Martin 

237 James Earl 

238 S. W. Asterry 

239 A. Carder 

240 James Sweet 

241 M. T. Wells 

242 N. McKinney 

243 0. C. Gann 

244 John Childress 

245 Levin Merrill 
24G Albert Maxwell 



'- Kejccted, refusing to swear. 



247 Thomas Glover 

248 John Bell 

249 William Baker 

250 N. Morgan 

251 W. L. Freeman 

252 B. P. Campbell 

253 Lewis Porter 

254 Samuel Smith 

255 David Lyons 
25G T. T. YouMu; 

257 Jesse Sniitli 

258 Piichard Kirby 

259 A. Woodlin 
2 GO W. Schwater 
2G1 AV. A. Moberly 
2G2 J. McCord 
2G3 J. J. Pool 
2G4 E. Edwards 
2G5 H. N. Bullock 
2GG Samuel T. Thistle 
2G7 James E. Davis 
2G8 Thomas Simpson 
2G9 James Youngi 

270 T. Dicks 

271 J. Alison 

272 Spencer Barton 

273 W. Santbrd 

274 S. B. Williams 

275 Thomas McMillan 
27G William Jones 
277 Jeremiah Farmer 
27S L. B. Pellitt 
270 John Blaxstun 

280 John Atkinson 

281 Elsev Triplett 
2S2 T. F. Price 

283 Alex. Ferly 

284 I\Iiles Griiiin 

285 James McHeury 
2SG William Artman 

287 W. H. Fiuley 

288 Thomas Boyce 
280 Joshua Stewart 
200 John Cook 

291 J. H. Barton 

292 J. McX eaten 

293 E. M. Sellers 

294 Vance Johnson 

295 Pvobert Walker 
29G Charles Sprinkle 
207 J. A. Hicks 
298 W. T. Mitchell 
209 J. M. Gearheart 

300 S. G. Hopkins 

301 Hiram Yearv 

302 A. H. Mitchell 

303 William Fleming 

304 Silas Seward 

305 W. T. King 
30G John Bogan 

307 James Shew 

308 E. Howerton 

309 David Lvkens 

310 J. D. Redd 

f 9 or 10 years old. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



403 



i 



311 Tlamilton Warren 

312 T. C. Warren 

313 James Skef^j^s 

314 J. S. Hartrnan 

315 J. (J. McDanicl 
31G J. H. Arbuckles 

317 James Brame 

318 William Bush 

319 Henry Snyder 

320 J. L. Farris 

321 Isaac Jacob 

322 James S. Ball 

323 G. W. Stillwell 

324 John Vanliorn 

325 Jackson Black 
320 John Hinklc= 

327 H. L. Lyon 

328 J. H. Falkerson 

329 Harrison Standerford 

330 James 0. Packard 

331 Eli Miller 

332 J. A. Tuglc 

333 Madison Marshall 

334 Joseph Beats, jr. 

335 W. L. Ballard 
33C W. P. Tym 

337 T. J. Hanmon 

338 J. C. Christopher 

339 J. R. Jones 

340 Henry Bracken 

341 James L. Childress 

342 Ben. Johnson 

343 J. W. WilHon 

344 G. W. Bradbury 

345 W. C. Childress 

346 James Sheltou 

347 James B. Hart 

348 Alex. Houston 

349 Ben. Kingcaid 

350 Israel Standiford 

351 Leonard Bradburj' 

352 Thomas JcSerson 



353 Alfred Jones 

354 J. G. McDaniel 

355 James Beats 

356 B. F. Payne 

357 B. C. Westfall 

358 John J. Park 

359 John H. Clayton 

360 P. N. Smith 

361 John Webb 

■ 362 Samuel Webster 

363 J. C. Cwleman 

364 John Benmisey 

365 William Wade 
306 W. M. Cooper 

367 Harrison Standifer 

368 K. P. Ellis 

309 Josiah Atkinson 

370 I'eter Charles 

371 E. C. Robertson 

372 James Moore 

373 Robert Hale 

374 Samuel Williams 

375 L.A.Scott 

376 A. H. McFadden 

377 Edwin Goodall 

378 Charles White 

379 James Black 

380 L. Washburn 

381 H. L. Newman 

382 J. W. Goodwin 

383 F.M. Thomas 

384 Samuel Henderson 

385 George Wilcox 

386 Samuel Shannon 

387 George Burtis 

388 A. P. Sprinkle 

389 Arch. Oliver 

390 N. E. Harrison 

391 Robert B. Hiley 

392 W. F. Barker 

393 Lewis Peckham. 



That the above is a true and correct list of the votes polled at the 
election as mentioned in the caption hereof, we hereto set our hands 
this 30th dav of March, 1855. 

J. 

B. 

B. 



J. PAEK, Judge. 

C. WESTFALL, Judge. 

F. PAYNE, Judge. 



J. J. Park, B. C. Westfall, and B. F. Payne, judges of election, 
were sworn by Adam Carnes, justice of the peace, according to printed 
form. 



We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Baptiste Peoria, in tlie fifth elec- 
tion district, for the election of members of council and of the house 
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon 
our oaths as judges of said electi(m, that the following is a true and 
correct return of the votes polled at such election by lawful resident 
voters, viz : 

* Rejected, refusing to be sworn. / 



464 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

For members of the Council. For members of House of Representatives. 

A. H. Coffee 377 W. A. Haskell 377 

D. Lykins 376 A. Wilkinson 375 

M. T. Morris 9 H. Younger 375 

J. P. Fox 9 Sam. Scott 377 

Jno. Surfell 9 

A. Pore 9 

S. H. Hoiiser 9 

AV. Jennings 9 

Witness our hands this 30th day of March, A. D. 1855. 

J. J. PAKK, ) 

B. F. PAYNE, } Judges. 

B. C. WESTFALL, ) 

At an election held at Bull Creek precinct, in the fifth election dis- 
trict, in the Territory of Kansas, at the house of Baptiste Peoria, on 
the 30th of March, 1855, for the election of representatives and mem- 
bers of the council for said Territory, J. J. Clark and Stephen White, 
two of the judges of said election, appointed by the governor of said 
Territory, being absent at nine o'clock a. m. of said day, now, 
therefore, I, John J. Park, a judge appointed by said governor for 
said election, being the only one present, do hereby fill the vacancy 
caused by the absence of said Clark and White, by appointing B. F. 
Payne and B. C. Westfall judges of said election, and they, said 
Payne and Westfall, are by me hereby appointed such judges. 

Given under my hand, at 9 o'clock a. m., this 30th day of March, 
. A.D. 1855. 

J. J. PARK, Judge. 



Kansas Territory, April 3, 1855. 

We, the undersigned, legal voters of Kansas Territory, respectful- 
ly represent to-your excellency, that at the election held in Bull Creek 
precinct of this Territory, on Friday, March 30, 1855, for members 
of council and assembly, the persons who acted as judges of said elec- 
tion were not duly sworn in accordance with your excellency's instruc- 
tions, and were not, therefore, competent to aqt as judges of the said 
election; they therefore pray 'that no certificate of election for said 
precinct may be granted, and that the said election may be set aside. 
And we furthermore represent, that one of the persons who acted 
as judge at said election was not a resident of the Territory. 
James B. Abbott Lyman Allen 

George W. Deitzler George F. Earl 

P. Grover John C. Gordon 

Richard Mendenhall A. D. Searl 

George L. Osborn Francis Barker. 

S. N. Wood 

James B. Abbott being duly sworn, deposes and says the within 
statements are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. 

JAMES B. ABBOTT. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



465 



Sworn this 3d day of April, A. 



D. 1855, before 

SAML. D. LECOMPTON, 
County Justice^ Kansas Territory, 



We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Elisha Tucker, in Big Sugar 
Creek precinct, in the fifth election district, for the election of mem- 
bers of council and of the house of representatives for the Territory 
of Kansas, do hereby certify upon our oaths, as judges of said elec- 
tion, that the following is a true and correct return of the votes polled 
at such election by lawful resident voters, viz : 



For Coimcilmen. 

James P. Fox 16 

Mahlan 11 

A. M. Coffee 74 

Pavid Lykins H 



For Eepresentatives. 

John Surple IT 

Adam Poce 16 

Samuel H. Hanson 17 

Wm. Jennings 17 

Wm. A. Haskill 74 

Allen Wilkinson 4 

Henry Younger 4 

Samuel Scott 4 

JOHN E. BEOWN, 
ELISHA TUCKEPt, 
A. H. SMITH, 

Judges of Election. 

John E. Brown and Elisha Tucker, judges of election, were each 
sworn by the printed form before James M. Arthur, as he certifies, 
before opening the polls, March 30, 1855 ; A. M. Smith and James 
M. Arthur by John E. Brown. 

We, the undersigned, judges of the present election, do certify this 
to be a true poll-book of the present election at the house of Elisha 
Tucker, in Big Sugar Creek precinct: 



1 A. M. Smith 

2 Richard Gqldon 

3 L. B. Wilson 

4 Kubin Noel 

5 James E. Wadkins 

6 Thomas Smith 

7 Wm. L. Farman 

. 8 Henry Littlejohn 
9 Silas Young 

10 William Cash 

11 William Perry 

12 Thomas J. Goodman 

13 John G. Robinson 

14 William Clark 

15 William H. Gibbm 

16 Robert Osburn 

17 J. B. Fleming 

H. Kep. 200 — - 



18 James M. Freeman 

19 T. B. Crowder 

20 Ervin Parker. 

"I, James M. Arthur, have served to take 
down the first twenty names, and could not 
take the twenty -first, by reason of illegality, 
and resigned. ' ' 

21 T. J. Baley 

22 D. P. Fleming 

23 G. C. McMich 

24 C. S. Fleming 

25 Josiah Danel 

26 Richard Simpson 

27 W. C. McMich 

28 Reuben Dunnels 



30^ 



iQii 



KANSAS ATFAIBS. 



29 J. M. Arthur 

50 R M IXvnol 

51 .lontvb. l>vncl 
82 R F. WaU 
S3 J. >[. Wall 

34 W, A. Hinkol 

35 Alien Stow^vit 
S6 .lesso l\»vis 
87 A. J. St<vl 
Si! J. W. Hylton 
89 J. M. Hampton 

40 J. W. HytoH 

41 John Ovorstrtvt 

42 IgUiUiui? Frtviuaji 

43 Lewis Thomrts 

44 Fhuid TTion\;\s 
46 H W. Yo»nis:er 

46 J;uno# Mnrry 

47 Kobixt HarsTsivc 
4i! J. J. RoynoUis 

49 John B. Rt^biiison 

50 Henry Makiuoy 

51 Jossi" Sioxo 

52 A. J. lA>u,sr 

53 S. H. Mwre 

54 Charles Tlierby 
5v^ Andrew Smith 

56 ClaWrn Bnruett 

57 Psitrick l^y ons 

58 K;\n!knn F.liv^t 

59 James Wjvlkox 

60 Lewis Siuart 



61 John Kliot 

62 Wm. M. Smith 

63 L, M. Kliot 

64 J. W. Bacon 

65 John Mikel 

66 OtHir^^e Mikel 

67 William Yealoek 
6S Thoma,s .laeksou 

69 Jtunes .laokson 

70 James IViskel 

71 tximmul l>i-adfoni 

72 GxH^rge IVhxu 

73 Nimnxi Fohson 

74 Wm. T. Hensley 

75 SttHim;»n Smith 

76 Rnijamin Lineh 

77 Jiunes ^\"uisor 

78 Elisha Smith 

79 Adivm Ortmaii 
SO James Clemous 

81 Stvmnel Clark 

82 ClaKiru lxH>th 

88 John Perkins 

84 Milton Cruh 

85 Wm. l>. Ltnia: 

86 Diivid A. Wakins 

87 M. C. D. Oslxnn 
SS L. M. Lvn-o 

89 L. S. l^iilg^ewjvter 

90 J. E. Brown 

91 Elisha Tucker. 



Sixth District. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held the 30th da} 
March. A. D. 1S55, at the hospital building at Fort Scott, in i 
sixth election district, for the election of members of council ana 
the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereb) 
<.^rtify. upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following 
is a true and correct return of tlie vot^s polled at such election, by 
lawful resident voters, viz: 



For Council. 

William Barbee 



o4o 



For Eepresentativos. 

Joseph C. Anderson 315 

S. A.Williams o"' 

John Hamilton 

William Margrrave ^'^ 



JAMES RAY. 
WILLIAM PAINTER, 
WILLIAM S. GODFREY. 



Judqes 



Oaths of the foregoing judges according to printed form in district 
Ko. 1. before William Margrave, justice of the p^ce. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



467 



lAsf, of volcM '/xMcA ai tJiA h/jfqdUd t/u/U/Un/j oJ, Ff/rt Hc/M, in th: mxth. 
d^/flrwl of Ko/rvHtm Territory , mo the 'iOtft ij/iy of AJo/reh, A . 1). 1855. 



I 



4 
6 
fi 
7 
H 
« 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
33 
34 
35 
86 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
43 
44 
45 
46 
47 
48 
49 
50 
51 
52 
63 
54 
65 
56 
57 
58 
50 
60 
61 
62 



Wrn. I'arlKir 

O. O. Itr.lurxl 
U, W, Olrlhum 
15. 'J'. WilkiriHOft 
W. '/■. OMfium 
'I'. 01'l>i;..fn 
If Martin 
It, iVith 
P. />;h) 
Wrn l{rc,07>; 
J. N. Crit,f,r»;U 
Jrio iSiikcr 
M ff. I>;iiri« 
J no. 0, H<:al 
A. ff. OilkHHcn 
iJavi'l A JoneK 
Jarri'^H Miller 
W. VV. Craij^ 
fJ. Mit/:fi':ll ' 
•JftH. Hynart 
A. Kirk Patrick 
Oeo. W MorriK 

H. 0. Ht<;V';MH 

F, 1;. Kiilkiijon 

J. N. 1U>^I;TH 

.]. N. Ward 

it. L. N.igle 

Wrn. li/)i^t;TH 

J. M. Ncwrnan 

A. M. i'crry 

Wrti. \). J>avonf>ort 

E. J}. (Amwuy 

P. C/Arjii'u-.hiUi] 

M Ifoiix 

it. W. Houx 

J. !>». ImvIh 

A. ifjf^larid 

'/'. M VViriflrcm 

L. H. P,roylr:s 

T. ii. Amott 

E. GiJkofton 

H. ii. ffaynfcH 

A. i^ ?'. Davii! 
A. ( 'n,r])*irttnr 
Wrn. Kirkf^atrick 
T. Wat.kinH 

T. Findlcy 
J. 8. Mitchell 
E. J. iJonahue 
Wm. Ff/rce 
J. S. JonfcK 
(i. W. Houx 
H. Davenport 
J. L. iiall 
T. D. iloux 
K. ii. i>awHorj 
T. T. ifuff 
C. L. ijomar 
J. K. (Jourtnej 



6.'} W P. Major 

64 VV, Morrow 

66 C. F. Mcr';/.T 
«6 J. H. (>»llinH 

67 It. ii, Maye.rH 

68 VV. F, AlcxantUif 

69 A. Hpuycr 

70 J. I J. iU>yntrni 

71 Cba«. 'I'ylcr 

72 C. ii. f>,jliri« 

73 F. />iinrj 

74 8. MeKenn 

75 A. M UiflJnK 

76 Jan. McKccUk 

77 J. i{. I><s/an 

78 '1'. A. Wyatt 

79 Wrn. O, iJuckric-r 

80 A, Hnow 

81 Wru. J. iO>v,HT^ 

82 .la«. Mr/;raw 

83 G. M. 'iuck/jT 

84 ./a«. Man- 

85 Jan. Moyc 

86 Ijtw'm i'arkCT 

87 F. i>; Witt 

88 J. iJ. Hr/iith 

89 Oco. Gr<^;T 

00 I'rin^Uiu 'i'wMta 

91 'i', F. C. ./ame« 

92 J. 15. For fi 

93 0. M. HixyncA 

94 E. AiiJw^n 

95 if. C. Weire 

96 ./a«. Grern- 

97 E. 0. lU^ynUm 
'3H J. W, iMviH 
99 T. J. Whitlrx* 

100 Win. [)i.v\n 

101 if. (/TirciH}isxw 

102 J. T. P/arkcr 

103 H. J. amw;ll 

104 it. S. YfMua 

105 E. fly 

106 H. iJ. Garth 

107 Wm. KftodritA 

108 .ia«. Sandy 

109 J. G. Ogden 

110 D. GiUa« 

111 Jdo. Giitbrc* 

112 G. C. P.rij<ht 

113 A. B. Ff^Ht^n- 

114 Wrn. Htc.vi-.nnfjv. 

1 15 'i?)OH. i'af^At 

116 Wm. Gilbart 

117 W. J. i^jnn 

118 E. B. f>xjk 

119 W. F. Fr/Htet 

120 Wm. F. Carpenter. 

121 L. H. ClowcTB 

122 H. H. a.rnneford 

123 8. .lw:kM>xi 

124 H. Watkin.^ 



468 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



Ui R. W. Potts 

126 M. Johnson 

127 "\V. H. Davis 

128 Jno. "\V. Stevens 
12!) W. C. Epperson 
130 H. Loijan 

132 J. A. Stollings 

133 S. Thompson 

134 H. Yartal 

135 r. MeKeehan 

136 J. H. Webster 

137 W. F. James 
13S D. Scott 

139 Jno. Bria:a:s 

140 8. B. Kinder 

141 Jas. Mosebv 

142 T. A. Hutf' 

143 S. J. Huff 

144 Jno. Huff 

145 W. H. Fiucb 

146 J. Moodev 

147 T. P. Hafley 
14S E. Halley 

149 G. Kivkpatrick 

150 M. Calliver 

151 W. S. Maloomb 

152 J. M. Duke 

153 Jno. January 

154 Wm. January 

155 W. Arnett 

156 B. Owen 

157 Joseph Price 

158 0. Owen 

159 J. W. Sharp 

160 E. Endrix 

161 F. Alexander 

162 O. B. Oaks 

164 Wm. J. Hawie 

165 J. B. Hancock 

166 M. Eeutch 

167 8. Hornspuckle 
16S Geo. Bledsoe 

169 Wni. Howard 

170 M. Doyle 

171 D. Hampton 

172 J. Harrington 

173 Jno. Ivnisrht 

174 M. Sellars 

175 J. M. Foster 

176 X. G. :MoKinzie 

177 J. N. Wilson 

178 S.Potter 

179 A.Ward 
ISO J. Weller 

181 8. P. Ashbey 

182 H. Ashbey 

183 Wm. Robinson 

184 J. Groom 

185 A. Copushratte 

186 Jno. Harrison 

187 W. J. Midiileton 

188 M. MtH:ann 
1S9 Wm. Warwick 

190 E. Biiilv 

191 G. B. Cireex 

192 S. Divers 



193 

194 

195 

196 

197 

198 

199 

200 

201 

202 

203 

204 

205 

206 

207 

208 

209 

210 

211 

212 

213 

214 

215 

216 

217 

218 

219 

220 

221 

222 

223 

224 

225 

226 

227 

228 

229 

230 

231 

232 

233 

234 

235 

236 

237 

238 

239 

240 

241 

242 

243 

244 

245 

246 

247 

248 

249 

250 

251 

252 

253 

254 

255 

256 

257 

258 



A. Divers 
G. P. Lowrie 
Jno. White 
M. Wiekles 
Jno. Wickleg 
A. J. Jones 
A. Grinstead 
J. T. Gillam 
T. A. Cooklev 

C. T. Oiilesby 
Wm. Eav 
H. Sevbot 
J. C. Eothwell 
J. Thvrnian 

A. T.'Blanton 
J. Harrison 
Thos. H. Fox 
Jesse Eav 
H. Coates 
G. T. Jones 
W. P. IMavers 

B. Smith 
Jno. Crook 
Jas. H. Flemming 
Jno. B. Flemming 
J. T. Eay 
B. R. Conejrres 
Jno. Handerson 
Wm. A. Eandolph 
Geo. H. Simmons 
W. P. Hubble 

D. S. Harden 
W. M. Oogrswell 
Thos. Owsley 
J. S. Hawkins 
H. Smith 
Thos. Taylor 
J. Bohanom 
H. Bledsaw 
Jas. Waldron 
G. W. Depp 
Geo. Sivels 

D. Buckhardt 
Geo. Brecker 
X. Godfrey 
J. A. Lew 

E. Dean 
S. C. Blevings 
James Warson 
C. S. Harris 
B. C. Eido;e 

A. H. Major 
T. 8. Foster 
W. W. Eentsh 
J. H. McNeil 
S. Reed 

Geo. W. Renrick 
Lewis Da\is 
Thos. Norr 
J. Ir\ing 
8. Sharp 
N. H. Bennett 
A. iloodev 
B.F.Hill' . 

B. Parker 
Jno. Graves 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



im 



259 
260 
261 
262 
263 
264 
265 
266 
267 
268 
269 
270 
271 
272 
273 
274 
275 
276 
277 
278 
279 
280 
281 
282 
283 
284 
285 
286 
287 
288 
289 
290 
291 
292 
293 
294 
295 
296 
297 
298 
299 
300 
301 
302 
303 
304 



S. Webber 
J. A. IlusBell 
M. Dawson 
W. A. Wortham 
Jas. Sharp 
Wm. Swindel 
A. V. Bradley 
Jas. H. Hudson 
Henry Corwia 
Wm. Thornton 
J. G. Callison 
G. W. Cortney 
A. Mickles 
L. Flocker 
G. 0. Paine 
S. W. Dodge 
Alex. Halstead 
Saml. Beaver 
J. Parrick 
Wm. D. Lynd 
Saml. Moore 
P. S. Moor 
J. Field 
J. H. Adams 
S. T. Williams 
W. Bledsaw 
H. Sharvers 
R. P. Bradley 
Chas. Bartlett 
D. L. Bradley 
Jno. Culton 
J. Houssinger 
Jas. Ptay 

Wm. Marchhanks 
Wm. J. Godfrey 
J. J. Adams 
T. J. Coldwell 
Wm. Bartlett 
F. F. York 
A. Raney 
H. Pitts 
F. A. Taylor 
Wm. C. Mitchell 

D. Greenlee 

E. Poge 

J. W. Danton 



305 D. Guthree 

306 W. M. N. Smallwood 

307 Z. G. MorrisH 

308 N.W.Walker 

309 Jno. Harmlton 

310 Wm. Painter 

311 S. A. Williams 

312 P. D. Cummings 

313 Levi Krie 

314 J. C. Anderson 

315 J. Cottrell 

316 Pi. S.Bradley 

317 D.H. Lesser 

318 Jno. Grant 

319 .L Catling 

320 J. B. Softing 

321 R. A Davis 

322 W. D. Cefuss 
223 Thos. Graves 

324 Wm. Watkins 

325 Chas. Passmore 

326 Wm. Bowling 

327 Thos. P. Wood 

328 A. H. Wood 

329 J. W. Arnett 

330 Chas. Eiard 

331 S. H. Leving 

332 H.T.Wilsom 

333 Wm. Erving 

334 Jno. Brown | 

335 Wm. Merrick 

336 Chas. Milan 

337 Thos. Summers 

338 H.W.Hudson 

339 A Hadson 

340 B. Handcock 

341 .LJefiferis 

342 Wm. Harris 

343 E. C. Scaley 

344 Wm. Humphrey 

345 Allea Dogal 

346 V. Adams 

347 Jno. W. Bradley 

348 John W. Fly 

349 Wm. Margrave 

350 G.Wood. 



Tally-List. 



For Council. 



Wm. Barbee 343 



For Representatives. 

Joseph Anderson 315 

John Hamilton 35 

S. A. Williams 313 

Wm. Margrave li'> 



Seventh District. 



We, the undersigned^ judges of an election held on the 30th day 
of March, A. D. 1855, at the house ot I. B. Titus, in the seventh elec- 



470 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



tion district, for tlie election of members of council and of the house 
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon 
Qur oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a true and 
correct return of the votes polled at said election by the lawful voters. 



Attest 



L. H. CHIVINGTON, 
ANDREW JOHNSON, 
ELI SNYDEE, 

Hiram Lightner, Clerk. 

William W. Dedham, Clerh. 



Judges, 



1 Strother Benick 

2 Jno. P. Smith 

3 David Keeney 

4 Wm. Searcey 

5 John Dinsey 

6 G. W. Kimfer 

7 Levi Bradley 

8 W. F. Deering 

9 Jno. S. Hour 

10 C. J. Barclay 

11 J. D. Scoggs 

12 J. W. Hudspetb 

13 A. M. Nolaud 

14 M. B. Hadding 

15 Wm. B. Oldham 

16 J. H. Cox 

17 Wm. Parish, seK. 

18 E. N. Rice 

19 E. McHenry 

20 W. P. Tucker 

21 J. B. Griffith 

22 W. A. Parrish 

23 T. J. Hickman 

24 Geo. Scimmons 

25 H. S. Jones 

26 Reuben Clay too 

27 H. M. Senxcort 

28 W. C. Teate 

29 R. L. Green 

30 H. C. Parish 

31 F. M. McKee 

32 Jas. F. Mure 

33 J. H. Brown 

34 B. G. Jeans 

35 D. D. Burgess 

36 Wm. E. Franklin 

37 E. F. Ferrel 

38 Chas. Griffith 

39 Jas. L. Joans 

40 Wm. 0. Thompson 

41 Finis F. Renick 

42 Wm. Cabe 

43 Jas. R. Hickman 

44 H. E. Shafer 

45 Wm. C. Cook 

46 L. H. Spanhoer 

47 R. B. Chiles 

48 Jas. Johnson 

49 C. L. Parrish 

50 J. T. Bartleson 
61 E. L. Bowler 
52 J. W. Gilbreath 



53 J. S. Huff 

54 W. L. Cottingham 

55 N. B. Brush , 

56 Sam. P. Sanders 

57 John R. McKinney 

58 G. W. Shoemaker 

59 Wm. Hampton 

60 R. A. Hudspeth 

61 J. D. Bagley 

62 Geo. Pole 

63 J. J. Balwer 

64 V. C. Cushingberg 

65 J. F. Ray 

66 Jesse Morrow 

67 Jno. M. Dixon 

68 Jno. Buckner 

69 Wm. J. Douglass 

70 S. Franklin 

71 Wm. A. Young 

72 Jno. L. Gregg 

73 Thos. Smith 

74 J. D. Hunter 

75 Dan'l A. Mure 

76 J. W. Dortou 

77 W. McKinney 

78 Thos. Keeney 

79 H. H. Rice 

80 G. B. Webb 

81 J. H. Stevall 

82 C. C. Chiles 

83 Jno. Keeney 

84 W. E. Hanson 

85 S. M. Webb 

86 Caste B. Griffin 

87 Jno. Bung 

88 Thos. J. Brewer 

89 Jno. W. Watts 

90 Chas. A. Linkinanger 

91 R. S. Price 

92 Founlain Keeney 

93 B. B. Bravghwan 

94 Wm. Johnson 

95 Jno. L. Scase 

96 F. M. McKinney 

97 E. J. Cevley 

98 Jas. S. Snow 

99 W. C. Hockensmith 

100 Drias Gregg 

101 Wm. H. Kenick 

102 Chas. S. Easby 

103 Archibald Handlev 

104 Collms Walker 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



105 Tlios. Wolfe 

106 Jno. Russell 

107 Win. H. Franklin 

108 T. M. Walton 

109 Jno. W. May 

110 C. B. McRoberts 

111 Nelson Shull 

112 S. D. Mure 

113 Jno. G. Holloway 

114 David Oasley 

115 Jas. S. Nowland 

116 Jos. Sutrell 

117 Stephen J. Snow 

118 John Taylor 

119 B. B. Cave 

120 P. P. Hall 

121 Geo. Tosh 

122 J. Bennett 

123 Isaac Winfrey 

124 L. W. Colcord 

125 J. Howis Lee 

126 Wm. R. Creasen 

127 Isaac L. Coltin 

128 A. Coger 

129 C. M. Lee 

130 B. D. Scribner 

131 L. M. Webb 

132 Jas. H. Douglass 

133 T. H. Chiles 

134 S. J. Smith 

135 R. B. Fulkinson 

136 Riley Jones 
187 C. C. Coutes 

138 Jas. J. Murphy 

139 Martin R. McDowell 

140 Wm. J. White 

141 Jno. W. Clark 

142 Jno. W. Sharp 

143 Jas. A. Bolley Jack 

144 Jas. C. Easby 

145 Jno. D. Scidmon 

146 E. C. Rice 

147 Jas. H. Daniel 

148 Geo. W. Priddey 

149 Geo. W. Case 

150 Sam'l Robinson 

151 Chas. Duncan 

152 Geo. W. Redman 

153 Wm. Mure 

154 Wm. F. Snow 

155 A. J. Levgacre 

156 Henry Hughes 

157 Jacob Gregg 

158 Wm. M. Harris 

159 Jas. Watson 

160 F. M. Hambright 

161 Elijah Spainham 

162 Isaac Chatham 

163 S. S. Martleson 

164 J. W. Cox 

165 E. Carriger 

166 Jno. R. Franklin 

167 R. Snow 

168 H. W. King 

169 Asbury Humphrey 



170 Ed. T. Noland 

171 Amos Noland 

172 W. W. Cox 

173 Wm. Ish 

174 Wm. M. King 

175 Warham Earley 

176 RoUey Williams 

177 Rob't W. Buckner 

178 M. A. Reed 

179 Chas. G. Brockman 

180 Minor T. Smith 

181 D. W. Williams 

182 David L. Hunter 

183 E. M. McKee 

184 Wilson McTaylor 

185 Milton McMurray 

186 Thos. Wliite 

187 T. J. Bradley 

188 Wm. J. Tucker 

189 Jas. S. Cogswell 

190 Wilbur Cunningham 

191 Jas. Johnson, sen. 

192 Joseph Howard, jua. 

193 Wm. C. Estes 

194 Rufus King 

195 C. C. King 

196 B. C. Moore 

197 L. Cottingham 

198 Andrew Jackson 

199 Atheiel Strite 

200 David Condit 

201 L. S. Axslel 

202 Johnson Mclntre 

203 Wm. A. Stewart 

204 Wm. F. Harvey 

205 Lotan Smith 

206 John Smith 

207 Isaac B. Eree 

208 J. B. Titus 

209 D. Wright 

210 Absalom Hover 

211 Geo. W. Brattan 

212 Geo. M. Barnes 

213 Warren M. Haven 

214 Wm. Gray ham 

215 Joseph McEntre 

216 M. W. McKee 

217 Allen Crowley 

218 John Stevenson 

219 Francis M. Crowley 

220 John W. Freel 

221 John Walkins 

222 Henry Smith 

223 Thomas Russell 

224 Wm. J. Tillinghast 

225 James Stewart 

226 H. G. Wood 

227 Hollom Rice 

228 A J. Hyder 

229 Andrew Johnson 

230 Eli Snider 

231 L. H. Chivington 

232 W. W. Dedham 

233 H. Lightner 

234 OUver Philip 



472 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Council City, March 31, 1855. 
To his Excellency A. H. Keedek, Governor of Kansas Territory : 

We, the undersigned, citizens of the 7th election district, do herehy 
protest against the election of H, J. Stickler for councilman, and M. 
W. McGee for representative, for the following reasons, viz : We be- 
lieve there was a sufficient number of voters from the State of Mis- 
souri, who/elected the above named persons in ojjposition to the will 
of the legal voters of the district. Our reasons are, on the day be- 
fore the election, about fifty wagon-loads, besides quite a number on 
horseback, came in and camped near the house of Mr, Titus, and soon 
after voting, they returned back the way they came. Besides, we 
heard quite a number acknowledge that they lived in Missouri, and 
did not intend to live in Kansas. There was but one of the original 
judges present, and one of those appointed by the remaining judge 
was a resident of Missouri, by his own acknowledgment, and from 
the best information we can get, and^our asseveration is that the judges 
were not sworn in. Nor was an oath or affirmation required of any 
voter. 

Hallom Rice Wm. T. Tillinghast 

J. E. Stewart ^ Isaac D. Earl 
David Condit Absalom Hoover 

Joseph Mclntire Jas. H. Young 

P. S. Axtell Edward C. Johnson 

Johnston Mclntire Ithiel Strict. 



:i 



ss. 



The Territory of Kansas, 
United States of America 

Before me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace of the 'Tth district 
of said Territory, personally appeared Hallam Rice and James R. 
Stewart above named, who being duly sworn according to law_, doth 
depose and say^ that the facts set forth in the above protest are true 
to the best of their knowledge and belief. 

HALLAM RICE. 

J. R. STEWART. 

Sworn and subscribed before me, this 31st day of March, A. D. 
1855. MARCUS H. ROSE, J. P. 



Ninth District. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Robert Klotz, in Pawnee, Kansas 
Territory, in the ninth election district, for the election of members of 
council and of the house of representatives for the Territory of 
Kansas, do hereby certify, upon oaths, as judges of said election, 
that the following is a true and correct return of the.votes polled at 
such election by lawful resident voters, viz : 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



473 



1 C. R. Mobley 


39 


L. Sanders 


2 E. Conley 


40 


Benj. Dickerson 


3 W. A. Hammond 


41 


J. E. Sands 


4 Fox Booth 


42 James Fleming 


5 Chs. E. Hammond 


43 


Eobert Wilnn 


6 E. A. Hammond 


44 


E. W. Sweet 


7 Jno. A. Dyer 


45 


A. Eldridgc 


8 C. Albright 


46 


Jacob Schoonmaker 


9 M. F. Conway 


47 


Samuel Billings 


10 Wm. Cuddy 


48 


Nelson Morris 


11 A. J. McConnel 


49 


H. A. Lowe 


12 G. W. Marsten 


50 


G. F. Gordon 


13 J. H. Loder 


51 


Jaris Mott 


14 Wm. H. Moore 


52 


Lemuel Knapp 


15 F. G. Lovimaker 


53 


Jacob Swartwout 


16 John 0. Long 


54 


Ira Cobb 


17 Ahram Barry 


55 


W. W. Carr 


18 Eichard D. Wilson 


56 


E. N. Ti-ipp 


19 John Hamilton Scott 


57 


Henry Schup 


20 S. N. Bradford 


58 


Thos. Merriman 


21 Horace Bucklin 


59 


Ulyssus McCoy 


22 Chs. Werdknecht 


60 


Joseph Seals 


23 Jacob Sheir (sworn) 


61 


George B. Vanasdale 


24 Joseph C. Welfelt 


62 


John Reynolds 


25 Stephen L. Horn 


63 


S. A. Treat 


26 Warren Becwith 


64 Thomas Eeynolds, sr. 


27 Benj. F. Green 


65 


D. R. Perry 


28 James Lowery 


66 


Thomas Reynolds, jr. 


29 Joreb Lutcher 


67 


S. B. White 


30 Jacob Shelling 


68 


A. D. Gibson 


31 John Ochel (sworn) 


69 


G. W. Hubble 


32 Reuben Klintop 


70 


JohnJ)ixon (sworn) 
JohSttacluckiar 


33 John S. Price 


71 


34 William Bring 


72 John Westover 


35 Aaron Dutret 


73 B. S. Gardner 


36 George Taylor 


74 A. J. Dolph 


37 Wm. Mellman 


75 


William Erskin. 


38 S. K. Mills 








S. B. 


WHITE, ) 




A. D 


. GIBSON, V 




EGBERT WILSON, ) 



Judges. 



Ninth District — City of Paimee, K. T. 

For Council. For Representative. 

John Donaldson 23 S.D.Houston 56 

M.F.Conway 50 R. Garrit 18 

In council box there was one blank. 

We, tlie undersigned, hereby certify that the above is a true tally 
of the votes in the 9th district of Kansas Territory. 

S. B. WHITE, ) 

A. D. GIBSON, \ Judges. 

EOBERT WILSON, ^ 

Robert Wilson, J. B. White, and A. D. Gibson were sworn a« 
judges, according to the printed form. 



474 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Tenth Election District. — Rock Greek Precinct. 

James Wilson, Francis Bergeron, and Henry Rammelt, sworn as 
judges according to printed form. 

List of Voters. 

1 J. W. Lelanil 13 Joseph A. Myers 

2 Robert Bert;er 14 Michael Kapp 

3 AVm. D. Wkkes 15 Gabriel Cellar 

4 James Wilson 16 Francis A. Dakel 
6 Henry Riimwell 17 Theophihis Dakel 

6 Francis Bergeron 18 Michael Flois 

7 J. D. Adams 19 J. B. D. Frapp 

8 Robert Wilson 20 Julius Berger 

9 Wm. Seymour 21 John Clark, (sworn) 

10 Andrew Noll 22 Honry Rodicks 

11 J. H. Halt 23 Henry Rodicks, jr. 

12 Matthias Flois •■ 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election hold on the 30th of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Robert Wilson, in Rock Creek 
precinct, in the tenth election district, for the election of members of 
council and of the house of representatives for the Territory of 
Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, 
that tlie following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at 
such election by lawful resident voters, viz : 

For Council. ^^ For Representatives. 

Martin F. Conway.....^. 21 Samuel D Houston 21 

John Donaldson 2 Russell Garrett 2 

Witness our hands this 30th day of March, A. D. 1855. 

JAMES WILSON, 
HENRY RAMWELL, 
FRANCIS BERGERON. 



Tenth District — Big Blue Precinct. 

March 30, 1855, Marshall A. Garrett, William C. Dyer, Joseph 
Stewart, sworn as judges, by S. C. Dyer, according to printed form of 
oath. 

List of names supposed to be poll-lifit. 

1 Nathaniel R. Wright 12 Aseph Browning(oath) 

2 Luke T. Lincoln 13 James Bishop (oath) 

3 S. S. Hascall 14 Jerome E. AVood 

4 J. F. Goodnow 15 Joseph Winterworth (oath) 
6 Z. Avey 16 Da\ad Gorman (oath) 

6 Newel lYafton 17 John Soupine (oath) 

7 John Fhigg (oath) 18 S. D. Dyer 

8 Abraham 0. Dyer 19 Lewis Soupine 

9 W. J. Osborn (oath) 20 W. F. Moses 

10 A. Leroy Prentiss 21 Malacha Glenn* (oath) 

11 John Hoar (oath) 22 T. R. Burney (oath) 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



475 



23 J. L. Sledrnan ( 


^ath) 


47 


John Wilbur 


24 W. K. DykcH foath) 


48 


D. A. RuKHell 


25 Faulkner Kennedy (oath) 


49 


Alden liahrxick 


2fi Atjraham C. Martin 


50 


W. D. Clardy 


27 John Alexander 


(oath) 


51 


M. A. Ciarrett 


28 John McYntire 




52 


S. J. ChildB 


29 CyruH Garritt (oath) 


53 


C. H. Lovejoy 


30 lKaa<; P. Walker 


(oath) 


54 


Geo. W. L<x;kwood Coath) 


31 H, R. McElvain 


(oath) 


55 


J. l!>igar BiHHell 


32 Joseph White 




56 


Geo. W. ?]ubank 


33 Win. Walker 




57 


A. A. Garritt (oathj 


34 E. G. Hintfjn 




58 


Wm. C. Dyer 


35 H. P. Cutting 




59 


G. Jilton 


3C George Frawer 




60 


A. G. Allen 


37 John Dial 




61 


E. M. Thurston 


38 David Hays 




62 


M. B. Govvera 


39 S. D. Houston 




63 


A. GowerH 


40 Wm. Karl 




64 


S. Hayes 


41 Wm. Hannah 




65 


John Hayes 


42 Henry Green 




66 


T. Blar;kler 


43 C. E. lilood 




67 


G. W. Dehots 


44 S. Whilehom 




68 


Henry B. f>age 


45 J. Stewart 




69 


Hatch Hall 


46 J. P. Brayton 









We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of S. D. Dyer, Blue River precinct, 
in the 10th election district, for the election of merahers of council 
and of the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do 
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the 
following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such elec- 
tion by lawful resident voters, viz : 



For Council. 

Whole number votes cast 



69 



For Eepresentatives. 

Whole number votes cast 



64 



Martin F. Conway 42 

John Donaldson 27 



Samuel D. Houston 43 

Russell Garrett 21 

J08EPH STEWART. 
M. H. GARRETT. 
WM. 0. DYER. 



Eleventh District. 



George W# Pence, Wm. P. McLane, and S. N. Spratt, severally 
sworn as judges according to printed form. 

The undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of March, 
A. D. 1855, at the house of Marshall & Woodward, in the eleventh 
election district, for the election of members of council and of the 
house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby cer- 
tify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a 
true and correct return of thQ votes polled at such election by lawful 
resident voters, viz : 



476 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



For Council. 



Jolin Donaldson. 
M. F. Conway.... 



.328 

o 
O 



For Representative. 

Francis J. Marshall 328 

WM. P. McLANE, ) 

S. N. SPRATT, } Judges. 

a. W. PENCE, ) 



List of votes polled at an election held at the trading house of Marshall 
& Woodward, in the eleventh election district, Kanzas Territory, on 
Friday, March 30, 1855, in pursuance of a proclamation of A. H. 
Reeder, governor of said Territory, for the election of a member of 
council and delegate to the house of representatives. 



1 Samuel Smith 

2 Marcus Toad 

3 Levi Rooks 

4 Philip Wirabarger.. 

5 John Boyd 

6 J. B. Hendon 

7 J. G. Blue 

8 N. B. Tompliins . . . 

9 James Edins 

10 KichardLitfield.... 

11 Moses McGrew 

12 James Howks 

13 Joseph Lower 

14 Richard Jacks 

15 Climon Fugis 

16 James Goodman. .. 

17 Joseph Hulster 

18 Wm. F. Tolston... 

19 James H. Johnston. 

20 Wm. P. Long 

21 Geo. W. Bates 

22 John Harners 

23 H«nry Armstrong.. 

24 Henry Emerson.... 

25 Wm. Derwent 

26 Jesse Bailie 

27 James Gordon 

28 B.C.Clark 

29 Davis G.Todd... 4 

30 James Barnam 

31 John Tompkins.... 
3Q F. L. Michell 

33 Thos. Clark 

34 Wm. Holt 

85 Willis Grimes 

36 Lews Moodcrs . . . . 

37 J. Tolbert 

38 Wm. Miller 

39 Samuel Adams.... 

40 S. F. Binum 

41 Morton Ramey 

42 H. Cummins 

43 Daniel Forster 

A. S. Brown 

45 Hamilton Brown . . . 

46 John Norris 

47 Thos. Mackey 

48 J.C.Owens 

49 Richard Taney 



Council. 



Ho. of 
Reps 



John T. Greenwood. 
A. S.Clark 



Geo. F. Hubbard 

Robt. C. Brown 

H. G. Wodard 

James Powers 

B. F. Bell 

Wm. Brunder 

JohnG. Clark 

Lewis Riney 

Samuel Weldon 

James Fulks. . . . .• 

John Kennedy 

Michel Stubbs 

James Bradshaw 

John Covis 

Nero Thompson 

R. C. Bishop 

Rufus Hoy 

Arch. F. Brown 

G. M. Hunt 

John Saunders 

Abm. Hayer 

P. S. Haden 

John Winn 

J. F. Allen, jr 

T. G. Mattocks 

James McCaller 

John Reed 

John F. Allen, sen 

John Bnrgoyne 

Wm. B. Hubbard 

A. Dolson 

G. Hunt 

Thos. B. Awl 

W. Reid 

Abraham Patters 

S.M.Knox 

D. Lampson 

G, Supplex 

David Stout 

Elijah Silbers 

Israel L. Ash 

W. F. Cowton 

Samuel Reed , . . . .^ . 

S. C. Brown 

Wallace Ivirkwood 

Wm. Handlers 



CoimcU. 



Ho. of 
Reps. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
List of votes — Continued. 



477 



99 Robl. Hoy 

100 Daniel Scrigner.... 

101 S. Smith 

102 S. Mitcliell 

103 R. Field 

104 L. M. Moore 

105 ElishaWitt 

106 Robt. Blover 

107 John S. Christy . . . . 

108 S.Owen 

109 John Combs 

110 F.J.Marshall 

111 John Cole 

112 H. D. Coldnian .... 

113 John Maury 

114 J. R. Vance 

115 A.D.Hamilton.... 

116 Wm. C. Webb 

117 James Welch 

118 Robt. Hilton 

119 James Savage 

120 Geo. M. Pirth 

121 Joseph W. La Fare 

122 A. K. Lambs 

123 Willis Cole 

124 James Ransdall .... 

125 John Spencer 

126 J. BuUard 

127 H.G.Smith 

128 Samuel McCall.... 

129 H. N. Beacum 

130 J. McDill 

131 B.Bremer 

132 M. Bogin... 

133 Ralph Amen 

134 T. C. Aaron 

135 John Crabb 

136 J.Johnson 

137 Paul Kish 

138 Marion FrankUn... 

139 J. R. Black 

140 John Henry 

141 John Dement 

142 James Lumens .... 

143 John Cumings 

144 B.S.Hart 

145 N. C. Boone 

146 Jesse Scrock 

147 James Shadcock. ,. 

148 Wm. Cook 

149 Jacob Thadis 

150 David Shelton 

151 M.C.Robinson..., 

152 Wm. Head 

153 L. Cheyney 

154 Abraham Hicks.... 

155 James E. Sage 

156 Jacob Butts 

157 John Ramsey 

158 Johnson Merryfield 

159 Stephen Hancock.. 

160 C. Butcher 

161 James Beitler 

162 Jefferson Lands 

163 Moses Shoemcher . 

164 Wm. Vaugn 

165 Stephen Fieling. . . . 

166 Silas Parvan 

167 JohnH. Dobson ... 
68 James Goodman . . , 

169 Geo. W. Briggs.... 

170 Hern Van Helt 

171 M.F.Carrol 

172 T. Fowler 



Coimcil. 



Ho. of 
Reps. 



173 John P. Stonmanar . 

174 John Dawson 

175 John N. Pervis 

176 D.B.Allen 

177 Alex. Lanch 

1 78 Wm. James 

179 John James , 

180 Thos. J. Wilkerson., 

181 Jos. K. Hardy , 

182 R. Dowkens , 

183 Wm. Strattham 

184 John Huston 

185 F. D. Perkins 

186 Daniel Gilmer 

187 Wm. Townsend 

188 John Flinch 

189 Richard Clark , 

190 Smith Younts 

191 Chris. Carpenter 

192 Chas. Beale 

193 Jas. Henderson 

194 John Lovel 

195 George Leviet 

196 John Barbara 

197 J. Leviet , 

198 John Hocks 

199 John Hardwick 

200 Charles Wool 

201 Wm. Bucks 

202 N.F.Todd 

203 Wm. Craig 

204 Aaron Gates 

205 Jerry Yatman 

206 Henry A. Bailey 

207 James Luthcrs 

208 John W. Co.x 

209 Henry Myers 

210 Daniel Witler (.') 

211 John Handcock 

212 John View 

213 Wm. Baker 

214 A.P.Dow 

215 Wm. Smith 

216 Arch. McJones 

217 Samuel Hargus 

218 John Heels 

219 Benj. Wallace 

220 Richard H. Wallace . . 

221 James Gorncby 

222 John H. Perkins 

223 H. McLean 

224 John S. Mothershead. 

225 B.L.Jackson 

226 Harvey Sharp 

227 Wm. Jackson 

228 Thos. T. Mullins .... 

229 Jas. Dobbinspikes . . . . 

230 T. S. Brown 

231 Philip Bridges 

232 Joseph Davidson 

233 Milton Farrier 

234 R. G. Bagby 

235 Win. Hockston 

236 John G. Brick 

237 D. Bowine 

238 Nelson Woods 

239 C. Lynch 

240 Thos. Berry 

241 Wilson Tinson 

242 Robt. Webster 

243 John Tinner 

244 J. N. Bruton 

245 John Lamb 

246 David McQuitty . • . . . . 



Council. 



Ho. of 
Reps. 



478 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
List of votes — Continued. 







Council. 


Ho. of 
Reps. 




Council. 


Ho. ol 
Reps. 




n 

o 

g 

Q 


a 
o 
O 


=3 

1 


I 

73 

§ 
Q 


a 
o 


1 


247 








1 
1 
1 


290 
291 
292 
293 
294 
295 
296 
297 
298 
299 
3lK) 
301 
302 
303 
304 
305 
306 
307 
308 
309 
310 
311 
312 
313 
314 
315 
316 
317 
318 
319 
320 
321 
322 
323 
324 

;«5 

336 
327 
328 
329 
330 
331 






...... 

...... 




248 




W. T. Jacknian 




249 


N. Tver 






250 








231 










S. P. Jacks 




252 


Hciiiy Nailor 












253 














254 


0. M. Darby 













255 


Thos. Carter 




256 














957 










Gciirgi' Wassaman 

Charles Wist 




258 


Sulnev Douglass 










259 


Will. McGou 








Peter Hiugins 




9m 










Henry Gearhart 

Jack Simon 

P. U. Mitehel 




261 




1 




1 

1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 




262 


H. Clay Cuuniiigham 




26:j 


Thos. Radclirt". 




264 








265 










266 








267 


Thos. Kellers 






268 


J. 1,. I'lior 






269 




A. McClelland 






270 








271 




1 






272 


Pt'tcr Strung 


R. M. Clark 




973 








274 
275 


J. Walpscale 


W. P. Hamilton 




"76 








Oliver Hiirteliett 




277 


Will. McMutlin 




278 


David Wise 


B. Wilson 




979 


Martin F. Fisher 






280 








081 




J. T. Jenks 




98^ 


T. W. Tliornsburv 






283 


L. Cliurcli 


A. J. Mackey 

J.W.Johnston 




284 
9>y. 


1-iauner ^Vood\va^d 




9Sfi 








987 


John Stone 






988 


A.J. Johnston 


S. Neal Spratt 




989 


F. M. Woodward 













S. N. Spratt and George W. Pence, sworn according to printed form, 
as in district No. 1, before Wm. P. McLure, judge and J. P., and Wm. 
P. McLure, before 8. N. Spratt, judge, as judges of the election, held at 
the house of Marshall & Woodward, in the eleventh election district. 



T^7ELPTH Election District. — Silver Lake Precinct. 

John H. Welles, E. R. Kennedy, and N. K. Winegardner, sworn 
as judges according to printed form. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of March, 
A. D. 1855, at the store of Sloan & Bobean, in Silver Lake precinct, 
in the 1 2th election district, for the election of members of council 
and of the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do 
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the fol- 
lowing is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election 
by lawful resident voters, viz : 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



479 



For members of Council. 

Martin F. Conway received l*? votes. 

John Donaldson received 12 '' 

For members of the House of Representatives. 

Homan McCartney received 19 votes. 

F. J. Marshall received 12 " 

Witness our hands and seals this 30th day of March, 1855. 

N. K. WINEGAKDNER, [l. s.] 
JOHN H. WELLES, [l. s.I 

E. R. KENNEDY, [l. s.] 

List of voters. 

1 H. Wild 17 Robert Aims 

2 E. Stephens 18 G. W. Benker 

3 D. J. niomas 19 John H. Welles 

4 Job P. Abkert 20 N. R. Wyangardner 
6 Joseph Ogee 21 E. Kennidy 

6 John G. Ogee 22 T. Denevan 

7 Trugett Allin 23 Jolin Murphy 

8 Robert McNown 24 Wilhurn A. Eby 

9 E. L. Young 25 Thomas Fogarty 

10 M. B. Bolien 26 Charles Coyle 

11 L. H. Ogee 27 Charles H. Bololier 

12 B. T. Anscum 28 Robert Sheehy 

13 B. N. Harris 29 P. Fogarty 

14 R. M. .Jones 30 M. Birch 

15 E. W. Finch 31 F. H. Cuntryman 

16 M. A. G. Bistick 



Twelfth District. — St. Marif s precinct. 

Palmer McCartney, Luther R. Palmer^ and Alvah Higbee were 
sworn as judges of election, according to printed form. 



Poll list. 



1 J. D. Lusley 

2 A. Higbee 

3 Basil Greenore 

4 L. R. Palmer 
6 G. Booth 

6 P. McCartney 



7 C. Milot, (sworn) 

8 0. H. P. Polk 

9 Thomas Quigley, (sworn) 

10 Philip Wymer 

11 J. L. Wilson 



[Signed by judges.] 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the store of B. H. Bertrand, in St. Mary's 
precinct, in the twelfth election district, for the election of members 
of council and of the house of representatives for the Territory of 
Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, 
that the following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at 
such election by lawful resident voters, viz : 

For member of Council. — The whole number of votes given for 
council was eleven : John Donaldson received four votes for council, 
ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth districts ; and Martin F. Conway 
received, for council, seven votes, 



480 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

For member of the House of Bepresentatives. — Palmer McCartney 
received seven votes for representative. 

F. J. Marshall received three votes for delegate, eleventh and 
twelfth districts ; and Frank J. Marshall one vote for tlie same, 

L. K. PALMER. 

PALMER McCartney. 

ALVAH HIGBEE. 



Thirteenth District. 

We, the undersigned, judges selected by tellers, this the 30th day 
of March, 1855, do solemnly swear that we will act as judges of the 
election to be held at Hickory Point, in the thirteentli district, on 
the above-named day, for the purpose of electing members of the 
council and house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, 
and that we will conduct this election impartiall}^ and to the best of 
our ability in accordance with the act of Congress organizing the 
Territories of Nebraska and Kansas. 

RICHARD CHANDLER. 

N. B. HOPEWELL. 

WM. M. GARDINER. 

8worn to and subscribed before me the day and vear above named. 

0. B. TEB^F, J. P. 

We, theundersigned, judges of an election held on the 30tli of March, 

A. D. 1855^ at the house of Charles Heard, of the Territoiy of Kan- 
sas, in the thirteenth election district, for the election of members of 
council and house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do 
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, tliat the fol- 
lowing is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election 
by lawful resident voters, viz : 

R. R. Rees, for council 233 votes. 

D. J. Eastin, for council 233 " 

W. H. Tibbs, for representative 237 " 

B. H. Tombly, for council 6 " 

A. J. Whitney, for council 6 '' 

0. Hard, for representative ; 3 " 

Two blanks in the ballot-box. 

N. B. HOPEWELL, ) 

WM. M. GARDINER, \ Judges. 

RICHARD CHANDLER, ) 

List of voters. 

0. G. McDonald Edward "Williams 

G. C. Clendy G. Adkins 

J. S. Barbee W. E. Collins 

J. T. Graven H. W. Marshall 

F. Jackson J. Harriss 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



481 



J. W. Pate 

D. lUxikholt 
J. C. Hawkins 
M. Leo 

T. J. OJiiifldy 
G. K. White 
J. McDanicl 
W. H. Arnold 
J. Parr 
R. Thompson 
T. L. Parrish 
A. Whitlock 
J. Lord 

F. Walker 
J. Duncan 

C. G. Whitlock 
W. W. Arnold 
W. C. Baker 
W. Iliompson 
L. Likjns 

J. Weekly 
W. Moutre 

E. Henshaw 
J. L. Miller 
A. Everett 
A. GrcRg 

P. Keith 
W. F. Walkup 
W. Thatcher 
H. C. Arnold 
A. C. Woods 

D. Gentry 
W. II. Davis 
J. Williams 
J. T. Wilson 
Jno. Wilson 
Jno. Cook 

E. Colegrove 

G. L Marret 
W. M. Gardner 
W. Rogers 

A. Crane 

J. W. Parrish 

C. Marin 
H. Whitlaw 
A. Chesterson 

D. Hunt 
J. Walkup 
W. H. Brown 
R. C. Ewing 
J. S. Malotte 
T. Chinn 

S. Almot 

T. Gregg 

J. Belcher 

W. P. Judy 

J. Hammond 

J. W. Woods 

J. W. Mitchell 

W. Brightwell, (oath) 

J. lliatcher 

A. T. Young 

J. B. Cox 

J. T. Gardiner 

J. F. Gregg 

A. J- Lawrence 

H. Rep. 200- 



-31* 



S. J. Brooks 

E. W. Mason 
J. Duncan 
W. S. Carr 
W. C. Snail 
M. Anderson 
W. Walter 
P. Bradley 
T. Kenedy 
J. 8. Dorsey 
W. B. Mitchell 

F. Sprague 

J. Brackenridge 

D. S. Wood 

T. J. Richards 

R. Whitehead 

J. W. Gow 

H. Banfield 

O. Storer, (oath) 

O. Smith 

.S. Tolson 

W. Crown 

A. Wills 

A. Pemherton 

G. W. Grason 
J. White 

A. Ecten 
J. P'stis 

J. N. Wilardson 
W. D. Kimscy 

F. N. Gardner 

G. Parrott 
C Vincent 

J. Kurkendall 
M. B. Mcnier 
J. Falkncr 
W. Pemherton 

E. D. Neely 
W. Booth 
L. Hinckle 
W. T. Parker 
J. llpton 

D. Conway 

B. I'rather 
J. Bretz 
L. B. Hoy 
H. Powell 

A. Hammond 
W. A. Burton 

C. Moulton 
J. Brooks 

G. F. Clemens 
W. P'aulkner 
W. White 
R. S. Jones 
G. T, Hughes 
Jackson Vivion 
A. A. Ross 

D. Thatcher 
T. Asiies 

T. Marshall 

E. Fox 
J. Morris 
W. Hoy 

W. M. Jenkins 
J. W. Thompson 



482 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



D. Johnson 
J. C. Lillard 

J. W Hickman 
W. Sprague 
J. W. Jones 
W. P. Cox 

E. F. Allen 
C. Hedricks 
G. W Bridge* 
J. Gallaway 
H. Waller 

T. J. Fielding 
E. Marshall 
J. W. Young 
J. Horner 
J. Miles 
J. Williams 
J. B. V. McCalS 
A. B. Murray 
P. Fleshman 

A. Lanehart 
R. Parker 
J. Peters 

T. J. Jones^ (oath) 

B. Bngby 
J. A. Reed 
A. L. Darby 
T. Marshall 
G. W. Dyer 
W. Carpenter 
H. Holder 

G. H. Holbert 

L. Sheppard 

J. Davis 

D. Gregg 

M. Christerson 

J. Chandler 

L. Cobb 

P. J. Collms 

P. Clem 

J. Berry 

A. Judy 

R. Range 

S. Gotleff 

R. K. Giant 

J. Yoatum 

James Gcirdner 

W. A. Fox 

M. Thomas 

M. Woods 



J. Busby 

T. Crone 

S. S. Crosswhite 

J. W. Duncan 

R. R. Coram 

A. Hollyclaw 
H. W. Jinks 

C. H. Larmar 
W. R. Wanton 

B. Briuton 
A. Clark 

R. J. Fulton 
P. Elington 

D. F. Tibbs 

Q. F. Broadhurst 

P. Dufer 

J. R. Beagle 

D. T. Jones 

W. Meridith 

T. Huntingtoik 

J. Ecton 

W. G. Berry 

N. B. Lamar 

S. Hudson 

J. W. Winston 

W. F. Dyer 

A. Estis 

A. J. Morrow 

N. Humber 

J. L. Graves 

L. M. Graves 

W. G. Graves 

R. Grant 

T. P. Chandler 

W. T. Smidtson 

C. Alson 

C. B. llbbs 

R. H. Dyer 

A. B. Sharp 

R. Chandler 

W. M. Gardiner, sen, 

N. B. Hop«welI 

W. H. IHbbs 

John Bradshaw 

Antout Poss 

Chas. Harris 

John Myers 

John Jeffries 

R. M. Carter 



Thirteenth District. — Second return. 



H. C. Cory, S. B. Eoss, and J. Atkinson, were duly sworn a.« 
judges, according to the printed form. 

We, the undersigned, judges appointed to hold an election in the 
thirteenth district, to be held at the house of Charles Heard, in said 
district, after having met at the place and time appointed, and having 
taken the oath prepared for said judges, we proceeded to open said 
election, and to receive votes. But on account of the vast number of 
citizens who had come over from the State of Missouri, and assembled 
themselves together for the purpose of illegally changing the result 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 483 

of said election "by their illegal votes, and also by assembling in 
great numbers in and around the window when the legal voters 
wished to deposit their votes, to the great prevention of the citizens 
of the Territory, which caused many of the said legal voters to leave 
said election without voting, on account of the little respect shown 
them by the citizens of Missouri, which we, the said judges, appointed 
by your excellency to hold said election, seeing the strong determina- 
tion on the part of citizens from Missouri to vote, and no citizens of 
said district voting or offering to vote, we thought it our duty to 
decline sitting as judges at said election on account* of said illegal 
voters. 

We^ the undersigned judges, certify that this is a true return of the 
facts and proceedings of this day, in a very brief manner, to the best 
of our knowledge and belief. 

Yours, truly, 

S. B. EOSS. 

H. C. CORY. 

J. ATKINSON, 



Fourteenth District — Burr Oak Precinct. 



Albert Heed, H. J. Johnson, and Gary B. Whitehead, judges, were 
duly sworn according to printed form, in district No. 1, before Thos- 
W. Watterson, J. P, 

List of the voters of Burr Oak precinct at an election held at the. house-- 
of Milton E, Bryant, on the 30th of Blarcli, A. D. 1855, before the 
undersigned judges, duly qualified and sivorn by Gary B. Whitehead. 
Albert Heed^ and, H. J. Johnson. 



1 E. Blackston 

2 Thomas H. Baker 

3 M. Die 

4 Samuel Montgomcrj' 

5 F. Ridge 

6 B. D. Hazelwood 

7 B. E. Lowen 

8 Wm. N. Irish 

9 F. B. Anderson 

10 E. G. Robinson 

11 James Sellers 

12 James Watterson 

13 Thomas J. Dowlen 

14 John Edmonson 

15 William Thomas 

16 Oly Evans 

17 James Graham 

18 Jackson Thornton 

19 .Juoejui Siium, (oath) 

20 G.'-.rire Shnm 

21 William Jordan 

22 Andrew A. Hare 

23 William Dccherd 

24 Willi;tui Ridge 

25 A. Lazoiuu 



26 J. Lewis 

27 Peter A. Roke 

28 Wm. M. Morgan 

29 Matliias Rapp 

30 J. W. Smith - 

31 J. H. Merrill 

32 W. H. Allen. 

33 Samuel Pills . 

34 J. D. Armibtrong 

35 J. Peters 

'6G John M. Trocy 

37 John Doyle 

38 Anderson Gladden 

39 Henry Lewis 

40 H. Joyl 

41 Robert Whitsell 

42 John W. Copeland 

43 J. D. Lawhorn 

44 N. Bell 

45 Mathew Elliotte 
40 R. Myers 

47 H. Jackson 

48 H. Thompson 

49 M. T. Sweeney 

50 E. K King 



484 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



51 James Roberts 

52 Thcod. Longtour 

53 William Shelton 

54 James Loughton 

55 L. D. Cook 

56 E. Eggans 

57 E. Smith 

58 C. L. Parker 

59 P. Lowrie 

60 R. Todd 

61 Wm. A. Tubble 
rZ S. M. Gordon 
©3. J. Denobls 

64 0. Herlen 

65 Joseph. Ashley 

66 J. Coke 

67 J. W. Stephens- 

68 Edward Snider 

69 F. Beausun 

70 K. Asborn 

71 E. P. Weaver 

72 Leander McClellan 

73 Jacob Sonder 

74 James Loud 

75 S. L. Sollers 

76 W. Matthews 

77 S. P.Blair 

78 Pael Menmon 

79 Presteu Riones 

80 Benjitmin Duncan 

81 E. Mason 

82 S. G. Floyd 

83 Wm. J. Roland 

84 L. Copeland 

85 J. H. Parker 

86 J. C. Copeland 

87 W. D. Moore 

88 M. Osbun 

89 B. Kern 

90 H. D. Adams 

01 F. Mowrie 

02 H. Smallwood 
93 W. H. Gillispie 
.94 Wm. McGreu 

95 W. Chapman 

96 W. Ayers 

97 Isaac Thornton 

98 Daniel Morrow 

99 Merrill Willis 

100 C. Mowrie 

101 J. W. Smith, jr 

102 Wm. B. Shoupe 

103 C. H. Rodgers 
105 P. Y. .Roberts 
;106 J. M. Pormer 

107 S. Kirkpatrick 

108 John F. Bradley 

109 John Pecan 

110 T. Reed 

111 T. Trunt 

112 B. H. Brock 

113 John Arnold 

114 John Henderson 

115 John Copeland 

116 J. Kendall 

117 W. Palmer 



118 J. M. Grooms 

119 N. Holmes 

120 Q. Ball 

121 E.Merrill 

122 F.Duval 

123 J. Randolph 

124 J. C. Stuneff 

125 John Fee 

126 E. F. Wells 

127 Dona James 

128 Jacob Cogdell 

129 H. G. Gorden 

130 John P. Munch 

131 Philip James 

132 J. R. Gibson 

133 Thomas Chaffee 

134 Steward Cameroii 

135 H. H. Woodson 

136 Andrew Cowen 

137 Levi Lynn 

138 J. P. Ewin 

139 A. D. Dougherty 

140 J. Couffin 

141 J. Craft 

142 William Davis 

143 John Daugherty 

144 H. G. McClintock 

145 Benj. Sprouse 

146 James 0' Toole 

147 Sam. Gordon 

148 L. Teagarden 

149 Peter Cadue 

150 Major Adair 

151 John Kellcy 

152 LontTribble 

153 G. Kelley 

154 S. K. Cambell 

155 A. Tribble 

156 Chiles Cravein 

157 Levi Shepherd 

158 John Trotman 

159 H. L. Creal 

160 John Truman 

161 F. Larun, (oath) 

162 C. Slemmer 

163 Alex. Newby 

164 Thomas Howel 

165 James Taylor 

166 Isaac Legar 

167 Count Forien 

168 Robert Reed 

169 Doct. T. Pierce 

170 G. W. Gillespie 

171 H. A. McClmtock 

172 R. B. Agee 

173 Ely Copeland 

174 J. Welch 

175 Johnson Carson 

176 J. W. Collins 

177 J. J. Lowelady 

178 Moses McMahan 

179 Wm. J. Copeland 
ISO S. H. Roscoe 

181 C. M. Gilmore 

182 W.H. Burns' 

183 W. Stuneff 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



485 



184 M. E. Bryant 

185 George Kincade 

186 Wm. Laforge 

187 Ed. Walto 

188 Joseph Baker 

189 J. F. Dezeal 

190 J. Morris 

191 D. A. Pugh 

192 Horace Lyon 

193 Frost Snow 

19-i Chas. B. Weigh tman 

195 Henry Boot, (oath) 

196 Francis Murphey 

197 John Wise, (oath) 

198 Casper Lorman 

199 Benjamin Hordenly 

200 G. W. Davis 

201 A. F. Burns 

202 A. Armstrong 

203 John Beattee 

204 0. H. P. Craig 

205 E. M. William 

206 James Howel 

207 Benjamin Samuell 

208 John McCaffcrty 

209 Joel P. Blair 

210 C. W. Stewart 

211 Newton R. Carter 

212 Nimrod Duncan, sr. 

213 E. M. Gilliam 

214 G. W. Baker 

215 G. W. Davis 

216 Thomas Bloukenship 

217 Francis Young 

218 D. B. Tendal 

219 J. P. Hopmau 

220 Mathew Ibis 

221 William H. Davis 

222 Franklin Kune 

223 William Salley 

224 William Dodson 

225 James Shaw 

226 M. Moupin 

227 T. B. Gorden 

228 M. M. C. Williams 

229 Joseph Succliff 

230 James Otval, sr. 

231 S. H. Pendleton 

232 Yarnig Owen 

233 Allen G. Mousfield 

234 Tliomas C. Stewait 

235 C. L. Hardy 

236 T. A. West 

237 John K. Johnsoa 

238 W. Craig 

239 James Gillespie 

240 John S. Tisdale 

241 Charles V. Bird 

242 M. Ashburn 

243 M. B. Wood 



244 E. Campbell 

245 H. B. Sparks 

246 W. K. Richardson 

247 James M. Teagarden 

248 T. M. Moss 

249 A. D. McDaniel 
25t) Frank Kensler 

251 E. Richardson 

252 W. R. Roberts 

253 Peter Munroe 

254 S. W. Woodcock 

255 Samuel Vincent 

256 W. M. Drak<3 

257 William Nichols 

258 Wm. P. Richardson 

259 T. W. Waterman 

260 William Robertson. 

261 Emmet Fulkerson 

262 E. M. France 

263 H. C. Wrose 

264 L. F. Carpenter 

265 Absalom Grooms 

266 Elig Gilliam. 

267 JolmHobain 

268 A. J. Benson 

269 H. H. Chamley 

270 E. Taylor 

271 David Todd J " 

272 Philip Korlen j 

273 Hyram Karam 

274 S. D. Cowen 

275 Mark Vaughan 

276 Minrod Bachele 

277 B. Dodd 

278 Samuel Anderson 

279 Jacob Osenburger 

280 James Wichel 

281 Abram Lynch 

282 John C. Wood 

283 William Authine 

284 James W. Davis 

285 James MoGraft 

286 E. S. Stut«on 

287 Richard Morris 

288 S. W. Moms 

289 S. E. Morris 

290 R. L. Morris 

291 Hiram Daris 

292 G. B. Groomer 

293 W. J. Palmer 

294 Burtes McCaul 

295 William G. Fee 

296 William Gregor 

297 J. R. Whitehead 

298 D. Otval 
2D9 Tapley Ralph 

300 Albert Herce 

301 Cary B. Whitehead 

302 H. L. Johnson 

303 Wm. A. Hill 



We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th dav 
of March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Milton E. Bryant, in the 
Burr Oak precinct of the fourteenth election district, for tlie election of 
members of council and of the house of representatives for the Ter- 



486 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



ritory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oatli as judges of said 
election, that thcfoUowing is a true and correct return of votes polled 
at such election by lawful resident voters, viz : 



For Council. 



For Keproscntativcs. 



Wm. P. Richardson 234 

John H. Whitehead 68 



Joel P. Blair 256 

Thos. W. Watterson... 258 

John Fee 2 

Which were all the votes polled on the day and year above men- 
tioned. 

GARY B. WHITEHEAD, ) 

H. J. JOHNSON, V Jiidgcs. 

ALBERT HEED. S 



Fourteenth District — Doniphan Precinct, 

N, J. Ireland, judge of Doniphan precinct, subscribed and sworn 
to the oath, per printed form, before William P. Lamb, another 
judge of election, and then administered the same oath to William 
P. Lamb and A. H. Dunning. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th da}' of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of J. W. and J. F. Foreman, Doni- 
phan precinct, in the fourteenth election district, for the election of 
members of council and of the house of representatives for tlie Territory 
of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said elec- 
tion, that the following is a true and correct return of the votes 
polled at such election by lawful resident voters, viz : 



1 W. H. Hinckman 

2 Georj^e Mitchcl 

3 W. E. Rucker 

4 Jesse Elliott 

5 Johu Phelps 

6 Joha N. Johnson 

7 R. E. Stuttard 

8 W. E. Golden 

9 Is;iac T. L&wis 

10 Riehard P. Haw 

11 Wm. Robinson 

12 Thos. A. Morris 

13 Geo. A. Morris 

14 Adam Needles 

15 James M. Holland 

16 JolmG. Downing^ 

17 Thos. P. Knight 

18 W. N. Bragg 

19 E. J. Ray 

20 B. F. Lne;vs 

21 J. 0. By waters 

22 W. S. McDaniel 

23 Robt. M. Otlutt 
21 JohnCrmu 

25 .tVllen Favue 

26 P. W. Bywaters 



27 Nath. C. Squier 

28 Wm. Bro i 

29 Wm. Sutton 

30 N. H. Jacobs 

31 J. Newman 

32 A. J. Plumers 

33 F. B. Davidson 

34 John A. Thomas 

35 F. G. Oxley 

36 L. L. Bowles 

37 W. 0. Geter 

38 John W. Harris 

39 N. R. Green 

40 Wm. K. Alexander 

41 Wm. L. Davis 

42 J. T. Reed 

43 John E. BaU 

44 B. Crabb 

45 Jas. J. White 

46 M. A. Loveladj 

47 Henry Deer 

48 John H' rris 

49 John Christopher 

50 David Frank • 

51 Henry C. Grove 

52 James Jacobs 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



487 



53 Robt. Cobbell 

54 John M. McCorm:ick 

55 F. Scanlin 

56 W. D. Adams 

57 And. ChcnowitLi 

58 John Bennett 

59 W. II. Martin 

60 Congrave Warden 

61 Leonardo. Crabb 

62 James II. Davis 

63 Amos Crutchficld 

64 Wm. Isaachs 

65 Jesse Shepherd 

66 B. R. Wilraott 

67 S. T. Harper 

68 D. W. Martin 

69 W. Simons 

70 John H. Farmer 

71 H. J. Cowes 

72 W. W. Reynolds 

73 Albert Fletcher 

74 W. F. Martin 

75 Sidney S. Canter 

76 J. K. Dixon 

77 M. B. Wilson 

78 John H. Briscoe 

79 Luther Bartlett 

80 John Ingram 

81 John Doyle 

82 Alfred Dodson 
S3 W. S. Hughes 

84 Wm. Bywaters 

85 B. M. Bradford 

86 Calvin Wilkison 

87 James V. Cross 

88 Wm. Powell 

89 Noah Pincher 

90 R. B. Slaton 

91 Thomas Murphy 

92 Geo. T. Chalice 

93 D. H. P. Hammons 

94 James Wallace 

95 W. H. Cook 

96 Absalom Tagart 

97 C. W. Spencer 

98 Eli Hamilton 

99 Mathew Hall 

100 Wm. Moore 

101 Wm. E. Thomas 
10? Hugh Garnett 

103 Ocohuell Smith 

104 R. N. Darr 

105 Chas. S. Nevley 

106 L. F. Hume 

107 M. A. Clemens 

108 Robt. H, Stephenson 

109 Thos. J. Plummers 
James Plumers 

11.0 Thos. Faulkner 
l.U E. F. Perldns 

112 J. M. Plumers 

113 Wm. H. Miller 

114 Leonidas Oldham 

115 A. W. Hughes 

116 John Robinson 

117 Clinton Right 
lis 



119 Pay ton Tydus 

120 S. K. Wagers 

121 Joseph Taylor , 

122 A. C. Johnsoa 

123 J. M. Hazard 

124 W. V. Odus 

125 J. B. Regnej 

126 John Wiser 

127 H. Taylor 

128 John Taylor 

129 Wm. Ninemens 

130 V. Thomasson 

131 Alfred Fen ton 

132 Daniel Smoot 

133 S. T. Walters 

134 Thomas Rhea 

135 R. S. McCubbin 

136 Mathew Wills 

137 Samuel Taylor 

138 James Carter 

139 Charles Place 

140 Geo. A. Ringo 

141 C. Newman 

142 Isaac B. Williams 

143 Thos. C. Doxy 

144 F. M. McVey' 

145 Albert Krini 

146 J. H. Blassingame 

147 Coleman Riddhi 

148 E. S. MitcheU 

149 Geo. W. Carp 

150 H. W. Hudnell 

151 Jesse Mercer 

152 Jesse Morin 

153 Samuel Collins 

154 A. Morrill 

155 S. J. Carter 

156 Geo. V. Little 

157 Geo. MUlion 

158 Tbos. J. Stratton 

159 H. W. Cross 
ICO Wm. Dorr 

161 Jos. B. Stockton 

162 Alfred Rocker 

163 Joseph Crumwell 

164 Jonson Congrove 

165 Joshua Sanders 

166 Uriah Miller 

167 W. G. Tate 

168 Drake McDowell 

169 Wm. Young 

170 Abm. Brinker 

171 W. F. Tate 

172 Isaac Martin 

173 Richard J. Williams 

174 Daniel Shai'pe 

175 Etam Emerson 

176 Ira Nor r is 

177 John Galbray 

178 Noah Gore 

179 G. Page 

180 G. L. Gore 

181 John Martin 

182 Dudley McVay 

183 D. C. Judy 

184 Jas. Mitchell 

185 Leroy Beau 



488 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



186 B. S. Wliorton 

187 Wm. Black 

188 Pat. McVey 

189 Geo. M. Waller 

190 W. C. McVey 

191 Thomas Sweeton 

192 J. H. Robinson 

193 J. A. McVey 

194 J. F. Pendleton 

195 E. Watson 

196 Wm. Jackson 

197 John R. Mobley 

198 John Grace 

199 R. Black 

200 Wm. Smith 

201 Wm. Galhretb 

202 John Wisebart 

203 Charles Cummings 

204 W. Stewart 

205 W. Black 

206 John Saunders 

207 F. Pepper 

208 A. Taylor 

209 E. B.Dixon 

210 H.B- Watson 

211 Richard Yost 

212 J. H. Canlee 

213 D. S. Young 

214 Josh. McQueen 

215 L. A. Rutledge 

216 H. Zutt 

217 Jas. Black 

218 David Fiser 

219 Geo. Holinsworirb 

220 John Snyder 

221 H. Adams 

222 Thomas PlimmoES 
22.3 Josiah Howard 
224 Wm. McGinnis 

223 Jerry McCune 

226 Francis MitcheB 

227 E. C. Mason 

228 Sam. Dixon 

229 James Cornell 

230 Wm. Irvin 

231 Geo. Cater 

232 Eli Ward 

233 C. W. Hubbard 

234 Henry Williams 

235 W. H. Elliott 

236 John Cummings 

237 Alex. Vineyard 

238 R. Hudson 

239 B. Brady 

240 S. Hudson 

241 B. 0. Driscoll 

242 D. B. Hart 

243 Wm. Christopher 

244 Geo. W. Ledington 

245 Wm. Ager 

246 R. Bly 

247 J. H. Gilbert 

248 Wm. Twedell 

249 John Hammer 

250 Wm. Thomas 

251 Norman Alexander 



252 John Barker 

253 B. M. Hancock 

254 Smith Kennell 

255 P. M. Lucaa 

256 J. B. Black 

257 E. Harris 

258 Samuel Swinney 

259 W.S.Pennington 

260 Robt. English 

261 Aaron Stanton 

262 Isaac Cheniworth 

263 Joseph Bath 

264 Geo. Sumner 

265 J.T. Hinton 

266 A.Brown 

267 W.C. Barker 

268 Eli J. H. Russell 

269 John McNamee 

270 George Buck 

271 H. C. Da\asj 

272 J. Carson 

273 C. J. Yeary 

274 H. B. Yeary 

275 J. H. Yeary 

276 J.C.Marion 

277 C.W. Barker 

278 A. Cox 

279 David P. Ringo 

280 William Denning 

281 J.M.Perce 

282 J. P. Cordonia 

283 Andrew Abbott 

284 Richard Hisell 

285 Daniel Lamb 

286 John Silverthom 

287 Robert Ewing 

288 John Allcorn 

289 Pettis Wade 

290 Wm. Vineyard 

291 R. Smith 

292 Robert Davis 

293 J. L. Campbell 

294 Robert Shortridge 

295 Henry Chubb 

296 Squire AVade 

297 W. Allen 

298 Tliomas Saunders 

299 Wilhelm Poppys 

300 James F. Forman 

301 Joel Snider 

302 George Wilson 

303 G. T. Noxley 

304 Henry Judah 

305 Jacob Goshor 

306 William Moore, jr. 

307 H. J. Johnson 

308 R. T. Gillespie 

309 J. H. Stringfellow 

310 Andrew Jackson 

311 L. Dickerson 

312 E. Falwell 

313 B. W. Jones 

314 Henry McCune 

315 Robert H. Newton 

316 George Gheeter 

317 Henry Stapert 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 489 

SIS James Lyncli 333 Thomas H. Covington 

319 D. D. Hendricks 334 Robert Rockey 

320 Matthew Fitzpatrick 335 William Chamberlain 

321 James M. Crawford 336 J. N. Snyder 

322 Allen M. Baker 337 Wm. C. Wells 

323 Richard Tuck 338 Wm. Roberts 

324 John Chandler 339 Joel Ryan 

325 B. G. Wells 340 George Wells 

326 John McQueen 341 W. P. Lamb 

327 Aaron McQueen 342 M. J. Ireland 

328 Phineas B. Page 343 Alex. H. Dunning 

329 John Landis 344 J. A. Vanarsdale 

330 William T. S. Chudys 345 R. S. Kelley 

331 J. J. Graves 346 John Burns 

332 J. B. Griffin 

And we further certify that, on the day aforesaid, none of the judges 
of the above-named election being present at 9 o'clock, a. m. , at the 
above-named precinct, the undersigned were, by the voters of the 
aforesaid precinct, duly elected judges of said election. 

WILLIAM P. LAMB, } 

N. J. IRELAND, } Judges. 

ALEX. H. DUNNING, ) 

We, the undersigHcd, judges of the election held at Doniphan pre- 
cinct, hereby certify the whole number of votes received to be 346. 

For Council. For Representatives. 

James M. Forman 343 J. H. Stringfellow 313 

Richard L. Kirk 292 

G. A. Cutler 30 

T. Vanderslice 4 

John Landis 25 

Joel Ryan 18 

S. K. Miller 2 

Given under our hands this the 30th day of March, A. D. 1855. 

WILLIAM P. LAMB, ) 
N. J. IRELAND, } Judges. 

ALEX. H. DUNNING, ) 



Fourteenth District — Wolf Creek Precinct. 

Emerson V. B. Rogers, Granderson R. Wilson, and James M. Ir- 
vin severally subscribed the printed form of oath, but no signature is 
attached to the jurat. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th of 
March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Aaron Lewis, in the Wolf River 
precinct, 14th election district, for the election of members of council 
and of the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do 
hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the fol- 
lowing is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election 
by lawful resident voters, viz : 



490 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



For Council. 

John W. Formari 



For Representatives. 

74 J. H. Stringfellow 57 

Richard L. Kirk 52 

G. A. Cutler 15 

J. Ryan 8 

T. J. Vanderslice 1 

John Landis 8 

E. V. B. ROGERS, ) 

G. R. WILSON, } Judges. 

J. W. IRWIN, ) 

List of voters. 



1 Daniel Prif'hard 

2 Daniel Graves 

?> Anderson Sharp 
4 Henry Welsh 
6 A. Q. Rice 

6 John Freeman, (oath) 

7 Samuel Yerkley 

8 George W. Delamore 

9 Wm. B. Dunking 

10 H. W. Foreman 

11 W. B. Beeler 

12 D. Vanderslice 

14 Nelson Rogers 

15 Richard Leach 

16 Aaron Lewis 

17 Isaac E. Craig 

18 George Brown 

19 J. S. Femiton 

20 Peter Minheer 

21 Wm. Viekers 

22 Amos Critchfield 

23 Harding Critchfield 

24 F. M. Tufts 

25 Jas. Vanderslice 

26 Laban Pilchard 

27 Wm. Vanderslice 

28 P. A. Hooper 

29 Silas Stone 

30 H. O'Neal 

31 Thos. Martin 

32 G. A. Culer, (oath) 

33 Wm. Hammer 

34 Samuel Berright 

35 R. Dunkin 

36 S. G. Fish 

37 Geo E. Glass, (oath) 

38 W. W. Jugg 

39 Aaron P. Gyrick 

40 David Bogard 



41 Isaac Buster 

42 John Acord 

43 W. Lewis 

44 Daniel Johnson 

45 Alfred Gillmore 

46 G. W. Gay 

47 John Allpey 

48 John P. Johnson 

49 Milton Ult 

50 Rhanalph Stallard 

51 Thos. Allen 

52 David E. Martin 

53 George Jesse 

54 Jas. Martin 

55 C. Serls 

56 Harden Riddle 
67 R. M. Gillmore 

58 Josephus Ult 

59 W. M. Gillmore 

60 G. R. Willson 

61 Thos. Fitzhugh 

62 Lewis Davis 

63 Samuel Williams 

64 James Williams 

65 Jackson Becker 

66 Chas. Blakelay, (oath) 

67 E. B. Richardson 

(Judge resigned) 

68 Jonathan Springer 

69 Henry Embry 

70 E. V. B. Rogers 

71 James M. Ervin 

72 A. F. Ansburn 

73 Eli Gabberd 

74 Joseph Rice 

75 A. J. Rice 

76 Robert G. Maxwell 

77 C. McCain 

78 Morgan Jones 



FlTTEENTH DiSTMCT. 



Y e, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the thirtieth 
day of March, A. D. 1855, at the house of Charles Hayes, in the fif- 
te< nth election district, for the election of members of council and of 
the house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do herehy 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



491 



certify, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is 
a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election, hy law- 
ful resident voters, viz : 

For Councilman. 

D. A. N. Grover 411 

J. Freeland 1 

For Representative. 

H. B. C. Hams 412 

J. Weddle 412 

In testimony whereof, we, as judges of said election, have hereunto 
set our hands and seals, this 30th day of March, A. D. 1855. 

E. R. ZIMMERMAN. 
T. J. THOMPSON. 
M. T. BAILEY. 



Oaths of the foregoing judges, according to printed form, in district 
No. 1, before E. R. Zimmerman and T. J. Thompson. 



1 S. W. Tunnel 

2 M. J. nifth 

3 John Eldridge 

4 F. F. Couch 

4 Wm. Logan 

5 B. A. Jones 

6 J. H. Gant 

7 Thomas Vizinli, S 

8 Wm. Bumel 

9 E. Palmer, S 

10 Henry Weathers, S 

11 G. D. Gant 

12 W. S. Gant 

14 .J. L. Johnson, S 

15 Isaac Palmer 

16 W. H. Midleton 

17 G. Jones, S 

18 J. H. Riclis, S 

19 T. J. Medingly 

20 G. W. Spenser 

21 D. B. Kenshel 

22 Lewis Warner 

23 Andrew Baydson 

24 J. T. Baley 

25 C. C. Brodman 
2() J. T. Moore 

27 Benjamin Dunkin 

28 J. W. Man 

29 J. Dean 

30 J. W. Foster 

31 S. K. Hays 

32 Wm. Jackson 
3'i Wm. Lacy, S 
34 J. B. Dean, S 
.^5 Robert Kid, S 

36 R. C. Combs 

37 J. M. Mayo, S 

38 George Kitctoin 

39 J. Steel 



40 George Shotridge, S 

41 H. W. Lyon, S 

42 Benjamin Smith, S 

43 J. M. Bradley 

44 J. Dillard, S 

45 Thomas Barber, S 

46 Tliomas Godard 

47 James Hodges 

48 .James M. Owen, S 

49 E. E. By waters 

50 Jolin Devenport 

51 D. A. Stout 

52 A. B. Mitchel 

53 G. W. Culver 

54 J. Dunneyhoe 

55 Isaac McOwin 

56 J. Holmon, S 

57 ^K. Woods, S 

58 Samuel Smith 

59 B. Griffin, S 

60 John Jones 

61 J. W. Smith 

62 John H. Hightown 

63 John M. Browning 

64 F. C. Hercey 

65 J. Covington, S 

66 Lsrael W. Swon 

67 0. H. Jackson, S 

68 J. W. Mco.e 

C9 W. J. Furgeson, S 

70 J. B. Byeistair 

71 A. M. Creek, S 
73 John Weathers 

73 B. J. Chapman 

74 J. W. Chester 

75 M. M. Winmer 

76 J. B. Gurnett 

77 B. F. Browin 

78 J. L. Hall, S 



492 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



79 Warren Saball 

80 Samuel Thomas 

81 H. Sweny, S 

82 JohnFurney 

83 P. T. Easby 

84 J. J. Alexander 

85 G. S. Parmer 

86 W. C. Sinnford 

87 Peter Orsion, S 

88 H. M. Crumbo, S 

89 Robert Hooks, S 

90 James Atkius 

91 Perry Collins 

92 Thompson Monuel 

93 J. Basfield 

94 W. White, S 

95 Loson Maser, S 

96 John Pankie 

97 James Moore, S 

98 Oliver Swinney 

99 H. Block, S 

100 Madison Alison 

101 George Jones 

102 B. S. Guitan, S 

103 T. W. Long 

104 D. C. Farron 

105 F. T. Godard 

106 S. M. Hale, S 

107 J. M. Lewis 

108 Isaac Dale 

109 J. D. Long 

110 Thomas Onley 

111 W. W. Blond 

112 D. W. Eusel 

113 S. M. Bomon 

114 L. Leach 

115 J. M. Pendleton, S 

116 Wm. Hanson, S 

117 John Covington, S 

118 C. C. Perkins, S 

119 N. Mapin, S 

120 B. F. Moore, S 

121 J. Black, S 

122 A. Loward, S 

123 J. W. Shotwell, S 

124 N. Walker, S 

125 0. Ramsey 

126 Wm. Grooms 

127 James Cooley 

128 John Ramsey 

129 T J. Bohanan 

130 M. V. Thomas 

131 D. Johnson 

132 W. S. Jordon 

133 H. J. Baley, S 

134 W. Baton 

135 J. Telery, S 

136 A. B. Owen, S 

137 J. H. Richardson, S 

138 John Lewis, S 

139 Charles Patten, S 

140 Henry Essex, S 

141 J. Packer, S 

142 Wm. Mugonson, S 

143 Thomas Henderson, S 

144 James Johnson, S 



145 James Dotiglas, S 

146 A. S. Fry 

147 B. Cuck 

148 J. F Spears 

149 H. B. Colehan 

150 C. S. Kilman 

151 C. M. Hays 

152 Jamer Blake 

153 J. Slanmon 

154 Jos. Hamlet 

155 A. Allen 

156 J. H. Bradley 

157 George Croosey 

158 J. M. Chrismon 

159 James Lewis 

160 John Welch 

161 John Keller 

162 J. A. Henderson 

163 B. G. Brooks 

164 John Goff 

165 G. M. Tilford 

166 Joseph Henderson 

167 H. Gilbert 

168 David Ross 

169 Samuel Ross 

170 C. Jones 

171 E. Monzier 

172 W. G. Mosh 

173 E. F. Persons 

174 A. C. Alexander 

175 J. M. Lacy 

176 J. M. Robinson 

177 J. McCracken 

178 M. Anims, S 

179 Charles Rutherford 

180 P. C. Flerney, S 

181 W. Ashcroft, S 

182 W. G. Noble, S 

183 Wm. Baley 

184 Benj. Yakmon 

185 James Elson 

186 Charles Mensend 

187 John Butledge 

188 W. W. Beckman 

189 C. H. Shotwell 

190 J. S. Bosley 

191 T. S. Helm 

192 C. Ray 

193 D. Shanks 

194 James Kane 

195 John Newton 

196 W. J. Wilcox 

197 J. F. Clenox 

198 John Reed 

199 William Turner 

200 J. W. Martin 

201 J. W. Freeland 

202 E. Hathety 

203 S. Waller 

204 J. W. Fisher 

205 R. D. Davis 

206 S. H. Semms 

207 R. S. Merchant 

208 P. Smell 

209 F. B. Mitchell 

210 B. F. Freeland 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



493 



211 L. Burns 

212 R. B. Hall 

213 S. T. Ray 

214 G. Henderson 

215 H. Welch 

216 N. W. Hodges 

217 N. C. White 

218 M. Freeland 

219 Joseph Lipscomb 

220 F. M. Stenaly 

221 J. L. Datson 

222 G. W. Thompson 

223 F. P. Penister 

224 J. L. Cotter 

225 R. L. Smith 

226 A. Steavens 

227 J. Meteror 

228 John Freeland 

229 S. Huntsacker 
2;^'. G. W. Mayers 

231 E. C. Thomas 

232 L. Elson 

233 A. Kirkpatrick 

234 A. Perlin 

235 C. H. Mayers 

236 Jacob Mayers 

237 Joseph McBride 

238 A. H. Durlap 

239 J. P. Ermgton 

240 James Welch 

241 Geo. W. Jacobs 

242 W. Eliot^ 

243 C. Taylor 

244 J. T. Brush 

245 T. H. Mayers 

246 P. Worner 

247 Lewis Seadorel 

248 P. S. Lumkins 

249 H. Debord 

250 A. Snider 

251 S. T. Preston 

252 L. J. Boles 

253 N. Newby 

254 W. Thompson 

255 Charles Byington 

256 A. M. Price 

257 J. C. Cook 

258 Geo. W. Davis 

259 J. A. Beekner 

260 J. B. Stokes 

261 J. M. Steavens 

262 G. W. Gates 

263 D. L. Steavens 

264 T. L. Fortune 

265 A. G. Whitington 

266 W. B. Stonaly 

267 James Boatman 

268 William Welch 

269 John M. Hays 

270 C. H. Grover 

271 P. H. Calvert 

272 H. H. Hary 

273 JeiTerson Dyer 

274 D. Hamilton 

275 J. A. Miller 



276 J. M. B. Smith 

277 J. L. Page 

278 Calvin Mayers 

279 M. M. Blonn 

280 Benj. Bonefont 

281 J. B. Low 

282 G. W. Smoote 

283 G. W. Kile 

284 W. Browley 

285 E. B. Bishop 

286 W. Dogney 

287 B. W. Calvert 

288 A. B. Sesson 

289 T. Gladen 

290 E. S. Dorington 

291 Samuel Hodges 

292 Thomas Deermin 

293 J. H. Keninger 

294 P. McMannanna 

295 Joseph Smith 

296 William Calvert 

297 Jeiferson Rows 

298 N. V. Stevens 

299 J. Elliot 

300 George Steavens 

301 N. J. Alexander 

302 J. Smith 

303 C. Hemson 

304 W. W. Dorherty 

305 E. J. Johnson 

306 Daniel Goser 

307 R. B. Mitchel 

308 Thomas Donohoo 

309 Geo. W. Gabbord 

310 James Hunley 

311 Lewis Calvert 

312 A. Richards 

313 B. J. Johnson 

314 R. B. Toler 

315 R. S. Graham 

316 E. F. Slaggsj 

317 F. Thomas 

318 A. Bufford 
819 B. F. Ross 

320 B. Wallace 

321 G. W. Sharpe 

322 Johnson Adams 

323 E. J. Cotton 

324 T. W. Dowell 

325 T. J. Kelly 

326 S. Willis 

327 D. Haladozer 

328 B. F. Marron 

329 Thomas Scott 

330 S. H. Morsterson 

331 J. R. Sheps 

332 E. Downs 

333 E. M. Brown, S 

334 Daniel Kets 

335 H. E. Bishops 

336 John Graham 

337 J. G. Bollard, S 

338 Jolm Collins 

339 John Meyer« . 

340 W. G. Shorpe 



494 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



341 "VVm. Bro^vn 

342 0. Brown 

343 B. K. Jacobs, S 

344 Wm. Moore 

345 T. A. Duval, S 

346 A. Groves 

347 E. J. Honey 

348 J. R. Beason 

349 Wra. Gallery 

350 T. J. Stockwell 

351 J. Wedale 

352 W. J. Young 

353 W. J. Balcy 

354 W. Martin 

355 A. B. Hazard 

356 P. Grimes 

357 James Morten 

358 J. R. Cassel 

359 John Turner 

360 A. Warner 

361 F. L. Duglas 

362 G. F. Sliipherd 

363 Daniel Hicken 

364 Thomas Bonas 

365 D. Penick 

366 S. Adkins 

367 H. B. C. Haris 

368 Samuel Wallace 

369 Jesse Johnson 

370 Wm. Penick 

371 John Davis 

372 Jefferson Carter 

373 W. H. Welle, S 

374 M. P. Revils 

375 J. Maxwel 

376 B, E. Revely 

377 H. Glum 

378 W. M. Hays 

379 A. J. Dorsen 



380 John Tlromshuger 

381 John Wedale 

382 Samuel Fuller 

383 J. L. Eldridge 

384 P. L. Thomshuger 

385 W. B. Fulton 

386 D. K. Anderson 

387 W. J. Aliphant 

388 W. J. Bell 

389 John Dale 

390 John C. Elece 

391 Felix Brown 

392 J. H. Wallace 

393 L. Oldham 

394 J. L. Carter 

395 J. T. Simpson 

396 Tliomas Snody 

397 James Weathers 

398 N. R. Grun 

399 Jacob Eyler 

400 John Hart 

401 A. W. Hughs 

402 Washington Hays 

403 Unson Jones 

404 W. C. Finle.y 

405 James Sego 

406 B. T. Thompson 

407 T. S. Robins 

408 J. S. Tliompson 

409 D. G. Short 

410 S. G. Peerson 

411 C. B. Hodges 

412 E. R. Zimmerman 

413 T. J. Thompson 

414 H. B. Hendond 

415 R. W. Thompson 

416 M. T. Bailey 

417 H. F. Roach. 



We, the undersigned, judges of an election held at the house of 
Charles Hayes, in the fifteenth election district, Kansas Territory, on 
the 30th day of March, 1855, for councilmen and representatives, do 
certify, that the above is a true list of the names of voters taken at 
said house, on this the 30th day of March, 1855. 

P. S. — The above is a true copy of the certificate on tally list, but 
not signed by any of the judges. ^ A. T. 



SixTiENTH District — Leavenworth. 



Matt. France was sworn as judge of the election, according to iv.v 
printed form, before George Russell, justice of the peace. 

Lewis N. Rees and Geo. B. Panton subscribed the following, to wit : 

We, Lewis N. Rees and George B. Panton, do solemnly swear 

tliat we will support the constitution of the United States, and tliat 

we will faithfully demean ourselves in the ofiice of judge of the elec 

tiou for the sixteenth district of Kansas Territory, and faithfully carrv 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 495 

out the provisions of the act of Congress organizing tlie Territories of 
Kansas and Nebraska, to the best of our knowledge and ability. 
March 30, 1855. 

LEWIS N. REES, 
a. B. PANTON. 
Sworn to and subscribed before me — 

GEO. RUSSELL, J. P. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th d ij of 
March, A. D. 1855, (called) at the house of Keller and Kyle, an 1 ad- 
journed to the house of B. Wood, in the sixteenth election dist;ict, 
for the election of members of council and of the house of represe ita- 
tives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereb}'' certify, upon our oaths 
as judges of said election, that the following is a true and correct re- 
turn of the votes polled at such election : 

R. R. Rees candidate for council, received 896 votes. 

L. J. Eastin do do do 893 " 

B. H. Twombly do do do 60 " 

A. J. Whitney do do do 59 " 

James Kirkendall do do do 1 " 

And of the candidates for representatives — 

William G. Matthias received 899 votes. 

H. D. McMeekin do 897 

A. Payne do... 895 

Felix J. Braden do 59 

Samuel France do 59 

Francis Browning do 58 

LEWIS N. REES, ) 

G. B. PANTON, ) Judges. 

MATT. FRANCE, ) 

Poll-books of an election held at the town of Leavenworth, on the 
30th day of March, A. D. 1855, for the election of two members of 
the council from the tenth council district, and three members of the 
house of representatives from the sixteenth representative district, in 
the Legislative Assembly of Kansas Territory. 

FoU-booh of an election at Leavenworth — House of Bepresentatives of 

the Legislature. 

1 Asa Smith 13 Eli More 

2 Jeremiah Clark 14 Green D. Todd 

3 C. C. Brown 15 Travis Sterner 

4 G. B. Redman 16 Edward N. Drodson 

5 William Hodge 17 Samuel Paul 

6 Francis Brown 18 Jeremiah Rice 

7 Josiah Brown 19 W. L. Blanton 

8 F. C. Grinter 20 Thomas Boyle 

9 TliomasC. Bishop 21 W. W. Brown 

10 William Cummins 22 T. P. L. Taylor 

11 Holland Vanderhoor 23 Laschel Brown 

12 Floyd Shannon 24 Hiram Frugate 



496 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



25 John JlcConn 
2(5 Ponis O'Kief 

27 Horns FJliot 

28 V. y\. Burgessj 

29 William Todd 

30 N. Morrison 

31 Jmnos Roding 

32 John Keyos 

33 Morris Ames 

3-t Thompson MuUins 

35 Josse Cartor 

36 :Martin DarroU 

37 Ix>uis Jlarshall 

38 Thomas Lotchworth 

39 Alphens Keycs 

40 N. A. Kirk 

41 J. P. Gee 

42 L. :Milos 

43 A. Cv. Davis 

44 Arthur Wythors 

45 'I'homas Rxumont 

46 W. 8. AVest 

47 llobort Pence 

48 Thomas Gnibs 

49 Frank Yonem 

50 J. :M. Gutbrio 

51 J. M. Simmers 

52 E. H. Lee 

53 Kiland Shacklcford 

54 T. T. Jones 

55 John Bryant 

56 Matt. K." Walker 

57 Jeremiah Crabb 
68 E. G. Winchester 

59 Geortie IV^ttom 

60 William S. Carroll 

61 James H. Hall 

62 A. H. Burgess 

63 Benjamin F. Hickey 

64 George R. Wood 

65 W. Thorubill 

66 G. B. Kuzum 

67 George H. Rose 

68 J. J.'Smith 

69 A. P. Rooker 

; 70 James L. Taylor 
f^71 A. T. Guthrie 

72 George F. Lickenbnry 
' 73 Houston Loi\g 
R74 James M. Iddings 

75 D. S. Leech 

76 W. T. Henderson 
' 77 A. T. Pattir 

7S lliomas Steward 

79 Samuel Runcy 

80 William Runey 

81 Jas. W. Littlejohn 

82 John E. Wells 

83 William H. Stone 

84 John 0. Carr 

85 Wm. W. Pullings 

86 Dudley 'ITiomas J 

87 Jiuues Scrimrey 

88 H. S. Butts 

89 William R. Eyens 

90 Osci\r S. Tliomae 



91 William B. 'lliomas 

92 Jacob Siunvden 

93 Wesley S. Davidson 

94 Simeon Jlarshall 

95 John Smith 
9ti F. Arnold 

97 Benjamin Robnc 

98 Ethyard Sanderson 

99 James Fox 

100 C. L. Robber ts 

101 Lindsey Greening 

102 Joseph Denigan 

103 John M. Taylor 

104 Robert L. McCaskey 

105 MatthcNv 1\L Gun 
lOG William Sanderson 

107 J. K. France 

108 A. Russell 

109 Leban Phillips 

110 G. W. Barrus 

111 Andrew Gusten 

112 John Talbert 
li;{ 0. Griffith 

114 Adam Talbert 

115 James Sportsman 

116 James Kincaid 

117 B. G. Frazer 

118 William Freeman 

119 John Frceban 

120 James Stone 

121 liouis B. Chiun 

122 James Sanders 

123 George Quimby 

124 Newton Beardon 

125 I>andon T. Carter 
12t) William N. Baldwin 

127 George W. Riker 

128 John Gibbs 

129 E. H. Talbert 

130 E. T. Pense 

131 T. R. Buckhart 

132 H. Garrett 

133 H. C. Williams 

134 Levi Brasher 

135 Ephraim Clark 

136 J. Ztine 

137 Noah Caton 

138 James E. Dysart 

139 William R. Redding 

140 A. P. Leary 

141 AlphonsoMore 

142 David McCulIum 

143 Daniel Stuart 

144 G. W. Jones 

145 Walter Knnckels 

146 John Anderson 

147 D. P. Lewis 

148 D. IT. Peterman 

149 William Spratt 

150 A. N. Clarkson 

151 N. R. Perkins 

152 E. R. Williams 

153 Thomas E. Waugh 

154 John D. More 

155 John W. Williams 

156 Thomas H. Williams 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



497 



in? Bichard T)ickf;n 

LOO J. (;. IfuUliinj/Horj 
HiO .Jolin Af>])\i-i^nU<. 
If; I .1. Miirniy 
H;2 Jolin {(, Krifllr;y 
Ifi.'J I.',(tri'l<:r H'.rr 
1 'J4 li<>l)«;rt K(;arw5 
]li'> .fiiiin-M l)cin['Hoy 
!(;« Itol,. Wlw; 
1 07 Jolin 'J'. J5iirri'!t 
ICH .M'/h;« I-'omk 
Kjl) Aii'lfrvv Qn'iticc, 
170 William /'ir|'.<Tir)j^ 
17 J Mi I Ion iMrnoIrl 
17'^ John L, Mr<;nf,« 
17.'} John J. OfinKf/;(id 
m r»<:fij;imin Ji, Horn 
17'j (Jstrnolil H. Maj^jiin 
170 John Vin';.:nt 
177 John l',.;nty, 
17H Alph<'iiH (UMurn 
170 II. H. IbivinKH 
1X0 f>oFiiH \. I'/'mt 
mi J;u(i';h L, Mir;kman 
1S2 John V(;n(:;non 
]H:i S. J. Uuckor 
184 Willium N. Cannon 
IHf, Mi';ha«:l M«;f;aif 
180 Jani'iH N. llandH 
1S7 Williani H. Adarab 
188 K, I>. T'lrfor 
18fi \). S. f:o|Jif;r 
190 John I). Chapman 
1!H William iJi'.kcy 
192 l><;njamin Kin«cy 
Iti.'J ll/W,<rt. HarriH 

194 Jolin Drew 

195 John ThomaH 
190 JamcH.M. Hmith 

197 \Uu:<i lluHt 

198 JackHon Siimmcru 

199 J. V. Chanw 

200 If, C. l/;nj< 

201 I). \). r.rown 

202 William J. Norriu 
20;{ It. (',. Whitr; 

204 J. F. I/iwwm 

205 If. F. l{/ij,'crH 
200 CliarloH Shannon 

207 John J. f'iwinfj 

208 DavidTornhH 

209 Williani II. Ij(;U:)k:t 

210 11. W. Chinn 

21 1 William I J. Ijurt^n 

212 HilaH ArniHtrong 
2i:{ John M'-Ncvin 

214 Fran<;i« Vandcrpool 

215 William WohHter 

216 li-ajw; Ijiitti^ 

217 It. P. Kmith 

218 W. A. WilHOQ 

219 William lianley 

220 I'.. I'. WoodH 

221 Iranc-in i'. fiarret 

222 .f>:HH*i W. Clark 

II. Rep. 200 .32* 



22:5 J, H. Ilorton 

224 Arthur M. .Ni':holK/m 

225 HatfiiK-l If. i;iirjr<!HK 
220 iJavid VV. It^jynoldii 

227 H. W. Harp.;r 

228 lJ<;njamin it, Ikll 

229 William H. Almond 
2.'J0 Fran<;iM CarU;r 

2;{I Warner J Mili'ir 
2:'.2 John W. MiuUlUiK 
'I'.V.l M. 15, Jam<.'» 
2.'54 A, Iiaridr<;'5 
2. '5 5 Fllix ViTdiiV.*, 
2:U', L, ti. I'atrirk 
2;{7 William II. Arnold 
2:{8 II. ('„ lAiiWii 
'r.'.'.i F. }.h:\). (>,if,:a 

240 .liimi'M M. f/<ng 

241 William I). Lonjf 

242 1, L, Ouillfit 
24.'} Thonian Hhlmrnin 
244 lMni<;l C/. Atnisn 
215 W. IJroc'kman 

24 William Cox 
2 47 Jam';M i'iirn»;tt 

248 'I'hon/JW Hlono 

249 John It.an<lall 

250 Charlt,<>n I'rcy 

251 W. C, Apph^K'ite 

252 If';nry (Juxltviy 
25.'} .John Htono 

254 J. C. Clark 

255 John C IVirry 
250 William IJiiHwiy 

257 J, W^ .Morland 

258 ThomaK S. Smith 

259 ThomuH Hmith 

200 Jam<-.< ,\I, Scott 

201 William IWtl 

202 John 1'. WilliarnJi 
20.'} (ii:<ir<^i; W. Graham 

204 William .\f. Fdurardii 

205 .John ,S'iirM;ry 

200 li. F, IIollins/Hworth 

207 Ivlwanl .M, VVor/<l 

208 II<;;i>»on \VUc^)Xon 

209 J. S. l'>\\n^i:nH 

270 William (i. Hardin 

271 Jr>hn IJ, Carnp 

272 JoH<;ph Orinnard 
27.'} N. 13. H<;dgea 

274 F. MarKball 

275 Ituh. Siitt^m 
270 John Kincaid 

277 John I}arn«;tt 

278 John T. Hardy 

279 William It. Franklin 

280 I><^iiiH I'ippin 

281 .Vlif.had ltij>w;ll 

282 J. I. Clark 

283 .JameH K. Vanderpool 

284 A. J. Norwwd 

285 W. ChriHt«rwm 
280 Willi.am C. Davis 

287 Janum Swan, (Wyt.) 

288 John K. Courtney 



498 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



289 B. W. Magee 

290 L. B. Carter 

291 Johu Merchant 

292 Lance Woodward 

293 William H. Marlon 
29-4 Samuel R. Offend 

295 W. P. Gibson 

296 C. H. Kelsey 

297 W. N. Thompson 

298 Andrew Craig 

299 R. H. Hyde 

300 William Guess 

301 Willis J. Kaimes 

302 G. M. Pryor 

303 Burrell Lee 

304 Joab Lann 

305 George Callihan 

306 Smith CtUvert 

307 Jackson Hanley 

308 James T. Bohanon 

309 N. A. Wilkenson 

310 H. C. Dimn 

311 Joseph Courtney 

312 Lnke Jefferson 

313 Thomas Kinsley 

314 Allen Crowd ev 

315 J. F. Minter 

316 I. C. Nicholson 

317 F. G. Montgomery 

318 William H. Good 

319 F. Brown, jun. 

320 B. Lamptou 

321 M. K. Granton 

322 Eansom Henry 

323 John G. Miller 

324 T. C. Berryman 

325 A. H. Couley 

326 C. F. Bredan 

327 John H. Berryman 

328 Nathan Ames 

329 Sam' IT. Brookin 

330 Jno. W. Greason 

331 John J. Arnold 

332 John Kinnon 

333 Hugh More 

334 Pavton T. Smith 

335 B. "W. Mitchell 

336 H. R. Pollard 

337 Matthew Splitlog 

338 Joel Hockius 

339 Kaleb W. Eight 

340 Ellen Williams 

341 John Adkin 

342 Newton Head 

343 R. G. Bever 

344 R. A. Owens 

345 John Cokely 

346 E. F. Dunkin 

347 Milton Adkinson 

348 John G. Pratt 

349 N. N. Neagles 

350 John T. Plummer 

351 A. E. Chitham 

352 H. Carpenter 

353 Joseph Norvens 

354 Thomas Dorris 



355 Jefferson Park 

356 William Hammack 

357 R. M. Gordon 

358 Amos Lewis 

359 Chisley Brastfield 

360 James S. Cushinberry 

361 Washington Bennett 

362 Thos. Scott 

363 W. L. Wolford 

364 Jas. H. Melopin 

365 John L. Dagley 

366 A. McClure 

367 Wra. Smith 

368 Jeptha Woodward 

369 D. C. Hollingswortli 

370 Wm. M. Douglass 

371 David C. Bogy 

372 Z. M. Auford 

373 John J. Winn 

374 John E. Stone 

375 Andrew J. Scott 

376 Ambrose Murray 

377 John H. Dennis 

378 B. S. Powall 

379 J. H. Hollingsworth 

380 A. P. Walling 

381 Joseph Simpson 

382 J. R. Stephenson 

383 C. E. Walfork 

384 J. M. Hawkins 

385 Howard Conlay 

386 H. Downing 

387 John S. Swinegine 

388 C. H. Pinock 

389 W. M. Samuel 

390 J. B. Dunkin 

391 M. L. Walton 

392 M. S. Twomau 

393 T. J. Carson 

394 C. B. White 

395 C. D. Chance 

396 William Williams 

397 I. S. Townsand 

398 Wm. Peters 

399 Sam'l F. Few 

400 Wm. N. Da\'is 

401 A. Wilson 

402 David Willis 

403 Thomas Cuming 

404 Tliomas Warren 

405 Robert Young 

406 Eze Downing 

407 Mortimer C. Park 

408 Lemuel H. Evans 

409 Jeremiah Johnson 

410 Vance Woodward 

411 John Ramsay 

412 J. C. Richardson 

413 I. Welch 

414 Milton Dale 

415 Newton Denny 

416 T. J. McClelland 

417 Sam'l Duncan 

418 Thomas R. Moppins 

419 Sydney Willey , 
4:20 John C. Cayauaugh 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



499 



421 Wm. Wallace 

422 Wm. N. Phillips 

423 Marion Todd 

424 Hunry Varner 

425 Jos. Hicks 

426 Sterling Swinegln 

427 Joseph Stygers 

428 Dan'l Allen 

429 Wm. Sanders 

430 I. Albright 

431 Geo. Brown 

432 N. C. Norton 

433 S. Lanning 

434 Jos. M. Long 

435 R. H. Stewart 

436 C. C. McKirmey 

437 A. T. Harper 

438 Lewis Jones 

439 J. R. Tanner 

440 E. Taney 

441 Louis Clark, (Wyt.) 

442 J. G. More 

443 Absolem Wallon 

444 C. Starnes 

445 I. T. Robberts 

446 Dan'l M. Francis 

447 Wm. J. McLoney 

448 John W. Davidson 

449 H. S. Parton 

450 A. C. Powell 

451 E. F. Hix 

452 J.C.Griffith 

453 E.B.Jacks 

454 W.W.Vincent 

455 James G. Hack 

456 John Flint 

457 Louis Mincli 

458 Eph Bailey 

459 David Nichol 

460 J. E. Davidson 

461 Nicholas Hedrick 

462 Wm. Kince 

463 Geo. W. Anderson 

464 H. T. Dagley 

465 Ansou Dolen 

466 David Churchill 

467 D. J. Morgan 

468 And. J. McClure 

469 G. W. McClura 

470 J. E. Thompson 

471 Henry Busey 

472 W.Myers 

473 ITios. Starnes 

474 D. Gellespie 

475 Wm. Johnson, (Wyt.) 

476 Jason Cyane, (Wyt.) 

477 Mason Hall 

478 Chas. Hunt 

479 Wm. G. Raney 

480 Wm. E. Oliver 

481 A. G. WilUams 

482 Matthew Murditor, (Wyt.) 

483 Eli Sweet 

484 James McKinster 

485 Geo. B. Dimkin 
18 C Heuiy Miller 



487 G. R. Conhan 

488 R. H. Stephenson 

489 J. R. Congers 

490 Nathan Crawford 

491 R, E.Sanders 

492 Traverse Brown. 

493 Isaac Simpson 

494 John Y. Owens 

495 Wm. Vineyard 

496 Jesse Vineyard 

497 Graham l\irner 

498 James Bruce 

499 Thos. H Turner 

500 C, A. Pcrrin 

501 C. M, Hooker 

502 Alex. Baker 
50 ^ John Buckham 

504 Elias Jacks 

505 Joseph H. Thompson 

506 Evin 'nmberlick 

507 James Tate 

508 James C. Turner 

509 George W. Dye 

510 Geo, I. Clark 

511 Calvin Norville 

512 John C. Posey 

513 Thomas Coneyhack, (Wyt.) 

514 Noel McGuire 

515 A. J. Ouden 

516 Dan'l Baker 

517 Bolin Baker 

518 Thos. Baker 

519 J. S. Gates 
320 James Coy 

521 Thos. Herndon 

522 Hugh Archy 

523 Nat Hays 

524 Jas. Foster 

525 Barnabus Gubille 

526 W. S.Offutt 

527 J. R. Faulkner 

528 Amos Rees 

529 John Timber lick 

530 John Herndon 

531 Jacob Heck 
632 L. D.Long 

533 John Allen 

534 John Lewis, (Wyt.) 

535 E. M. Maggot 

536 J, Harper 

537 A. J. Leney 

538 Geo. W. Conley 
639 Geo. E. Craft 

540 James Pearce 

541 A. Boon 

542 John Comstock, (Wyt ) 

543 John Creamer 

544 M. D. Gough 
645 A T. Force 

546 George Rathburn 

547 Wm. Birch 
648 J. W. Simmons 

549 And. A. Downing 

550 C. H. Jones 

551 E. W. Brown 
562 W. Brown 



600 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



553 John K. Frey 

554 John C. Gist 

555 David Bransfield 

556 Saml. H. Ferguson 

557 Sol. Buxton 

658 G. N. Bomont 

659 Jas. Maine 

560 John W. "Williams 

661 H. W. Frey 

662 Saml. E. Jacobs 

663 S. R. Phar 

564 William Yates 

565 G W. Craves 
51iG John Maggett 

667 Jos. H. Conley 

668 Geo. Brassfield 

669 Wm. Jacks 

670 Asbury Wilson 

671 Amos D. Martus 

572 John J. Throgmartos 
673 H. M. Hook 

574 N. Timberly 

575 J. W. Carter 

576 J. L. Condrell 

577 Isaac N. Brockman 

578 Nat. Shrewsbury 
679 Willis Cartwright 
580 Chesley Foot " 

681 L. J. Eastin 

682 Ambrose B. Jonee 

583 Wm. A. Gabbiot 

584 G. Sprague 

585 Jacob Pitts 

586 Benj. W. Marsh 

587 F. S Anterberry 

588 Wm. K. Fisher 

689 Jesse C. Stovald 

690 John C. Scott 

691 W. W. Woods 

592 G. W. Allbright 

593 Nat. J. Conley 

594 Geo. W. Taylor 
695 Wm. Thomas 

596 Fontin P. Bradlr 

597 Jas. Barber 
698 Wm. Black 

599 John Boyd 

600 Wm. Wings 

601 Jas. A. Harrison 

602 Thos. S. Owens 

603 T. R. Manson 

604 James Ringold 

605 R. C. Thompson 

606 Thos. H. Porter 

607 W. M. Scott 

608 P. R. Wagner 

609 D. S. Boyle 

610 C. F. Robii son 

611 Geo. Woodhouse 

612 W. D. Short 

613 E. K. GoAdet 

614 W. S. Chuk 

615 G. W. Frederick 

616 J. M Love 

617 W. H. Wite 

618 Wm. A. Clapp 



619 S. A. McCrearf 

620 D. S. Gordon 

621 Jos. Hulin 

622 T. L. Johnson 

623 B. F. Young 

624 W. Hvde 

625 A. McAnlev 

626 A. R. Liisley 

627 W. E. Cunuingham 

628 Wm. C. Briskey 

629 John More 

630 F. W. Johnson 

631 Joseph Todd 

632 Bristin Pierce 

633 G. W. Ray 

634 W. H. Long 

635 Clinton C. Morgan 

636 Squire Grier (Wyt.) 

637 Nelson Hanley 

638 J. C. Thompson 

639 Geo. Staggers 

640 E. H. Pence 

641 E. E. M. Rankin 

642 A. J. Damascus 

643 John Elliott 

644 Wm. Thompson 

645 James McDonald 

646 Morgan Kay 

647 Wiley M. English 

648 Allen Sloan 

649 H. B. Kelley 

650 A. W. Mason 

651 E. T. Johnson 

652 James Drais 

653 Wm. T. Scott 

654 Mariou Burkett 

655 J. H. Withers 

656 M. Daring 

657 John Doss 

658 James Larrett 

659 Hugh McCowan 

660 Geo. Spybuck (Wyt.) 

661 Chopelark 

662 J. P. Dunham 

663 J. I. Long 

664 Jim White 

665 Wm. Boyd 

666 F. E. Hiitlen 

667 Wm. Phillips 

668 Richard H. Lawson 

669 Wm. M. Common 

670 C. B. Garrett 

671 I. Mimday 

672 Wm. Yokum 

673 C. H. Allen 

674 H. C. Hollaway 

675 Israel Dorrity 

676 J. Rogers 

677 W. T^ Barbee 

678 T. B. Wright 

679 D. Large 

680 J. L. Lamnel 

681 H. F. Powers 

682 S. Gates 

683 Jer. Short 

684 R. Redding 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



501 



685 D. B. Kellog 

686 E. M. Crust 

687 M. Smith 

688 A. Wilson 

689 J. P. Russel 

690 J. Hoyt 

691 J. Spnitt 

692 Wm. L. Stephens 

693 W. Moley 

694 James 0' Toole 

695 A. W. Harvey 

696 A. S. Parker 

697 F. A. Robberts 

698 A. J. Porter 

699 Nat. Campbell 

700 C. McCrey 

701 L. T. Olliver 

702 Wm. Hedrick 

703 Sam ^. Frazer 

704 James L. Thompson 

705 John R. Miller 

706 Isaac Anher 

707 H. H. Harrison 

708 I. N. Henderson 

709 W. H. Piere 

710 Johii S. Prat 

711 R. M. Johnson 

712 Wm. G. Matthias' 

713 Jos. Booles 

714 Steph. Hedrick 

715 J. R. Coffman 

716 M. L. McDonald 

717 W. T. Woods 

718 Henry Herndon 

719 John C. Stephenson 

720 Wm. Holt 

721 David McCollum 

722 A. Gilbert 

723 B. D. Spenser 

724 Abel Henderson 

725 W. P. Loan 

726 W. L. Blair 

727 B. S. Richards 

728 Ed. O'Riley 

729 P. Frederick 

730 Lewis Wilkes 

731 J. F. Pitts 

732 W. H. Golden 

733 J. B. Eldred 

734 J. Ghana 

735 J. F. Clarkson 

736 J. M. Alexander 

737 James B. Craig 

738 J. C. Cockereil 

739 A. Brady 

740 Martin Hefiferlin 

741 C. C. Coon 

742 J. C. Clarkson 

743 E. Forsythe 

744 Sam Stable 

745 John Stanton 

746 R. M. Prather 

747 James Hall 

748 Jas. M. Davis 

749 W. Redding 

750 Ethen A. Long 



751 A. N.Chi 1 

752 Jo. Sanders 

753 Edwin Rawson 

754 Joel Basham 

755 W.A.Guthrie 

756 Patrick Hall 

757 John Roe 

758 Ed. Garrett 

759 Amt. Owens 

760 E. D. Cord 

761 ILF. Lisk 

762 G.L. Brown 

763 J. C. Gentry 

764 Lucius Chafers 

765 J. H. Brown 

766 Mvron Phillips 

767 J.W.Todd 

768 J. P. Crosswhite 

769 Moses Whitson 

770 J. W. Brown 

771 L. P. Stiles 

772 Edward Duncan 

773 J. McGuire 

774 Q. C.Tritt 

775 G. W. Goble 

776 G.Wood 

777 Jno. Watson 

778 W. F. Dodg-e 

779 J. Flemmings 

780 David Bevene 

781 Alfred Stoker 

782 Jas. S. Gillin 

783 George Smitk 

784 R. C. Miller 

785 David Spratt 

786 D. B. Craddock 

787 N. M. Miller 

788 Alex. Kelley 

789 Sam'l Feraandes 

790 Rub. Snellgrove ' 

791 James Finley 

792 J. W. Corser 

793 A. H. Scott 

794 G. W. Ring 

795 James M. Roth well 

796 W. D. Hickson 

797 Wm. Cornelius 

798 L. D. Pitcher 

799 A. Dawson 

800 R. R. Rees 

801 G. W.Roberts 

802 Jacob Whitecron 

603 Battiste 

804 John Lerriearst 
SOS F. Gilbert 

806 James McGintee 

807 John L. True 

808 George Evans 

809 John Anns 

810 Jacob Colman 

811 Aug. Smith 

812 John S. Wilkinson 

813 William Callahan 

814 Joseph Haliiday 

815 Charles Han ley 

816 J. H. McBride 



502 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



817 L. W. Holland 

818 Sam'l Phillips 

819 C. C. Harn30H' 

820 A. F. McAffee 

821 S. Leach 

822 A. Lunter 

823 W. S. Diimeal 

824 John S. Siaughtes- 

825 Joel Hiat 

826 Isixac Carver 

827 Harry Bnrnctt 

828 William S. YoLe- 

829 William LillSe 

830 G. F. Warreis 

831 William MrljcaE 

832 Samuel Finley 

833 Michael Kelky 

834 Simeon Scroggs 

835 A. J. Bowers 

836 Thomas MeLaue 

837 Ed. McLane 

838 J. H. Day 

839 Ang. White 

840 W. S.Boone 

841 H. C. Penee 

842 G. W. Copely 

843 Malcom Clark 

844 Greonberry White- 

845 Wjllivm Gittins 

846 William F. Murphy 

847 Lawrence Kenucdy 

848 George H. Keller 

849 R. R. Roberts 

850 William Fents 

851 Geo,W. Bobbins- 

852 John Dailey 

853 B. M.rCrearv 

854 Sfimticl Folk 

855 Eneas Cumminga 

856 L. T. Doolittle 

857 Jos- Miiri>hv 

858 Jamos K. Edsel 

859 John Petit 

860 John M. White- 

861 F. E. Bird 

862 James McGoweQ 

863 D. J. Pence 

864 Edwtvrd Dunn 

865 G. S. W. Jessie 

866 G. J. Pence 

867 L. D. McLean 

868 G. B. Panton 

869 L. A. Rees 

870 Joseph S. McAleers 

871 James M. Lyle 

872 Randolph Moxley 

873 Michael Birch 

874 Matthew Doyle 

875 Henry J. Williams- 

876 James Beswick 

877 J. B. Ewell 
87S John Foster 

879 John Dunn 

880 James Foster 

881 Perry Yocum 

882 George Frazer 



883 Thomas Btotfib 

884 Willey Williams 

885 E. W. Hathaway 

886 R. M. Davenport 

887 W. A. Newman 

888 William Conley 

889 John Gimsollis 

890 Smith Turner 

891 Robert Grant 

892 George Kimper 

893 Alexander Hamiltoo 

894 John M. Feckler 

895 Clisby Cox 

896 Isaac Williams 

897 H. I. Wolf 

898 Gilbert Scott 

899 Malhonc Bullock 

900 B. H. Foster 

901 Burcn Anderson 

902 William McKenuey 

903 William C. Kimber 

904 H. M. More 

905 Jacob Sears 

906 Benjamin Hugin 

907 Samuel Brown 

908 John W. Wallace 

909 J. E. Glines 

910 James Riche 

911 George McCalligher 

912 Lewis Webber 

913 Caleb Dunham 

914 Joseph Kelley 

915 H. L. Lee 

916 W. F.Boyd 

917 John B. Wells 

918 Clark Tritt 

919 Levi Fmguson 

920 Nat. Henderson 

921 R. W. Rtuld 

922 P. R. Orr 

923 Abraham Hell em 

924 Samuel Campbell 

925 James W. Bixker 

926 Aaron Groover 

927 A. Payne 

928 D. A. Johnston 

929 John W. Hendley 

930 G. W. Walker 

931 W. W. Counn 

932 L. F. Mills 

933 P. G. Low ^ 

934 Jonathan Hall 

935 Noel B. Brooks 

936 H. D.McMeekin 

937 George Carson 

938 Willis Hughes 

939 John Boles 

940 B. F. Smith 

941 W. R. Holdman 

942 Charles Levcre 

943 John Frazer 

944 John Keeffer 

945 Lester Tennal 

946 Benjamin T. Luce 

947 John J. Luce . 

948 Benjamin Wycoff 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 503 

949 W. Sauuders 957 Jonas Screach 

950 Sam'l Fryar 958 William R. Hall 

951 Robt. N. Rogers 959 Rob. Ranson 

952 E. Oldhaiiser 9G0 Wm. A. McDowell 

953 Israel Gibson 961 Rob. D. Maham 

954 B. reck 9C2 James Glenning 

955 Jefl'crson Copeland 9G3 W. F. Wyant 
950 Joshua Copeland 964 J. E. Grant. 

PROTEST. 

We, the undersigned, citizens of the sixteenth election district of 
Kansas Territory, hereby protest against certificates of election being 
given to the following named persons to the legislature of Kansas 
Territory : For council, R. R. Rees and L, J. Eastin ; for represen- 
tative, Wm, G. Mathias, H. D. McMeekin, and A. Payne ; and for 
the following reasons : That two of the judges of the election did not 
take the oath of office required by your excellency. That residents 
of Missouri came here on the 29th and 30th of March ; that they voted 
for the above named individuals, and then immediately returned. 
That the New Lucy, a boat, on the morning of the day of election_, 
started for Leavenworth from Weston, with citizens of Missouri ; that 
the citizens of Missouri on said boat did vote at the polls of the six- 
teenth district, and then immediately returned on said boat to 
Missouri ; that many citizens of said district were deterred from 
voting by the conduct of citizens of Missouri. 

We therefore pray that your excellency will appoint a day on 
which a hearing can be had. 

Wm. Phillips T. A. Hart 

James K. Edsale N. Fays 

R. B. Roberts Aaron Foster 

Cyrus Austin Geo. Brubaker 

Jonathan Kelly G. B. White 

Geo. Woodhouse N. Adams 

J. E. R. Howald H. D. Streeter. 
To His Excellency A. H. Reeder, Governor of Kansas Territory. 

William Phillips being duly sworn^ makes affidavit that the above 
statement is true, to the best of his knowledge and belief. 

WM. PHILLIPS. 
GEO. RUSSEL, J. P., 
Sixteenth District, Kansas Territory. 



Seventeenth District. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day of 
March, A. D. 1855, at Shawnee Methodist church, in the seventeenth 
election district, for the election of members of council and of the 
house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify 
upon our oaths, as judges of said election, that the following is a true 
and correct return of the votes polled at such election, by lawful 
resident voters, viz : 



504 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



For the council : Thomas Johnson received forty-two (42) votes ; 
E. Chapman received forty-three (43) votes ; Samnel N. Wood received 
sixteen (16) votes ; Joel A. Gooden received sixteen (16) votes. 

For representatives : Alexander S. Johnson received forty-three 
(43) votes; V. F. Powel received sixteen (16) votes. 

CYPRIAN CHOUTEAU. 
C. B. DONALDSON. 
CHARLES BOLES. 



PoU-hooh of an election held on the oOth day of March, 1855, at the 
Shawnee Methodist church, in the Territory of Kansas, for the pur- 
pose of electing two councilmen and one representative to the legisla- 
ture of said Territory. 



1 Stephen F. Payne 

2 Samuel Garrett 

3 Hopson Perry 

4 Samuel D. Lecompte 

5 Andrew ]\Ionroe 

6 Daniel Doffirmune 

7 John Tole 

8 Wm. Donaldson 

9 Samuel F. Hoffiiker 

10 John A. Hildermon 

11 William Arnold 

12 Joseph Porks 

13 Christopher Deskims 

14 H. A. Davis 

15 Isaae Parish 

16 Joseph McUowel 

17 Robert Brown 

18 Isaiah Hadley 

19 Peter Shunberry 

20 B. T. Robinson 

21 Augustus Charles 

22 William P. Johnson 

23 George Buchhomnam 

24 T. P. Bailey 

25 F. B. Dreper 

2G Frederiek Chatiau 

27 John Dunoth 

28 John Owens 

29 Frederick Booker 

30 ElihuOsens 



31 Henry Coffman 

32 Joseph Frazer 

33 L. G. Mathews 

34 Charles Chrudur 

35 B. F. Johnson 

36 Coyfemar Chouteau 

37 Samuel Paul 

38 Richard Mendenhall 

39 Samiiel M. Cornatzer 

40 Thomas Johnson 

41 C. B. Donaldson 

42 C. Bowls 

43 J. R. Johnson 

44 Felen L. Ferrell 

45 Phillip Cook 

46 W. Shinburg 

47 A. Gueone 

48 M. P. Randall 

49 J. C. Pollard 

50 Joseph AVest 

51 Daniel Wodson 

52 Eli Wilson 

53 James Bowles 

54 Milton Woodey 

55 Isaac Hencha 

56 Siras Rogers 

57 W. H. Byrnes 

58 John Loman 

69 John Montgomery. 



Tally papers of an election held on the oOth day of March, A. D. 1855, 
at the Shcncnce Methodist church, in the Territory of Kansas, for the 
purpose of electing two councilmen and one 7'epresentative to the legis- 
lature of said Territory, 



For Councilmen. 

Thomas Johnson 42 

E. Chapman 43 

Samuel N. Wood 16 

Joel H. Goodin 16 



For Representative. 

A. S. Johnson 43 

A. T. Powell 16 



I, John Montgomery, do solemnly swear that I will perform the 
duties of clerk of the election of the ITth district of the Territory of 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 605 

Kansas according to the best of ray ability, and according to the law ; 
and that I will strictly endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit, and abuse 
in conducting the same. 

JOHN MONTGOMERY. 

I,- Richard Mendenhall, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare 
and affirm that I will perform the duties of clerk of the election in 
the 17th election district of the Territory of Kansas according to law, 
and to the best of my ability ; and that I will studiously endeavor to 
prevent fraud, deceit, and abuse in conducting the same. 

RICHARD MENDENHALL. 

United States of America, ) . , 
Territory of Kansas. ) 

I hereby certify that eTohn Montgomery and Richard Mendenhall, 
derks of the election held in the 17th election district of the Territory 
of Kansas, on the thirtieth (30th) day of March, A. D. 1855, 
(eighteen hundred and fifty-five,) were severally, the first named 
sworn, and the last named affirmed, as the law directs, previously to 
entering upon the duties of tlieir office. 

SAMUEL D. LECOMPTE, 

Chief Justice, Territory of Kansas. 

We, Cyprian Chouteau, C. B. Donaldson, and Charles Boles, do 
solemnly swear that we will severally perform the duties of a judge 
of an election, in and for the 17th district of the Territory of Kansas, 
according to law, and to the best of our abilities ; and that we will 
studiously endeavor to prevent fraud, deceit, and abuse in conducting 
the same. 

CYPRIAN CHOTEAU. 

C. B. DONALDSON. 

CHARLES BOLES. 



set 



United States of America, 
Territory of Kansas. 
I do hereby certify that Cyprian Chouteau, C. B. Donaldson, and 
Charles Boles, judges of the election held in and for the 17fch district 
of the Territory of Kansas, on the 30th day of March, A. D. 1855, 
were severally sworn, as the law directs, previously to entering on 
the duties of their office. 

SAMUEL D. LECOMPTE, 

Chief Justice, Territory of Kansas. 



Eighteenth District. 

Jesse Adamson, Thomas J. B. Cramer, and John Bellew were 
sworn as judges — printed form of oath. 

Adamson administered oath to Cramer, and he toother two judges. 



506 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Poll looks of election at the house of Wm. W. Moore, on the Nemeha. 



1 S. J. Cramer 

2 Geo. H. Baker 

3 Joseph H. Walker 

4 Robert Sate 

5 Wm. Cain 

6 G. Dorriss 

7 Jeremiah Vardeman 

8 William Hayter 

9 Benjamin Raton 

10 Bluford Adkins 

11 Jesse Hodges 

12 Wm. Baldwin 

13 James C. Gwynn 

14 Wm. Sandy 

15 Joseph Stone 

16 A. K. Head 

17 P. Cooper 

18 James Simpson 

19 W. Owen 

20 R. L. Kirk 

21 John Johnson 

22 John Hayden 

23 James S. Durnall 

24 Clay Cook 

25 James Clancy 

26 Joel W. Moore 

27 John Wilson 

28 John Bellew 

29 S. J. B. Cramer 

30 Elbert 0. Walker 

31 John Jott 



32 Edward Horner 

33 Samuel Crozier 

34 Greenberry Key 

35 Benjamin Winkles 

36 Hiram H. Lanham 

37 H. M. Newton 

38 Thomas Newton 
39- John W. Brown 

40 Jesse Miller 

41 Daniel Yolt 

42 Jonathan Berry 

43 Sampson Park 

44 Thomas Edwards 

45 R. C. Cain 

46 Thomas Lincoln 

47 John Cain 

48 John Fry 

4!) Richard Garths 

50 Edward Layton 

51 Jesse Adamson 

52 Melchior Brown. 

53 Henry Coons 

54 Walter D. Beales 

55 Isaac B. Miller 

56 Richard Clancy 

57 George W. Wait 

58 James Dryden 

59 Amos Porter 

60 W. W. Moore 

61 James O'Laughlin 

62 John O'Laughlin. 



Judges' Eeturns. 



We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 30th day 
of March, A. D. 1855, at the house of W. W. Moore, in the eighteenth, 
election district, for the election of members of council and the house 
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon 
our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a true and 
correct return of the votes polled at such election by lawful resident 
voters, viz : 

For Council. For Representative. 

JohnW. Formau 61 J. H. Stringfellow 48 

E. L. Kirk 50 

Joel Ryan 1 

G. A. Cutler 14 

John Landis 13 

Witness our hands this 30th day of March, 1855. 

JESSE ADAMSON. 
THOMAS J. B. CRAMER. 
JOHN BELLEW. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



507 



EXTRACT FROM THE EXECUTIVE MINUTES OF THE TERRITORY OF KANSAS. 

April 5, 1855. — The governor, witb J). Woodson, secretary of the 
Territory, and J. A. Halderman, executive clerk, proceeded to open 
and examine the returns of election for members of council and house 
of representatives in the several districts of the Territory, held on 
the 30th day of March last, when it appeared that the following re- 
turns and other papers had been received : 

Fird Council District. — Second Representative District. 
List of voters 1,044 



Oaths of J. B. Abbott, Hugh Cameron, Theodore E. Benjamin, 
and Kobert A. Cummins, in form prescribed. 



Tally List. 



For CoTincil. 

Thomas Johnson Y80 

E. Chapman 783 

J. K. Goodin 254 

S. N. Wood 255 



For Representative. 

James Whitlock 780 

A. B. Wade 781 

J. M. Banks 781 

John Hutchinson 252 

E. D. Ladd 253 

P. P. Fowler 254 

S. C. Pomeroy 1 

D. L; Croysdale 1 

A.F.Powell 1 

W. P. Atwood 1 

K. G. Elliott 1 



Eeturn of Hugh Cameron, Eobert A. Cummins, and. Theodore E. 
Benjamin, in form prescribed,, with an erasure of the words "% law- 
ful resident voters,'' 



showing- 



For Council. 

Thomas Johnson 780 

Edward Chapman 783 

JoelK. Goodin 254 

Samuel N. Wood 255 

Charles Garrett 1 

Noah Cameron 1 



For Assembly. 

James Whitlock 780 

A. B. Wade 781 

JohnM. Banks 781 

John Hutchinson 252 

E. D. Ladd 253 

P. P. Fowler 254 

Samuel C. Pomeroy 1 

D. L. Croysdale 1 

A. F. Powell 1 

P. Atwood 1 

E.G.Elliott 1 



Second Representative District. — Fourth Election District. 
List of voters 80 



508 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Oaths of David Piiltz, Thomas Mockahee, and J. B. Davis, omit- 
ting as ibllows: "That I will reject the votes of all non-residents 
who I shall believe have come into the Territory for the mere purpose 
of voting ; that in all cases where I am ignorant of the voter's right, 
I will require legal evidence thereof by his own oath or otherwise; 
and that I will truly count and record the votes received, and make a 
true and faithful return thereof to the governor of said Territory." 

And adding in lieu thereof the words: "That we will deliver, as 
soon as possible, the paper to the governor of the said Territory." 

Tally List. 

For Coimcil. For Eepresentative. 

Thomas Johnson 78 A. S. Johnson 77 

E. Chapman 78 A. F. Powell 3 

S. N.Wood 2 

J. K. Goodin 2 

Eeturn of same judges in form prescribed, omitting the words "by 
lawful resident voters," showing — 

For Council. For Eepresentative. 

Thomas Johnson 78 A. S. Johnson 78 

E. Chapman 78 A. F.Powell 3 

S.N.Wood 2 

J. K. Goodin 2 

Seventeenth Election District. 
List of voters , 62 

Oaths of Judges 0. B. Donaldson, Charles Boles, and Cyprian Chou- 
teau, that they "will perform the duties of judges of election in and 
for the seventeenth district of the Territory of Kansas, according to 
law and the best of our abilities, and will studiously endeavor to pre- 
vent fraud; deceit, and abuse, in conducting the same." 

Tally List. 

For Council. For Eepresentative. 

Thomas Johnson 42 A. S. Johnson 43 

E. Chapman 43 A. F. Powell 16 

S. N.Wood 16 

Joel K. Goodin 16 

Eeturn of said judges in form prescribed by proclamation, show- 
ing— 

For Council. For Eepresentative. 

Thomas Johnson 42 A. S.Johnson 43 

E. Chapman 43" A. F. Powell..*. 16 

S. N. Wood.. 16 

Joel K. Goodin 16 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 509 

Protest of Samuel F. Tappan and twenty others, claiming to be 
residents of the first election district, to declare void, to set asi'le the 
returns and election in said district, or that certificates he given to 
Joel K. Goodin and S. N. Wood lor council, and to John Hutchin- 
son, E. D. Ladd, and P. P. Fowler ; for the reason that six or seven 
hundred armed men encamped in the vicinity of the polls on the 29th 
and 30th of March, collected around said polls and kept them in their 
j)OSsession, on the day of the election, till late in the afternoon, and 
who left the district during the afternoon and the ensuing day. Said 
persons were strangers, believed to come from the State of Missouri. 
Citizens of the district were threatened with violence and prevented 
from voting. Affidavit by all the signers, together with affidavits of 
Harrison Nichols. Edwin Bond, David Conger, N. B. Blanton, and 
Samuel Jones, tending to prove threats, violence, and non-resident 
voting. 

Protest of Perry Fuller, E. W. Moore, judges appointed to hold 
the election, and twenty-nine other persons, claiming to be residents, 
complaining that the said election was opened by unauthorized judges 
at eight o'clock a. m., and at a place different from that prescribed 
in the proclamation, and that non-residents surrounded the polls with 
fire-arms and voted indiscriminately. — Affidavit of Benjamin Fuller 
and E. W. Moore. 

Second Council District. — Tliird Representative District. 
List of voters 341 

Oaths of F. E. Lehay, Paris Ellison, and Sherman J. Waful, in 
form prescribed. Affidavit before G. W. Taylor. 

Eeturn of same judges, showing the following result : 

For Council. For Eepresentative. 

A. McDonald 318 G. W. Ward 318 

J. A. Wakefield 12 0. H. Brown 318 

Isaac Davis 12 

E. G. Macy 12 

Eeport of Harrison Burson and Nathaniel Kamsey, under oath, 
stated that they entered upon their duties as judges of election and 
polled some few votes, when they were driven from the room by a 
company of armed men from the State of Missouri, who threatened 
their lives and commenced to destroy the house and beat in the door, 
demanding the right to vote without swearing to their place of resi- 
dence ; that having made their escape with the poll-books and certifi- 
cates, they were followed by said persons and the said papers taken by 
force. 

Protest by A. B. Woodward and nineteen other persons, claiming 
to be citizens of said district, against the election in said district of 
A. McDonald, 0. H. Brown, and G. W. Ward, for the reason that 
several hundred men from the State of Missouri presented themselves 
to vote at said election, and upon being req^uired by the judges to 



510 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

swear to tlieir place of residence, tliey threatened to take the lives of 
the judges and tear down the house, and prepared to demolish the 
house. One of said judges ran out of the house with the ballot-box, 
and the other two were driven from the ground ; that the citizens of 
the district then left, and the persons from Missouri proceeded to elect 
other judges and hold an election ; with affidavit of J. C. Archbole 
and G. W. Umburger, with an additional affidavit of Jos. N. Mace, 
tending to prove violence and threats of the death to (of?) any voter 
swearing to his residence, and that he was dragged by force from the 
window and prevented from voting. 

Third Council District. — Fourth Bepresentative District. 

List of voters 376 

Tally list. 

For Council. Eor Representative. 

H. J. Stickler 370 D. L. Croysdale 366 

A. McDonald 1 C. K. Holliday 4 

G. W. Ward 4 

With certificate annexed that the judges appointed by the proclama- 
tion did, after the hour of 9 a. m., severally refuse to join in holding 
said election ; and the subscribers, James M. Small, Horatio Cox, and 
John Horner, were selected through tellers, by voters on the ground, 
to act as judges of said election, and that the same is a true and per- 
fect tally list made out according to the instructions of the governor, 
from a list of votes polled at said election. 

Oaths of James M. Small, Horatio Cox, and John Horner, judges, 
in form prescribed by proclamation, except the following erasure: 
^' And whom I shall not honestly believe to be a qualified voter ac- 
cording to the provisions of the act of Congress organizing said Ter- 
ritory ; that I will reject the votes of all non-residents who I shall 
believe have come into the Territory for the mere purpose of voting ; 
that in all cases where I am ignorant of the voter's right, I will re* 
quire legal evidence thereof by his own oath or otherwise. 

Fifth Bepresentative District., 
List of voters » 234 

Tally list. 

For Council. For Representative. 

H. J. Strickler 211 M. W. McGee 210 

Wm. F. Johnson... 23 E.Baker 1 

H.Rice 23 

With certificate of L. H. Whittington, Andrew Johnson, and Eli 
Snyder, as judges, in form prescribed by proclamation, omitting the 
word ''resident." 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 511 

i Eighth Election District. 

■ List of voters 37 

Tally list. 
For Council. For Representative. 

■ Strickler 17 Baker 25 

Kice 17 McGee 12 

F. McGee 2 

Oaths of Emanuel Mosier, Thos. S. Huffacker, and Samuel B. 
Smith, in form prescribed. Keturn of same judges, in form pre- 
, scribed, showing — 

] For Council. For Representative. 

Rice 17 A.J. Baker 25 

Strickler 17 M. McGee 12 

Protest of T. J. Thornton and fifteen other persons, claiming to be 
voters of said Territory, and third council district, complaining that 
judges appointed in said district failed to organize the board in con- 
sequence of two of them refusing to take the oath prescribed, and that 
through fear of personal violence the said judges were compelled to 
vacate their seats and permit the people assembled on the ground to 
choose a board of their own number_, and that the actual residents 
were either driven from the polls or intimidated from offering their 
votes by from three to six hundred persons, actual residents of other 
States, and that few, if any, of the votes were cast by citizens of the 
Territory, and praying that the election may be set aside as illegal 
and void ; with afiidavit of A. G. Adams, Daniel H. Home, H. B. 
Burgess, and F. R. Foster. 

Protest of Hallam Rice and eleven other persons, claiming to be cit- 
izens of the seventh election district, protesting against the election of 
H. J. Strickler and M. W. McGee, for the reason that they were elected 
by a number of voters from the State of Missouri, who arrived the 
day before in about fifty wagons, and on horseback, and returned after 
voting — they lived in Missouri, and did not intend to live in Kansas, 
and that one of the judges appointed on the ground was a resident of 
Missouri, and that the judges were not sworn ; that no oath or affir- 
mation was required of any voter ; with affidavit of Hallam Rice and 
J. R. Stewart. 

Fourth Council District.— Fifth Representative District. — Bull Creek 

Precinct. 

List of voters 393 

Tolly list. 

For Council. For Representative. 

A. M. Cofi'ee 379 Wm. A. Heiskell 377 

D. Lykens 376 A. Wilkinson 375 



512 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

M.G. Morris 9 Henry Younger 3Y5 

Jas. P. Fox 9 KSamuel Scott 377 

Jolm Serpell 9 

Adam Poore 9 

S. H.Houser 9 

Wm. Jennings 9 

Oaths of B. F. Payne, B. C. Westfall, and J. J. Parke, in form 
prescribed. Certificate of J. J. Parke, judge, that two of the judges 
appointed by proclamation being absent at 9 o'clock, a. m., he 
had filled the vacancies by appointing B. F. Payne and B. C. West- 
fall. 

Eeturn of same judges, in form prescribed, showing — 

For Council. For Ecpresentati>e. 

A. M. Coffee 377 W. A. Heiskell 377 

J). Lykens 376 A. Wilkinson 375 

M. T. Morriss 9 Henry Younger 375 

J. P. Fox 9 SamuelScott 377 

John Serpell 9 

A, Poore 9 

S. A. Houser 9 

Wm. Jennings 9 

Pottawatomie Creek Precinct. 
List of voters ^6 

Oaths of Samuel C. Wear, W. S. Furguson, and Wm. Chesnut, in 
form prescribed. 

Tally list, with certificate of return prefixed, showing — 

For Council. For Representative. 

A.'M. Coffee 199 Wm. A. Heiskell ..198 

D. Lykens 199 A.Wilkinson.... 198 

M. T. Morriss 65 Henry Younger 198 

Jae. P. Fox 63 Samuel Scott 198 

John Serpell 61 

A. Poor 54 

Samuel H. Houser 64 

Wm. Jennings 62 

J. Huff. 11 

Cronklitt 3 

C. H. Craul.... 2 

Oscar G. Brown 1 

Big Sugar Creek Precinct. 
List of voters 91 

Oaths of Jas. M. Arthur, A. H. Smith, JohnE, Brewn, and Elihu 
Tucker, judges, in form prescribed. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



513 



TaUy-list. 



Coffee Y4 

Lvkens 76 

Fox 16 

Morriss 17 

Serpen 17 

Pore 16 



Houser 17 

Jennings 17 

Heiskell 74 

Wilkinson 74 

Younger 74 

Scott 74 



Eeturn of John E. Brown, Elislia Tucker, and A. H. Smitli, 
judges of election, in form prescribed, showing — 



For Council. 

Jas. J. Fox 16 

Morriss 17 

A. M. Coffee 74 

D. Lykens 74 



For Eepresentatives. 

John Serpell 17 

A. Pore 16 

S.H. Houser 17 

Wm. Jennings 17 

Wm. A. Heiskell 74 

Allen Wilkinson 74 

Henry Younger 74 

Samuel Scott 74 

Little Sagar Creek Precinct. 

Oaths of Wm. Parks, Isaac D. Stockton, and Hiram Howdeshell, 
judges, in form prescribed. 

List of voters .• 1 05 



Tally-list, 



For Council. 

A. M. Coffee 31 

D. Lykens 34 

M. T. Morriss 62 

Jas. P. Fox 70 



For Representatives. 

Wm. Heiskell 33 

Allen Wilkinson 32 

Henry Younger 35 

Samuel Hcott 35 

John Serpell 62 

Adam Pore 62 

S. H. Houser 64 

Wm. Jennings 66 

Wm. Dyer 1 

Eeturn of same judges, in form prescribed, showing — 



For Coimcil. 

A. M. Coffee 31 

D. Lykens 34 

W. T. Morriss 62 

Jas. P. Fox 70 



H. Rep. 200 33* 



For Representatives. 

W. A. Heiskell 

Allen Wilkinson 

Henry Younger 

Adam Pore 

Jolm Serpell 

S. H. Houser., 
Wm. Jenn^* 
Wm. Dye 
Samuel Scot 



33 

31 



514 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Protest of James B. Abbott and ten others, claiming to be legal 
voters of Kansas Territory, alleging that the persons who acted as 
judges at the Bull Creek precinct were not duly sworn, and praying 
that the election be set aside. 

Fifth Coimcil District. — Seventh Bepresentative District. 

Oaths of James Ray, Wm, J. Godfrey, and Wm, Painter, judges 
of election, in form prescribed. 

List of voters ; 350 

Tally -list. 

For Council. For Representatives. 

Wm. Barbee 343 Joseph C. Anderson 315 

S. A. Williams 313 

John Hamilton...., 38 

Wm. Margrave 16 

Sixth Council District, — Eighth Bepresentative District. — Ninth Elec- 
tion District. 

Oaths of S. B. White, Bobert Wilson, and A. D. Gibson, in form 
prescribed. 

List of voters *75 

Tally-list, ivith Certificates of Judges, showing — 
For Council. For Representatives. 

John Donaldson 23 S.D.Houston 56 

M.F.Conway 50 R.Garrett 18 

Tenth Election District. — Blue Biver Pi^ecinct. 

Oaths of Joseph Stewart, Wm. C. Dyer, and M. A. Garrett, in 
form prescribed. 
List of voters 69 

Talhj-list. 

For Council. For Representatives. 

John Donaldson 27 Russell Garrett 21 

M.F.Conway 42 S. D. Houston 43 

Return of above-named judges, according to form prescribed, show- 
ing— 

For Council. For Representatives. 

M.F.Conway 42 S.D.Houston 43 

John Donaldson 27 Russell Garrett 21 

Boch Creek Precinct. 

Oaths of Henry Rammelt, James Wilson, and Francis Bergerow, 
according to form prescribed. 
List of voters 23 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 515 

2ally-list. 

For Council. For Eepresentatives. 

M.F.Conway 21 S.D.Houston 21 

John Donaldson 2 Russell Garrett 2 

. Eleventh Election District. — Ninth Representative District. 

Oaths of Wm. P. McClure, S. W. Spratt, and George W. Pence, 
judges, according to form prescribed. 

List of voters 331 

Tally-list, 

For Council. For Representatives. 

John Donaldson 328 F.J.Marshall 328 

M.F.Conway 3 

Eeturn of same judges, in form prescribed, showing — 

For Council. For Representatives. 

John Donaldson 328 F.J.Marshall 328 

M.F.Conway 3 

St. Mary's Precinct. 

Oaths of L. R. Palmer, P. McCartney, and Alva Higbee, judges, in 
form prescribed. 

List of voters 11 

Tally-list. 

For Council. - For Representatives, 

M.F.Conway 7 F.J.Marshall 4 

John Donaldson 4 P. McCartney 7 

Return of same judges, according to form prescribed, showing — 

For Council. For Representatives. 

John Donaldson 4 Palmer McCartney 7 

M.F.Conway 7 F.J.Marshall 4 

Silver Lake Precinct. 

Oaths of E. R. Kennedy, John H. Wells, and W. K, Windgardner, 
judges, according to form prescribed. 

List of voters 31 

Return of same judges,, according to form prescribed, showing — 

For Council. For Representatives. 

M.F.Conway 19 Solomon McCartney 19 

John Donaldson 12 F.J.Marshall , 12 

Tally-list, 

For Council. For Eepresentatives. 

John Donaldson 12 F.J.Marshall 4 

M.F.Conway 19 S, McCartney 19 



516 KANSAS AFFAIRS 

Protest of M. F. Conway and ten others, claiming to be qualified 
voters of the Territory, against the election of John Donaldson and 
Tliomas J. Marshall, complaining that upwards of 300 votes were 
given by non-residents of the Territory at the Marysville precinct^ 
and that the ballots received at the said precinct were opened and 
read by the judges before they were deposited in the ballot-box ; 
together with the oath of M, F. Conway in support thereof, with the 
affidavit of Col. McCrea, that upwards of 200 non-residents of the 
Territory passed west on the Leavenworth and Eiley road Wednes- 
day and Thursday next preceding the election, declaring that they 
intended to vote at the Marysville precinct, and then returned to their 
residence in Missouri; and that on the following Sunday and Monday, 
he saw many of the same persons returning towards Missouri river, 
some of whom stated, in the presence of their associates, that they 
had voted, and done the thing up right. 

Seventh Council District. — Eleventh Representative District. — Wolf 

Biver District. 

Oaths of G. R. Wilson, James M. Irvine, and E. V. B. Eogers, 
judges, according to prescribed form. 

List of voters 78 

Tallij-list. 

For Council. For Eepresentatives. 

John W. Foreman 74 J. H. Stringfellow 57 

R. L. Kirk 52 

G. A. Cutler 15 

J. Ryon 8 

. • T. J. Vanderslice 1 

John Landis 8 

Return of same judges in form prescribed, showing — 

For Council. For Representatives. 

John W. Fqreman 74 J. H. Stringfellow 57 

R. L. Kirk 52 

G. A. Cutler 15 

J. Ryen 8 

T. J. Vanderslice 1 

John Landis 8 

Doniphan Precinct. 

Oaths of A_. H. Dunning, N. J. L-eland, and William P. Lamb, 
judges, according to form prescribed. 

Jjist of voters 346 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 517 

Tally-list — none . 
Eeturn of same judges, sliowing — 

For Coiincil. For Representatives. 

John W. Foreman 343 J. H. Stringfellow 313 

R.L.Kirk 292 

G. A. Cutler 30 

T. Vanderslice 4 

John Landis 25 

J. Ryon 18 

S. K. Miller 2 

Eighteenth Election District. 

Oaths of Jesse Anderson, Thomas J. B. Cramer, and John Belew, 
judges, according to form prescribed. 

List of voters 62 

Tally-list. 

For Council. For Representatives. 

John W. Foreman 61 J. H. Stringfellow 48 

Kirk 50 

Ryon 1 

Cutler 14 

Landis 13 

Return of same judges in form prescribed, showing — 

For Council. For Representatives. 

John W. Foreman 61 J. H. Stringfellow 48 

R. L. Kirk 50 

Joel Ryon 1 

G. A. Cutler 14 

John Landis 13 

Eighth Council District. — Tivelfth Representative District. — Burr Oah 

Precinct. 

Oaths of H. J. Johnson, Cary B. Whitehead, and Albert Head, 
judges, in form prescribed. 

List of voters 303 

Tally-list. 

For Council. For Representatives. 

William P. Richardson.... 234 Joel P. Blair 256 

John W. Whitehead 68 Thomas W. Waterson 258 

John Fee 2 



518 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Return of same judges in form prescribed, sliowiug — 

For CoiiiH'il. For llopresontativcs. 

William P. Eicliardson....234 Joel P. Blair 256 

Jolui H. Whitehead 68 Thomas W. Waterson 258 

John Fee 2 

Ninth Council District. — Thirteenth Representative District. 

Oaths of M. T. Baily, E. R. Zimmerman, and Thomas J. Thomp- 
son, judges, according to prescribed form. 

List of voters 417 

Tally-list. 

For Council. For Kcprcsentativcs. 

D. A. N. Grover 411 H. B. C. Karris 412 

— ^ Freeland 1 J. Weddell 412 

Return of same judges, showing — 

For Council. For Representatives. 

D. A. N. Grover 411 H. B. C. Harris 412 

J. FreWand 1 J. Weddell 412 

Tenth Council District. — Tenth Bej^resentative District. 

Oaths of H. B, Cory, J. B. Ross, and J. Atkinson, judges, accord- 
ing to form prescribed. 

Return of same judges, stating that, having been sworn, they pro- 
ceeded to open said election and receive votes, but that a vast number 
of citizens from IMissouvi assembled on the ground for the purpose of 
illegal voting, who surrounded the window and obstructed tlie citizens 
of tlie Territory from depositing their votes, and caused many of the 
said legal voters to leave without voting ; and that the said judges, in 
consequence of the determination of citizens from ]\[issonri to vote, 
and no voters of said district voting or offering to vote, they left the 
ground. 

" Oaths of Richard Chandler, N. B. Hopewell, and Wm. M. Gard- 
ner, judges, that they will act as judges of the cleetion, and will con- 
duct said election impartially and to the best of their ability^ in ac- 
cordance with the act of Congress organizing the Territory. 

List of voters 242 

Tally-list, with certificate of return prefixed, showing — 

For Council. For Representatives. 

R. R. Reese 233 W. H. Tebbs 23T 

L. J. Eastin 233 C. Hart 3 

B. H. Twombly 6 

A. J. Whitney 6 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 519 

Fourteenth Representative District. 

Oatlis of Lewis N. Eecse and Gcor<^e V>. Panton, that thoy will sup- 
port the constitution of the United States, and will iiiithfully demean 
themselves as judges of the election, and will faithfully carry out the 
provisions of the act of Congress organizing the Territory. 

Oatli of Matt. France, in form prescribed. 

List of voters 9G4 

Tally list. 

For Council. For Roprosentatives. 

Reese 890 W. G. Mathias 899 

Eastin 893 H. D..McMeekin 896 

Kuykendall 1 A.Payne 894 

B. H. Twomhly 60 Felix (G^. 13 raden 59 

A. J. Whitney 59 Samuel France 59 

F. Browning 58 

Picturn of same judges, omitting the words ''Ly lawful resident 
voters," showing — 

For Coimcil. For Represt'iitiitivcs. 

R. R. Reese 896 Wm. G. Mathias 899 

L. J. Eastin 893 H. G. McMeekin 897 

B. H. Twomhly 60 A.Payne 895 

A.J.Whitney 59 F. G. Braden 59 

Jas. Kuykendall 1 S.France 59 

F. Browning 58 

Protest of Wra. Phillips and thirteen others, claiming to he citizens 
of the sixteenth election district, against the election of R. R. Reese, 
L. J. Eastin, Wm. G. Mathias, H. D. McMeekin, and A. Payne, for 
the reasons that the judges of election did not take the required oath 
of office ; that residents of Missouri came to the same district, voted, 
and immediately returned to Missouri ; that many of the citizens of 
said district were dotcn-ed from voting hy the conduct of citizens from 
Missouri, supported hy the affidavit of Wm, Phillips. 

Protest of Andrew McDonald and others, against the governor's 
power to hear and decide between contestants for seats in the legisla- 
tive assembly, as a usurpation of power not granted by the act of 
Congress organizing the Territory, and founded upon a misconstruc- 
tion of the said act ; that the governor is hound to recognise as legal 
votes oil those received under the restrictions imposed hy the organic 
act of the Territory and the proclamation ; and that illegal votes arc 
those where the returns show a non-compliance with those restrictions, 
and claiming from the governor certificates of their election. 

Communication from A. M. Coffee and David Lykens, claiming cer- 
tificates as members of the council I'rom the fifth election district, and 



520 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

claiming that they were elected by a majority of the legal voters of 
the district. 

x\pril (), 1855. Decision of the governor upon the returns of elec- 
tion held oOth March, 1855. 

First Council District. 

Besides the x^rotest filed against the election at Lawrence for im- 
portation of voters, there is a defect in the return. The words '' law- 
ful resident voters" are stricken out. The Lawrence election is there- 
fore set aside, and a new election must be had for representatives. 

Fourth Election District. 

Besides the protest filed in tliis, there are material omissions in oatli 
and return purposely made. This must also be set aside. 

Seventeenth Election District. 

The form of return is correct as prescribed, and no protest for ille- 
gal voting. The form of oath diiicrs from that prescribed, but is a 
searching one, and nearly, if not quite, equivalent to that prescribed, 
and perhaps ought to be sanctioned. If so, this district will elect 
Thomas Johnson and Edward Chapman to the council, and A. S, 
Johnson representative. 

Their election is, however, not declared at present, but held under 
advisement. 

Second. Council District. 

The judges were sworn by Gr, W. Taylor, who liad no authority to 
administer the oath. In addition, there is a protest complaining of 
importation of voters and violent expulsion of the original judges. 
For want of sufiicient oath, tlie election is set aside, and a new elec- 
tion for council and representative ordered. 

Third Council Districf. 

Besides the protest for violent expulsion of the judges at the Te- 
cumseh polls, and for illegal votes, there are material erasures in the 
oath purposely made ; return in form prescribed. This is held under 
advisement for the present, but will probably be set aside ; and if so, 
a new election will be ordered for representative. 

Seventh Election District, 

Besides the protest complaining of a large number of illegal votes, 
the judges do not appear to have been sworn at all. This poll is 
therefore set aside. 

Eighth Election District. 

No protest is filed, and the proceedings in regular prescribed form. 
A majority of votes for members of the house of representatives are 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 521 

cast for A. J. Baker, esq., and he is declared elected in tlie fifth rep- 
resentative district. For council the vote is a tie between H. J. 
Strickler and H. Rice, so that as to council the result still depends 
upon the Tecumseh poll. 

Fourth Council District. 

Of the four precincts, Bull creek is the only one contested, that 
from Pottawatomie creek being withdrawn. Suppose the complaint 
to be true, if successful it cannot alter the result. The remaining 
three precincts are uncontested, and in form, and gave a majority to 
A. M. Coffee and David Lykens for council ; W. A. Heiskell, Allen 
Wilkinson, Henry Younger, and Samuel Scott, for the house of rep- 
resentatives, and they are declared elected. 

Fifth Council District. 

The returns are all in due form, and no protest. William Barbee 
for council, and Joseph C. Anderson and S. A. Williams for house of 
representatives, are declared elected. 

Sixth Council District. 

The ninth and tenth election districts are in form as to their re- 
turns ; no protest. S. D. Houston is declared elected representative 
in tlie eighth representative district. 

In addition to the protest against the eleventh election district, 
(being the poll at Marysville,) the returns show a fatal defect. In- 
stead of conducting the election by ballot, it must have been held 
viva voce, as the manner in which each person voted is recorded at 
once opposite his name. As the proclamation required the election 
to be by ballot, and the tickets to be counted after closing the polls, 
it is impossible to sustain this return. It is acordingly set aside. 
The residue of the district gives M. F. Conway a majority for council, 
and he is declared elected. 

In the ninth representative district, the Marysville poll being set 
aside, the returns of St. Mary's and Silver Lake give Solomon 
McCartney 19, F. J. Marshall 16, Palmer McCartney 7, and Solomon 
McCartney is declared to be elected. It is alleged there is no such 
man, and that the vote tor him was cast under mistake of the name 
of Palmer McCartney. A slight difference in names should always 
be disregarded to carry out the will of the voter, but the difference 
here is too great to be reconciled. If these facts are shown as alleged, 
the vote for Solomon McCartney is a nullity, and the certificate will 
be granted to Francis J. Marshall. 

Seventh Council District. 

The returns in form, and no protest. John W. Foreman for coun- 
cil, and J. H. Stringfellow and R. S. Kirk for house of representa- 
tives, are declared elected. 



522 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Eiglitli Council District. 

The returns in form, and no protest. William P. Richardson for 
council, and Joel P. Blair and Thomas W. Watterson for house of 
representatives, are declared elected. 

Ninth Council District. 

Returns In form, and no protest. D. A.N, Grover for the council, 
and H, B. C. Harris and J. Weddle for house of representatives, are 
declared elected. 

Tenth Council District. 

Besides the protest filed against the Leavenworth poll for illegal 
voting, it appears that the judges purposely struck out a material 
part of the prescribed form of return, to wit: that the votes were 
polled " by lawful resident voters." This poll is set aside, and a 
new election for representative becomes necessary. 

In the 13th election district, the protest filed has been withdrawn, 
and the result stands upon the return of the judges who conducted 
the election and a counter statement of the judges appointed by the 
proclamation, who, after having taken the oath and entered upon the 
performance of their duties, abandoned the polls and left the ground, 
because, as they say, a large number of non-residents were on the 
ground demanding to vote and obstructing the .polls, and because no 
lawful votes were presented. This is not a protest as provided for in 
the prochi,mation, and even if regarded as a report or return by them 
relative to the performance of their official duties, does not disclose 
sufficient reason for vacating their posts. They were not drawn away 
by force. If illegal votes were offered, it was their duty to remain 
and reject them. If the polls were obstructed, it was their business, 
at least, to endeavor to clear them, and at all events to endeavor to 
remain at their posts, in the performance of their duty^ until the 
time for closing the polls, unless driven away by violence. The 
place they left was filled by other judges, appointed according to the 
proclamation, and their return, which is in form, and no protest be- 
fore me, shows a majority for L. J. Eastin and R. R. Rees for council, 
and W. H. Tibbs for house of representatives, who are accordingly 
declared elected. 



United States of America, ) 
Territory of Kansas. \ 

I, Andrew H. Reeder, governor of the Territory of Kansas, do 
r -] hereby, under and by virtue of the act of Congress, passed the 
[SEAL.] 20th day of May, 1854, entitled "An act to organize the Ter- 
ritories of Nebraska and Kansas," proclaim and direct that the legis- 
lative assembly of the said Territory of Kansas will ponvene at the 
town of Pawnee, in the 9th election district of said Territory, on the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 523 

first Monday of July next, in the building which will he provided for 
that purpose. 

G-iven under my hand and the seal of said Territory, this sixteenth 
day of April, A. fc). 1855. 

A. H. REEDER, Governor, &c. 
By the Governor : 

Daniel Woodson, Secretary. 



Mat 29, 1855. — Returns received from the elections held on the 
22d May, in pursuance of the governor's proclamation of the 16th of 
April, to fill vacancies, and filed away for the action of the gov^ernor 
upon his return to the Territory. 

June 25, 1855. — The governor declares John Hutchinson, Erastus 
D. Ladd, and Philip P. Fowler to be duly elected to the house of 
representatives from the second representative district ; Jolm A. 
"Wakefield to be duly elected a member of the second election district, 
and Augustus Wattles and William Jessee to be duly elected mem- 
bers of the house of representatives from the same district ; Jesse 
D. Wood to be duly elected a member of the council from the third 
council district; William G, Mathias, A. Payne, and H. D. McMeehin 
to be duly elected members of the house of representatives from the 
fourteenth representative district; and C. K. HoUiday to be duly 
elected a member of the house of representatives from the fourth 
representative district. 

August 16, 1855. — Governor Reeder announces to the legislative 
assembly his removal from ofiice. 

August 10, 1855. — Wilson Shannon, of the State of Ohio, is com- 
missioned governor of the Territory by the President of the United 
States. 

September 7, 1855. — Governor Shannon takes the oath of office. 



Lecompton, Kansas Territory, 

Secretary's Office, May 8, 1856. 

At the request of the Committee of Investigation of Kansas affairs, 
I hereby certify that the returns of the 30th of March election, held in 
1855, for the 2d and 8th election districts, have been misplaced or lost. 
They were handed over to the committee on credentials at Pawnee, 
in July, 1855, and I have not seen them since. It is believed that 
they were misplaced by the committee, as, upon examination after- 
wards, they were not found among the papers that were returned by 
the committee. 

It is proper to state that there were no suitable places or rooms at 
Pawnee for the committee to hold their sittings or keep their papers ; 
hence it is not at all surprising that some of them were mislaid or 
lost. 

DANIEL WOODSON, 

Secretary Kansas Territory. 



524 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

ELECTION OF MAY 22, 1855. 



Matt. France testifies: 

To Mr, Sherman: 

I came into tlie Territory in 1854, and settled in Leavenworth city. 
I was one of the judges of the special election, held on the 22d of May, 
1855, for three representatives of the Territorial legislature. The 
other judges were J. M. Lyle and Adam Fisher. There was some 
excitement here at that time on political suhjects. It was just after 
the mohbing of Phillips. Theelection was at the back part of the Byron 
saloon, at the house of George Leegadder. Every one voted on that 
day who wished to. The question was talked of between the judges. 
The decision was, as made by Lyle and Fisher, that we could do 
notliing else but take all the votes that were offered. No man was 
challenged that day, and whoever wanted to vote, voted. Fisher 
gave, as a reason, that we should be mobbed unless we took all the 
votes offered. There were a great many persons that voted that day, 
that I believe were non-residents of the Territory. I was well ac- 
quainted with the men of this district, and I have not seen those per- 
sons since, and had not seen them before. There was a boat came in 
that day, the name of which was "Kate Kassel." There were some 
men came to the polls soon after and voted. Some voted one ticket, 
and some another. There were different colored tickets used that 
day by the different parties, so that we could distinguish them. The 
other strangers voted the pro-slavery ticket, which I think was of a 
green or bluish tint. The free-State ticket was white. Nothing was 
said about the residence of voters when they came up, at all. The 
election passed off quietly. There was some fighting in the evenings 
but it was not of a political character. The free-State men did not 
all vote that day. There were some in town that I know did not vote. 
I voted that day. We all signed the return. 

Question. Why did you sign the return of that election without 
erasing the words, " by lawful resident voters?" 

Governor King objects. 

The witness resumes: I was under the impression that the words 
were scratched off when I signed it. I had scratched it off of one 
blank certificate, and handed it over to the other judges to be filled 
up, and they or the clerk filled up a certificate and handed it to me 
to sign, and I did so without further examination_, and did not notice 
that it was not the same one from which I had erased the words, "by 
lawful resident voters," until some two months afterwards. 

The above answer, by a decision of a majority of the committee, 
being allowed to be made, it is objected to by Governor King, on the 
ground that it is in effect allowing the witness to stultify himself, 
falsifying the certificate, and that he has no right to do this unless it 
was signed upon duress. 

The majority of the committee allow the witness to make the ex- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 525 

planation, solely for the purpose of showing why the certificate differs 
from his testimony. 

Witness resumed : I took an oath of office at the election on the 
22d of May, as one of the judges of election, as prescribed by the gov- 
ernor. The other judges took the same oath. I consider myself a 
conservative man. Myself and Mr. Fisher were in favor of making 
Kansas a free State. The reason why we took so many illegal votes 
was, because I was overruled. The other judges must explain their 
own conduct themselves. Mr. Fisher and I never spoke about admit- 
ting votes until we got into the room where the poll-books were. 
The question was sprung upon me when we were in the room taking 
votes, and it was decided against me by the other judges. This de- 
cision was made upon a challenge, but whether by me or somebody 
else I do not know. The pro-slavery men all voted, or generally so. 
There were no political fights, but there was some political excite- 
ment, but I do not know that there was more than usual on days of 
election. I saw nothing there to deter me from doing my duty as 
a judge of the elections. 

MATT. FPtANCE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



J. H. Day testifies : 



To Mr. Matthias 



I came into the Territory on the 11th of October, 1852, from St. 
Paul's, Minnesota Territory, and settled in Leavenworth city, and 
have lived here ever since. I was present at the election of the 22d of 
May, 1855, in this city. The candidates of the pro-slavery party 
considered that the governor had no right to set aside the election o 
the 30th of March, 1855, and order a new election ; and they toofe 
but little interest, and left the people to do as they pleased about it. 
I do not recollect as I voted that day. There was no crowd of stran- 
gers here on that day, and the election passed oif quietly. I do not 
recollect of hearing an angry word that day. I never heard the 
legality and fairness of that election questioned by any one, unless in 
this way — that the governor had no right to order it. I think the 
number of legal voters was larger on the 22d of May in this district 
than at the previous March election ; and my opinion is, that the 
majority of the pro-slavery part}^ had increased. I could not desig- 
nate any legal voters of the district who were not present at the elec- 
tion of the 2 2d of May, because my memory is not clear on that point, 
on account of the number of elections that have been held in this city 
since then. When I first came into the Territory I brought a letter 
of introduction to Grovernor Eeeder, which I presented to him in a 
short time after I arrived ; and at that time, and also afterwards, 
when I was appointed by him a justice of the peace, I endeavored to 
learn from him what time the Territory would be probably organized 
and the legislature called together, but I could get no satisfactory 
answer from him ; and by the time of the March election there was a 



526 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

general dissatisfoction at the delay in organizing tlie Territory, and 
I have no doubt if the Territory had been organized as soon as the 
Territory of Nebraska was, there would liave been no difficulty here. 
I think the primary cause of the difficulty in the Territory was the 
operation of the Emigrant Aid Society. Subsequently to that Governor 
Pteeder seemed to co-operate with them — so the general impression 
seemed to be ; by keeping the elections back from ftill to spring was to 
produce a diiferent result. It is my opinion that if the government 
had been organized immediately after the governor had arrived here, 
there would have been no difficulty, as parties could not have had time 
to be got up to raise excitement on the political questions of the day. 
The })eople were also dissatisfied in regard to the time when the 
census was taken, which was in mid-winter, when many of the actual 
residents were in Missouri, to pass the cold weather and settle up their 
business, intending to return into the Territory in the spring ; and 
those persons were not enumerated in the census that was taken, 
because the census takers said the governor had ordered them to take 
the names of none but those then in the Territory. The people were 
frequently consulting and conversing about doing something to im- 
portune and induce the governor to proceed and organize the Terri- 
tory. I became so much dissatisfied at the delay myself, that I sent 
in my resignation to the governor as justice of the peace, about the 
1st of March, 1855. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I think that the operations of the Emigrant Aid Society is generally 
regarded as the primary cause of the difficulty here. My understand- 
ing of the operations of the society, formed from the New York 
Tribune and some publications purporting to be from the society, 
were, that tliey formed an association to assist emigration in the west, 
and through this emigration to obtain valuable possessions, property, 
ffcc., in the Territory, to make Kansas Territory a free State ; and then 
the emigrants were to pull up stakes and move to other places to do 
likewise. The Tribune, I think, said that when they had employed 
their operations here they would carry the war into Africa ; meaning, 
I suppose, that they would commence operating in Missouri. This I 
understood to be the case before I came into the Territory. If I had 
proof conclusive that such was not the object and operations of the 
Emigrant Aid Society, then I should say that the general belief that 
Buch was the case was still the primary cause of the difficulty here. 

J. H. DAY. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



William H. Adams, testifies : 

To Governor King : 

I was residing here at the May election, and had resided here since 
August 1854. At that election, the same candidates -jvliich had been 
elected at the 30th of March election, and which election had been 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 527 

set aside by the governor, were re-elected on that day, though tliey 
did not ])roclaiin themselves as candidates, from tlie fact that they 
considered their previous election legal. I never heard a cliarge tiiat 
the election of the 22d of May was carried by illegal voters. They 
gave it up, considering that they were in a minority in this district ; 
that the pro-slavery party was the strongest. I did not see many 
Missourians here on the 22d of May. Some few of them I saw vote, 
but some of them said they considered themselves residents of this 
district, and had property here. I think we had five hundred ma- 
jority in this district at tliat time. 

On the day of the election, I saw a steamboat called Kate Kassell. 
I saw one of the free-State candidates on the boat. I couldn't tell 
what he was doing. He was on the lower deck among the hands. 
After that, some twenty or thirty of the deck hands came up and 
voted the free-State ticket. From my knowledge of the Missourians, 
who voted here that day^ I think it was about a fair stand off. That 
has always been my impression. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I was on the " Kassel" that day myself. I know those men voted 
the free-State ticket, by the color of their ticket. I do not know why 
they were not challenged. I was present at the time. I do not know 
that any one was challenged that day. We did not consider that 
election as a legal election, as the candidates had before been elected. 
I cannot say whether there were more than fifty illegal votes that day, 
more or less. 

WM. H. ADAMS. 

LEAVENWOBTn CiTY, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



Geo. H. Keller testifies : 

To Mr. Howard : 

I was here in Leavenworth city at the called election of the 2 2d of 
May, 1855, for members of the legislature. I do not now recollect 
all the judges of elections that day. Mr. France was one, I think. 
The pro-slavery candidates were Mr. McMeekin, Mr. Mathias, and Mr. 
Payne. I was so very busy in my hotel at that time, that I cannot 
call to mind all the particulars about these elections. I think Mr. 
France was one of the judges at the May election, though it may have 
been the March election. I do not think I voted on the 22d of May. 
I was not around among the voters much, but I noticed as I passed 
through the streets, that the crowd was very great, and perhaps as 
many as on the 30th of March, 1855. A great many persons from 
Platte and Clay and Ray counties whom I knew, and who told me they 
were from those counties, were here. I lived in Platte county for 
sixteen years. The election looked very much like old elections I 
used to attend in Platte county, as there were so many familiar faces 
to me. I did not see any of these persons vote. A gentleman by the 
name of Gaitin came to my house in the morning, and said he had 



f. 



528 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

brought over a pretty good company, some sixteen or seventeen. I 
think he said, to vote. He was from Clay county, near Liberty, Mis- 
souri. I fecollect of talking to another man, who told me he was 
from Ray county, here, and I do not recollect his name. He said he 
had brought along a pretty good company ; but I do not recollect 
that he told me how many he had with him. I do not know as Mr. 
Gaitin told me on that day what induced him to come here to vqte, 
or in regard to their right to vote. He told me that it was the calcu- 
lation to come here and vote, and to have those with him vote. I did 
not attend the polls, and cannot say whether any of these men voted 
or not. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

I do not recollect the name of the person who told me his party 
came from Ray county. I think he said he came from somewhere 
near Richmond, Ray county. I should recollect the man if I should 
see him ; but I cannot tell his name, and do not know as I could re- 
collect his name if I heard it. I do not think he told me how many 
he had with him, but he said he had a company with him. I have 
seen the man here since this committee came here. I do not know 
that he lived in Ray county, except that he told me so, and that he 
intended to come to the Territory, If I am not mistaken, he said 
something about having a claim in the Territory. I do not recollect 
whether he said anything about the others having claims here. Upon 
hearing the name of Wilkinson, I think it sounds something like the 
name of that man, though I cannot be at all positive about it. I do 
not know that any persons from Missouri voted. I noticed no dis- 
turbance, or effort to control the vote of any one. I was not at the 
polls at all. I know but little of what was going on. I did not vote ; 
not because I was afraid, but I did not want to push myself through, 
the crowd, and take up so much time in voting, and because I under- 
stood Missourians were there. No one from Missouri told me he voted 
the free-State ticket, that I know of, I do not recollect of any gen- 
tlemen coming down from Weston, Missouri, and saying they would 
vote the free-State ticket, if they voted at all. I did not see any men 
from Missouri I knew to be free-State men. 

G. M. KELLEY. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



Adam Fisher called and sworn. 
By Mr. Sherman : 

I came to the Territory in October, 1854, and have resided here 
ever since. My occupation is that of merchant, 

I was one of the judges of the election in May, 1855, for the election 
of three representatives ; and appointed by Governor Reeder. There 
was considerable excitement in the community at that time. 

There had been different constructions put upon who were legal 
voters and who were not. On the morning of the elefction the judges 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 529 

appointed by the governor met at the place of election. The question 
was not raised hefbre the opening of the polls. The question was 
raised along as the vote proceeded frequently, hut at what stage it 
was first raised I do not know. France frequently made the ob- 
jections. My own opinion was, from what I heard and from the ex- 
planations of lawyers, that a man having a claim or interest here, and 
intending to move here in future, had a right to vote. I cannot be 
positive as to whether anybody was refused the right to vote. No 
challenges were made outside. For my part, I allowed no man to 
vote but such as I have described. I know that Mr. France made 
frequent objections ; but whether we overruled him or not in every 
casCj I cannot say. I don't think I ever held, that merely because a 
man was here, he could vote. He must have some show of interest. 
My impression is that we did not administer an oath that day that 
I recollect of, but we were asked many questions, and in many cases 
the friends of the voters would tell what interest they had, and we 
wouli? take it so, and allow them to vote. I do not know that we 
allowed any people that came uj? in a steamboat that day to vote. I 
don't know that we took the vote of any total strangers without ask- 
ing them some questions. I do not know but we received the votes 
of some men who had homes in Missouri, as the ground I took Av^as, that 
every man who had any interest here had a right to vote. There 
were many citizens of Missouri who had interests here — at least they 
said so, and I believed it ; and in all such cases Lyle and I received 
their votes, France in many cases objecting. I cannot state what 
proportion or number of persons voted that day who had interests 
here, who resided elsewhere. I can't state what number of free-State 
men refused to vote that day, but I know that some of them did not 
vote, and would not vote. 

At night, when we were making up our return, Mr. France con- 
tended that the words "by lawful resident voters" should be stricken 
out. I did not take any interest in that question, and do not re- 
member distinctly whether it was done or not. I know that he con- 
tended for it at night, and differed with us in many cases as to who 
were legal resident voters during the day. I did not feel frightened 
myself, but if we had excluded the Missourians from voting I do be- 
lieve there would have been a fuss. I mean by Missourians such men 
as claimed to have an interest. I thought they would have insisted 
upon their voting strongly. I don't know that this influenced me in 
my opinion. 1 acted upon my own opinion — upon what was law — 
upon what I heard other men say. 

To Governor King: 

Myself and Mr. France were what were called free-State men. I 
do not know of any free-State men being deterred from voting that 
day on account of his political views, and if they had wanted to vote 
they had an opportunity to, so far as I know. I don't know that any 
crowd that came off of a boat voted that day. I don't remember 
that any crowd of twenty or thirty men, distinct in their appearance 
from other men, voted a mixed ticket or otherwise ; and as far as 
I can now remember, I cannot state whether there were different 
H. Eep. 200 34* 



530 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

colored tickets that day or not. I let no man vote that day, hy my 
decision, whom I did not consider to he entitled to vote. I was satis- 
fied with i\\Q cevtilicate of election, as prescribed hy the governor, at 
the time I signed it. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I don't know whether the words "hy lawful resident voters" were 
in the certificate or not. I don't remember whetlier they were in or 
not. I did not allow any one to vote unless he had some interest in 
the Territory. Many never voted whom we did not ask any questions. 
"SVhen we would ask a question the voter would either say he had a 
claim, a town lot, or some interest, and we would believe it, and 
allow him to vote. The reason why I thought there would be a fuss, 
if we excluded the persons I speak of, was, that I heard men swearing 
they would vote, and from their motions outside. Those men who 
voted, and of whom we asked no questions, I cannot state whether I 
knew or not. ^ 

To Governor King : 

We supposed that those men whom we let vote without asking ques- 
tions were such as had a right to vote without the necessity of a 
question. The certificate of election appended to the poll-hooks in 
the possession of the committee seems to be like the one I signed. I 
do not know whether I objected to or consented to an alteration ot 
the certificate — I did not care to have it altered myself or not. 

ADAM FISHER. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



Amos Rees testifies : 

I moved into the Territory in July, 1855, and have lived in Mis- 
souri since 1818, and am a practising lawyer. I was present at an 
election held at Leavenworth on the 22d of May, 1855, for three re- 
presentatives. My impression is that I did not vote at that election. 
The slave party took no interest in it, thinking that Reeder had no 
light to set aside the former election, and took but little interest in it; 
and I may and may not have voted myself. I know a great many 
citizens who voted. I know the following perso'ns to have lived in 
Missouri at that time: Ex-Judge Wm. B. Almond, Robert Kane, 
"William R. Kane, Malcolm R. Green, Joseph Cocrill, M. Pemberton, 
Daniel P. Lewis, L. Shepherd, John Yenoman, James H. Headly, 
(now clerk of the court of Atchison county, K. T.,) S. P. Styles, Wm. 
Bywaters, Isaac House, (now in Kickapoo, K. T.,) A. W. Hughs, Ab- 
ner Dean, John Wilson, Edward P. Duncan, Hugh Sweeney, Wm. J. 
Korris, Samuel R. Orfutt, Wm. H. Bell. The last named has a claim 
in the Territory with improvements. He has two sons here living on 
the claims. I know George Quimby. He had previously lived in 
Missouri. His tamily was still there. He was largely interested in 
the town of Delaware. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 631 

He had a house huilt here, and kept a grocery-store and 1 ivory- 
stable, and was interested in the ferry. He professed to he trying to 
dispose of his property in Platte city, to move to Delaware, He has 
since sold it and now lives there. I looked upon him as a settler, in 
the same liglit that I did myself hefore I moved. 

The Jolin Wilson whom I know^ I am satisfied never voted at any 
election in tlie Territory. W. (x. Bonnell is in the same condition of 
Quimhy. Francis J. Marshall, who was a member of the legislature, 
I understand lives in Marysville, in the eleventli district. I am satis- 
fied that a great many men who were here from Missouri at that elec- 
tion did not vot<3. I cannot state how many did vote. I don't know 
that any single man voted. I did not watch the polls, or pay much 
attention to the matter. 

AMOS REES. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 30, 1856. 



LuciAN J. Eastin testificB : 

To Governor King : 

I have resided in Leavenworth city since October, 1854, and was a 
candidate for the council at the oOth of March election, 1855. Gov- 
ernor Reeder set aside the election for representatives in the sixteenth 
election district, and ordered a new election, which was held the May 
following. The candidates at this election were the same as at the 
March election, and whose elections were set aside by the governor. 
I suppose there were about 715 votes polled at that election. I believe 
they were mostly, if not all, legal voters. The free-State candidates 
were, Edsall, Gould, and Pennock. I saw a number of votes given for 
their candidates by deck-hands and others from the steamer Kate 
Castle, lying at the levee. Some of them, I think, went up with Mr. 
Gould, one of the free-State candidates, or they seemed to be along with 
him. I saw probably about six or seven Missourians on the ground. 
There was no voting, or attempting to vote, that I know of. They 
believed the election to be illegal, and therefore took no interest in it. 
I heard one of tlie pro-slavery candidates say, on the morning of the 
election, that he was not a candidate, and tliis was the expression of 
all three of the candidates — that they did not recognise the right of 
Governor Reeder to set aside that election, and, therefore, they con- 
sidered the election was invalid. The legal voters here determined to 
go into the election, believing they had the strength. I think the 
majority was from three to four hundred for the pro-slavery party. I 
believe that the poll-books show about the strength of parties, for I 
saw about five or six Missourians and the deck-hands I spoke of, about 
the polls. I never have examined the poll-books to know whether the 
voters were residents or not. I could not say whether or not the num- 
ber of votes in the district was seven hundred. 

L. J. EASTIN. 

Leavenworth City, K, T., May 29, 1856. 



532 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Beturns of an election held in the first, second, third, seventh, eighth, 
and sixteenth districts of the Territory of Kansas on the lid day of 
May, A. D. 1855. 

[Joel Grover, William Yates, and Josiali Miller were sworn as 
judges, according to printed form.] 

riKST DISTRICT — Laiorcnce. 



1 Beekman Mead 

2 Solomon Wildes 

3 Michael Albia 

4 Hiram Shields 

5 James Sawyer 

6 John Hutchinson 

7 ErastusD. Ladd 

8 Hiram Dunbar 

9 Morris Hunt 

10 W.M.Patterson 

11 E.D.Lyman 

12 John E. Stewart 

13 11. T.Elliott 

1-4 Asaph A. Faxon, (oath) 

15 William A. Holmes 

16 Edward Jones 

17 S.N.Wood 

18 S.J.Willis 

19 H.Stevens 

20 Samuel Anderson 

21 John Doxey 

22 Charles Dickson 

23 John L. Crane 

24 Levi Gates 

25 Turner Sampson 

26 C.A.Haskill 

27 Leonard Litchfield 

28 Lyman Allen 

29 F.O. Folios 

30 George Gary 

31 Norman Allen 

32 George W. Hunt 

33 William Esterbrook 

34 George W. Dietzler 

35 William Benson 

36 Samuel G. Ladd 

37 Ernest Smith 

38 C. S. Pratt 

39 R.P.Moore 

40 0. A. Hauscom 

41 R. M. Willdnson 

42 W.A.Gentry 

43 Joseph Cracklin 

44 Charles Campbell 

45 0. D. Smith 

46 Henry D. Graves 

47 John \Y. Stevens, (oath) 

48 Samuel Merrill 

49 Ransom Calkins 

50 Horace C. Manning, (oath) 

51 Jeremiah Spencer 

52 Philip S. Huff 

53 E. A. Coleman 

5-1 Eben Goddard, (oath) 



55 Paul Jones 

56 Nelson Eagle 

57 Hugh Pettingall 
Or en Pettingall 

58 Samuel Kimball 

59 S. N. Simpson 

60 Henry S. McLelland 

61 Allen Ham 

62 L. D. Colman 

63 Lewis Farley 

64 D. H. Wright, (oath) 

65 Increase Whitcomb 

66 Zeno B. Page 
67 

68 E. Jones 

69 James J. Bro^vn 

70 John R. Griffith 

71 David S. Morris 

72 Charles Robinson 

73 Otis Potter 

74 AVilliam Lyon 

75 Wilder Knight 

76 James Jamison 

77 Thomas Little 

78 J.E.Rice 

79 Calvin G. Hoit 

80 B. Johnson 

81 W. H. Hovey 

82 David Harmon 

83 J. M. Jones 

84 T. Clemens 

85 Ezi-a Pierce 

86 J. R. Ladd 

87 John Stanton, (oath) 

88 Geo. W. Gingrich, (oath) 

89 Henry S. Everheart 

90 John Bigclow 

91 M. ]\I. Hamaron 

92 Lewis J. Everheart, (oath) 

93 Joseph W. Russell 

94 James D. McLain, (oath) 

95 J. L. Spice 

96 Daniel W. Palmer 

97 Charles Jordan, jr., (oath) 

98 Stephen Ogdcn 

99 J. L. Merrill 

100 L. S. Bacon 

101 A. E. Clavcrson 

102 S.T. Lum 

103 R. J. Horton 

104 Lewis Howell 

105 Henry Atherton 

106 George Gilbert 

107 Johu"^Ogden 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



533 



108 Samuel Gill, (oath) 

109 N. F. Herrick 

110 Ira W. Ackley 

111 Fred. J. Locke 

112 James Lain, (oath) 

113 Thomas J. Stone 

114 Stillman Andrew 

115 Franklin Haskill 

116 E. F. Mayo 

117 Simeon Gilsoa 

118 A. S. Addis 

119 C.H. Thomas 

120 N.B. Rowland 

121 John Pike 

122 Edward Clark 

123 Charles Harrington 

124 Samuel Phillips 

125 Edwin Bond 

126 Ferdinand Fuller 

127 M. S. Wright 

128 S. B.Smith 

129 John Wild, (oath) 

130 John S. Mott 

131 James Clark 

132 N.W. Maxwell 

133 R. D.Maxwell 

134 David Burton 

135 A.D.Searl 

136 William Robhins 

137 E.H.Mobray 

138 J. F. Morgan 

139 G. W. Goss 

140 John Michael Ecalhap, (oath) 

141 Leverett Haskell 

142 James Fuller 

143 Charles Pettiugall 

144 0. H. Lamb 

145 S. L. Lapham 

146 V. L. Purse, (oath) 

147 E. A. Landon 

148 J. W. Wayne 

149 John Derby 

150 L. W. Plum 

151 James Whaley 

152 Francis Killam 

153 J. D. Heald 

154 M. J. Parrott 

155 G. W. Brown 

156 Enoch Howland 

157 James Clark, sr. 

158 G. W. Nichols 

159 F. A. Bailey 

160 Albert F. Bercall 

161 George Churchill 

162 Amora Soule 

163 F. P. Vaughan 

164 L. H. Bascomb 

165 J. H. Gleason 

166 J. S. Cowan 

167 N. H. Smith 

168 Philip P. Fowler 

169 Josiah G. Fuller 

170 John H. Wildes 

171 Edward Windon 

172 Charles Garrett 

173 W. J. R. Blackman, (oath) 



174 E. Gray, (oath) 

175 Joseph Boges 

176 G. R. Smith 

177 H. F. Landas 

178 W. D. Atwood 

179 S. M. Saltus 

180 M. L. Gaylord 

181 John Roe 

182 D. W. Bentley, (oath)) 

183 Thos. Chapman, (oath 

184 H. N. Bent 

185 David Brown 

186 Charles Legge 

187 J. C. Gordon 

188 John Armstrong 

189 Daniel Low 

190 William Meams 

191 J. D. Barnes 

192 Thomas Wells 

193 Carlos Hall 

194 Ezra A. Potter 

195 George Earl 

196 William Gibbons 

197 James A. Dale 

198 J. W. Junkins 

199 Henry Ne^vman 

200 J. T. Cummin gs 

201 James M. Fuller 

202 Henry Hurd, (oath) 

203 Abijah White 

204 William Marshall 

205 B. S. Richardson 

206 Hamson Nichols 

207 William Whitlock 

208 George IT. Creches 

209 Charles W. Hanlcy 

210 W. D. Jcunerson 

211 John G. Croelcn 

212 James M. Gillis 

213 A. D. Todd 

214 Robert Vanwinkle 

215 Seth Roderbough 

216 Salem Gleason 

217 Jacob E. Strout 

218 S. B. Dudley 

219 D. G. Vanwinkk 

220 F. McD. Hunt 

221 Bryce W. Miller 

222 G. W. Fitz 

223 Samuel C. Smith 

224 John Spear 

225 C. Hornsby 

226 William Mathews 

227 George Mathews 

228 Joseph Savage 

229 H. J. Tadder 

230 Wm. Hornsby 

231 David Penington 

232 Curtis H. Keyes 

233 Reuben Randall 

234 Oscar Burroughs 

235 Charles M. Docknew 

236 J. B. Abbott 

237 B. W. Wood 

238 Clark Stearns 

239 H. A. Hancock 



534 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



240 riinl R. Brooks 

241 C. W. l^Uvock 

242 H. Clark 

243 Kolvrt McFarland 

244 Tbos. MoFarlaud 

245 Win. Hutchinson 
34 (! John Frj 

247 Thomas Garvin 

248 Henry E. Rvbtxick 

249 A. Wilder 

250 Daniel Mailcy 

251 P. K Harris 

252 Amory Wetherbe* 

253 O. Harlow 

254 T. Johnsoa 

255 HenrT B. Gage 

256 S. S- Snyder 

257 John Gingericb 

258 .)olnv Wke 

259 S. J. lYatt 

260 L^vi Ferguson 

261 John Anderson 

262 Homer Hoges 

263 G W. Hutchinson 

264 R. H. Pi-erce 

265 K. G. livingrston 

266 John R. lAinghead 

267 Thos. S. Weeds 

268 John A. Lowry 
261) G. W. Kent 

270 l->aii<.is M. LittleficM 

271 Wm. Siivage 

272 John P. Wood 

273 Hiurvey Jones 



274 Robert. Garvin 

275 J. M. Graham 

276 Joshua Smith 

277 Wui. Worriker 

278 C. W. IViVSiill 

279 Asaph Allen 

280 A. B. Wade 

281 T. E. Benjamin 

282 Harvey N. Street 

283 Martin Adams 

284 Gaton Adams 

285 Willard Colburn 

286 John G. Rielier 

287 Wm. Cleland . 

288 John Clerv 

289 Wm. J. Schaeff 

290 James Gnrviu 

291 Robert Krvin 

292 Ifenry Bronson 

293 P. 0.' Conner 

294 G. W. Reeii 

295 Alfrotl Rivne 

296 John Mack 

297 Joel Groves 

298 JosJah Miller 

299 Willfcun Yates 

300 J. S. Emery 

301 L. B. Kerns 

302 Sila* Green 

303 Noah Cameron 

304 E. S. Scudder 

305 A. C. Harrington 

306 Wm. Blair 



We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d of Maj^ 
A. D. ISoo, at the house of "Wm. H. R. Lykins, in the first election 
district, for the election of membere of the house of representatives for 
the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of 
said election, tliat the following is a true and correct return of the 
Totes iK>lled at such election, hj lawful resident voters, viz : 



Philip P. Fowler 288 

John Hutchinson 283 

Erastus D. Ladd 286 

G. W. Brown 16 

S. N. Simpson 10 



Edwin Bond. 
Samuel Hoyt.... 
0. A. Han scorn. 
Peter Farley.... 

John Lowry 

H. N. Bent 



10 
2 
1 
1 



G. W. Kent 1 

E. T. Horton 2 

John Bis2;low 1 

Dr. John Day 1 

S. N. Wood..' 3 

Mrs. C. J. H. Jifichols 1 

Orville D. Smith 1 

Wm. Lyon 2 

Lvman Allen 2 

Blank 1 



WM. YATES. 
JOEL GROVER, 
JOSL\H MILLER, 



Judges. 



Subscribed and sworn to before me, tliis 22d day of May, 1855. 

J. S'. EMERY, J. P. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Second District. 



535 



"We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day of 
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of Harrison Burson, in the second 
election district, for the election of members of council and of the 
house of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certi- 
fy, upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a 
true and correct return of the votes polled at such election,, by lawful 
resident voters, viz : 

For Council. For Representatives. 

John A. Wakefield 127 Augustus Wattles 124 

Wm. Jessee 127 



H. BURSON, 
N. RAMSEY, 
WM. SIMMONS, 



Judges. 



Poll-hook of an election held in the second judicial district, in Kansas 
Territory, for the election of one councilman and two representatives, 
May 22, 1855, 



1 G. W. Cossley 

2 John H. WoodiS 

3 T. M, Piersoa 

4 'Llioii. Barber 

5 J. J. Miller 

6 T. W. Barber 

7 Henry Pauf 

8 G. W. Chafin 

9 J. B. Swain 

10 D. C. Bufifune 

11 J. B. Choat 

12 Thos. B. Wolverton 
1.3 J. G. Snodgrass 

14 Wm. Tackett ^ 

15 N. Kamsey 

16 Augustus V/attles 

17 Harrison Benson 

18 Wm. M. Haseltine 

19 Thos. Bickerton 

20 Alex. Love 

21 E. B. Haseltine 

22 Lewis Duffee 

23 T. K. Herd 

24 Isaac Stull 

25 John A. Wakefield 

26 J. H. Firman 

27 J. H. Lyon 

28 J. H. Mussey 

29 E. B. Night 

30 Owen T. Basset 

31 G. W. Purse 

32 Dennis C. Blakely 

33 H. Pi. Piawson 

14 Rudolph Thommen 

35 Hen. W. Fick 

36 Wm. B. Lewis 

37 Jas. H. Thompson 

38 Henry Learned 

39 E. W. Smith 

40 Horris Hobbs 

41 Hugh Gaston 



42 Owen Taylor 

43 J. M. Tuton 

44 Alfonso C. Jones 

45 J. L. Hardin 

46 Edward Oakley 

47 A. J. Smith 

48 A. Hilfelt 

49 Samuel Smith 

50 Joseph Oakley 

51 Jag. M. Diinu 

52 T. W. Sletter 

53 W. W. Hall 

54 H. T. Wakefield 

55 O. L. Spradling 

56 J. N. Mace 

57 Wm. Draper 

58 Jos. Bryant 

59 Peter V. Whiteneck 

60 George W. Zinn 

61 Isaac Shurley 

62 Dudley Bryant 

63 H. C. Muzzy 

64 ChcLs. W. Smith 

65 Wm. Glenn 

66 Geo. Taylor 

67 Eobt. Huse 

68 Wm. Wilbensherry 

69 Andrew White 

70 J. S. White 

71 F. A. Mussey 

72 M. E. Grimes 

73 Milan Grout 

74 Able Yates 

75 John Moss 

76 Madi.son Clayton 

77 H. C. Alderman 

78 Abr. Hendricks 

79 Stephen Dxmken 

80 Jackson Pioberts 

81 G. H. Snyder 

82 N. Snyder 



536 KANSAS AFFAIRS- 

83 Henry H. Conner 106 Saml. Casebere 

84 Henry L. Baldwin 107 John C. Archibald 
, 85 Andrew S. Baldwin 108 R. J. Haseltine 

86 A. J. Corbitt 109 Ebenezer Archibakl 

87 F. Barker 110 Saml. Walker 

88 Saml. Jones 111 Thos. Burnett 

89 David Ward 112 George Anderson ' 

90 Saml. Comer 113 Thos. J. Nichols 

91 J. W. Hamilton 114 Beuj. Stowe 

92 Saml. Coffin 115 Warren Stowe 

93 Nathan Herric 116 Allen C. Piatt 

94 J. C. Dunn 117 Jared Carter : 

95 Wm. Watson 118 Ebenezer Disbro 

96 Wm. Biesly 119 Jos. Gardner 

97 Henry Hine 120 Chas. E. Smith. 

98 Alfred Peak 121 E. J. Macy 

99 G. W. Umberger 122 Edwin Gardner 

100 Joseph Anderson 123 Wm. Gansen 

101 David Kenzie 124 E. HudJleson 

102 John Scott 125 John Macy 

103 David Jackson Casabere 126 Wm. Eeikett 

104 J. B. T. McFerson 127 Aaron Sims 

105 Kobt. Allen 

Nathaniel Eamsey and Wm. Simmons sworn, according to printed 
form, as in district No. 1, (first election,) before H. Bnrson, justice 
of the peace, and H, Burson before N. Eamsey, as judges of election,. 



Third District. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day oi 
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of T. N. Stinson, in the third electioB 
district, for the election of members of the council and of the house 
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upoD 
our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is a true and 
correct return of the votes polled at such election by lawful resident 
voters, viz : the whole number of votes cast for councilman was one 
hundred and forty-six, of which Jesse D. Wood received one hundred 
and forty-six. 

The whole number of votes cast for representatives was one hun- 
dred and forty-eight, of which Cyrus E. Holliday received one hun- 
dred and forty-seven_, and F. W. Giles received one. 

DANIEL H. HOENE, 
JOHN EITCHEY, 
AMOS a. ADAMS, 

Judges of Elections . 

List of votes ijolled at the election held in the town of Tccumseh, in the 
third election district, on the twenty-second day of May, A, D, one 
thousand eight hundred OMd fifty-five. 

1 D. W. Cleveland 6 Henry Stofiel 

2 Daniel Sayer (?) 7 Jos. C. Rniler 

3 H. B. Coles 8 A. Swift 

4 Joshua Abbott 9 Timothy FessendcK 

5 S. J. Case 10 David Stofiel 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



537 



11 Kinsey Stofiel 

12 Sanford Henry 

13 George F. Brown 
14: James McKenarry 

15 J. P. Perin 

16 Elnatlian Trask 

17 Alexander Leslie 

18 Israel Zimmerman 

19 D. W. Home 

20 Kobert L. Mitchel 

21 Wm. H. Brown 

22 Hy. P. Waters 

23 J. N. Frazier 

24 Andrew S. Waters 

25 Thomas G. Thornton 

26 Ambrose W. Ford 

27 George Davis 

28 William E. Miles 

29 Philip Briggs 

30 Samuel Gray 

31 J. T. Jones 

32 Charles Jordan 

33 L. Y. Cook 

34 G. H. Pool 

35 W. W. Philips 

36 John M. McBride 

37 James Tegart 

38 Enoch Chase 

39 C. G. Howard 

40 C. N. Gregg 

41 Jonas E. Greenwood 

42 Jos. C. Wollfelt 

43 E. S. Dexter 

44 Samuel Hall 

45 Lewis C. Wilmath 
4G William F. Crites 

47 Charles Crites 

48 George B. Freness 

49 McC." Martin 

50 Abner Dow 

51 Timothy Mclntire 

52 Orlando Bawson 

53 Charles A. Sexton 

54 A. F. Hartwell 

55 P. E. Hubbard 

56 Francis Davis 

57 Moses Hubbard 

58 F. W. Giles 

59 Eobert Wilcman 

60 J. F. Meriam 

61 D. H. More 

62 Hiram H. Wentworth 

63 Edward F. CaUan 

64 E. E. Moffatt 

65 J.W.Emerson 

66 William E. Dyer 

67 A. W. More 

68 J. C. Colter 

69 John A. Wirt 

70 Jos. H. Weaver 

71 A.G.Adams 

72 JohnEitchey 

73 Alexander Bliss 

74 George W. Hathaway 

75 William W. Johnson 

76 Daniel H.Horric 



77 William Scales 

78 L. Farnsworth 

79 L. G. Cleveland 

80 L. P. Haskell 

81 J.G.Thompson 

82 Charles Morlcy 

83 Charles L. Wilbur 

84 William E. Bruker 

85 Parsons Haskell 

86 H. G. Young 

87 Eobert M. Luce 

88 Leonard Wendall 

89 Edward Plummer 

90 Samuel A. Wynn 

91 S. E. Martin 

92 Edward Seagrave 

93 Jesse Stone 

94 Andrew Wynne 

95 Albert Wish 

96 Charles Morland 

97 Barney Miller 

98 H. C. Coole 

99 H. B. Burgess 

100 L. C. Atwater 

101 Isaac Wynn 

102 Augustus H. Bernard 

103 James G. Bolles 

104 Benjamin Getchell 

105 William H. Weymouth. 

106 M. C. Drinkwater 

107 H. Fletcher 

108 Eobert Todd 

109 Samuel Cavendcr 

110 James M. Hammond 

111 Charles C. Preston 

112 Daniel Turner 

113 George S. Holt 

114 David P. Hammond 

115 J. W. Brown 

116 Etiomn Bollettc 

117 Gilbert Billiard 

118 Claud Chambonnion 

119 Eugene Dumey 

120 M. AntoniaCampdoras 

121 William F. Johnston 

122 James Pierce 

123 Orlando Moffatt 

124 Hy. Griffin . 

125 James Goodrich 

126 Hy. Hanson 

127 David P. Leonard 

128 Jos. N. Fogg 

129 W. Y. Eoberts 

130 A. J. Acklin 

131 Joseph Morton 

132 A. J. Kelley 

133 Samuel Updegraff 

134 William Jones 

135 Jesse B. Eamsey 

136 William Eiley 

137 Tlieodoro Porter 

138 BametEoyle 

139 Merril Thulkeld 

140 Solomon G. Eiffle 

141 George S. Eamsey 

142 George W. Gilmore 



538 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

143 Thomas B. Bush 147 M. C. Dickey 

144 A. Brower 148 George F. Boyd 

145 W. R. Frost 149 Osbom Naylor 

146 Caleb Aubram 

Amos Gr. Adaras and John RitcTiey sworn according to tlie printed 
form, as in first election district, (1st election,) before Daniel H. Horne, 
judge, and D. H. Horne before A. G. Adams, judge. 



Seventh District. 

Tally of votes cast for councilman for the third council district of 
the Territory of Kansas in the seventh election district, May 22, 1855: 

Jesse D. Wood 66 votes. 

Charles H. Worthington 8 " 

C. H. Worthington 2 " 

Jesse B.Wood 2 " 

C. H. Witherington 1 " 

We certify that the foregoing tally-list is correct, and that Jesse D. 
Wood received sixty-six votes, Charles H. Worthington received 
eight votes, C. H. Worthington received tvt^o votes, and C. H. With- 
erington received one vote, for the office of councilman in the third 
council district in the seventh election district, the whole number of 
votes cast being seventy-nine. 
Dated May 22, 1855. 

JOSEPH McmTYRE, 
HENRY HARVEY, 

JOSEPH McDonald, 

Judges of the Election. 
Isaac D. Eand, 
George M. Harvey, 

Clerks. 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day of 
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of Isaac B. Titus, in the seventh elec- 
tion district^ for the election of members of council and of the house 
of representatives for the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, 
upon our oaths or affirmations as judges of said election, that the 
following is a true and correct return of the votes polled at such 
election by lawful resident voters, viz : 

JOSEPH McINTYRE, 
HENRY HARVEY, 

JOSEPH McDonald, 

Judges of Election, 

1 Joseph Brown 5 Wm. Lord 

2 Marcus H. Rose 6 David Condit 

3 Ithel Strier 7 Marcus C. Rose * 

4 Samuel Scott 8 Lucian Fish 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



539 



9 Tliomas Russell 

10 Alex. Millison 

11 Jas. J. Miller 

12 Johnson Mclntyre 

13 John W. Frul 

14 Isa£ic Chatham 

15 Ily. Hardy 

16 Isaac D. Earle 

17 Edward C. Johnson 

18 Geo. M. Harvey 

19 Darius W. Harold 

20 Thos. Crabtree 

21 Wm. J. Tillinghast 

22 Hy. Williams 

23 Jos. Mclntyre 

24 Fred. C. Upton 

25 Jos. McDonald 

26 John Smith 

27 Isaac B.Titus, 

28 Warren N. Haven 

29 Alphonso Prentiss 

30 Jas. R. Stewart 

31 Ami Smith 

32 Joseph McKenn 

33 Sam'l A.Allison 

34 John Drein 

35 Lovredge S. Axtell 

36 Sam'l B. Hardy 

37 Geo. S. Young 

38 Wm. Graham 

39 John Miller 

40 Thos. Armour 

41 Stephen D. Smith 

42 Hiram Graham 

43 Elijah A. Bunker 

44 Oliver Philips 



45 Abel Polly 

46 Absalom Hover 

47 David Hoover 

48 James Bostrel 

49 Jolm R. Cazier 
60 John W. Akin 

51 Hy. Stanley 

52 Josiah Stanley 

53 Wm. A. Kerr 

54 De Witt Wright 

55 Geo. Bralton 

56 John C. Gould 

67 James H. Young 

68 Wm. A. Smith 

59 Fred'k Serial 

60 Wm. Howard 
01 Hy. Smith 

62 John D. Scidmore 

63 Chas. H. Linkenangen 

64 Wm. M. Harris 

65 Chas. W. Fish 

66 Edmund Fish 

67 Solomon Wyatt 

68 Lewis Wyatt 

69 Eli C. Maxwell 

70 Hy. Morrill 

71 Victory McDonald 

72 John G. Morrill 

73 Picking T. Cook 

74 Wm. Stuart 

75 Henry P^pinon, (sworn.) 

76 Henry Martin, (sworn.) 

77 Rob' t Smith 

78 Thos. Black 

79 Emery P. Lockhart 

ISAAC D. EAND, 
GEO. M. HARVEY, 

Clerks. 



Joseph Mclntyre, Henry Harvey, and Joseph McDonald sworn ac- 
cording to the printed form, as in first district, (1st election,) beforo 
Marcus H. Eose, justice of the peace, as judges of the election. 



Eighth District. 



We, the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day of 
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of the Council Grove Mission, in the 
eighth election district, for the election of a member of council for the 
Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges of 
said election, that the following is a true and correct return of the 
votes polled, by lawful resident voters, at said election, viz : 

Charles H. Washington has received 33 votes. 

THOMAS J. ADDIS. 
THOMAS S. HUFFAKER. 
J. W. RATLIEF. 



540 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 





List of voters. 


1 John B. Addis 


18 James Connell 


2 N. D. Trimble 


19 Lawi-ence Bradley 


3 J. A. Dunegar 


20 John Connell 


4 T. J. Addis, jr. 


21 A. Crowley 


5 S. W. Rowe 


22 G. M. Suncoek 


C Willicam Delaney 


23 T. E. Furbav 


7 George McJulord 


24 T. S. Hamilton 


9 Joseph Hearu 


25 C. Columbia 


10 E. M. Sfwell 


26 John Goodale 


11 A. T. Hyder 


27 C. F. Parish 


12 F. F. Hoffaker 


28 Robert Gillespie 


13 T. J. Addis, sr. 


29 Thomas W. White 


14 J. W. Rodleff 


30 John Kelley 


15 A. J. Balier 


31 C. T. Gillman 


16 Morgan Delacy 


32 Henry Parish 


17 H. T. Halmou 


33 A. G. Hyden 



Thomas S. Huffaker, John W. Eatliff, and Thomas J. Adclis, sworn 
according to the printed form, as in first district, (first election,) be- 
fore J. L. Baker, justice of the peace, as judges of the election. 



Sixteenth District. 

Messrs. James Lyle, Adam Fisher, and Matt. France, severally 
took and subscribed to the oath of office, as judges of the election held 
on the 22d day of May, 1855, at the house of Gr. Luzadder,* in the six- 
teenth election district of the Territory of Kansas, according to the 
printed form. 

We, the undarsigned, judges of an election held on the 22d day of 
May, A. D. 1855, at the house of George Luzadder, in the sixteenth 
election district, for the election of the house of representatives for 
the Territory of Kansas, do hereby certify, upon our oaths as judges 
of said election, that the following is a true and correct return of the 
votes polled at such election, by lawful resident voters, viz : 

W. G. Mathias 558 

A. Payne 560 

H. D. McMeekin 561 

James K. Edsall 140 

J. E. Gould 139 

H. L. Pennock 141 

JAMES M. LYLE. 
ADAM FISHER. 
MATT. FRANCE. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



541 



Poll-list of an election held at LeavemuortJi May 22, 1855, /or three 
re])resentatives to the Territorial legislature of Kansas Territory. 



1 Asa Smith 

2 M. T. Quarrells 

3 Robert Tate 

4 James Walker 

5 Tliomas Turner 

6 Thomas C. Bishoi) 

7 Jefferson Park 

8 E. B. Hamer 

9 John Cain 

10 Jacob Houk 

11 William Furnish 

12 Eobert White 

13 Daniel Cairy 

14 Jeremiah Cockner 

15 John Swinney 

16 E. T. DarneU 

17 Jesse Hodges 

18 Jackson Miller 

19 Archelus Hughes 

20 Samuel Wineton 

21 Joseph Settle 

22 Daniel Stewart 

23 William B. Almon 

24 F. Marshal 

25 John Rice 

26 Robert Cain 

27 William R. Cain 

28 John English 

29 William Highter 

30 Moses Miner 

31 C. C. Brown 

32 Nicholas R. Green 

33 J. Hollingworth 

34 J. Sidner 

35 E. D. Nelly 

36 L. W. Barnard 

37 James L. McAIeer 

38 H. Clark 

39 J. Mitchell 

40 Josiah Brown 

41 V. C. Holhngsworth 

42 John A. Thompson 

43 William Lewis 

44 L. B. Hoy 

45 William Toltston 

46 William Nash 

47 J. G. Hayden 

48 Thomas C. Ball 

49 J. Cockrell 

50 Straher Hoy 

51 T. H. Starnes 

52 S. M. Gorden 

53 Barnabas Gable 

54 L. H. Whittaker 

55 William Stergis 

56 M. H. Winston 

57 Ely Moore 

58 Jesse Miller 

59 William H. Brown 

60 John S. Dawson 

61 John Wallace 



62 L. F. Hollingsworth 

63 M. Pcmbcrton 

64 G C. Cockrell 

65 William H. Adams 

66 Joseph M. Cresman 

67 D. J. Johnson 

68 Henry E. McCce 

69 J. C. Green 

70 George Quimby 

71 William L. Murphy 

72 F. M. Mason 

73 J. W. Jones 

74 E. K. Stephens 

75 W. D. Clardy 

76 Thos. C. Hugehes 

77 Charles T. Crawford 

78 Bluford Adkins 

79 Peter Dupy 

80 G. M. Smith 

81 William T. Marvin 

82 John C. Posey 

83 L. D. Pitcher 

84 Edmund G. Curd 

85 James M. Norton 

86 William H. Starks 

87 William G. Bonnell 

88 William G. B. Rainy 

89 Jacob McMendors 

90 William D. Bull 

91 H. F. Rogers 

92 Charles Venible 

93 Thos. Bishop 

94 G. B. Redman 

95 John E. Bird 

96 Floyd Shannon 

97 Ervin Timberlick 

98 James Pierce 

99 B. C. Vivion 

100 J. C. Hughes 

101 James Saire 

102 Daniel P. Lewis 

103 Francis Brown 

104 John H. McBride 

105 William F. Mahn 

106 Carrington Harrison 

107 G. F. Warren 

108 C. F. Brede 

109 L. J. Eastin 

110 James Davis 

111 Charles Bennett 

112 Benjamin Jennings 

113 Joe T. Moore 

114 John Tmablin 

115 John W. Barber 
110 Christopher Gisler 
117 C. J. Rager 

lis Aaron Foster 

119 Abt. Title 

120 B. J. Murphy 

121 Philip Frederick 

122 Alexander Russell 



542 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



123 Chestley Brasfield 

124 G. Donis 

125 James Hiison 

126 William Tanner 

127 J. R. Edsall 

128 F. A. Hart 

129 M. J. Emmitt 

130 G. Honwath 

131 A. Gates 

132 Asa Stewart 

133 George A. Morris 

134 L. Shepherd 

135 J. S. Towusend 

136 T. Hemden 

137 Ralph Hast 

138 John Verncmon 

139 Adam Lenhart 

140 James Frost 

141 G. C. Smith 

142 William Baker 

143 Wm. Lockim 

144 B. T. Luce 

145 Lewis Johnson 

146 John J. Luce 

147 W. S. Blair 

148 James H. Headley 

149 W. K. Brien 

150 Wm. Butler 

151 Amos Reese 

152 Jeremiah Johnson 

153 Z. M. Offutt 

154 Geo. Walker 

155 William Wallace 

156 W^ W. Runuells 

157 R. F. Dunkin 

158 C.K.Carter 

159 Henry Howe 

160 J. M. Alexander 

161 Simon Serugsjs 

162 JohnF. Gra'nt 

163 F. B. Mitchell 

164 James McGarvin 

165 Samuel Phillips 

166 John J. Moore 

167 James Wallace 

168 Granville Atkins 

169 Joel Hiatt 

170 Finley Furgurson 

171 Frederick Emory 

172 James Bruce 

173 Wm. Bevin 

174 Lewis Carter 

175 M. D. Short 

176 Miles Shannon 

177 G.D.Todd 

178 Wm. Craigg 

179 F. S. Ottaherry 

180 Lewis Walterj 

181 J. W. Todd 

182 Weston Pierce 

183 L. W. Holdred 

184 M. H. Comstock 

185 Marion Todd 

186 Joseph B. Lockey 

187 F. E. Barre 

188 John Olvis 



189 Aaron Grovin 

190 Wm. M. Line 

191 G. H. Folsom 

192 C. Shendollar 

193 J. K. Miller 

194 James S. Taylor 

195 John McCoron 

196 Joel Moore 

197 Isaac Vanvecton 

198 Elhert 0. Waller 

199 G. A. Shields 

200 M.C.Park 

201 John Alexander 

202 Joseph Todd 

203 John J. Fulton 

204 Thos. Stewart 

205 Thos. R. Short 

206 David R. Burton 

207 John Currens 

208 Wm. C. Berry 

209 Wm. Connan 

210 Wm. Powers 

211 Henrv Delphkey 

212 Nehemiah Sage 

213 A. S. Downey 

214 Samuel F. Few 

215 A.H.Scott 

216 Charles Hendley 

217 Wm. Baldwin 

218 Simpson Park 

219 Jackson Dearing 

220 Wm. Redman 

221 Wm. McGee 

222 John S. Skinner 

223 David Dodge 

224 David Brown 

225 John S. Nubold 

226 Leander Ker 

227 H. H. Jolmson 

228 Bailey Marms 

229 John Scott 

230 S. B. Pankake 

231 James M. Davis 

232 David Brasfield 

233 Thomas Reed 

234 W. W. Corane 

235 Simon Brown 

236 J. Wescott 

237 J. Mulendore 

238 James Hickey 

239 Travis Brown 

240 John L. Webster 

241 John McNevin 

242 Hugh McCorone 

243 Wm. Brunsur 

244 Wesley S. Davidson 

245 J. D. Pennebacker 

246 Wm. G. Mathias 

247 Benj. F. Simmons 

248 John J. Kerr 

249 David S. Erwin 

250 James Adama 

251 J. E. McMuIler 

252 J. E. Grant 

253 Adam Himbook , 

254 Wm. Right 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



543 



255 Frank Lumner 

256 Michael Kelly 

257 David Z. Smith 

258 Peter Keitzcker 

259 W. Clirlstonson 

260 B. L. Sellus 

261 R, E. Saunders 

262 L. P.- Styles 

263 F. M. Johnson 

264 Joshua Eshum 

265 James Pratt 

266 Thomas F. Hustiu 

267 D. L. Cooper 

268 Thos. E. Miller 

269 C. M. Burgess 

270 Alexander Baker 

271 Wm. Hippel 

272 R. S. Watkins 

273 A. Dean 

274 A. W. Hughes 

275 Wm. Large 

276 H. Carpenter 

277 Isaac House 

278 Wm. G. Sharp 

279 Houstin Long 

280 James Rich 

281 A. McCauley 

282 Wm. Bywaters 

283 T. G. Cockrier 

284 Oscar Bywaters 

285 E. D. Bishop 

286 Wm. PL Elliott 

287 John Thomas 

288 Henry W. Sisby 

289 Richard Thomas 

290 John Vardiman 

291 A. T. Scott 

292 Henry Embry 

294 M. P. Reiby 

295 D. Snell 

296 James Brooks 

297 Wm. A. McDowel 

298 Thomas Smith 

299 Wm. 0. Webster 

300 Samuel Gilbert 

301 Dennis O'Keef 

302 E. T. Better 

303 H. C. Watson 

304 Jos. Simpson 

305 Robert S. Jones 

306 Joe Hooper 

307 Thos. Moore 

308 H. D. McMekin 

309 James Sirrett 

310 W. L. Camell 

311 Geo. W. Sharp 

312 John Tumberick 

313 John Manning 

314 W. T. Berry 

315 P. W. Roberts 

316 John Moore 

317 Richard Kitchen 

318 J. Sash 

319 B. Willerspoon 

320 Wm. Alexander 

321 John Harden 



322 Wm. Guess 

323 Madison West 

324 Sanford Fenney 

325 Alfred Williams 

326 A. T. Pattie 

327 Samuel H. Burgess 

328 R. E. Stallard 

329 David Scott 

330 Patrick Kafinall 

331 Robert Garvey 

332 Porter Fleming 

333 Moses Foss 

334 John Stouffer 

335 R. Loan 

336 R. Covington 

337 Albert Burgess 

338 John Davidson 

339 Francis Sutton 

340 Peck A. Chaplte 

341 Joel Lediken 

342 James Tate 

343 Edwin Ross 

344 John Wilson 

345 James Henderson 

346 Hood Craven 

347 Thos. McGruder 

348 Wm. Camron 

349 Wm. Toltston 

350 James Quinn 

351 J. P. Dunham 

352 C. C. Harrison 

353 A. G. Street 

354 Thomas Scott 

355 Peter Yeaney 

356 Ed. P. Durcan 

357 Joseph Dawson 

358 F. A. Roberts 

359 James Thompson 

360 Hugh Swaney 

361 Perry Collins 

362 Frederick Webber 

363 C. H. Allen 

364 Joel Lamb 

365 Thomas Stearnes 

366 David Bevins ' 

367 Wm. Groom V 

368 Henry C. Briskey 

369 Ezekiel Downing 

370 Thompson Mullins 

371 John C. Downing 

372 Carvin Norvillej 

373 James Bureaut 

374 C. L. Burge 

375 Martin A. Rorix 

376 Milton Stanley 

377 Thomas Hickman 

378 Isaac Hoover 

379 Thomas Gamble 

380 Wm. Cassell 

381 W. W. Williams 

382 Charles Starnes 

383 Wm. Zebriska 

384 K. C. Earl 

385 Nathaniel Henderson 

386 T. S. Lake 

387 H. C. Bishop 



544 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



3SS Win. Sharp 
3S9 Gooriro Grabani 
390 Jo&t Huinphrios 
Si)l John Pray 

392 C. Noif 

393 E. Inshan 
39-t Frank Walker 

395 Jamos MoGonn 

396 Johnlxnil 

397 Oriels Kosslor 
o9S Joseph Groenwoll 
399 Wm. White 

•400 James Patton 

401 James Xevin 

402 Daniel Heath 

403 Reason Wiloooks 

404 S;unuel Paine 

405 Henry Smith 
40t) Georae Williams 

407 L. rr Mills 

408 L. n. Dolison 

409 James Finley 

410 K. S. Martin 

411 James Weaver 

412 John 15orhos 

413 Wm. Gist 

414 Jos. Thompson 

415 J. W. Wlieeler 

416 Laranoe Rirrestor 

417 William Hawkins 

418 Ed. :Mellain 

419 John Kiekuer 

420 Wm. J. Xorris 

421 Washiuiiton Havs 

422 Ed. 0. Keiley^ " 

423 Joseph Pennoek 

424 J. W. II. Goldin 

425 Thomas 0"Keiley 

426 Paul Dow-laud 

427 Wm. H. Long 

428 Beverly Pick 

429 Alexander Eeed 

430 John Stone 

431 Henry Dill 

432 P>erry Harrison 

433 John Smith 

434 Solomon Buxton 

435 A. 0. Martin 

436 Is;iac Peeler 

437 Wm. Clark 

438 Peter Blaek 

439 0. W. Hauherroy 

440 Hugh Areher 

441 T. J. Harper 

442 J. P. Kussell 

443 Nathan Campbell 

444 J. V. Chance 

445 W. S. Eider 

446 Geo. Cubage 

447 C. Scider " 

448 Wm. Corinth 

449 John Critchfield 

450 John F. Wilcocks 

451 X. D. l^ooks 

452 James Dorall 

453 James L:\mb 



454 James MoMekan 

455 John M. Damall 

456 Morgan Wright 

457 W. M. Venablo 

458 J. Dunham 

459 N. B. Sharp 

460 B. Jerry 

Is;iae Williamson 

461 D. B. Cradoek 

462 G. E. Bishop 

463 James Mam- 

464 James Boding 

465 David Creek 

466 A. S. Parker 

467 R. S. Mereh;mt 

468 Kobt. Todd 

469 Lewis J. iMoore 

470 L. B. Simmons 

471 John Peed 

472 Kobt. M. Shearer 

473 Samuel Hall 

474 William Caugher 

475 E. C. Nailor 

476 James 5IcDanicl 

477 John C. Gist 
47S James Hiijgius 

479 W. Lane ^ 

480 J. M. Hickson 

481 Tliomas Faulkner 

482 Kobt. OtYut 

483 Jonathan Kelley 

484 W. J. Green 

485 Siras Austin 

486 E. M. Koftee 

487 B. CoUon 

488 Charles Bee 

489 Thos. Morgan 

490 Reuben Leeton 

491 J. J. Hope 

492 Siimuel M. Lvon 

493 Wm. ,Aror-;m 

494 A. J. Bishop 

495 Benj. Tolson 

496 -Vlbio Pemberton 

497 Thomas Flanery 

498 Isaiah Fmiihreys 

500 C. J. Wilkinson 

501 Isaac Riker 

502 John Burris 

503 J. W Comstock 

504 John Boyd 

505 Thos. Gregg 

506 W. A. Lj\sh 

507 F. ^l. Lowe 

508 D. H. Glover 

509 Tibbs Parker 

510 Wm. Phillepron 

511 A. W. :\IeDonnell 

512 Chas. MoDoimell 

513 H. M. Hook 

514 J. E. Gould 

515 Isaac Henderson 

516 Christian Beck 

517 Joseph Thom:is 

618 W. Falkner 

619 Solomon Bishop 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



^>20 A. C. Q.,inn 
52 J G. w. HoJIig 
522 .Sun's Vf:ix 
52.'j Jacjb itf.fJen 

524 JoH^.ph Wia) 

525 Martin HiiiAar 

526- JJaviH IV; li,: Tbonjro 

527 If. Kendall 

528 John I>;a/,b 
5:i9 .!nrn':H li/.-nfro 
5.'{0 Goorgo Shuc-r 
5.'J1 VV. T. IJari.- 
/i>2 K. C. CockriJI 
•'^''-'i il C. lir.uilcy 
■yi-i Wm. W. WaJker 
o.i5 George Kus«eJl 
5ri6 A'Jam Deitz 

537 P. W. 0,well 

538 'ITifio. Gash 

539 .1. W. Ford 

540 'ITiornas .hAtinvm 

541 Iwrto KuKHc-ll 

542 Cooper Stuck 

543 J. Kiehardwjn 

544 E. C. Bove 

545 James F.' Warden 

546 John B. Moore 

547 John Hanekan 

548 Uvin N. I>;wifi 

549 JarnesG. Iferk 

550 W. s. Vower 

551 GnVghy }}. Metzkar 

502 L'. T. .Shipp 

503 John A. H;iwyer 

554 A. T. Homer 

555 W. H. Fulkwon 
oo6 Fu>ht. DowT)8 

557 Frank Stf;rJing 

558 P. A. Moiirer 

559 V^m. Gf-oT^ie 

560 Alexander Mann 
5«1 John Clint 

562 Marion Henderson 

563 A. G. lieed 

564 Samuel iJrown 

565 J. <\ li, Houell 

566 Jfay IV;rton 

567 Willi;ini /ieevina 

568 Augustas Storm 

569 John Fuss 

570 Samuel Griffith 

571 Wm. McGluffin 

572 Patrick Woods 

573 C. G. Hicock 

574 Andrew f>iington 

575 Charles Dixon 

576 Augustas Xicholaa 
■■>'7 S. H. Offert 

■'578 John Hornan 
''7» J. B. Penrick 

■-^? 'l*"*'^ P- Salsberry 
•^'^1 I. C. Stallard 

582 H. S. Pennrx;k 

583 John Wien 
'jS4 Levi Mitchell 
■'■'■'■o T. J. Ah/shire 

H. Hei). 200 35* 



.'545 



586 

587 

588 

589 

590 

591 

592 

593 

594 

595 

596 

597 

598 

599 

600 

601 

fi02 

603 

604 

605 

f;06 

€07 

€08 

609 

610 

611 

612 

6)3 

614 

615 

616 

617 

618 

619 

620 

621 

622 

623 

624 

€25 

€26 

627 

€28 

629 

630 

631 

632 

633 

634 

635 

636 

637 

638 

639 

640 

641 

642 

643 

644 

645 

646 

647 

648 

649 

650 

651 



Samuel Fran'x; 
Tliornas Irvin 
Nichohw Ixickenian 
John B<,-a«ley 
R. K. l>iigan 
H. C. Gardner 
Harrison Collins 
I>aniel \ViIx/>n 
•lames /'ergurs/m 
John J. I>;ntx 
Charles Johnnfm 
I rank llrAAnnon 
E. S. Hf.rihfmd 
lit )\^rt ilan egfe« 
John Maloney 
'^'rn. P. Shockery 
George liin\,akbr 
John Johnson 
R. a. Bahcr 
N. S. Prentiss 
J. H. Oay 
^Vtn. Wkum 
JJaniel Comstock 
William Pennock 
John A. Lindxay 
li. K. Rees 
C. H. Pennock 
John Furry 
George B.' White 
William Englishman 
^ilnff/a lW,i.Tfl 
M. C. Early 
R. H. Pheland 
R- F. Barnard 
Samuel Dawsfm 
Jarnes Davidson 
Ix;wis Sheller 
F. En:,'lisman 
L. M. Burchenow 
J- Quinn 
J. F. Wiat 
B- B. Roberts 
Daniel C. Ame« 
Wm. B<;rchnell 
H. B. Hemdall 
W. H. Clark 
James Kirkpatrick. 
John Keefer 
Henry Blickner 
Rilev Blevins 
F. 31. Bell 
Jame4 r>x<per 
'ITiomas Bay 
George M. Myers 
Gt-fjrge W. Liizetta. 
B. M. Crust 
John Lawson 
L. P. Pathy 
I>avid Henderson 
DennLs O'Sullivaa 
J. X. Bradley 
H. Reve.s Poi'lan/l 
Joel Pennington^ 
M. H. Walker 
John Dailey 
Joseph Goodin 



546 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



6.'J2 Lewis N. Rees 

653 James Thomas 

654 Jacob Haynes 
C55 Wm. Fracker 
65(5 Wm. Saunders 

657 Thomas Ruble 

658 W. H. Goodwin 

659 H. C. Fields 

660 George Scott 

661 J. Hampton 

662 Benjamin Morton 

663 Morgan Kay 

664 Wm. Wilkinson 

665 L. E. Angle 

666 James P. Downey 

667 Henry Brown 

668 John M. Lockney 

669 Miles B. Locknaney 

670 E. W. Trowbridge 

671 J. P. Errickson 

672 R. James H. Browii 

673 M. B. Tompkins 

674 George Stevenson 

675 Feeling Bevins 

676 W. T. Nicholson 

677 J. Critchfield 

678 E. M. Lyon 

679 T. W. Davis 

680 George Cresman, 

681 J. W. Renick 

682 George Lenard. 

683 J. L. McAlee 



684 W. Tl. Bell 

685 Henry Kitchen 

686 John Allen 

687 A. Payne 

688 W. G. Smith 

689 Jeremiah Rice 

690 W. Phillips 

691 W. F. Dodd 

692 J. Phillips 

693 L. B. Snow 

694 Frederick Sprigg 

695 R. Shadd 

696 J. Kruer 

697 J. H. Stovall 

698 H. Rich 

699 D. W. Scott 

700 James Rickens 

701 J. M. Lyle 

702 M. France 

703 A. Fisher 

704 J. G. Rieson 

705 D. S. Boyle 

706 James Pitts 

707 Joseph Pitts 

708 Pete Burns 

709 F. Seybolt 

710 H. Godsin 

711 S. W^alden 

712 E. M. Rankin 

713 Adam Kuier 

714 W. R. Rutter 

715 G. H. Underwood. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 54^ 

ELECTION OF OCTOBER 1, 1855. 



Robert Morrow called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder: 

I reside in this district. I was in Kansas City on the 1st of October 
last and started with a load of goods. I was at Westport probably 
about 9 o_ clock m the morning, where I saw a good many persons 
th r Vv fn r^ ^li^'^'^'^S ready to come. I wSs passed/ 1 Should 
thmk by forty or fifty people within the next six or eight miles As 
tar as I could see, these people who passed me all stopped at a place 

^fC}f \a/T^'1 '\^^'' ^'''''''^ ^^°"«^' ^ Pl'^^« from six to eight 
Wp T. Wes port. I was probably a couple of hours driving from 
Westport to hatp ace. After passing by Gum Springs, comin'g this 
way, 1 do not thmk anybody passed me during the day. Theie was 
a crowd of about one hundred, I should think, about 11 o'clock, around 
Mt'ch^^^'f ;f''f ^''^ were voting at Gum Springs, and as man; horses 
hitched to the fence. _ I did not know any of these persons. They 
travelled principally m buggies and on horses and mules. When 
r>nX ^%^^ •'"'' ^'''r they generally travelled three or four -in com- 
pany, ihis place of election was on the Shawnee reserve but I do 
not know in what county. Upon looking at the map I fiid that it 
was m Johnson county. 

By Mr. Woodson : 

Westport is some two or three miles from the Kansas line, but I do 
not know particular y how far The people of the Territory about 
Gum fep- ngs, I should thmk, did their trading at Westport or Kansas 
l^ity. 1 have been at Westport but two or three times 

By Mr. Reeder: 

I do not know of any white people about Gum Springs. The ponu- 
ktion IS principally Shawnee Indians. I have understood that white 
men are not allowed to settle there. 

By Mr. Woodson : 

All the white settlers that I know of are about the Mission houses 

T *,. Tr m ... ROBERT MORROW. 

Lawrence, K. T., ^pn7 30, 1856. 



Andrew White recalled. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder: 

T irA^^ *^^ ^^''^'^'^ ^* ^^"°^ ^P^^^^« «° *^^e first of last October, 
thff H,-. r Jf ^''^T S°'°S.,J^ *^e^e- I am not so well acquainted with 
that district as I am with my own. I do not think there was much 



548 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

voting by the citizens. Many of the citizens who were pro-slavery 
men woiikl not vote, as they did not like the arrangements. But 
tho.se who came from Missouri paid their dollar and voted pretty freely. 
Some of them told me they were from Missouri, that they lived there 
then. They came up in companies of three, four, five, and perhaps 
a dozen together. I would walk away to them and inquire Avhat part 
of Missouri they lived in, and they would tell me. While I was 
there I think there were at least iifty who lived in Missouri who voted. 
1 came away in the evening before the voting was done. 

By Mr. Woodson: 

My information was from these men in conversation, but I did not 
see any there I knew. Most every comjjany that came up I would in- 
quire of two or three, and they would tell me they were from Missouri. 

ANDREW X WHITE. 



Lawrence, K. T., April 28^ 1850, 



mark. 



Thomas Wolverton called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Boeder : 

I came into the Territory 11th of Aprils 1855, from Ohio. I settled 
in the second district, near Bloomington. I was from Preble county, 
Ohio, I was at the election at W^illow Springs on the 1st of October 
last, and I saw persons voting tiiere ; I saw men voting there that told 
me themselves they came Irora Missouri. I mixed up with them and 
asked them where they lived ; they came there generally on horse- 
back; there were two or three wagons. I conversed with some of 
them; I was a stranger there myself, and no jicrson knew me., I was 
presented with a ticket soon after I got there; I told them it was all 
right ; I doubled it up in my hand and kept it for a free pass ; it 
served me as such. I saw persons coming up, and asked them 
where they were from. Some told me they were from Missoiiri, and 
some told me it was none of my business. I stayed until atternoon, 
until 2 o'clock, and they were getting rather drunk and could not stay 
longer peacea})ly. One gentleman told me he came-from Missouri, and 
campci] at Bull creek; that he came very near fi-eezing and swore 
that it was the last time he was going to come. Several others told 
me tliey were from Missouri. The one who told me he camped ou 
Bull creek, I believe, did not tell me how many there were with him; 
he did not say who camped there, nor how many. He said that they 
had come to vote; that he had come to vote on the oOth March, and 
that this was his second trip. I cannot tell whether the men who 
gave the number of the party were of it or not. One of them told me 
he lived in Missouri; the other did not tell me where he lived. I saw 
the first one just after he got off his horse, in a store. He said he 
came to vote to make Kansas a slave State and to elect. 3Ir. Wliitfield. 
He said there were forty in the party. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 549 

By Mr. Woodson : 

I was a stranger iu the district ; I saw the voting, but no obstruc- 
tions to the voting. Gen. Whitfield was a candidate ; the only one 
on that day that I know of. 

THOMAS WOLYERTON. 

Lawhence, K. T., Apo-il 30, 1856. 



Gaius Jenkins recalled. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I left Kansas city on the morning of the day of the election last 
fall, and started to come up to this place past Gum Springs. The 
election was lield under the authority of the legislature for congress- 
ional delegate. Before leaving Kansas city I was asked by Mr. Milton 
McGee to go over to Wyandott and vote ; I said I had no right to 
vote as I was then a resident of Kansas city. I met very many be- 
tween Kansas city and Westport shouting hurrah for Whitfield, and 
going towards Kansas city. After leaving Westport and coming this 
way, (it was then afternoon I should think,) I met some 150 between 
there and Shawnee meeting house, returning from the polls at the 
meeting house. Some were just coming from the polls. I do not 
recollect any of their names. At the time I recognized some as citi- 
zens of Jackson county, Missouri ; chiefly citizens of that county. 
After that I met no more after leaving Shawnee meeting house. The 
polls for Jolmson county were held at Gum Spring or Shawnee meet- 
house, as it was called. Milton McGee lived about a mile from Kansas 
city, on the A¥estport road. Towards Kansas city was the usual route 
from Westport to Wyandott. 

By Mr. Woodson : 

I do not now recollect the names of any one I met there. I was not 
present at tlie ek'ction, and saw no one vote. I do not know of any 
one in Kansas city to go into the Territory to vote for Governor 
Reeder. I did not vote for Governor Reeder. 

GAIUS JENKINS. 

Lawrence, K. T., April 28, 1856. 



Lewis M. Cox called and sworn. 
Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

1 first came to the Territory in 1849. I have lived in different 
})arts of the Territory, I came into this district last October. I re- 
moved from the Pottawatomie country, where I had been living, to 
Parkville, Missouri, and removed from there to this place. I came 
into tlie Territory in 1841), from Ohio. I left Kansas City a day or 
two previous to the last Octobei- election, on my way to the Pottawat- 



550 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

omie payment. I came up through Franklin and this place on the 
day of the election. I saw a crowd both at Franklin and this place, 
at the polls, as I passed through the places. There were five of us 
who came up ; we were all going to the Pottawatomie^ payment. 
Some persons passed us on the road whom I saw in Franklin, and re- 
turning. I should suppose there were as many as a dozen passed us on 
the road as we were coming up. We stopped and fed our mules on 
the Wakarusa, and, while we were there, there was one wagon and 
five or six men on horseback came up to the Wakarusa and stopped 
and fed within twenty yards of where we were. We came in through 
Franklin. I do not recollect any one, that I could name, any one I 
saw in Franklin, that had passed us on the way. I know some two 
or three that passed us. There was a Mr. Simpson, who lived in 
Westport. I do not know as I could name any one else there. There 
were two or three whom I had frequently seen in Westport. The 
party at the Wakarusa were those that passed us coming up. 
There was not a word spoken between us in regard to the election. 
We made a halt of about five minutes in Franklin. I merely stopped 
and spoke to a friend of mine there. I came right on to this place, 
and stopped here a half an hour or perhaps longer. We passed no 
other polls that day. 

L. M. COX. 
Laweence, K. T., Ajwil 30, 1856. 



L. A. Prattter called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Eeeder : 

I got to the town of Franklin, near where I now live, in July, 
1855. I came there from Missouri, but am a Virginian by birth. 

I was below Independence, Missouri, in September last, and a short 
distance below there. There was a body of men overtook me, of 
whom I asked, where they were going, and their object. Different 
persons of them told me they were going to Kansas to vote, and that 
they were from Saline county, Missouri. I passed them at Independ- 
ence, and when they overtook me at Westport, I found that their 
number had considerably increased. We came on together, and I 
camped with them one night. I know that a portion at least voted, 
from the fact that I stood as near the polls in Franklin as I could, 
and saw and heard them vote. I saw some of them afterwards in 
Missouri, and know that they were the same men, and they told me 
they lived in Missouri ; one of them in Independence. Before we got 
to Westport, or when I first got there, I saw a hemp stalk sticking 
up in the rear end of one of the wagons, and I asked them what it 
meant, and they said it was to hang the abolitionists with. I also 
saw a hemp rope hanging to the side of one of the wagons on a forked 
stick standing up. On a short conversation with a gentleman, who 
told me his name was Robert Grant, and whom I heard called " Bob," 
generally, when he discovered^ from my conversation, that I was so 
much opposed to their coming here to vote, he told me I would be the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 551 

first person rewarded with that rope ; that I would be hung up if I 
did not look sharp. That was about a half a mile below Independ- 
ence. They claimed the right to vote, and that was claimed gener- 
ally, and I was obliged to concede it to them, under a law of what we 
called the Shawnee Mission legislature, of being allowed to vote by pay- 
ing a dollar a head. I put the question distinctly to different persons 
of that party : Do you claim to vote as residents of the Territory? 
And they said, no. We claim a right to vote under that law. 

There were about sixty of them, they said. I could not make any 
better estimate of their number than they gave me. I supposed there 
were about sixty of them. 

One of them, when I was expostulating with them about their 
voting here, used these words, ''We have a claim in the Territory." 
One of them remarked, "Jim, what is the use of telling that damned 
lie ; we are doing just as we did the 30th of March, at the last elec- 
tion." 

In conversation with them in reference to their threats or violence 
against Lawrence, they said it was their determination to whip the 
men, tear down the damned town, and slide it into the river. They 
asked me at different times why it was that the abolition party, as 
they termed it, was not going to vote on the 1st of October. I stated 
that my understanding of the thing was, that we heard there was to 
be an invasion from Missouri, in which the free State party was to be 
driven from the polls, and it was done to avoid a fight. That was 
one reason. Another reason was, that they were opposed to the law 
under which the election was held. The question was asked me what 
we expected to gain. I answered that I thought the free State party 
expected to elect, on the 9th, Governor Keeder delegate to Congress. 
The same Robert Grant, and two others, said, ''God damn Governor 
Reeder ; he will not be alive that day." Robert Grant stated that he 
would shoot him whenever he could be pointed out to him. When I 
asked him if he would not feel bad in killing other men, in killing 
Governor Reeder, he said, "No ; that the more abolitionists he could 
kill at a fire the better." The party in general also expressed a great 
deal of vindictiveness against Colonel Lane, and threatened his life 
also. They asked me if 1 was going to vote on the first of the month ; 
and when I answered them "No, " they told me I was worse than any 
of the abolitionists, for I was a damned southern traitor. There was 
a great deal more violent language of the same tenor. They threat- 
ened me tolerably well until I told them I was going to vote for neither 
General Whitfield or Governor Reeder, as I was opposed to them 
both. 

On Monday, when the polls were opened, by some means, I was 
called upon by a body of people to act as judge of election. I refused 
to serve, in consequence of my opposition to the law, and of these men 
from Missouri being there to vote. The Missouri men threatened me 
some, but the residents of the Territory more, for refusing to serve, 
and treated me pretty roughly, Mr. Whitlock particularly. That was 
the same Mr. Whitlock, I had understood, had been a member of the 
legislature. He did not use any very violent gestures, but he was 
very angry. 



552 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

When the election was going on, I phiced myself in as convenient 
a place as I could, though I had to move frequently during the day, 
and, with a pencil, ti'ied to mark down, as near as I could, the number 
of votes polled, both by the Missourians and the people of the Terri- 
tory. According to tlie estimate I made, which was only an approxi- 
mation, I made sixty-three foreign voters, and, if my memory serves 
me right, from twelve to fifteen that I knew to be resident voters. I 
would know the names of very few non-resident voters. 

Some of those who came up with me did not go to Franklin. One 
who passed me on the road, who told me he was Mr. Stonestreet, from 
below Independence, said he was going to Lecompton to vote. 

The election, so far as order was concerned, was as orderly as elec- 
tions generally are. I saw no disorder there until after the polls were 
closed. 

By Mr. Woodsoii : 

General Whitfield was the only candidate I heard of on that day. 
Governor Eeeder was not mentioned as a candidate there. I under- 
stood Governor Reeder to be a candidate for delegate to Congress, but 
to be voted for on the 9th of the same montli. 

By Mr. Sherman: 

The voting was intended to be viva ■voce, though the name was 
written on the ticket for the purpose of jogging the memory only, as 
we had it in Missouri. 

By Mr. Reeder : 

Robert Grant told me lie lived in Saline countv, Missouri. 

L. A. PRATHER. 
Lawrence, K. T., 3Ia>j 1, 1850. 



John W. Stephens called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I came into the Territory the 18th day of May, 1855, from Ohio, 
and settled in Kickapoo City. I was present at tlie election on the 1st 
day of October, 1855, and voted there. About eight or nine o'clock 
in the morning, a party of about twenty-five men, from Platte county, 
with tlie most of whom I was acquainted, came across the ferry, and 
went to the ])olls and voted. They were under the lead of General 
Benjamin F. Stringfellow and Colonel Lewis Barns. After spending 
some time on the streets, they went to the polls and voted. Other 
])ersons from Platte county came over during the day and voted. 
There was cosiderable tumult during the day, and some talk about 
not allowing any one to vote Avho would not vote for General Whit- 
field. I was not allowed to vote during the fore part of the day. 
Considerable difficulty was caused by a gentleman named Lawrence 
from Massachusetts attempting to vote. He was a i'ree State man, 
and it was not till after some time his vote was received. I think he 
was allowed to vote, but I am not certain. At the time he came u]) 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



553 



to vote, Jam'3S P. Blako, a very proraiuetit pro-slavery man in tlie 
place, asked Inm whom he was goint^ to vote for. He said he would 
not tell thern, as it was his right and privilege to vote for v/hom he 
pleased. Some diliiculty arose, but was })rcvented from resulting se- 
riously by some others who were present. Tliere were thi-eats made 
that we should not be allowed to vote for Governor Reeder, as no 
damned abolitionist should be allowed in town. 

The following ai-e the names of the legal voters of the district I 
find upon tlie poll list: 

Joseph M Hall 
CJiarles B Norris 
Washington T Woods 
H P Harris 
A G Bovd 
AViUiaui Hobbs 
A M Price 
Charles Sexton 
James Beagh 
William Braham 
William G Sharp 
E M McCowers 
James T Mnsgrave 
Simon Ilackett, 
H A Dawson 
Georive W Thom}»son 
M M'Nagle 
Stephen Sale 
Samuel Ripley 
Marine Robertson 
Istiac House 
William H Cook 
Warren OJvcrt 
John H Lewis 
George W Hays 
Allen B Hazzard 
J stej»hens 
Lewis Calvert 
John H Freeland 
J B Newman 



John Freeland 
S F Rh( a 
Curtis HulFiDan 
Thonias Degannon 
John G Williams 
S W Taiinell 
D A N Grover 
C B Hodges 
CH Grover 
Jonah Widdle 
James P Blake 
A J Snider 
Jolni M LiK.thman 
Peter Montgomery 
Benjamin F Freeland 
D F Basket 
B K Ja-obs 
H N Harley 
ES Wilkits 
M P Beny 

Robeit W Thompson 
William P Merchant 
Willy Williams 
John P Thompson 
John M Daniel 
Meiggs Hunt 
John W Stejtlicns 
blames Basket 
John H Tavhu- 



The following arc the names of those I knew to have be.m resi.!<>nt8 
of Missouii at thiar. tinx^: 



Jesse Conrad 
Tliomas McLean 
Willian) Layman 
William Mor]iin 
Alexander Ralston 
H C Branch 
S R Harfiit 
P Buchanan 



ewis J)Uri)s 



L 

James A Anderson 
Giles Anderson 
Harry C(deman 
Christ. Kancc 
Janv'S M Calvert 
William R Guthrie 



554 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

There are others here that came over with the MIssourians and 
voted that are not residents of the district, and are as follows: 



J A C Wehh 

John T Elkins 

M A Owen 

W B Wilson 

P Glynn 

Samuel M Barrowman 

Samuel Hays 

J K Duncan 

A Boulby 

James G Douglass 



Charles Whitecarver 
Aldrich Carver 
R C Stuttward 
J C Richardson 
Joseph Brooks 
Phineas Skinner 
Samuel Doyle 
Sandford Leach 
John Grroff 
Thomas Douslass 



The rest of the names I know nothing about, or cannot remember 
about them. I took a memorandum on the day of the election of all 
these matters. Mr. Skinner, mentioned here, lives on Platte river, 
and has a large mill there. He has never been in the Territory since 
that election. 

By Mr. Whitfield: 

I am now living at Indianola, but shall consider my residence as at 
Kickapoo as soon as I dare go back again. I was forced to leave 
Kickapoo because I dared to be a free State man. I came to Leaven- 
worth city from Kickapoo. I have been to Port William but once, 
and that was when I took some papers for the free State election of 
members of the legislature. I was living in a house in Kickapoo. It 
was broken open while I was from the city. I am certain no charges 
were made concerning matters found in my house. I profess to know 
a large majority of the men in the Kickapoo district. I state, on my 
oath, that Lewis Burns was not living in the district at the time of 
that election, but was living at Weston, Missouri. He had come over 
into the Territory and made a claim in Salt Creek valley. His family 
was not brought over here at the time of the election, though they 
have resided for a week at a time on his claim since then. To my 
knowledge Lewis Burns had not lived in the district before the elec- 
tion. I have lived at Kickapoo since last June, until some time in 
January. Colonel Burns' claim is three miles from Kickapoo, and if 
he had been living on it I should have known it. The candidates 
voted for on that day were John W. Whitfield and Andrew H. Reeder, 
One man voted for Mr. Reeder. I did not see any man except Mr. 
Lawrence prevented from voting. I cannot tell whether Mr. Reeder 
was a candidate on that day. I know he would have been the choice 
of that district if they had "been allowed to vote without intimidation. 
I will swear, before God Almighty himself, that a majority of that 
district are free State men. 

By Mr. Reeder : 

Previous to the election held by the free State executive committee 
on the 15th of January, 1856, I was requested by them to take with 
me blanks of the election returns and poll books for the different pre- 
cincts in that district. I did so, and delivered them safely to some of 
the precincts. I came into Kickapoo on the Wednesday previous to 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 555 

the election. After I had been in town some hour and a haif, Messrs. 
S. W. Tunnell and William H. Elliott informed me that they had 
been appointed to find me and bring me down into town. I asked 
them what they wanted. They swore I was a damned abolitionist 
and had to answer for it. I went with them, and was examined be- 
fore the self-styled committee; was released, with the distinct promise 
made by me that I would appear and answer all charges that might 
be preferred against me the following morning at nine o'clock before 
this committee. I did appear. The committee were composed of Mr. 
Tunnell, D. A. N. Grover, formerly a member of the territorial legis- 
lature and still a member of the council, John H. Shaler, and some 
others I do not now recollect. I was examined touching my crimes 
and misdemeanors for carrying round poll-books and papers for the abo- 
litionists, and, as a matter of course, pleaded not guilty. Nothing was 
said or done until half-past ten o'clock, when, having left the place 
where I was tried^ I was waited on by James P. Blake and Samuel Mar- 
chant, who informed me I would have to leave town by three o'clock 
that afternoon, and if I did not, I would be ducked in the Missouri 
river. I requested time to arrange my business before I could leave, 
and was informed that no time could be granted; that I must finish 
my business by three o'clock, or leave it in the hands of some other 
man. I then told them I should leave when I got ready, and if they 
did not like that, they could put me out of town. Three o'clock 
come, and four o'clock passed, and I was still arranging my business, 
and had not left. At hall-past four o'clock I was waited upon by the 
same committee and two other persons, and again brought up for 
trial. My trial was had, and the sentence of the court was, that I 
should be ducked in the Missouri river. Mr. Grover made a speech, 
and told them they were all law and order men, and he thought they 
had better rescind that part of the sentence and march me out of the 
town. Colonel Thompson, of Doniphan, advised the same. I was 
finally permitted to go to my boarding-house and select my clothing, 
and then escorted a half mile out of town, with the intimation that if 
I ever came back again, I should be strung up to the first tree they 
came across. I have been back twice since. 

By Mr. Whitfield: 

The election of the 15th of January was for members of the general 
assembly and State officers under the State constitution. The election 
papers I had to distribute I got at Lawrence,, from the executive com- 
mittee. There were no other charges against me in Kickapoo. I 
was not regarded as a hard case about town, and I think I left Kicka- 
poo with as fair a character as any man in Kickapoo. I heard that 
this committee were sitting here, and as I was very anxious to give in 
my testimony here, I came down here and was subpoenaed here. 

JOHN W. STEPHENS. 

Tecumseh, K. T., Ma7j 7, 1856. 



556 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

James Reed called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I live at Washington creek, about five miles from Willow Springs. 
I have been living there going on two years, and came from Missouri. 
I am tolerably well aqnainted in Willow Springs precinct. I sup- 
pose I know about half the peoiile in that precinct. 

I was at the election at Willow Springs the 1st of October, 1855, 
and V()i(id tliere. I saw a great many peojde there from different 
parts; I saw some there from Missouri, but I did not see them vote, 
though [ find their names on the poll book. The following persons 
live in Missouri: R. 0. Steele, J. H. Locki-idge, 1 think lives in 
Misssonri, as I do not know any Lockridge in the district, though I 
am not certain of the given name. E. Pouge, I think, for I know a 
Pouge who lives in Missouri, though I did not see him on the ground. 
I know of no Pouge in the district. L. Steele, William A. Parrish, 
C. L. Parrish, H. 0. Parrish. I saw the Parrishes and Steeles oa 
the gi'ound. Tliey live in Ttlissouri, near Westport. I find the name 
of R. Fl(jurnoy on the jjoU book. I used to know Flournoys in Jack- 
son county, but did not see any on the ground the day of election. 
I know of no Flouinoy in the district. As to Wm. E. Baker, J. G. 
Baker, and A. Stieet, 1 do not know them if I see tiiera. I have 
heai'd of the names oi" such persons in Westport keeping store for 
several yeai's. I do not know of any jierson of that name living in 
our district. The ibllowing persons on the poll book I know to liave 
been residents of the district at that time: G. W. Bryan, Joseph 
Bi'adbury, B. B Brown, F. Brown, and T. Brown, one of them I 
tliink, for I know one person of tlie name of Brown in the district, 
though I do not know liis given name; J. P. Saunders, G. W. Pool, 
Josiah. H. Wagner, Z. Jolmson, W. Cummins, I think, for I know 
one Cumniins in tlie district, bnt not his fii-stname; B. F. Bounds, 
R. R. White, I th.ink, for there is one there, but I do not know liis 
given name; S. L. Clark, Thomas Emery, L. Graham, Wiklay 
McKinney, H. 0. Loury, H. Owens, R. B. Matney, William Russell, 
L. Reed, E. B. Lleed, (J. B. Davis, L. II. Davis; 1 know two Davises, 
one given name William, the other I do not know ;) A. B. Collotte, 
James Reed, John Carroll, John M. Banks, Jona. Shepherd, Thomas 
Breeze, and Charles Martin, I think; N. M(dvinney, William Rhodes, 
James 8, Cam])be]l, and J. R. Campbell; Silas Siittcm, J. M. Russell, 
Robert Carlow. Jolm W. Bennett ; E. P. Skeezer, I do not know, but 
I know a man of the name of Ke}zer; Jared Chapman, I think; P 
O'Conner, Wi!k OH'ouner, Milton Boiine, Levi Herrin, P. N. Watts, 
I think, though I do not know his given name, and the same way 
with S. Ci'eel, and also with Plenrv Kerns, and also D. Burton, and 
M. H. Bnrtin, J. Owens,. John Burton. W. W. AVilliams, John McLa- 
ren, Charles Matney, C. AV. Carey,' R. W. Carey, S. Shep|.erd; I 
know a Sincliell, oji Ottawa creek, but I do not know his first name. 
I know Wm. McKinney, F. M. Coleman. William Curry, and D. 
Fletchrr. Tlse rest of tlie names on the list I do not know. 

By J. W. Whitlield: 

I think I know about half in the district, but 1 am very little 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 557 

acquainted at the Sac agency. The men over there did not vote ou 
that day at Willow Springs, as a general thing. Tiiose I have named 
are ])ro-8]avery men, as tlie free State men did not vote on that day. 
I do not know who were the candidates that day. I heard Mr. Reeder 
and Mr. Wln'tfield spoken of, but I sni)povse Mr. Reeder did not run, 
as I tliink he got no votes there. There was some little drinking and 
firing in the evening just among themselves, but I did not hear of any 
being prevented from voting. Tiiey very often have a little fussing 
and drinking in the western country the evening of the election. 

By Mr. Reeder : 

Mr. Whitfield was a candidate on that day, and I think Mr, lli^eder 
some eight days afterwards. Each Iiad their own election. There 
was a gentleman came tliei'C to vote on tlie 1st of October, but went 
away witliout voting, as he said Mr. Reeder"s name was not on the 
poll books. 

JAMES X REED. 

mai'k. 

Tecumseh, K. T., May 1, 1856. 



B. C. Westfall testifies. 

I saw a great many that I knew to be residents of Missouri, at tlie 
time of election, in October, 1855, in companies of from twenty to 
thirty persons, coming to the Territory. I lived in Jackson county, 
Missouri, near th.e lino, at that time, and was kee})ing a hotel there. 
I am pretty extensively acfjuainted in flacksoU;, Johnson, and Cass 
counties. I saw these persons alter they returned, and they told me 
they had been here and voted, and some of them showed me the re- 
ceipts for the one dollar tax they had paid for the privilege of voting. 
Some of these receipts I. read. At tliat time I lived about twenty-five 
miles, I think, from the election place of Lykins county, at Ba[)tiste 
Peoria. The election I refer to was the first election in October last. 
I had conversation with a great many of those persons when they 
came back, and they told me they had voted ami carried the day, and 
boasted of having intimidated the Yankees and driven them away. 
One of the receipts for the j)ayment of tlie dollar tax that I read was 
one that M. Christopher Mann had. He lives in Jackson county, 
Missouri, about two and a half miles east of New Santa Fe, and has 
been a resident tliere for several years past. I tliink I did not see less 
than five hundred men pass at that time for the election, on the one 
road near me. A great many of them stopped with me, both going 
and coming back. When tiiey were going out they said th.ey were 
going to elect Wliitfield, and when they carue back they said tlicy 
had elected him, and as there was but one candidate running it would 
have niade no diiference if they had not come out, as he would have 
been elected any way. I heard a good many of them say that they 
had gone up to Lecompton and voted, and a good many went to the 
Shawnee Methodist Mission, Jolmson county, and also to Baptiste 



558 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Peoria or to Pottawatomie, I am not certain wliicli. I heard tliem 
state that a good many Indians voted at Baptiste, and they also said 
that some whites there, friends of the candidate, made up considerable 
money to pay the i)oll tax, as the Indians would not do it, 

B. C. WESTFALL. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 8, 1856. 



George F. Warren testifies. 

I was at the election in Leavenworth City, October 1, 1855, when 
General Whitfield was voted for. There was a large company of 
strangers came in, armed to the teeth, from across the river in Mis- 
souri. Quite a number stopped at the Leavenworth hotel. I did not 
see any camp. They said they came to vote, and that they had a 
right to vote under the organic law, and contended' that if their 
families did live in Missouri, they were entitled to vote as long as they 
were on the ground in the Territory, These men voted, and all I 
saw vote paid the dollar tax. I recognized some who voted that lived 
at Platte City, I should think that there were some 200 on the ground 
who voted. I should suppose some 100 residents voted, and the rest 
were the strangers I speak of. A great many more came than voted^ 
after they saw the free State men did not intend to vote. I do not 
think it was safe for free State men to go to the polls. I was pretty 
well acquainted in the district, and knew most every man in it. After 
these strangers voted, some went down the river, and others went 
across to Missouri on the ferry. The free State citizens took no part 
in the election. 

A week after this election there was another election for locating 
the c umtry seat in Leavenworth City, and, as I understood, in other 
points in the county. The contest was between Kickapoo, Leaven- 
worth City, and Delaware City. I was at that election in Leavenworth 
City, The polls were kept open until a little after dark, and wagons 
were employed to get the voters in, I think none but residents voted 
that day. The election was orderly, and no violence used that I saw. 

G. F. WARREN. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 12, 1856. 



William P. Richardson recalled. 

Examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

I was at the election of October 1, 1855, held at Smithton, in the 
house of John W. Smith. There were some 40 or a few more who 
voted there, as very little interest was taken and no turn out. But 
few of my neighbors were there, some because some of their families 
were sick, and others because they did not like to pay the dollar poll 
tax. I saw no illegal voting that day, and I think none voted but 
those who complied with the law and paid their tax, for I saw the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 559 

sherilF giving receipts for it. The principal reason, doubtless, for 
more votes not being given, was because there was no opposition to 
General Whitfield. He did not get the pro-slavery vote of my neigh- 
borhood, nor of the county, as far as I know. 

WM. P. RICHAEDSON. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 15, 1856. 



John Landis testifies. 

I was present at the election of October 1, 1855, for delegate to 
Congress. General Whitfield was the only candidate. The election 
was held in the town of Doniphan. I saw persons, not residents in 
the district, vote that day. Their names were B. G. Wells, Randolph 
Smith, William Christopher, and B. 0. Driscoll. All of them resided 
in Missouri at that time, I had no conversation with them. Those 
that 1 saw vote I believe to be residents of the Territory, except those 
I have named. The one dollar tax was generally paid that day. The 
free State men did not vote at that election that I saw. The number 
of votes polled that day, as shown by the poll books, was about 66. 

Cross-examined by Governor King : 

The free State men were not prevented from voting that day. I 
reserved my vote for the election of the 9th, and, in my opinion, the 
other free State men did the same. 

Mr. Driscoll had an improved claim in that district at that time, 
but did not live on it. He lived in St. Joseph, but now resides in the 
Territory. Christopher also had a claim in the district at that time 
but lived himself in Missouri. He has since sold his claim. Ran- 
dolph Smith had a grocery in the town of Doniphan, in the Territory^ 
and was keeping it at that time. At that time when he kept his 
grocery there, I kept the ferry and set him over to Missouri every 
night and morning. He lived in Missouri. He owned an unfinished 
dwelling-house in Doniphan, but did not live in it. He subsequently 
died, before his house was finished. 

JOHN LANDIS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



Emery B. Cook testifies. 

I came to the Territory in March, 1854. I have resided within a 
mile of the Missouri line since that time, near Fort Scott. I am a 
mason by trade and usually worked in southeastern Missouri when I 
first came there. I was at Fort Scott on the day of election on the 1st 
of October, 1855. I went up to the polls on the day of election. On 
the Friday evening before the election there were a great many came 
in from Missouri in wagons towards Fort Scott, apparently a pretty 
continued travel. On the next day, Saturday, there was a public pro- 



560 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

slavery dinner, free to all who favored tlie party. I saw a good many 
come in by my house on the Monday of the election on horseback from 
Mi.-jsouri. I do not think many of them who came in wagons to the 
dinner returned until after election. I was at work in town at my 
trade and boarding at the hotel. It was very crowded. There was a 
cam]) in the Ijottom close by, apparently a good many there, but I 
cannot tell how many. I saw a great many of these strangers there 
on tlie day of election. I had no particular conversation with these 
strangers. 

As I Avas going backwards and forwards on the day of election_, 1 
stop})cd once or twice vt the polls, but I did not vote. These strangers 
were around the polls, some with pieces of paper in their hands. I 
saw them go to the window, reach their hands up and then go away, 
I cannot say that they really voted, but T thought they did, I tliought 
but very few of the citizens voted, not to exceed fifty. This I thougiit 
from wliat I heard and saw there. There was some vexation and irri- 
tation, and some excitement among the citizens in regard to the elec- 
tion. I did not vote that day. I am satisfied from what I saw them 
do and what they tohl me, that about tliirty I knew voted. I do not 
tliink a majority of tlie settlers were at the election ; about one-half 
wlio were tliere did not vote. I shouhl think at that time there were 
in tlie ueighborliood of two hundred and fifty residents in the county 
of Bourbon, There was a general convention amongst us, and some 
concluded it would be better not to vote that day in order to prevent 
a riot ; others were angry because both parties did not run on that 
day, and some contended it Avas an unlawful way to do business, to 
run one candidate one day ;ind therefore they would not vote at all. 
I thought it was a rascally business all round. Some did not vote on 
account of the dollar tax ; some paid it, and some did ngt pay it but got 
receipts, though I do not know whether they promised to pay afterwards 
or not. 1 know that some got receipts without paying the dollar tax 
at the time. I do not tliink these strangers generally paid the tax. 

I have carefully examined the poll list of the election of October 1, 
1855, and find in it tlie names of residents of the district amounting 
to lorty-two, (42.) There are many of these whose first names I do 
not know or cannot recollect, but from my knowledge of them and 
seeing their names on the poll list I believe they are the persons. 
Wlienever I have found a family name, and know a similar family 
name in the district, but did not know or remember his first name, I 
have inclu;]ed him as among the residents. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Anderson : 

T did not count them but believe there were two hundred strangers; 
about that time there were a good many moving in and the Territory 
was settling up, but not many aroun.d there. A great many of the 
stranger.s who were there on the day of election were those wlio came 
to attend a barbecue the Saturday previous. It rained on Saturday 
arid there were a good many- women there from the State, and there 
were many women there on Saturday from the Territory, I do not 
know about the strangers voting, except that I saw a good many of 
them going to the polls with papers in their hands. Two told me 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 561 

they had votedj and two told me they were citizens of the Territory. 
At the time of election I knew some had the ague, and I think some 
could not come for that reason, but not many. I knew the Mill Creek 
settlement, and I believe two-thirds came from there, but I cannot say 
certain. There are some twenty-five or thirty voters there. There 
are in the Manitou settlement about thirty odd voters, of whom I don't 
know that any were kept away by chills. Some from there who came 
did not vote^ and I think one-half were there at the election. Two of 
them told me they did not vote. These were the two largest settle- 
ments in the county. I expect a good many stayed away because 
there was no opposing candidate. The reasons I have given why the 
residents did not vote were generally given by both parties. I heard 
some men of the pro-slavery say it was rascally all round, and I said 
the same myself, as I belong to the free State party. 

There was no difHculty that day, but many feared it. No threats 
were made that I heard. It appeared to be the desire that all parties 
should vote that day. I don't know a man who was refused the right 
to vote because he had not paid the dollar tax. I know that some of 
the strangers did not pay the tax^ or at least at the time they got their 
papers. I don't know whether they paid it or not, before or after, 
except from what they said. I can't say for certain how many resi- 
dents did not vote. I know certain that three did not vote, of whom 
I was one. 

E. B. COOK. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



Henry S. Creal called and sworn. 

I was present at the election of the 1st of October, 1855, in Doni- 
phan county, at Mr. Morse's tavern. I was one of the judges of 
election. I know of but one illegal vote at that election, and I am 
not certain about that. His name was Dr. Henry, and he had a 
claim in the Territory. I considered his vote illegal, as I thought he 
lived in St. Joseph's. I think all the other votes were legal. There 
were some sixty votes cast. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Scott: 

' ' I do not know that Dr. Henry was over there with his negroes, 
cattle, and stock, but he told me so at the election. He lives in the 
Territory at this time. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 23, 1856. 



H. S. CKEAL. 



D. W. Field called and sworn. 
By the committee : 

I reside in Doniphan county, Wayne township. I was present at 
the election of a delegate to Congress at Atchison_, on the 1st of Octo- 
ber, 1855. I think Eli Mason was one of the judges. I was there 
H. Kep. 200 36* 



562 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

about an liour the middle of the day, from twelve to one o'clock. 1 
saw one man vote, a resident of Missouri. His name was Davis. I 
saw no tax paid. Men came to vote and said they had no dollars, 
and were allowed to vote. The judges then told them to hand in 
their tickets, and they did so. I think no receipt or certificate was 
exhibited. I saw one minor who I supposed, from what I saw, voted 
that day. Some one urged him to vote, and he said he was a minor. 
He was told that he had a good beard on his face, and would pass. 
I saw him take the ticket and go up to the window, and, as I suppose, 
voted without challenge. I saw no receipt or certificate for the dollar 
tax exhibited by any one who voted that day. I returned home to 
the Doniphan precinct, and was there about an hour before the polls 
closed. I saw three votes cast by land surveyors, who I did not 
believe had a right to vote. One was Mr. Crane, the others I did not 
know. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



D. W. FIELD. 



James Lynch certifies. 

To Governor King : 

I was one of the judges of the election in the Doniphan precinct on 
the Tst of October, 1855, at the congressional election. I recognized 
all the voters as citizens. Randolph Smith was recognized by me as 
a citizen of Doniphan, and entitled to vote. His vote was not chal- 
lenged at the polls by any one, but I heard his vote disputed after- 
wards. I knew him to be a citizen of Doniphan at the time, holding 
and owning valuable property there. Not a man of the free State 
party came there to vote that I know of. Every man before he voted 
was required to present his certificate that he had paid his dollar or 
county tax. 

JAMES LYNCH. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



John Hamilton testifies. 

I first came into the Territory in 1835, but did not settle until 
March, 1855, in the Fort Scott district. I came there from Weston, 
Missouri. I was in the town of Fort Scott on the 1st of October, 
1*855, but did not go to the polls until late in the evening, and did not 
vote. I noticed on the day of election, and two or three days before, 
quite a number of persons whom I knew to be from Missouri, and also 
many strangers whom I did not know. I had no particular conversa- 
tion with any of them in regard to that election. I paid no attention 
to this election at all, as my mind was on other matters, I having 
buried a son two days before. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield. 

General Whitfield was the only candidate on that day I know of. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 563 

Fort Scott is between four and five miles from the Missouri line. It 
is a very common thing to see Missourians over to Fort Scott, where 
there are three stores to trade, as it is the trading point along that 
portion of the line. They come in from Missouri to trade there ; but 
I do not know as they come over generally on other occasions. There 
was a barbecue given at Fort Scott the Saturday before. The notice 
that I saw in regard to that dinner was, that all favorable to slavery 
should come. 1 received no invitation myself. 

JOHN HAMILTON. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



H. Miles Moore testifies, 

I was a resident of Leavenworth City at the time of the congressional 
election of the first Monday in October, 1855 ; but I was not present 
at that election, being absent in Lexington, Missouri_, for the purpose of 
obtaining testimony for a case I was employed in in western Missouri. 
I have been told by free State men that they did not vote on that day. 
The following is a list of the names of persons who resided in Missouri, 
and who voted at Leavenworth City, in Kansas Territory, at an elec- 
tion held for a delegate to Congress, on the first Monday in October, 
1855, as apjiears by a copy of said poll books of said election^ herewith 
shown to me : 

Sixteenth District. 

William H. Miller, W. H. Pence, J. C. Cockell, John Fanier, Ab- 
ner Dean, Isaac Archer, R. F. Duncan, Samuel J. Finch, editor of 
tlie Western Reporter, Missouri, Jeremiah Crabb, John B. Wells, 0. 
L. Seeding, P. J. Collins, Hugh Sweeney, Nathaniel Terry, James 
Buckhart, R. S. Damell, George Adams, James Saunders, John 
Winslow, John Venamon, Clinton Cockell, Robert Ely, J. H. Damell, 
P. W. Elington, Z. D. Washburn, D. L. Leech, W. B. Bell. 

The most of the names in the above list are names of persons resi- 
dents of Missouri, who also attended and voted at previous elections 
in this Territory. 

H. MILES MOORE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 30, 1856. 



H, Miles Moore testifies. 

At the time of the contested election, ordered by Governor Reeder 
to be held in Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, on the 22d of May, 
1855, for members of the territorial house of representatives^ I was a 
resident of Weston, Missouri, where I had been a resident for some 
five years. I came down here with a great many others from Weston, 
as I had done at previous elections, in obedience to calls issued by the 
pro-slavery men in this district, to all who felt an interest in the pro- 
slavery cause to come here and aid them in the election. There were 



564 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

not near as many men on the ground at the election as at the elec- 
tion of the previous March, I think that more free State men voted 
in May than at the March election. I have examined the poll books 
of that election, and find upon it the names of persons then residents 
in Missouri, many of whom I saw vote, as I had seen Missourians 
vote at the previous elections in the Territory that I had attended. 
The following is a list of resident Missourians, whose names I find upon 
the poll books of the 22d of May, 1855, in this district. 

A list of names of persons who resided in Missouri, and who voted 
at Leavenworth City, in Kansas Territory, at a contested election, 
held for members of the house of representatives, on the 22d of May, 
A. D. 1855, as appears by copy of said roll book of said election, 
herewith shown to me : 

Sixteenth District. 

Judge William B. Almond, Frank Marshall, of Marysville, K. T., 
Robert Kane, W. R. Kane, Nicholas R. Greene, Joseph Cockle, S, M. 
Gordon, M. Pemberton, George Quimby, William D. Bonnell, Daniel 
P. Lewis, L. Sheppard, John Venomen, James H. Headly, Z. M. 
Ofifert, J. E. McMallery, L. P. Stiles, Oscar Bywaters, William By- 
waters, Isaac House, A. W. Hughes, Abiier Dean, John Wilson, Ed- 
ward P. Duncan, Hugh Sweeney, Henry Smith, William J. Navis, 
T. J. Harper, William T. Barber, L. R. Oflfert, J. P. Erickson, Wil- 
liam H. Bell. 

The election was quietly conducted, so far as I saw. After the 
election was over, I returned to Weston, Missouri, with those who had 
come down by land as we came in the morning. The pro-slavery can- 
didates we voted for that day were Matthias Pegne and McMullin. I 
do not recollect anything about the free State candidates, except that 
John E, Gould was one of them. 

H. MILES MOORE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Mmj 30, 1856. 



Copies of- the poll books of an election held in the Territory of Kansas on 
the first Monday of October^ A. D. 1855, for a delegate to Congress, 
05 taken from the papers on file in the office of the Secretary of the 
Territory by the Kansas Investigating Committee. 

County of Atchison. — Grasshopper Township. 

OCTOBER ELECTION, 1855. 

Territory of Kansas, country of Atchison, ss: 

We do swear that we will impartially discharge the duties of judges 
of the present election according to law and the best of our abilities. 

B. F. TRIMBLE, 
R. H. GOODING, 
H. N: PILEY. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 565 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 1st day of October, 1855. 

JAMES M. GIVEN. 

Territory of Kansas, county of Atchison, ss: 

We do solemnly swear tliat we will faithfully discharge the duties 
of clerks of the present election according to law and the best of our 
ability. 

WM. C. NUTT, 
CHAS. CONNER. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 1st day of October, 1855. 

JAMES M. GIVEN. 

Names of voters for General J. W. Whitfield. 



R H Cahill 
James Givens 
George W Simmons 
B F Trimble 



W C Nutt 
Charles Conner 
R H Gooding. 



Abstract of votes. 
For J. W. Whitfield, 7 votes. 

Territory of Kansas, county of Atchison, ss: 

We, the undersigned^ judges of the election held in Grasshopper 
township, in the Atchison county election district, certify that tho 
foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at an election held on the 
first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

Witness our hands this day of October, A. D. 1855. 

B. F. TRIMBLE, ) 
R. H. GOODING, } Judges. 
H. N. RILEY, ) 
Attest : 

William C. Nutt, ) ^. . 
Charles Conner, J ^^^*^^- 



County of Atchison. — Shannon toivnship. 

POLL BOOK, OCTOBER ELECTION, 1855. 

Henry Addoms, N. J. Ireland, and J. Bennett sworn as judges, 
and John G. Downey and J. M. Hazard sworn as clerks, before 
James A. Hadley, judge of probate court of Atchison county, accord- 
ing to form on page 1. • 



1 Jessy Morin 

2 H Blassinghine 

3 J M York 

4 J W Lincoln 

5 N R Green 



Names of voters. 

GAM Comie 

7 Lyman Waid 

8 H J Galbraith 

9 John Robertson 
10 William Thomas 



566 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



11 J A Headly 

12 John Norris 

13 Grafton Thomason 

14 James Mercliell 

15 J N Hinton 

16 L Chindler 

17 W B Brockett 

18 P P Willcox 

19 G W Grayson 

20 A Kinser 

21 W McVay 

22 P Ferris 

23 G A Kings 

24 John Taylor 

25 Joseph Taylor 

26 Patrick McVay 

27 R L Berk 

28 Alexander Hays 

29 Hiram Hays 

30 Merit A Brumfield 

31 John Parker 

32 Patrick Boil 

33 A A Groundike 

34 T Poesteet 

35 James Wiglesworth 

36 S Dickson 

37 B Dickinson 

38 Levi J Boles 

39 JMunson 

40 J Poteet 

41 G B Well 

42 L L Boles 
43. B Ross 

44 J Large 

45 H Large 

46 Joseph Ferry 

47 Thomas Rhea 

48 James Daniel 

49 H R Waterman 

50 A Bnrcheet 

51 J W Randoljjh 

52 P Shariton 

53 J Kasy 

54 M Hampton 

55 J McCune 

56 A Shaw 

57 Hetherly 

58 J B A Ewell 

59 J H Stringfellow 

60 Sam. Walters 

61 Sidney Walters 



62 J Ashcroft 

63 Ira Norice, jr 

64 A H Allen 

65 John P Hunnicutt 

66 Dudley McYay 

67 Charles Riding 

68 Thomas Davis 

69 David Williams 

70 Samuel C Glenn 

71 L T Ellison 

72 N J Zone 

73 J Cummins 

74 Jonathan Street 

75 R S Kelly 

76 Jessy Isaacs 

77 William T Shuman 

78 William Wade 

79 James Cravin 

80 D C Judy 

81 Rice S McCubhins 

82 J H Wills 

83 F M McVay 

84 D Willace 

85 John Amburgh 

86 William Jackson 

87 Isaac Williams 

88 John Wiser 

89 Robert Finny 

90 H Martin 

91 Billy Isaacs 

92 William Martin 

93 J B Logan 

94 Daniel Kitchen 

95 William S Dicks 

96 Sanford Kyle 

97 M J Francis 

98 Thomas Holly 

99 Jessy Shepherd 

100 John Alin 

101 J C Roswell 

102 John Roberds 

103 P F Allen 

104 A McPherson 

105 D C Davis 

106 J A McVay 

107 C M Gilmore 

108 W Stord 

109 Lenius Page 

110 Charles Woolfolk 

111 Silas Sraith^ 

112 John Hamlin 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



567 



113 Stephen Johnson 

114 Jeremiah Barton 

115 J Wilcocks 

116 M Kames 

117 E Oldhorne 

118 J G Morrow 

119 Nelson Taylor 

120 George William 

121 L Yociim 

122 J M C Bayly 

123 WW Andrews 

124 William M Grimes 



125 Henry Addoms 

126 N J Ireland 

127 John Bennett 

128 E C Mason 

129 J M Hazzard 

130 John G Downie 

131 J W Wood 

132 Francis McDowell 

133 Stephen English 

134 William E Barnes 

135 A Taylor 



Certified to by judges and clerks according to form on page 2 of 
copy. 



Abstract of votes for delegate to Congress. 

J. W. Whitfield ----- 
A. H. Reeder _ - - _ _ 

Total number of votes polled - _ _ 

Certified according to form on page 2 of copy. 



131 
4 

135 



FORT SCOTT. 

Territory of Kansas, county of Bourbon, ss. 

The undersigned, leaving been appointed by the proper tribunal 
judges of an election, lawfully appointed to be held, for a delegate 
for said Territory to the Congress of the United States, on the first 
Monday of October, in the year 1855, and having been duly sworn, 
according to the provisions of the act of the legislative assembly in 
such cases made and provided, do certify that on the day aforesaid 
such election was held at the town of Fort Scott, in said county, 
A, Hornbeck and E. G. Roberts being clerks sworn to the faithful 
discharge of their duties, when and where the following votes were 
given. 

A. W. HAZELRIGG, ) 

THOMAS J. WHITLOCK, } Judges. 
G. OLDHAM, ) 



1TB Arnett 

2 Thomas Wadkins 

3 John T Ricks 

4 W S Houts 

5 W H Taylor 

6 James Grages 

7 Elias Dean 

8 William T Gilham 



9 Stephen Diners 

10 James B Logan 

11 Noah Tisson 

12 Thomas Marshall 

13 William H Shawnesle 

14 William Watson 

15 F M Logan 

16 Watson Kinsey 



568 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



17 J W Sharp 

18 Henry C Booker 

19 Solomon Bead 

20 James McKhan 

21 H Kussell 

22 J W Young 

23 Taylor Linsy 

24 L W Groves 

25 J W Newman 

26 J G Davis 

27 Rubin Dugan 

28 J L Dillard 

29 William Newman 

30 J Robinson 

31 C D Bell 

32 J H Walton 

33 Elvis Hutcbins 

34 Francis Divers 

35 J T Herenten 

36 W G Collins 

37 P M Ray 

38 Noah Kyton 

39 James McKool 

40 Hugh Logan 

41 Dillard Welch 

42 J W Cameron 

43 J B Stoops 

44 B Conler 

45 J Thurman 

46 J W Sterns 

47 H Nevil 

48 J R Lane 

49 Oskes M Nelson 

50 John Gant 

51 G L Dook 

52 William Morbanks 

53 C S Ogleby 

54 C M Ogleby 

55 G W Hopkins 

56 T M Smith 

57 P Piar 

58 Levi Welch 

59 John White 

60 C C Sharp 

61 G W Walker 

62 J M Forster 

63 Marks Morgan 

64 R S Piper 

65 William Forster 

66 Robert Gragg 

67 Samuel Smith 



68 


W Smith 


69 


William Anderson 


70 


A Ramey 


71 


S Blevens 


72 R Marchbanks 


73 CHays 


74 D B McDonald 


75 Ryland Dillard 


76 William Gibbons 


77 John Nail 


78 John Wight 


79 W Smith 


80 


P Button 


81 


J Spears 


82 


W M Hutchison 


83 


J S Camperfard 


84 


WHock 


85 


W W Woodson 


86 


D M Greely 


87 Elijah Ray 


88 


L M Oliver 


89 


J Rogers 


90 


C Bondurant 


91 


J B Richardson 


92 


T S Marlow 


93 


E Ross 


94 R Wells 


95 


A Thornton 


96 


S H Lowering 


97 R S Woods 


98 


W James 


99 


D Neil 


100 J D Tucker 


101 


William Bartlett, jr 


102 


J Know 


103 


W Rogers 


104 


E A Cox 


105 


J W McFarland 


106 A G Hall 


107 J Denton 


108 


G Morris 


109 


A Dickson 


110 


A J Russell 


111 


D L Harrison 


112 


James Barker 


113 


J S Corwins 


114 S Hert 


115 


John Rye 


116 


A Baker 


117 E S Wegend 


118 J C Anderson 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



569 



119 D F Greenwood 

120 C Bartlett 

121 E Ray 

122 R A Barnett 

123 J D Ferguson 

124 W Fryar, sen 

125 W Shelly 

126 T Snoder 

127 N J Barnes 

128 S A Williams 

129 C S Ferguson 

130 J Weber 

131 GROSS 

132 S Weber 

133 J W Denton 

134 M Kirk 

135 S Foster 

136 J D Thompson 

137 J Miller 

138 W Snow 

139 S M Stratton 

140 G Dorson 

141 A Dorson 

142 P H Procter 

143 G H Symons 

144 A Moody 

145 J Randolph 

146 W W Jackson 

147 Henry Herriford 

148 S H Herriford 

149 J H Herriford 

150 W H Herriford 

151 J Pritchett 

152 S A Dasert 

153 C Lorrell 

154 J Douglas 

155 J January 

156 J S Mitchell 

157 John Alexander 

158 P Dunking 

159 M M Kincanon 

160 A C Cogswell 

161 N S Hancock 

162 W R Miller 

163 B Alexander 

164 F Sherby 

165 A Kennedy 

166 W January 

167 J P Avery 

168 J W Maxey 

169 G J Entcott 



170 J Bolinger 

171 J P Hampton 

172 W R Morgan 

173 R Morrow 

174 W J Line 

175 J R Beard 

176 J Gross 

177 J T Ray 

178 J Simons 

179 J White 

180 J Ray 

181 P Zeal 

182 W W Cogswell 

183 H M Thornton 

184 G W Shoemaker 

185 J H Brown 

186 W F Alexander 

187 J Daniel 

188 W H Ward 

189 T Summers 

190 F K Morgan 

191 H R Kelso 

192 J N Mige 

193 W Bollinger 

194 W Breeze 

195 T Pickeral 

196 Jonathan Denton 

197 A C Horton 

198 W Panter 

199 C Lewis 

200 H W Linn 

201 D Crews 

202 J Pickeral 

203 A W Gage 

204 J Brown 

205 J N Cotrell 

206 J M Brown 

207 A T Nalor 

208 J Morrow 

209 T M Cook 

210 P D Cummins 

211 J M Bryan 

212 N G Bukner 

213 N M C Moore 

214 M Linn 

215 H T Wilson 

216 M J Rand 

217 D F Dewitt 

218 R Beath 

219 C Mitchell 

220 C Cox 



570 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



221 W D Horn 


233 T S Spinkle 


222 H C Weathers 


234 N Pearson 


223 L Hedges 


235 A Hornbeck 


224 S Wagoner 


236 R a Roberts 


225 W Cox 


237 G Oldham 


226 W Moffett 


238 T J Whitlock 


227 J W Cummins 


239 A W Hazelrigg 


228 C B Wingfield 


240 H Varhell 


229 S Bage 


241 B F Hill 


230 H Wingfield 


242 W H Kilton 


231 W P Wingfield 


243 W Margraves 


232 W Wadkins 





Territory of Kansas, Bourhon county, ss: 

We, the undersigned, judges of an election held at Fort Scott on 
the first day of October, (it being Monday,) for delegate to Congress 
of the United States of America, do certify that there were two hun- 
dred and forty-two votes cast for John W. Whitfield, and for A. H. 
Reeder one vote, which were the whole number of votes cast at said 
election on said day, which is a fair and complete list of all of said 
votes. 

Given under our hands, as judges of said election, at the town of 
Fort Scott, K. T., this 1st day of October, A. D. 1855. 

A. W. HAZELRIGG, ) 

THOMAS J. WHITLOCK, } Judges. 
G. OLDHAM, ) 

Attest : 

R. G. Roberts, 

A. Hornbeck, 



Clerks. 



BROWN COUNTY. 

Poll hooJc of the election held at the house of W. C. Foster, in the county 
of Brown and Territory of Kansas, on the first day of October, A. D. 
1855. 

W. C. Foster, William Purket, judges ; and H. Woodward, M. L, 
Saurin, B. Winkles, clerks of said election, were, severally sworn as 
the law directs, previous to their entering on their respective offices. 



1 W C Foster 

2 Marcellus Saurin 

3 William Purket 

4 Henry Woodward 



5 Benjamin Winkles 

6 E W Short 

7 John C Poe 

8 Franklin J Robins 



Names of persons voted for and for what office, containing the number of 
votes given for each candidate. 

Delegates to Congress — John W. Whitfield - - - - 1 
For license _---___ ---0 
Against license ---------4 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



571 



We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Brown county, Kan- 
sas Territory, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes 
given at an election held on the first day of October, A. D. 1855, as 
witness our hands this the first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

W. C. FOSTER, ) 

WILLIAM PURKETT, } Judges. 
H. WOODWARD, ) 

B Winkles, } ^^^^^ ^. j^i^^^^ 
M. L. Saurin, ) •' 



CALHOUN COUNTY. 

We and each of us do solemnly swear tliat we will imiiartially dis- 
charge the duties of judges of the present election according to law 
and the best of our abilities. 

PERRY FLESHMAN, 
G. P. DORRISS, 
SAMUEL S. LOCKHART. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this first day of October, A. D. 
1855. 

JAMES KUYKENDALL, J. P., G.,K. T. 

We do solemnly swear that we will faithfully discharge the duties 
of clerks according to law and the best of our abilities. 

WILLIAM L. KUYKENDALL, 
J. M. KUYKENDALL. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this first day of October, A. D. 
1855. 

PERRY FLESHMAN. 



Poll hooh for Calhoun county. 
For Congress — John W. Whitfield 
Andrew H. Reeder 
For license ------- 



Against license 



21) 


14 
5 



Names of voters. 



J M Hands 

E M Sloan 

George L Young 

William Alley 

Charles Polk 

G P Clark 

James S Wilson 

G P Dorriss 

S S Lockhart 

Perry Fleshman 

J M Kuykendall 

W L Kuykendall 

James Kuykendall, sen 

Raleigh J Fulton 

Creed Fulton 



Richard P Beeler 
James Daniel 
Thomas F Monford 
Russell Gurrett 
William Wilson 
Lucius Chaffee 
Joseph White 
William H Morgan 
Jacob Baker 
John D Susie 
Bozeil Greemore 
H P Polk 
Edwin G Booth 
Benjamin Boydston. 



572 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Territory of Kansas, Calhoun county, ss: 

We, the undersigned, judges of tlie election in number one election 
district, certify that the foregoing is a true and correct list of the votes 
gi^en at an election held on Monday, the first day of October, A. D. 
1855, as witness our hands this first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

PEKKY FLESHMAN, 
G. P. DORRISS, 
SAMUEL S. LOCKHART. 
Attest: J. M. Kuykendall, 
W. L. Kuykendall. 



Davis County. — Delegate to Congress. 
A H Reeder 4 (four) [ J W Whitfield 8 (eight) 

Names of voter's. 

7 Jess Spencer 



1 Samuel Berry 

2 J Preston 

3 H J Hector 

4 E J Howard 

5 John H Rodman 

6 John T Price 



8 George M Switezen 

9 a H Harris, 

10 Alexander Dean 

11 John Wallace 

12 S H Sarber 



We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Davis county elec- 
tion district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes 
given at an election held on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855, as 
witness our hands this 1st day of October, A. D. 1855. 

N. B. We have nut deemed it necessary to exact the proof of pay- 
ment of the territorial tax. 

GEORGE H. HARRIS, ) 

GEORGE MEIKEL SCHWEZER, } Judges. 
JESS SPENKER, ) 

Attest: Alexander Dean, ) rn i ^ ? v 

T -ITT ' > Clerks of election. 

John Wallace, ) •' 



Lecompton — Douglas County. 
To Ellison, Waffel, and Ward: 

You are hereby appointed judges of an election for delegate to Con- 
gress, to be held at the office of the town company in the town oi 
Lecompton, on Monday, the first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

By order of the board of commissioners. 

Attest: JAMES CHRISTIAN, Clerk D. C. 

Poll hook for Lecompton. 



1 James B Hall 


8 J R Henry 


2 J F Taylor 


9 A H McClenahan 


3 R W Williams 


10 N Riley 


4 F H Alexander 


11 T F Stone 


5 James Alexander 


12 J R Winn 


6 G P Johnson 


13 Edward Wiles 


7 William Fisher 


14 Monroe Booz 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



573 



15 W R Scott 

16 J M Muse 

IT J F Stonestreet 

18 J N Enbey 

19 J F Bilt 

20 H C Spurtocli 

21 Thomas Todhunter 

22 Thomas Walter 

23 A. F Hereford 

24 D W Williams 

25 J J Cremner 

26 C C Spalding 

27 Timothy McClane 

28 J B McClenahan ~ 

29 Dudley Plummer 

30 S H Plummer 

31 Thomas Scaggs 

32 James Scaggs 

33 H C Owens 

34 J F Jackson 

35 A E Tyry 

36 WFoly 

3T W S Thompson 

38 A J McClenahan 

39 F Thompson 

40 John Wells 

41 S J Wofert 

42 Paris Ellison 

43 David Kendal 

44 Samuel D Jones 

45 J D Todhunter 

46 L Barnett 
4T G- M Taylor 

48 E C Bishop 

49 W H Wilson 

50 William A Thompson 

51 Wills Garrett 

52 Lewis Owens 

53 George W Johnson 

54 James Borland 

55 John Boatm:an 

56 E Teschmaker 

57 John S Winters 

58 James M Davidson 



59 JSKetchen 

60 F Webster 

61 Benjamin Bartling 

62 GMClam 

63 Frank McDowell 

64 William Rhine 

65 Harry M Reynolds 

66 Aaron Botts 

67 John M Smith 

68 Juan Todhunter 

69 Charles F Terchmaker 

70 John Mason 

71 James Ubanks 

72 W Robertson 

73 David W Runnels 

74 William Prewitt 

75 Samuel B Patterson 

76 Jack Anderson 

77 Daniel Trigg 

78 Madison Frost 

79 J R Critcher 

80 Henry Carlile 

81 J F Smith 

82 William Benson 

83 A F Davis 

84 G H Harrington 

85 A H Porter 

86 Andrew McDonald 

87 Fleming Hatton 

88 William Johnson 

89 J P Pitcher 

90 William Riley 

91 William Blayney 

92 John Stewart 

93 William F Halsey 

94 William C Willoch 

95 B C Brook 

96 William Doho 

97 Rufus Doho 

98 D F Reese 

99 Frank Brady 

100 Jacob Hard 

101 John Handcok 



We, the undersigned judges, do certify that Hon. J. W. Whitfield 
received 101 votes. 

PARIS ELLISON, 
DAVID KENDALL, 
JAMES D. TODHUNTER. 

We, the undersigned judges of the election at Lecomp ton, Kansas 



574 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Territory, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given 
at an election held on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855, as witness 
out hands, this the 1st day of October, 1855. 

PARIS ELLISON, ) 

DAVID KENDALL, } Judges. 

JAMES D. TODHUNTER, ) 
Attest: 
WiLLiAJi T. Wilson, 
R. C. Bishop, 



(No oath of judges and clerks on file.) 
Poll hook of Franklin ToionsMp, Douglas county. 



1 S Z Sheet 


37 Christopher Mubao 


2 John M Jackson 


38 P H McGee 


3 J W Jimmason 


39 M McMurry 


4 John M Hays 


40 C R Shell 


5 J F Thomas 


41 Jon B Lewis 


6 R M Grant 


42 WSHuntDoel 


7 James M Hambuck 


43 John A Gouldin 


8 Nathan L Simpson 


44 E D Hart 


9 A H Tinman 


45 James A Colins 


10 Joseph H Boid 


46 H P Muir 


11 George Holmes 


47 Z J Walton 


12 R Simpson 


48 R J Wolf 


13 B R Piper 


49 E B Johnson 


14 J N Harvey 


50 S C Wair 


15 W H Chase ^ 


51 Arch. Pax ton 


16 Benomas Sapington 


52 J T Clark 


17 S Houston 


53 E G Leak 


18 John Harris 


54 Peter Doran 


19 William C Camell 


55 Peter Burns 


20 R S Harvey 


56 Charles M Denis 


21 John R Metcalf 


57 E McCane 


22 John M Sappington 


58 Alex Sebastian 


23 J A Twiman 


59 James Turner 


24 B Pearson 


60 Toby Lahay 


25 Thomas Jackson 


61 Peter Behan 


26 Ruben Coruilus 


62 John D Lahay 


27 John 0. Lockhart 


63 B C Lady 


28 Joab Yanwick 


64 William Justins 


29 C. J Lewis 


65 Antonius Lahay 


30 George Foulman 


66 Alfred Justice 


31 B H McGee 


67 George Blenejacket 


32 Ambros Floughmany 


68 Thomas Rogers 


33 Samuel Justin 


69 A C Smith 


34 F E L Hay 


70 D L How 


35 F L Cohin 


71 Isaac Shass 


36 J C Evans 


72 B F McDaniel 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



575 



80 Edward Wild 

81 Samuel Grain, sr. 

82 James Wliitlock 

83 D T Carlpo 

84 John Smitli Norris 

85 W L Parr 

86 John N Wallace 

Certified to by James Whitlock, D. T. Conlin, and Samuel Crane, 
sen., as judges ; and William T. JParr and J. Smith Norris, as clerks, 
according to form, on page 2. 

Poll hook of Laivrence. 



73 David Wallace 


H M P McCarty 


75 J M Grain 


76 H T Grain 


77 W J Jones 


78 Isaac Burt 


79 a P Johnson 



1 J H Crocket 


22 G W Kemper 


2 Calvin Adams 


23 H C Hamilton 


3 Franklin Kerrans 


24 Edmond Smith 


4 S M Saltus 


25 William Iron 


5 W J ShaerfF 


26 G W Smith 


6 T W Phillips 


27 B B Bernne 


7 Peter Crockett 


28 Thomas Winship 


8 L B Kerns 


29 Garland Webb 


9 James Christian 


30 Daniel D White 


10 A J Bush 


31 John Ferrill 


11 Robert Allen 


32 Henry A Carlen 


12 J F Belt 


33 William Corel 


13 J F Jackson 


34 S C Were 


14 E Wilds 


35 James Garvin 


15 H C Owens 


36 R J Merkerson 


16 Martin Adams 


37 James Green 


17 W H Oliver 


38 John F Wilson 


18 Fields Bledroe 


39 E Y Shields 


19 John F Rumel 


40 Alfred Wilhelm 


20 A C Hinmon 


41 J W Wilhelm 


21 James R Hilman 


42 Thomas Smith 



John W. Whitfield received forty-two votes. Certified to by Peter 
Glockett and W. Schaerff, judges ; James Christian and L. B. Kenas, 
clerks, according to form on page 2. 

Poll booJc, Willow Spring, Douglas county. 



Voters' 



1 G W Brian 

2 Joseph Bradbury 

3 R Steel 

4 R B Brown 

5 M L Benson 

6 J P Sanders 

7 John Montgomery 

8 Thos D Jones 



names. 




9 


G W Pool 


10 


A Smith 


11 


Jonah H Wagoner 


12 


Z Johnson 


13 


W Cumins 


14 


J H Lockridge 


15 


B F Bounds 


16 R H White 



576 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



IT S L Clark 

18 Thomas Emery 

19 M Bonne 

20 L Graham 

21 Wildie McKing 

22 H Lowery 

23 J D Cunningham 

24 H Owens 

25 E B Motny 

26 B T Brown 

27 William Russell 

28 L Reed 

29 E B Reed 

30 J B Dairs 

31 M Reynolds 

32 S W Fisher 

33 Oscal Young 

34 John Jones 

35 A B Collotte 

36 James Reed 

37 S H Davis 

38 John Carroll 

39 John M Banks 

40 Jonathan Shepherd 

41 Thomas Breeze 

42 Charles Martin 

43 E Poage 

44 NMcKinney 

45 John Macklin 

46 Wm Roads 

47 James S Campbell 

48 L Steel 

49 Wm A Parrish 

50 C L Parrish 

51 R Flournory 

52 R J Long 

53 H C Parish 

54 John Eadlehart 

55 Joseph Hager 

56 Silas Sutton 

57 J M Russell 

58 Robert Carlan 

59 John W Benett 

60 Alfred Laws 



61 LDent 

62 G P Skezur 

63 Wm A David 

64 Wm Donaldson 

65 Wm E Baker 

66 William Isbell 

67 Jared Chapman 

68 P 0' Conner 

69 H O'Conner 

70 Wm O'Conner 

71 A Street 

72 J G Baker 

73 Aaron Case 

74 John O'Conner 

75 Levi Herren 

76 A Bell 

77 P N Watts 

78 S Creel 

79 Henry Kauz 

80 D Burton 

81 Newton Cary 

82 John Burton 

83 W W Williams 

84 John McClarau 

85 Charles Matny 

86 G W Cary 

87 R W Cary 

88 C F Cleveland 

89 S Shepperd 

90 Wm G Lucket 

91 Thomas Esseeks 

92 Wm McKenney 

93 M H Burton 

94 F M Coleman 

95 D T Jones 

96 Wm Curry 

97 J M Tanett 

98 J B Campbell 

99 CM White 

100 G W Hurr 

101 James Campbell 

102 Milton Boon 

103 D Fletcher 



For Congress. 
J W Whitfield - 103 | A H Reeder - - 

We, the undersigned, judges of the election at Willow Springs, cer- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



577 



tify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at an election 

on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855. 

M. BOONE, ) 

D. FLETCHER, V Judges. 

JAMES CAMPBELL, ) 

Attest: 

C. M. Waite, I ci,,j,so/ election, 
J. B. Campbell, ) -' 



Iowa township, — County of Doniphan. 

Poll hook of the election held at the house of William Beeler, in Iowa 
Point, loiva toivnsMp, county of Doniphan, Territory of Kansas, on 
the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855. 

Robert H. Fitch, George Brown, and J, B. Matlack, judges, and 
Daniel W. Flinn and James Glenn, clerks of said election, were sev- 
erally sworn, as the law directs, previous to their entering on their 
respective offices. 

Names. 



1 Jesse Lewis 


17 D K Anderson 


2 William Williams 


18 Thomas Leas 


3 Harry Foreman 


19 Mikle Bird 


4 George E Glass 


20 Ezekiel Hobbs 


5 W D Beeler 


21 A M Downing 


6 Charles Balkely 


22 F H W Young 


7 Madison Walker 


23 W W Felton 


8 W H Hawkins 


24 Jackson Baker 


9 Jackson Rany 


25 Pryor Plank 


10 Thomas Smart 


26 Samuel HoUman 


11 Perry Glenn 


27 R H Fitch 


12 A D Rainy 


28 D W Flin 


13 George Penny 


29 George Brown 


14 Isaac Crouch 


30 Doctor Shepherd 


15 X K Gout 


31 Joseph A Brown 


16 William No wland 


32 James Glenn 



Names of persons voted for, and for ivhat ojfice, containing the number 
of votes given for each candidate. 



Delegate to Congress- 
For license 
Aerainst license 



-John W. Wliitfield 



30 
11 

18 



We, the undersigned, judges of election in Iowa township, county 
of Doniphan, and Territory of Kansas, certify that the foregoing is a 
correct list of the votes given at an election held in Iowa Point, on the 
H. Rep. 200 37* 



578 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



1st day of October, A. D. 1855, as witness our bands tbis day 

of October, A. D. 1855. 

ROBERT H. FITCH, ) 
GEORGE BROWN, V Judges. 
J. B. MATLACK, ) 

Attest : 



Daniel W. Flixn, > ^^^.^^ ^^ ^^^^.^^ 
James Glenn, ) -' 



DONIPHAN. 

Poll hook of the election held at the hotel of John W. Forman, in the 
town of Doniphan, Wayne toivmhip, county of Doniphan, and Terri- 
tory of Kansas, on the 1st day of October, A. D. 1855. 

William Sublette, D. M. Jobnston, and James Lyncb, judges, and 
J. H. Thompson and J. A. Van Arsdale, clerks of said election, were 
severally sworn, as the law directs, previous to their entering on tbeir 
es;-* ective duties. 



1 A J Dunning 

2 Jacob Mathews 

3 C J Yeary 

4 S K Miller 

5 David Frank 

6 G M W^aller 

7 William Christopher 

8 B G Wells 

9 Jacob J Scott 

10 Benjamin Twedell 

11 John Tracy 

12 R Smith (license) 

13 William F Tate 

14 Jeff Hut ton 

15 Benjamin Hutton 

16 Calvin Lewis 
1*7 Brown 

78 B O'Driscoll 

19 John Walker 

20 George Hancock 

21 John^W Philips 

22 S C Hudson 

23 John Rice 

24 Keron Grable (license) 

25 Josepb Frates 

26 Colonel Newman 

27 Joseph Grabla 

28 J B Baker 

29 William Beauchamp 

30 John W Forman 



31 Josiah Howard 

32 Daniel S Young 

33 E McCall 

34 Campbell Baker 

35 Jacob Grorhen 
Andrew McLaughlin 
W G Tate 
G R Formen 
John Martin 
Richard Vest 
Benjamin Wharton 

42 J H Thompson 

43 J A Van Arsdale 

44 James Lynch 

45 William Sublette 
D M Johnston 
Joshua Laundis 
William H Hivehman 
James Raney 

50 Benjamin Wilcox 

51 John S Pemberton 

52 H W Swisher 
Gudman Cox 
G W Lidingter 

55 D G Sharp 

56 James Roberts 
William Froman 
John Abahart 
Amos Rutledge 
G A Crane 



36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 



46 

47 
48 
49 



53 
54 



57 
58 
59 
60 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



579 



61 C C Alversnn 

62 Joseph Cook 

63 a W Parker 



64 G L Gore 

65 T H Gallaher 

66 Alexander Hall 



Names of jycrsons vofcd for, and for lolat office, containing the number 
of voles given for each candidate. 



Whitfield 
Reeder 



66 




No license 
License 



44 

17 



Certified by judges and clerks of said election according to form on 
page 2. 



VVASHINGTOISr TOWNSHIP. 

Poll hook of ihe election held at the house of M. F. Moss, near Milton 
Bryant's, in Washington toivnship, cointy of Doniphan, and Territory 
of Kansas, on ihe first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

Jeffrey M. Palmer, H. S. Creal, and William Matthews, and James 
B. Whitehead, and D. Scott Bogle, clerks of said election, were seve- 
rally sworn previous to their entering upon their respective offices. 



1 Hamilton Osborn 


27 William J Copeland 


2 Hamilton J Johnson 


28 John Coke 


3 Timothy Bancroft 


2y James H Merrill 


4 James Petch 


30 John Bolinger 


5 C B Donalson 


31 William Lalley 


6 D Scott Bogle 


32 G L Gore* 


7 James B Whitehead 


33 W H Allen 


8 Milton E Bryant 


34 William Palmer 


9 J M Palmer 


35 F M Mahon 


10 William Matthews 


36 Giraid B Jonea 


11 Peter Monroe 


37 Levin A Benson 


12 A Heed 


38 Samuel Montgomery 


13 J P Blair 


39 J B Owens 


14 Leander McClelland 


40 John Lovelady 


15 William Morgan 


41 William Fee 


16 H S Creal 


42 Hiram Gilbert 


17 Miles Collins 


43 James Lyn 


18 Uriah Griffith 


44 Sabert Gladon 


19 Edward Leary 


45 John Duncan 


20 Daniel Miller 


46 Hamilton Kirk 


21 Stephen M Bell 


47 John T Montague 


22 Daniel Tool 


48 Wilson D Moore 


23 William Bohertson 


49 Constadt Powers 


24 D R Benson 


50 Peter Vergent 


25 Daniel L Henry 


51 James B O'Tool 


26 Elias Copeland 


52 John Trotman 



• 64 Doniphan township. 



580 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



53 James O'Tool, sen. 

54 Henry Chumley 

55 Gary B Whitehead 

56 Francis Young 
75 James Bliss 



58 Samuel Flint 

59 Henry Thompson 

60 Eily Millrap 

61 Evan Evans. 



Names of persons voted for, and for what office, containing the number 
of votes for each candidate. 

John W. Whitfield, for Congress - - - 59 

General J. W. Mouskikaofi", for Congress - - 2 

For license - - - - - - 39 

Against license _ _ _ _ _ 8 

Certified by judges and clerks according to form on page 2. 



BURR OAK. 



Poll-book of the election held at the house of John W. Smith, at Smith- 
ton, Burr Oak toicnship, county of Doniphan, and Territory of Kan- 
sas, on the \st day of October, A. D. 1855. 



Judges and clerks of said election Avere severally sworn as 
directs, previous to their entering on their respective offices. 



the law 



1 L T Lolan 


25 Mathias Rapp 


2 T W Watterson 


26 H D Adams 


3 James Watterson 


27 A H Trible 


4 Joseph Crippin 


28 D B Tindel 


5 S E Morris 


29 James Gabriel 


6 W P Richardson 


30 Hezekiah Jackson 


1 John AV Smith 


31 William C Gilliam 


8 Porter Roberts 


32 E C Gilliam 


9 Nimrod Duncan 


33 A J Gilliam 


10 J W Stevens 


34 Thomas Duvall 


11 J W Smith 


35 Asa K Hubbard 


12 Charles Slimmer 


36 Obadiah Evans 


13 A F Barnet 


37 Jared Treble 


14 Robert Reed 


38 William Treble 


15 James Craft 


39 J W Treble 


16 William Burtoutt 


40 E C Smith 


17 William Bryant 


41 Jesse Cot 


18 Philips Mannel 


42 Henry James 


19 Francis Bogair 


43 Richard Morris 


20 Robert M Whitsett 


44 H C Moore 


21 Thomas Bankenship 


45 John Henderson 


22 Charles Taylor 


46 L D Cook 


23 Robert L Morris 


47 Thomas H McCulloch 


24 Francis M Morris 


48 Benjamin Caststeel 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



581 



Names of persons voted for, and for ivhat office, containing the number 
of votes given for each candidate. 



John W. Whitfield, 
For license 
Against license 



for Congress 



42 

39 

5 



Certified to by John A. Henderson, Richard Morris, and Henry C. 
Moore, judges, T. H. McCulloch, T. D. Cook, clerks, according to 
form on page 2. 



LAEH VILLAGE. — Wolf river township. 

Poll hooks of the election held at the house of Milton Utt, at the Laeh 
Village, in the Wolf River toivnship, county of Doniphan, and Terri- 
tory of Kansas, on tlie first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

G. R. Wilson, A. P. Quick, and A. Q. Rice, judges and Josephus 
Utt and Thomas J. Yanderslice, clerks of said election, were severally 
sworn as the law directs, previous to entering on their respective 
'Offices. 



1 R Baldwind 


28 M Brown 


2 A B Sharp 


29 Isaac Craig 


3 D Vanderslice 


30 William Vickers 


4 David Bogard 


31 Joel Ryan 


5 James J Vanderslice 


32 Milford Gilmore 


6 Hardin Critchfield 


33 Samuel Potut 


7 William T B Vanderslice 


34 Isaac Chase 


8 Nelson Rodgers 


35 Henry Chase 


9 Milton Utt 


36 Josephus Utt 


10 M C Modie 


37 A Q Rice 


11 James W Oliver 


38 G W Gay 


12 J G Yates 


39 G R Wilson 


13 A J Yates 


40 A P Quick 


14 R M Gilmore 


41 T J Vanderslice 


15 S D Gilmore 


42 William Lewis 


16 S G Fish 


43 George Jones 


17 G W Dowell 


44 J J Smith 


18 S D Bright 


45 Maidson Osborne 


19 J J Reynolds 


46 Sidney Gwinn 


20 Richard Leach 


47 N Kimberlane 


21 William Craig 


48 John Kimberlane 


22 Henry Smith 


49 Wallace Smith 


23 James Brooks 


50 Peter Monter 


24 James Cameron 


51 K Murray 


25 William Smith 


52 William McGathney 


26 William Webb 


53 D Utt 


27 M D Brown 





582 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Names of persons voted for, and for ivhat office, containing the number 
of votes given for each candidate, 

John W. Whitfield, for Congress, 53. 

Tor license, 29 ; against license, 8. 

Certified to by the judges and clerks according to form page 2. 



Poll book for Middle Creelc. 



4 Edward Payne 

5 D H Leeper 

6 Thomas Totton 



1 Alexander Smith 

2 Samuel M Robertson 

3 John Payne 
For J. W. Whitfield, 6 votes. 

We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Franklin county, 
held at the house of Thomas G. Blair, certify that the foregoing is a 
correct list of the votes given at an election held on the first day of 
October, A. D. 1855_, as witness our hands this first day of October, 
A. D. 1855. 

FREDEPJCK BROWN, 

D. H. LEEPER, 

EDWARD + PAYNE, 

mark. 

Judges of election. 



Thomas G. Blaik, 
Thomas Totton. 



> Clerks of election. 



Poll book of Pottowatomie Creek, FrariMin county. 
VOTERS' NAMES. 



1 R Golding 




6 George Wilson 


2 A Wilkinson 




7 J P Barnebey 


3 J S Wightman 




8 William Sherman 


4 H Sherman 




9 Jeremiah Buffington 


5 H S Britton 






For J. W. Whitfield, 


9 votes. 





We^ the undersigned, judges of the election at the house of Henry 
Sherman, in the county of Franklin, certify the foregoing is a correct 
list of votes given at an election held on the first day of October, A. 
D. 1855. As witness our hands, this the first day of October, A. D. 
1855. 



JOHN G. 
SAMUEL 
JOHN S. 



MORSE, 

MACK, 

WIGHTMAN. 



Attest : 
A. Wilkinson, 
J. P. BarnebeY; 



Clerks of election. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
Poll list of Jefferson county, Kansas Territory. 



583 



Names of voters. 


2 

o . 


< 


Names of voters. 


2 

o 


o 

o 

< 


1. James Todd 


! 


24. Webster Withers 






2. Marcus Todd 






...... 






26. Joseph Downing 








5. George F. Squiburg 

6- Preston L. Dunlap 

7. John Q. Grayson 


28. Robert K. Grant 

29. W. H. Tibbs 




3(J. W. F. Dyer 




8. George W. Grayson 

9. John Burorer 


31. Richard Grant 




.32 John Sharp 




10. George Parrott 

11. Judge O.B. B.Tibbs 

12. Charles Moreton 


33. A. Christian 





1 1 


34. D. R. Sprague 








13. William Carpenter 




1 
1 


36. Thomas McMix 





14. Charles Buzbee 




37 H. Combs 








38. Benjamin Danson 

39. R. C. Combs 




16. James A. Chapman 

17. S. R. Burpee 


, t 




40. J. E Haddic 




18. H. Banfield 


41 . E. Cornett 




19. Joseph W. Thompson ..... 


1 


42. James Mclntire 




20. J. R. Smith 


1 






21. Ellis Downing 


1 
1 
1 


44. John Patton 




22. C. Withers 






23. J. L. Prior 















'We, the undersigned, judges of election, certify that the above and 
foregoing is a correct poll cast at Osaukee, Jefferson county, Kansas 
Territory, at an election held this first of October, 1855, for delegate 
to Congress, viz: For Whitfield, 42 ; for Keeder, 3. Total, 45. 

D. K. SPRAGUE, 
A. CHRISTIAN, 
PETER DUPUY. 
Attest : 

M. Chrtstison, 
W. H. Dyer, 



Clerks. 



Votes cast at the county seat of Johnson county, Kansas Territory, on 
the 1st of October, 1855, /or delegate to Congress. 



1 Smallwood Noland 


8 Albert Wright 


2 N J Cord 


9 Ch's Packard 


3 G W Gordon 


10 A Jones 


4 J D Harvey 


11 A H Hough 


5 N K Thomas 


12 S W Asbury 


6 R D Harris 


13 John Berry 


7 Jos S Ball 


14 J Q Cupp 



684 



KANSAS AFFAIKS. 



15 K F Moore 

16 T Doniphan 

17 A Kerr 

18 Riehard Pitcher 

19 S F Furnace 

20 G T Williams 

21 F H Carton 

22 F G- Campbell 

23 E S Fishback 

24 Jesse Noland 

25 Thos HuckoU 

26 R Thorpe 

27 J B Shelly 

28 Wm Dn£:e:ins 

29 i\r :\[eGiir 

30 R L Bell 

31 B F Claggett 

32 ^Ym Groom 

33 G S Rathborue 

34 G Hopkins 

35 T S Bovce 

36 L A Talbott 

37 F Cering 

38 C Y Lincoln 

39 A Hassell 

40 John Falkerson 

41 Pleasant Ellington 

42 J H Ware 

43 Wm M Groom 

44 J L Steadman 

45 R C Miller 

46 S L Doty 

47 C Monroe 

48 G W Baker 

49 J Q Atkins 

50 J D Stivens 

51 G W Sho waiter 

52 Wm Gillespie 

53 Jas Fleming 

54 Wm Semple 

55 Wm Iventley 

56 John A Collins 

57 T B Covan 

58 C C Wallace 

59 A J Zerpin 

60 H Gen in g 

61 S Maiiuaghay 

62 A F PattX^n ' 

63 J B Shaw 

64 Otho Hall 

65 Samuel Barnani 



6(> W L Haltron 

67 A Ri teller 

68 A T Farce 

69 John McFadder 

70 John Lyrch 

71 Silas Evans 

72 J R Atkinson 

73 John Halbut 

74 J Lauderdale 

75 Davis Vogle 

76 Silas Combs 

77 T S Ham 

78 Jos Hicklin 

79 H Bailev 

80 H H Harrison 

81 H McHahan 

82 John Shannon 

83 Wm Rice 

84 Joel Liscomb 

85 F M Huchison 

86 Charles Chotian 

87 U L Bover 

88 Latin ar 

89 J Napier 

90 Danl Duffelmin 

91 J F Mills 

92 AVilson Shannon 

93 Geo Buchanan 

94 John S Johnson 

95 T J Lockridge 

96 Jos Tooley 

97 Fred Clotian 

98 J M Harrison 

99 Wm Donaldson 

100 J Blackstone 

101 J W Ellis 

102 Benj Clotian 

103 John Wornall 

104 G Ridley 

105 Rush Elmore 

106 J L Duncan 

107 James Adams 

108 Josopli Dilland 

109 Wmlsh 

110 John Ish 

111 B F Johnson 

112 H C Pate 

113 John S Davis 

114 S J Hufiaker 

115 Cvprian Cl^outeaii 

116 TH Ellis 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



585 



117 'John Johi;Hon 


154 


J T Lawtzel 


118 r Dansby 


155 


John McArty 


1 10 Wm Sponger 


156 


M P Randall 


120 John Parks 


157 


J C l^Jlard 


121 Nathan Guthrie 


158 


W Massv 


122 Charles iiJujaoket 


159 


W Bailey 


123 Dan'l Woodson 


100 


Henry Meguire 


124 Charles Tucker 


101 


C L Conner 


125 Captain Rlockhoof 


102 


C R Low 


120 John Pumpkin 


103 


F M Davis 


1 2 7 Wm 13 Coots 


164 


Jo Day 


128 Jeremiah Frazier 


105 


John Profit 


129 V D Broom 


100 


Joseph Flint 


130 J B Warfield 


107 


Jas Keyser 


131 J D Piery 


108 


Joseph Jack 


132 A B Pernor 


169 


Samuel Gannets 


133 Chas Piohealan 


170 


B T Keyser 


134 Wm V, Howard 


171 


p:ii Blockhoff 


135 H A Iluchisori 


172 


T Deagle 


130 Charles Bowles 


173 


Alfred Lee 


137 HA Hunter 


174 IJ Dodson 


138 Henrv CofFman 


175 T K Moore 


139 William Clotian 


170 


Geo McDougal 


140 J T Barton 


177 


Jas Peterson 


141 D W Stone 


178 


H F Henford 


142 Billy Wolf 


179 


n 11 Ratcliff 


143 Coleman Smith 


180 


W M Clark 


144 H a Burton 


181 


AHofF 


145 P Booker 


182 


Richard McAnish 


146 G W Walker 


183 


John Talboot 


147 J F Lunley 


184 


A C Davidson 


148 Wm Surpin 


185 


C Arrington 


149 G Ragan 


186 


Moses Silver heels 


150 T A McLain 


187 Tohe 


151 Jesse Harris 


188 


Kashowaypenshek 


152 G W Rice 


189 


S Kimherlaird 


153 J M Bernard 


190 


Henry De Shain 


''e, the undersigned, judges of 


the elect 


ion in election dis- 



trict, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes cast at the 
election held on the 1st day of October, 1855. As witness our hands 
this first day of October, 1855. 

C. 

C. 

z. 

Attest : 
Jno. S Davis, 
H. Bailey, 

Clerks. 



CHOUTEAU, 

BOLES, 

J. HUFFAKER, 

Jadrjes. 



586 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



LEAVENWORTH DISTRICT. 



Poll hook of an election held at the city of Leavenworth, in Leavemoorth 
toivnship, in the countij of Leavenworth, in Kansas Territory, on the 
first 3Ionday in O'-toher, A. D. 1855, for delegate in the thirty-fourth 
Congress of the United States. 



Names of voters. 


1 Hiram Rich 


43 James McGowan 


2 James R Water 


44 Jesse Summers 


3 William H Miller 


45 Joseph Skagg 


4 C L Beeding 


46 J L Bo wen 


5 John Vendamon 


47 J D Trice 


6 J W McNutt 


48 John Sweany 


7 James Depsey 


49 J Cockrill 


8 Floyd Shannon 


50 Joel Hyatt 


9 S D Lecompte 


51 J B Donaldson 


10 Andrew Gardner 


52 John A Haldeman 


11 H H Estis 


53 G Atkins 


12 W H Pence 


54 R B Sandford 


13 W P Judy 


55 W S Hughes 


14 M A Groom 


56 J M Alexander 


15 A Weeling 


57 G P Dyke 


16 H L Trundle 


58 H Swiney 


17 W T Nicholson 


59 B B Brown 


18 John Estes 


60 J P \\ mack 


19 William Boyd 


61 Hugh S vine J 


20 Joseph Welding 


62 D J Johison 


21 D A Thompson 


63 B F Simmons 


22 J Mothershead 


64 R R Rees 


23 J E Emmerson 


65 Leander Kerr 


24 Thomas C Bishop 


66 W C Baker 


25 J W Gardner 


67 Simeon Scruggs 


26 S Greenfield 


68 John J Berry 


27 Bartly Estes 


69 W H Adams 


28 P H Collins 


70 G H Hale 


29 W H Chowning 


71 John McKonn 


30 John Chrisman 


72 Q H Day 


31 J G Williams 


73 SamuePF Teem 


32 J Spear 


74 N N Wilkinson 


33 J C Posey 


75 Amos Rees 


34 H Corrun 


76 J H Berryman 


35 John E Bird 


77 H D McMeekin 


36 J L Goran 


78 S W Holland 


37 Clinton Cuckrill 


79 J F Mason 


38 E C Naylor 


80 L Cox 


39 R C Thompson 


81 James L Hickman 


40 Abraham Estes 


82 Henry Miller 


41 James Swing 


83 Jere Clark 


42 James Tenson 


84 R E Sanders 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



587 



85 W S Karr 

86 Robert Scarce 

87 Y Y Jones 

88 B R Burnett 

89 Robert Ely 

90 John Long 

91 William Laye 

92 Samuel Paul 

93 Thomas Stewart 

94 L McArthur 

95 M Mills 

96 James Rich 

97 John Farrier 

98 W W Corwin 

99 Charles Stames 

100 Charles A Mann 

101 Joseph Duncan 

102 Daniel Thatcher 

103 John Thatcher 

104 S H Oliphant 

105 W J Green 

106 Jeremiah Johnson 

107 C M Burgess 

108 Nathaniel Learey 

109 B F Hale 

110 G W Roberts 

111 A Parker 

112 T Staggitt 

113 Thomas N Gosney 

114 Thomas Smith 

115 Isaac Archer 

116 John Keeler 

117 Thomas N Smith 

118 A J G Westbrook 

119 G B V McCall 

120 James Edgins 

121 Michael Kelly 

122 Thomas E Downing 

123 Richard Goddin 

124 John Bryant 

125 Lewis Chinn 

126 WTodd 

127 James Adams 

128 James B Hall 

129 P W Ellington 

130 James H Connelly 

131 Abner Dean 

132 James Buckhart 

133 Marion Todd 

134 John Flint 

135 J W Damell 

136 R T Damell 



137 Levi Wilson 

138 Thomas Mullins 

139 C C Redman 

140 Peter Ganey 

141 H Rives Pollard 

142 Jonathan Hartman 

143 Eli Moore 

144 F S Atterbury 

145 Joseph Cromwell 

146 H H C PLarrison 

147 Z D Washburn 

148 J Huntingdon 

149 Joseph Chrisman 

150 Silas Gordon 

151 R F Duncan 

152 J C Thompson 

153 George Adams 

154 William A Parrott 

155 Thomas F Scott 

156 James McCrury 

157 P Keith 

158 P N Kennelly 

159 J P Russell 

160 D S Leach 

161 Samuel J Finch 

162 Hugh Archer 

163 Nathan Campbell 

164 Levi Sykins 

165 FN Royall 

166 William H Bell 

167 William G Mathias 

168 James Sanders 

169 Vandeman Cockrill 

170 M P Rivelv 

171 M Smith 

172 B E Rively 

173 S B Goodrich 

174 John Daily 

175 W Sanders 

176 J M Hackler 

177 Jeremiah Crabb 

178 B Crabb 

179 W S Caldwell 

180 G W Hill 

181 J Q Murphy 

182 William Long 

183 Daniel Stewart 

184 Roderick Tate 

185 John McVevin 

186 James Tate 

187 William G Norris 

188 Barnabas Gable 



588 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



189 J W Brouddiis 

190 J S Hook 

191 W D Bull 

192 AV II Bailey 

193 Jackson Handler 

194 A J Isaacs 

195 Jackson Smith 

196 Hiram Kelly 

197 John Wells 

198 Charles Dunn 

199 John Munford 

200 R C White 



201 John Winston 

202 AVilliam Gist 

203 B McCreary 

204 C A Russell 

205 Green B Todd 

206 Thomas C Hui^hes 

207 James M Lyle 

208 G B Panton 

209 CY Harrison 

210 William Alywan 

211 Joel B Collins 

212 W S Yoke 



John W. Whitfield received 212 votes. 

We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Leavenworth elec- 
tion district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes 
given at an election held on the 1st daj of October, A. D. 1855, as 

witness our hands this day of October, A. D. 1855. 

G. B. Px\NTON, ) 
ALEX. RUSSELL, V Judges. 
BENJ. McCRARY, ) 
Attest : 

James M. Lyle, I 
John T. Rice, \ 



Cle)-ks of election. 



Delaware Township — Leavemcorth county, K. T. 

Poll hook of an election held at the house of William H. Spratt, in Dela- 
icare township, in the counhj of Leavenworth, in Kansas Territory, on 
the first Monday in October, 1855, for delegate in the thirty-fourth 
Congress of the United States. 



1 Josiah Farlv 

2 W T Darmal 

3 Sam'l Hoy 

4 Isani Thompson 

5 A W Hughes 

6 Washington Berry 
T John H Thompson 

8 Nathan Leonard 

9 Hot Cooper 

10 John Durnal 

11 Marion Femherton 

12 William Beal 

13 Ephraim Jessy 

14 J C Hughes 

15 Edward" M Dobson 

16 T J Bui 

17 Thomas Turner 



18 Noah Pitcher 

19 Dabner Perkins 

20 Archibald Hughes 

21 Thomas Perkins 

22 W W iienshaw 

23 Williain P.edman 

24 William Wallace 

25 John Christ ison 

26 Daniel Stewart 

27 Robert Tarr 

28 William Peinl-erton 

29 James Esenaii;e 

30 Aaron Cox 

31 J McDaniel 

32 M M Clemins 

33 J Colvin 

34 Richard Darneal 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



589^ 



35 James Wallis 

36 William Dickey 

37 William Caue 

38 V Cockrill 

39 A Clark 

40 James McDaniel 

41 William Kinsey 

42 M C Morris 

43 Thomas Arnold 

44 J G- Haden 

45 John Alvis 

46 H L Merrill 

47 F M Kinsey 

48 W D Bunale 

49 James Littlejohn 

50 Benjamin Kinsey 

51 James Kinsey 

52 James P Hayden 

53 Alexander Tab 

54 John A Sedmer 

55 L V Barnate 

56 J Miller 

57 J Y Roberts 

58 John Brooks 

59 Ellis Henshaw 

60 David Clarke 

61 Joseph Dunnigan 

62 J F Snow 

63 B Larkin 

64 W J Millar 

65 L Oudkam 

66 John Ecton 

67 James Embridge 

68 John W Rogers 

69 Richard Ducate 

70 Samuel S Brooks 

71 Thomas Brooks 

72 Joseph Bruse 

73 Pady Cooper 

74 F Warren 

75 GB Redman 

76 Jesse Smith 

77 Joseph Little 

78 Alexander Baker 

79 James Nash 

80 Levi Ferguson 

81 Mat Winston 

82 Albro Pemberton 

83 John Cane 

84 Rob't Cane 

85 William Hoy 



92 

93 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

100 

101 

102 

103 

104 



86 Burrford Adkins 

87 Silas A Quissy 

88 W W Quissy 

89 Brooker Horner 

90 Samuel B'inley 

91 May Burton 
William Brunston 
William Toatston 
James Moore 
James M Churchill 
William Davis 
William Henston 
Charles Crawford 
Thomas Starnes 
Daniel Heath 
Joseph Walker 
Samuel Taulston 
V Mothershawl 
Samuel P Beraine 

]0o Adolphus B Hoolin 

106 Thomas Kinsey 

107 Owen Duly 

108 John Brightwell 

109 Granville Brightwell 

110 J F Wardon 

111 J G Slayers 

112 A K Elliott 

113 Frank Gains 

114 Simpson Parks 

115 John H Wilkinson 
J N Hutchison 
Black Richards 
Howell Jenkins 
M J Moore 
D J Moore 
William B Almond 
John E Brooks 

123 Henry Witlow 

124 William Green 

125 G Moore 

126 John Flanery 

127 David McFir 

128 John Moore 

129 Daniel Cary 

130 William Fox 

131 Robert Cary 

132 James Fox 

133 Thomas Tuder 

134 Robert Chisum 

135 WW Woods 

136 Silas Woods 



116 
117 
118 
119 
120 
121 
122 



590 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



IS"? Francis Brown 

138 John Wall is 

139 Matthew McGregor 

140 OG McDonald 

141 TF Brown 

142 Samuel Winston 

143 JohnSheler 

144 Simon Johnson 

145 William Christy 

146 M K Bennington 

147 Erwin Timherlick 

148 Ahbott Grigg 

149 John Hasting 

150 John Brasfield 

151 Adam Brown 

152 James Spratt 

153 J F Gregg 

154 John Dority 

155 James B Moore 

156 Silas Gordon 

157 H J Sharp 

158 William F Onin 

159 J Hollingsworth 

160 J C Collins 

161 Solon Sheperd 

162 George Quinby 

163 Monner Byne 

164 James Luckej 

165 James E Kerr 

166 Thomas Grigg 

167 Christopher Girr 

168 James Perse 

169 James Pitts 

170 Jacob Pitts 

171 James Mitchell 

172 Ek. Williams 

173 James L Carter 

174 Walker Williams 

175 John W Johns 

176 T Chevis 

177 J W Crag 

178 J W^alker 

179 Willis Vance 

180 Mathew B Wilson 

181 David McCollins 

182 William Mackey 

183 T J Chives 

184 James Withers 

185 A Tilery 

186 John Adkins 

187 H Mayer 

188 B C Hollingsworth 



189 DS Gordon 

190 W^illiam E Bell 

191 Benj L Qissey 

192 William G Wilkinson 

193 Ste])hen Duncan 

194 BR Morton 

195 William Diment 

196 Conner J Roger 

197 GJCockrill 

198 HCCarr 

199 H J Viveon 

200 William Brent 

201 Charles Pillions 

202 JJWinne 

203 J B Hunt 

204 WZebrisky 

205 Thomas demons 

206 NVinscm 

207 Adison Berge 

208 Rufus McCollins 

209 David Churchill 

210 John Bvrd 

211 John R Miller 

212 Franklin Sprague 

213 Wilbur n Christison 

214 J T Moore 

215 Samuel Swisher 

216 EB Jacks 

217 James Bruso 

218 Boston Brown 

219 Wilson Fox 

220 Sylvester Lariny 

221 John Bickett 

222 Frank Gordon 

223 JohnBlan 

224 Hiram Mariner 

225 Timothy McLoy 

226 John Hall 

227 Aftiloji Doritv 

228 TFitzgerriU 

229 G Sprague 

230 MMoreland 

231 J P Long 

232 L F Hollingsworth 

233 TJAbshere 

234 E W Weley 

235 John E Pitt 

236 L P Stiles 

237 Thomas Alvis 

238 Richard Thompson 

239 John Broadhurst 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



591 



At an election, held at the house of William H. Spratt, in Kansas 
Territory, in the town of Delaware, on the first Monday in October, 
A. D. 1855, the following men received the following votes: 



J. W. Whitfield received 239. 



a. B. REDMAN, 
WM. DICKEY, 
ALEXANDER BAKER, 



Judges of the election. 



Attest: 
John R. Miller, ) .„ , . , . 
Levi Ferguson, j ^'^^^^^ ""J ^''^^^''->^- 



Whitfield's election, 1855. — poll book kickapoo township, leaven- 
worth COUNTY. 

Foil book of an election held at the house of George W. Hayes, in the 
city of Kickapoo, in KickajJoo toivnship, in the county of Leaveonvorth, 
in Kansas Territm-y, on the first 3Ionday in October, A. D. 1855, /or 
delegate in the Congress of the United States. 






1 Joseph M Hall 

2 Charles B Morris 

3 Jesse Connel 

4 Robert Hayes 

5 Washington T Woods 

6 H B C Harris 

7 Douglas Hamilton 

8 A G- Boyd 

9 William Hobbs 

10 Jolm H Bradley 

11 George A Adams 

12 J A C Webb 

13 A .\I Price 

14 Thomas Ford 

15 F B Mitchel 

16 John T Elkins 

17 Charles Sexton 

18 James Bragh 

19 Martin T Bailey 

20 William Brahan 

21 Levi Bowman 

22 William (> Sharpe 

23 E M McCoraas 

24 James J Musgrove 

25 James H Hull 
2B M A Owen 

27 W B Willson 



28 Robert Foulkes 

29 Bruel Glinn 

30 William H Elliott 

31 Andrew Stevens 

32 Simon Hackett 

33 A J Dawson 

34 Samuel M Bowman 

35 James S Thompson 

36 G W Thompson 

37 M M Nagle 

38 Stephen Sale 

39 Israel Swan 

40 Samuel Hays 

41 Samuel Ripley 

42 Alvey Nower 

43 J R Duncan 

44 John S Duncan 

45 Levi Pense 

46 Mathew Gohagan 

47 Marion Robertson 

48 C A Stillman 

49 Thomas McLane 

50 Joseph Henderson 

51 Isaac House 

52 W H Cook 

53 William Layson 

54 James M Browning 



592 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



55 V/arren Culvert 

56 A Bowlby 

57 James G Douglas 

58 Charles Whitscarver 

59 Benjamin Duncan 

60 Samuel H Frank 

61 John H Lewis 

62 Aldridge Corder 

63 David Gillespie 

64 G A Rucker 

65 G W Hays 

66 John S Percival 

67 W H Middleton 

68 Turman Geeter 

69 A B. Haggard 

70 Alexander Ralston 

71 Jeremiah Stevens 

72 John M Hays 

73 Lewis Calvert 

74 William Findley 

75 William Morpin 

76 Huekin Morpin 

77 John W Freeland 

78 Milton Porterfield 

79 J B Duncan 

80 Thomas Scott 

81 J3ii vV.)l.vi-l 

82 John A Calvert 

83 R E Stallard 

84 J C Richardson 

85 S R Oflfutt 

86 Porter Buchanan 

87 ^ B Newman 

88 ^ohn Freeland 

89 Soshua Hall 

90 S F Rhea 

91 R B Mitchell 

92 Curtis Huffman 

93 Thomas D Almond 

94 Lsaac Fay 

95 John G Williams 

96 Enos Isaacs 

97 William Traner 

98 Joseph Brooks 

99 S W Turner 

100 D A N Grover 

101 C B Hodges 

102 C H Grover 

103 Jonah Meddle 



104 James B Blake 

105 Phineas Skinner 

106 A J Snyder 

107 John M Lockman 

108 Peter Montgomery 

109 James Bradley 

110 John Groff 

111 B F Freeland 

112 D F Barker 

113 H C Branch 

114 James A Henderson 

115 Giles Henderson 

116 B K Jacobs 

117 H N Haley 

118 P Taylor 

119 E F Arnott 

120 E S Wilhite 

121 P M Hodges 

122 E D Bishop 

123 William J Bailey 

124 N W Hodges 

125 MP Perry 

126 Lewis Barnes 

127 William Thompson 

128 Robert W Thompson 

129 William P Merchant 

130 R S Merchant 

131 Samuel Doyle 

132 Sanford Leach 

133 James M Calvert 

134 Wilson Newell 

135 William A Guthrie 

136 Henry Boyce 

137 Wiley Williams 

138 B F Thompson 

139 Martin Sharp 

140 J W Foster 

141 John P Thompson 

142 F B Davidson 

143 Henry Colman 

144 Thomas Douglas 

145 John McDaniel 

146 Meigs Hunt 

147 John W Stevens 

148 John W Brown 

149 Christopher Kance 

150 Levi Scrivner 

151 James Basket 

152 John H Shaler 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



593 



The wliole number of votes cast for delegate to Congress was one 
hundred and fifty-one, (151,) of which John W. Whitfield received 
one hundred and fifty, and A. H. Reeder one, (1.) 

We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Kickapoo election 
district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given 
at an election held on the first day of October, A. D. 1855, as witness 
our hands this first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

JOSEPH B. BLAKE, ) 
CHARLES H. GROVER, V Judges. 
C. B. HODGES, ) 

Attest : 
John H. Sahler, ) ^, -, of election 
Meigs Hunt, \ ^ ''^'^'^^ ""J election. 



WYANDOTT TOWNSHIP, LEAVENWORTH COUNTY. 

Pdl hook of ail election held at the council-house in the Wyandoit toivn- 
ship, in the county of Leavemuorth, in Kansas Territory, on the first 
Monday in October, A. D. 1854, /or delegate in the thirty fourth Con- 
gress of the United States. 



1 L. M. Alexander, 40 

2 Joseph F. Field, 41 

3 Leonard BrofReld, 42 

4 Mace Rust, 43 

5 Abijah Withers, 44 

6 James Mitchell, 45 

7 William Martin, 46 

8 John B. Brown, 47 

9 Thomas Boatwright, 48 

10 James H. Irwin, 49 

11 B. F. Starks, 50 

12 F. Evans, 51 

13 Granville Harvey, 52 

14 M. R. Gunter, 53 

15 William Boatwright, 54 

16 William P. Martin, 55 

17 J. P. Somers, 56 

18 J. M. Prewitt, 57 

19 William J. Stark, 58 

20 Thomas West, 59 

21 William P. Bailey, 60 

22 R. Fisher, 61 

23 Thomas Farman, 62 

24 Henry C. Furman, 63 

25 J. Reynolds, 64 

26 Thomas Field, 65 

27 Edward Garrett, 66 

28 Cyrus Garrett, 67 

29 Isaac W. Brown, 68 

30 Peter D. Clark, 69 

31 Henry C. Norton, 70 

32 John F. Scott, 71 

33 John D. Brown, 72 

34 Joel Rico, 73 

35 John C. Rice, 74 

36 Jesse Thompson, 75 

37 Josiah Baker, 76 

38 James Sliary, 77 

39 John T. Law, 78 

H. Rep. 200 38* 



T. C. Daniel, 
G. P. Strong, 
James A. Holloway, 
R. S. Thomas, 
O. G. Ford, 
A. R. Murray, 
G. S. W. Jessee, 
R. M. Russell, 
John Griffitli, 
James Endicott, 
N. A. Thomason, 
J. S. Pense, 
John Collins, 
Lycastus Noland, 
William Wallace, 
Zachariah Millroy, 
Reyon Wilcoxson, 
Fitzhugh Collins, 
John Bricky, 
W. E. Brice, 
William Mulkey, 
Joseph Ginnott, 
James Egbert, 
Miller H. Wain, 
William Ransom, 
John Ransom, 
P. G. Brock, 
Andrew McConnel, 
Basil Trail, 
Fountain Walla, 
Randolph J. Suddarth, 
J. H. Williams, 
S. W. Tiiyman, 
Colly Tuyman, 
N. xM. Talbot, 
Richard Willis, 
Edward Burk, 
J. T. Willis, 
Blaford Daniel, 



79 John Tab umber, 

80 Michael Russell, 

81 Reuben Johnson, 

82 Egbert Dickenson, 

83 J. C. Gunter, 

84 Francis Gunter, 

85 J. Bradley, 

86 James Davenport, 

87 George Lock, 

88 S. L. Suddeth, 

89 Thomas P. Shroch, 

90 William O. Shrouse. 

91 J. C. Shrouse, 

92 Jesse Putor, 

93 Robert Hudgens, 

94 A. M. Stell, 

95 Harden Stell, 

96 Ira Suddeth, 

97 Henry Hanson, 

98 Ebenezcr Zane, 

99 B. W. Wills, 

100 Thomas Chandler, 

101 J. L. Dickmandvj 

102 John Smith, 

103 W. J. Semmes, 

104 Beal Green, 

105 R. L. Talbot, 

106 J. W. Green, 

107 James Johnson, 

108 E. M. Talbot, 

109 B. C. Talbot, 

110 Tliomas J. Ford, 
HI John Nash, 

112 James M. Halloway, 

113 Samuel Alexander, 

114 L. Shepperd, 

115 James McGee, 

116 Joseph M. Brown, 

117 William Falkner, 



594 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



118 James M. Scott, 

119 Joseph Journey, 

120 Lemuel C. Mathews, 

121 Joliii W. Johnson, 

122 Lawrence Mar^e, 

123 William Rutledge, 

124 Duval Payne, 

125 G. K. White, 

126 Lewis Sharp, 

127 W. H. Russell, 

128 William Thompson, 

129 Henry Garrett, 

130 Adam Brown, 

131 D. II. Webster, 

132 David Johnson, 

133 William Cooper, 

134 a- H- Ciiissen, 

135 Thomas Pitclier, 

136 Joseph Rasfan, 

137 J. M. Thatcher, 

138 J. F- Quick, 

139 Oscar Leruggs, 

140 J. S. Dawson, 

141 Joseph Fugate 

142 Willis Wills, 

143 J. P. Harr, 

144 Dawson Masbone, 

145 John Peyton, 

146 Thos. VV. Robinson, 

147 John W. Crcgbyes, 

148 B. D. Castleman, 

149 Jackson Sisson, 

150 Walker Winn, 

151 Wil'iam A. Strong, 

152 E. M. McGee, 

153 A. Smith, 

154 Tra Emmons, 

155 James Mathews, 

156 Samuel Rankens, 

157 William J. White, 

158 F. N. Steele, 

159 William N. Taylor, 

160 C. T. Henderson, 



161 Riley Jones, 

162 James Zane, 

163 S. N. McKinney, 

164 John Williams, 

165 Silas Armstrong, 

166 James B. Barrett, 

167 Francis Potter, 

168 Garrand Long, 

169 Michael Stevens, 

170 H. D. Woodsworth, 

171 M. J. F. Leonard, 

172 John Hambright, 

173 William Barney, 

174 J. Fitzland, 

175 Alexander Comptoh, 

176 A. W. Keroy, 

177 T. M. Adams, 

178 M. R. McMurry, 

179 John W. Ladd, 

180 D. V. Clement, 

181 S. R. Stark, 

182 William Barnett, 

183 B. B Mills, 

184 Henry C. Long, 

185 A. J. Preedy, 

186 John D. Pennybacker, 

187 E. T. Buchman, 

188 Joel Walker, 

189 George W. Williams, 

190 William E. Wheeler, 

191 R. H. Hagner, 

192 A. L. Bangs, 

193 Robert Stone, 

194 William Barbee, 

195 W. J. Osbourne, 

196 Thomas Coonyhack, 

197 John Barnett, 

198 Hiran Cotter, 

199 Samuel Priestly, 

200 William Liptrap, 

201 Henry Sclmtie, 

202 James Barnett, 

203 Charles B. Garrett, 



204 Isaac Munday, 

205 James Findlay, 

206 B. F. Robinson, 

207 George M. Irvin, 

208 George C. McDaniel, 

209 Wm. Thorp, 

210 M. R. Walker, 

211 George Steel, 

212 James M. Long, 

213 G. M. Thompson, 

214 Hiram Fugate, 

215 Joseph Broadhurst, 

216 Joseph Fenbron, 

217 John Cotter, 

218 Robert Armstrong, 

219 Isaih P. Walker, 

220 James Hicks, 

221 E. A. Long, 

222 Wm. Walker, 

223 Isaac Driver, 

224 Henry Chick, 

225 J. C. Ramon, 

226 Joseph Peters, 

227 John Campbell, 

228 John Groom, 

229 Daniel A. Braggs, 

230 Lewis Rothschild, 

231 Francis Blaltmen, 

232 M. Riddergurger, 

233 J. C. Pettigrew, 

234 John Gunrallis, 

235 J. G. Gudson, 

236 A. L. Bounds, 

237 Henry D. Smith, 

238 Edmd. O 'Flaherty, 

239 Joel M. Garrett, 

240 Wm. H. Ervin, 

241 James Gladden, 

242 John S. Bearskin, 

243 David Tarnall, 

244 Isaac Z. Long, 

245 H. M. Northup, 

246 Abraham Grandstatl', 



We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Wyandott election 
district, on Monday, the 1st day of Octoher, A. D. 1855, certify that 
246 votes were cast, of which John W. Whitfield received 240, A. H. 
Keeder 5, blank 1. 

W. J. OSBORN, ) 

ISAAC MUNDAY, > Judges. 

CHAELES B. GARRETT. ) . 
Attest : 

James Findlat, \ rji^^j.^ 
John T. Scott, ^ 
We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Wyandott election 
district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at 
an election held on the first day of Octover, A. D. 1855, as witness our 
hands this first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

W. J. OSBORN, ) 

ISAAC MUNDAY, V Judges. 

CHARLES B. GARRETT, ) 
Attest : 

James Findlay, ) ^^^^_ 
John T. Scott, ) 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



595 



Poll hooh of an election held at the house of Sutton <&, McClain, in Alex- 
and7'ia township, in the county of Leavenworth, in Kansas Territory, 
on the first Monday in October, A. D. 1855, for delegate in Hth 
Congress of the United States. 



Names of voters. 



Carson Merrill 

David Lorge 

Perry Trett 

John Morris 

Clarke Trett 

G. M. Archer 

R. M. Stone 

J. C. Scott 

Mason Hall 

Samuel H. Burgess. 

Mr. McClain 

N. S. Davidson 

Joseph Dawson . . . . 

Henry Embray 

A. J. Scott., 

George Brown 

S. Weasley 

G. W. Browning .. 
R. W. Chain..:.., 
'Thomas Hickman.. 
R. Sutton , 



Tax. 



Note, 
.do., 
.do.. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Paid 

Not paid 



Paid 

.do...... 

Not paid. 

Paid 

.do , 

Not paid, 
.do 



Names of voters. 



22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
32. 
33. 
34. 
35. 
36. 
37. 
38. 
39. 
40. 
41. 
42. 



M. Daniels 

J. Thomas , 

J. Roberts , 

J. Gushawn , 

A. M. Horsey , 

Benjamin Stokes...., 

W. C. Crocket 

M. J. Everett 

W. F. Everett 

John Argebriglit.. . . 

L.L. McClain 

Edward M. Lain.. .. 

C. C. Harrison 

A. Payne 

J. B. Pancake 

James M. Scott 

Benjamin W. Foster 

Houston Long 

W. W. Reynolds... 

E. M. Kennedy 

Joseph L. McAIear. . 



Tax. 



Not paid, 
.do , 



Paid 

Not paid, 
.do 



.do 

Paid 

Not paid. 
• do 



.do.. 
Paid, 
.do.. 



Not paid. 

Paid 

Not paid, 
.do , 



.do.. 

.do.. 

Paid. 
,.do.. 
,.do.. 



For delegate to Congress. 

Gen. J. W. Whitfield received 42 votes. 
Squire Keeder received none. 

We, the undersigned, judges of the election held at Alexandria, 
Leavenworth county, certify that the foregoing is a true and correct 
statement of the number of votes polled. 

JAMES MACAULEY, 
EDWARD McCLAIN, 
R. W. CHINN, 



Judges. 



Ed. M. Kennedy, 
W. W. Reynolds, 



Clerks. 



Alexandria, October 1, 1855. 

We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Alexandria election 
district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given 
at an election held on the first day of October, A. D. 1855, as wit- 
ness our hands, this day of October, AD. 1855. 

JAMES MACAULEY, ) 
EDWARD McCLAIN, \ Jidg:^i 
R. W. CHINN, ) 

Attest : 

Ed. M. Kennedy, ) m i j- i .• 

W. W. Reynalds, \ ^"' ""f '^'"^*^^- 



596 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



LYKINS COUNTY, KANSAS TERRITORY. 

[John A. Hicks, H. S. Lyon, and Barnet Hall were sworn as judges, 
and William A. Heiskell and John Ralston as clerks, according to 
form of oath on page 1.] 

At an election held on Monday, the first day of October, 1855, at 
the house of Baptiste Peoria, in the county of Lykins, in the Terri- 
tory of Kansas, for the purpose of choosing a fit and proper person to 
represent the said Territory of Kansas as a delegate in the next Con- 
gress of the United States, the following is the result : 



1 Tarleton Raleigh, 

2 H. W. Childs, 

3 P. Marion, 

4 G. E. Bellows, 

5 B. R. Buibage, 

6 J. S. Dedrich, 

7 George W. Clarence, 

8 J. L. New,' 

9 John W. Early, 

10 E. Monroe, 

11 A. L. Tolls, 

12 W. P. Tucker, 

13 Charles Keller, 

14 H. Pennels, 

15 J. B. Pemberton, 

16 Samuel W. Williams, 

17 L. C. Burris, 

18 M. W. Brown, 

19 W. W. Porter, 

20 Elijah Chinn, 

21 E. McPherson, 

22 Simon N. Hill, 

23 James Mosley, 

24 James H. Calloway, 

25 William D. Davenport, 

26 Simeon Blackburn, 

27 C. C. Catron, 

28 John VV. Houx, 

29 J.C. Strange, 

30 G. Tucker, 

31 M. W. Lowry, 

32 R. W. Houx, 

33 John K. Lowry, 

34 John Sorency, 

35 John T. Rennick, 

36 Isaac Fulkerson, 

37 William Sinew, 

38 Robert Tarkinton, 

39 John Hooker, 

40 W. Lewis, 

41 B. L. McFerrin, 

42 J C. Hearce, 

43 H. Smith, 

44 W. D. Tucker, 

45 W. E. Franklin. 

46 H. F. Birch, 

47 J G. Martin, 

48 E. C. Heiskell, 

49 A. C. Patton, 

50 J. B. McFerrin, 

51 N. Baker, 

52 Tiller Ragan, 

53 H. L. Barksdale, 

54 F. M. Green, 

55 William Ragsdale, 

56 L. Jones, 



57 A. S. Pullam, 


113 


58 J. 11. Hammonds, 


114 


59 M. Hodges, 


115 


60 A. Young, 


116 


61 John O. McFerran, 


117 


62 Joseph Johnson, 


118 


63 George Whitehead, 


119 


64 George D. Morrow, 


120 


65 A. G. Fisher, 


121 


66 G. W. Blodshoe, 


122 


67 David Brookhart, 


123 


68 William A. Gattrell, 


124 


69 James M. Shanks, 


125 


70 Thomas Jacob, 


126 


71 C F. Payne, 


127 


72 S. Franklin, 


128 


73 Joseph W. Easeley, 


129 


74 R. B. Fulkerson, 


130 


75 James S Allender, 


131 


76 F. M. Scott, 


132 


77 J D. Bagby, 


133 


78 C. C. Mann, 


134 


79 J. L. Duncan, 


135 


80 James Wade, 


136 


81 R. W. Gattrell, 


137 


82 H. L. P. Calloway, 


138 


83 G. Thomason, 


139 


84 A. M. Rader, 


140 


85 J. Greenway, 


141 


86 W. B. Payne, 


142 


87 W. C. Clayton, 


143 


88 J. Goodman, 


144 


89 J. S. McKinney, 


145 


90 W. Dodson, 


146 


91 J. Hudspeth, 


147 


92 J. F. Shortridge, 


148 


93 J. D. Nunally, 


149 


94 James Beets, 


150 


95 H. C. Speers, 


151 


96 James W. Caldwell, 


152 


97 J. B. Ellis, 


153 


98 R. Renfrew, 


154 


99 F. B. Rice, 


155 


100 Robert T. Ridings, 


156 


101 Jesse Mar, 


157 


102 E. R. Rice, 


158 


103 J. F. Catron, 


159 


104 W. L. Wood, 


160 


105 Thomas Ragsdale, 


161 


106 F. P. Hoard, 


162 


107 A. J. Robinson, 


163 


108 G. H. Faulkner, 


164 


109 E. McDowell, 


165 


110 William H. Tannehill, 


166 


111 A. P. Logan, 


167 


112 ?. L. France, 


168 



H. D. Palmer, 
Achilles Easeley, 

F. R. Martin, 
Henry Snyder, 
W. R. Wilmot, 
J. J. Holloway, 
E. W. Clark, 
W. Palmer, 

P, Ayrhart, 

G. A. Wade, 
Charles Hamilton, 
Vincent Johnson, 
Henry Chapeze, 
Thomas Gilclirist, 
Thomas Allison, 
John V^erniillion, 
John S. Jones, 
Lawrence Mahan, 
P. Kelly, 

W. T. Poston, 
J T. Chadwick, 
Marcus Gill, 
Stepiien White^ 
William H. Finley, 
W. H. Lebow, 
Henry Lee Villers, 
Cyrus Shaw, 
R. O. Slater, 
B. L. Clark, 
Samuel Ralston, 
John Dorsey, 
J. R. Jones, 
Robert S. Morris, 
Daniel Lykens, 
Baptiste Peoria, 
Luther Pasehale, 
Lewis Pashale, 
Isaac Jacobs, 
D. W. Tristoe, 
Peter J. Potts, 
Peter Cloud, 
Benjamin Benjamin, 
White Coon, 
Kilseusah, 
Tom Rogers, 
Billy, 

Henry Clay, 
Mug a-num-ba, 
Andrew Chick, 
Charles Battiste, 
Chin-gum-ke-ah, 
John Willis, 
Wah-kah-kov-nah, 
John Bull, 

Sah-sah-kah-kwan-gaJi 
Harry Coldwater, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



697 



169 George Clinton, 

170 Kish-ekon-sah, 

171 Edward H. Black, 

172 Wali-pah-kov-se-ah, 

173 Marcus Lindsay, 

174 David L. Beery, 

175 Hiram Lightner, 

176 Francis Valle, 

177 James E. Tindall, 

178 J. R. McDaniel, 

179 Joseph B. Goodwin, 

180 John Beets, 

181 J. B. Glover, 

182 O. P. Thompson, 

183 Thomas Peyton, 

184 James Wells, 

185 Enos McDaniel, 

186 William O. Park, 



187 J. J. Apperson, 

188 A.M. Coffee, 

189 L. G. Fulton, 

190 B. E Brothers, 

191 J. G. McDaniel, 

192 Joseph Jebon, 

193 James iVIcHenry, 

194 Hampton Harbison, 

195 Sudwell Evans, 

196 Joe Peoria, 

197 J. H. Clayton, 

198 Ma-kou-sah, 

199 Ma-kou-sah, (Beaver,) 

200 Tah-wah-kwa-ke-nau- 

gali, 

201 B. P. Camphell, 

202 William A. Heiskell, 

203 J. A. Hicks, 



204 H. L. Lyon, 

205 Pah-to-kah, 

206 William Honeywell, 

207 Thomas Cot, 

208 George C. Baker, 

209 John C. Paul, 

210 J. D. Redd, 

211 John Boye, 

212 Sha-lou-'lie, 

213 Thomas C. Warren, 

214 William B. Ewbank, 

215 William Edwards, 

216 John Combs, 

217 Hiram Mullins, 

218 W. S. Ferguson, 

219 A. H. McFadden, 

220 John Mitchell. 



We, the undersigned, judges of election in Lykins county, in the 
Territory of Kansas, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the 
votes given at an election held at the house of Baptiste Peoria, on the 
first day of October, A. D. 1855^ as witness our hands this first day 
of October, 1855. 

JOHN A. HICKS, ) ^ 7 f 
BARNET HALL, ' '^ -*'^^^* ^J 
HENRY L. LYON, 



election. 



Attest : 

William A. 



Heiskell, 



John Ralston, 



Clerks of election. 



LYNN COUNTY. 



1 C. S. Fleminor, 

2 R. E. Eliot, 

3 E. Farnam, 

4 William Rogers, 

5 S. H. Moore, 

6 H. W. Younger, 

7 S. W. Henderson, 

8 J. F. Stone, 

9 A. J. Smith, 

10 L. B. Clay, 

11 F. T. Glover, 

12 John Commins, 

13 William James, 

14 R. Harirrave, 

15 James Glass, 

16 J Harsham, 

17 W. G. Collins, 

18 W. V. E glish, 

19 Samuel Scott, 

20 John Ballard, 

21 Thomas Thomas, 

22 J. B. Cobross, 

23 S. Fleming, 



24 P. Kay, 

25 W. A. Fleming, 

26 J. E. Brown, 

27 L. Thomas, 

28 William King, 

29 J. G. Reynolds, 

30 M. Graves, 

31 W. Hibkerson, 

32 James Murry, 

33 J. C. Bowin, 

34 G. Boulin, 

35 J. A. Becket, 

36 M. C. D. Osburn, 

37 L. S. Bridgewater, 

38 J. D. Case, 

39 R. G. Smither, 

40 William Henceby, 

41 L. M. Love, 

42 C. W. Haiges, 

43 J M. Hamton, 

44 William Goodwin, 

45 A. Haiges, 

46 W. B. Long, 



47 P. Bullinger, 

48 V. Johnson, 

49 S. Baldwin, 

50 D. Baldwin, 

51 L. M Ellett, 

52 T. Crouse, 

53 T. Hargus, 

54 B. Davis, 

55 W. Glass, 

56 L. C. Niswanger, 

57 P. Goodwin, 

58 H. Becket, 

59 J. Argus, 

60 James Driskill, 

61 WilHam Driskill, 

62 James W. Howell, 

63 L. PL Grimes, 

64 A. H. Smith, 

65 F. E. Means, 

66 Thomas Smith, 

67 Joseph D. Wilmott. 



We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of an election held on the 
first day of October, A. D. 1855, at the house of J. C. Bowin, in 
Lynn county, in Kansas Territory, in the fifth election district for the 



698 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



election of delegate to Congress, do hereby certify upon our oaths, as 
judges of said election, that the following is a true and correct return 
of the votes polled at such election by lawful resident voters. 

For Congress. 

J. W. Whitfield received sixty-seven, (67.) 

A. H. SMITH, 

F. E. MEANS, 

THOMAS SMITH, 
Jas. D. Wilmott, ) ^, , 
F. H. Grimes, J ^«e^««- 



Judges of electi(m. 



Council Grove. — Madismi County. 



1 C. F. Oilman, 

2 S. W. Rowe, 

3 James Jebo, 

4 T. S. Hamilton, 

5 Allen Croley, 

For J. W. Whitfield, 14 votes. 



6 W. D. Harris, 

7 A. T. Hyder, 

8 F. M. Croley, 

9 Samuel Farren, 
10 T. S. Huffaker, 



11 A. J. Baker, 

12 E. M. Sewel, 

13 Jesse Ring, 

14 J. W. RadcliiF. 



We, the undersigned, judges of the election in the eighth district^ 
certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at an elec- 
tion held on the first day of October, in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five. 

ALLEN CROWLEY, ) 



Attest : 
S. W. RowE, 
C. F. Oilman, 



EMANUEL MOSIA, . 
THOS. S. HAMILTON, ) 



Judges. 



Clerks of election. 



Marysville — Marshall County. 



1 F. J. Marshall, 

2 John Thompson, 

3 Joel Hughes, 

4 Abraham Crahtrel, 

5 B. H. Clark, 

6 Stephen G. Jones, 

7 J. S. Sheppard, 

8 John A. Newley, 

9 Henry Tyler, 

10 Sampson Sage, 

11 Thomas Buckles, 

12 A. X. Young, 

13 Skidmore Muncy, 

14 James Gilbert, 

■ 15 Francis O. Bishop, 



[No oath of judges and clerks given.] 
POLL BOOK. 



16 Wm. Standiford, 

17 Archibald McElroy, 

18 John Snagan, 

19 B. J. Sharpe, 

20 J. T. Ransome, 

21 John Zion, 

22 Jacob Crabetree, 

23 Stephen F. Smith, 

24 James T. Smith, 

25 John Dittell, 

26 Nace Edwards, 

27 Lee Jesse, 

28 James Edwards, sr., 

29 James Edwards, jr., 

30 James Hopkins, 



31 Wm. Hopkins, 

32 Benjamin Dickison, 

33 Benjamin Konk, 

34 Charles Konk, 

35 Johh Konk, 

36 John M. Morrison, 

37 Elijah Bishop, 

38 Elijah Hill, 

39 Preston Bishop, 

40 Edward C. Adams, 

41 Burel Burkett, 

42 Samuel Sloan, 

43 Peter Vandewenter, 

44 George Ely, 

45 Wm. Stubblefield, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



599 



46 John Carter, 

47 Solomon Jenkins, 

48 David Young, 

49 Francis C. Allen, 

50 William Wilson, 

51 John Kiniburled, 

52 Peter Lambert, sr., 

53 Peter Lambert, jr., 

54 Joseph Lambert, 

55 James Hix, 

56 Nelson Preston, 

57 Jacob V. Fulkerson, 

58 P. Fulkerson, 

59 Whitehill Fulkerson. 

60 James Fulkerson, 

61 Jacob Fulkerson, 

62 Philip Nincan, 

63 Joel Johnson, 

64 Lewis Brooks, 

65 J. B. Henderson, 

66 George Styles, 

67 Morris Todd, 

68 George Drake, 

69 James Y. Jones, 

70 Quelton Fregit, 

71 Josepli Swagger, 

72 James Hanks, 

73 Joseph G. McGrand, 

74 John J. Blue, 

75 James Goodman, 

76 Wm. Spainghan, 

77 James F. Cuppeheffer, 

78 Israel Kurtz, 

79 John Longmyre, 

80 Jacob Hulster, 

81 Wm. M. Dudle, 

82 John Bailey, 

83 Henry Emmerson, 

84 F. L. Mitchell, 

85 Willss Grimes, 

86 Willis Moody, 

87 J. Folhert, 



88 Samuel Mercer, 

89 A. S. Brown, 

90 Hamilton Brown, 

91 Thomas McBee, 

92 John C. Owens, 

93 James Dawson, 

94 Henry Gearheart, 

95 Thorns J. Batty, 

96 Isaac Jerome, 

97 John Stone, 

98 John H. Dennison, 

99 Thomas Colwell, 

100 John Jones, jr., 

101 John Jones, sr., 

102 Jeremiah Sweett, 

103 Washington Berry, 

104 William McMullen 

105 David Wyse, 

106 Morton F. Fisher, 

107 Lewis Church, 

108 Siras Woodson, 

109 Moses Welbert 

110 Jesse Holman, 

111 William F. Chcpman, 

112 Silas Burtman, 

113 Richard Kaine, 

114 Thomas J. Carter, 

115 James Hinton, 

116 A. W. Hankins, 

117 Henry Nailer, 

118 John Snyder, 

119 Thomas Moore, 

120 Sydney Douglass, 

121 F. B. Browning, 

122 H. C. Cunningham, 

123 .John Doller, 

124 Syras Breedens, 

125 Thomas Kelley, 

126 Henry Morton, 

127 John McMichael, 

128 Peter Strong, 

129 Henry McClain, 



130 Henry Harpe, 

131 Philip Bridger, 

132 Joseph Domstan, 

133 Milton Farrier, 

134 John G. Breck, 

135 David Domes, 

136 Nelson Woods, 

137 Robert Webster, 

138 John IVI. Brenton, 

139 John Hardwick, 

140 Newton F. Ford, 

141 Aaron Caruthers, 

142 Henry O. Boley, 

143 .John W. Leax, 

144 William Baker, 

145 Samnel Hargis, 
14G Martin F. Carroll, 
148 Thomas Fowler, 

148 Daniel B. Allen, 

149 Archibald Hix, 

150 J. W. Curtis, 

151 Thomas Hamilton, 

152 David Rowland, 

153 A. P. Craig, 

154 John Jesse, 

155 Oliver Tackett, 

156 John Dunlap, 

157 Peter Rippetoe, 

158 Carter Minter, 

159 Cornwright Sharpe, 

160 Lane Kegwood, 

161 John Curtly, 

162 Adam Milans, 

163 David Underwood, 

164 Samuel Gibson, 

165 John Harris, 

166 Oliver Burtchell, 

167 J. G. Clark, 

168 John D. Wells, , 

169 George F. Hubbard, 

170 James Doniphan, 

171 A. S. Clark. 



At an election held at the town of Marysville, the county seat of 
Marshall county, General J. W, Whitfield received the following 
number of votes, to wit : one hundred and seventy-one for delegate to 
Congress from Kansas Territory, and Governor A. H. Reeder received 
for delegate to Congress for Kansas Territory none. 

We, the undersigned, judges of the election district composed of the 
county of Marshall, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the 
votes given at an election held on the 18th day of October, 1855, as 
witness our hands this 18th day of October, 1855. 

0. BURTCHELL, ) 
J. G. CLARK, [judges. 

JOHN D. WELLS, ) 
Attest : 

James Doniphan, 

George F. Hubbard, 



Clerks of election. 



600 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Poll i>oolc of Nemaha county, Kansas Territory, October 1, 1855. 
VOTERS' NAMES. 



1. James E. Thompson, 

2. T. A. B. Cramer, 

3. Samuel Cramer, 



4. John Behn, 

5. Cyrus Doleman 

6. William H. Harris. 



Delegate- 



-General J. W. Whitfield, 6 votes. 



We, the undersigned, judges of the election in Nemaha county 
election district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes 
given at an election held on the 1st day of October, 1855, as witness 
our hands this 1st day of October, A. D. 1855. 



Attest: 

Cyrus Doleman, 
H. M. Newton, 



WILLIAM H. HAKKIS, 
THOS. E. NEWTON, 
HIRAM H. LANHAM, 

> Clerks of election. 



Judges of election. 



WHITFEELD'S election, OCTOBER 1, 1855. — POLL BOOK OF RILEY COUNTY, 
FOR DELEGATE TO CONGRESS. 



C. Thompson, 
V/illiam Cranipton, 
J. B. Perry, 
C. R. Mobley, 
M. A. Garrett, 
R. D. Mobley, 
Fox Booth, 
Thomas Reynolds, 
Thomas Dixon, 
M. Hannigan, 



NAMES OF VOTERS. 

J. S. Reynolds, 
P. Dixon, 
J. T. Chapman, 
J W. Etnery. 
Peter Mills, 
G. M. Dyer, 

F. G. Sonnamaker, 

G. Potect, 
R. Willson, 



Robert Wade, 
G. F. Grinter, 
S. Dean, 

C. Lombard, 

D. F. Tebbs, 
Vanburen Hamilton, 
William R. Cram, 
D. R. Perry, 
Ambrose Warren. 



We, the undersigned_, judges of the election held in Riley county, 
on October 1, 1855, for delegate to the United States Congress, do 
certify that J. W. Whitfield received twenty-eight votes. Given 
under our hands this first of October, 1855. 

R. D. MOBLEY, 
H. W. MARTIN, 
J. S. REYNOLDS. 



TECURISEH, SHAWNEE COUNTY. 

Owen C. Stewart, William A. Yager, and James M. Small, as 
judges of election, and Benjamin J. Newsom and William A. M. 
Vaughan, as clerks, were sworn according to form of oath on page 1. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



601 



1 T. N. Stinson, 

2 E G. Vaughan, 

3 Thomas Ament, 

4 L. B. Stetster, 

5 J. Mitchmn, 

6 Eli Hopkins, 

T Henry McConnell, 

8 Josiali Foster, 

9 W. B. Cockerill, 

10 John Martin, 

11 A. G. Reed, 

12 H. Dawson, 

13 J. W. Carmaugh, 

14 J. T. Addoms, 

15 Isaac Ren fro, 

16 James McConnell, 

17 A. D. M. Hand, 

18 D. — . Hunter, 



LIST OF VOTERS. 

19 G. B. Wood, 

20 J. M. Reed, 

21 W. P. Tuttle, 

22 J. M. Herrin, 

23 Henry Hoping, 

24 W. H. Bradv, 

25 Richard S. Hunter, 

26 D. Crocket Boggs, 

27 William Gayham, 

28 John C. Ager, 

29 William Martiny 

30 T. W. Hayes, 

31 Horatio Cox, 

32 Lucius Cary, 

33 H. J. Strickler, 

34 Charles Alexander, 

35 Westley Boughton, 



36 John C. Hawkins, 

37 D. L. Croysdale, 

38 T. Terrill, 

39 G. P. Hoft, 

40 Jacob Tidebough, 

41 Thornton Strother, 

42 C. L. Stevenson, 

43 W. D. Owen, 

44 Edward Hoofland, 

45 J. T. Hicklin, 
* 46 John Millsup, 

47 Wm. A. M. Vaughan, 

48 Benjamin J. Newsom, 

49 J. M. Small, 

50 Owen C. Stewart, 

51 W. O. Yager, 

52 J. N. Campbell. 



Tally list for John W. Whitfield, 52 votes. 
JUDGES' CERTIFICATE. 



We, 0. C. Stewart, W. 0. Yager, and J. M. Small, the under- 
signed judges of the election in Tecumseh election district, certify 
that the foregoing is a correct list of the votes given at an election 
held on Monday, the first day of Octoher, A. J). 1855, as witness our 
hands this first day of October, A. D. 1855. 

OWEN C. STUART, ) 
JAMES M. SMALL, } Judges. 
WM. 0. YAGER. ) 
Attest : 
Benjamin J. Newsom, 



Wm. M. M. Vaughan, 



Clerks of election. 



Shawnee County. — One Hundred and Ten. 

We, A. S. Holliman, W. Yocum, and T. B. McGee, do swear (or 
aifirm) that we will impartially discharge the duties of judges of the 
present election, being an election for delegate to the thirty-fourth 
Congress of the United States, according to law and the best of our 
abilities. Sworn to and subscribed before me, September, A. D. 1855. 

John Horner, Sheriff of Shawnee County. 

Oath of Clerks. , 

We, F. M. McG-ee and William A. Stone, clerks of an election to 
be held this day for delegate to the thirty-fourth Congress of the 
United States, do swear (or afiirm) that we will faithfully discharge 
the duties of clerks, according to law and the best of our abilities. 
Sworn to and subscribed before me, A. D. 1855. 

F. M. McGEE, 
W. A. STONE. 



John Horner, Sheriff of Shawnee County. 
J. W. Whitfield. 



A. H. REEDER. 



602 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



1 Mathew Eiile 


13 C A Linkmanger 


2 John Skidmore 


H M WMcGee 


3 W P Akin 


15 James Hoppess 


4 John W Stone 


16 William Yocum 


5 Robert Johnson 


17 A S Halliman 


6 V Moore 


18 John Horner 


7 John Everling 


19 F M McOee 


8 Joseph Stone 


20 W A Stone 


9 J W Ward 


21 T P McGee 


■JO A Prentice 


22 C C Coats 


11 James Akin 


23 G M Redman 


12 William Harris 





Number of votes given — 23. 

Judges' Certificate. 

We, the undersigned, judges of the election in One Hundred and 
Ten election district, certify that the foregoing is a correct list of the 
votes given at an election held on Monday, the first day of October, 
A. D. 1855, as witness of our hands, this day of October, 1855. 



WILLIAM YOCUM, 

T. P. McGEE, 

A. S. HOLLIMAN, 



Judges. 



Attest : 

F. M. McGee, 
W. A. Stone, 



Clerks of election. 



OCTOBEK 30, 1855. 

The returns of the judges of the election held on the first Monday 
of October, in pursuance of law, for a delegate to the thirty-fourth 
Congress, being duly examined, and John W. Whitfield having re- 
ceived a majority of the legal votes polled, is declared by the governor 
to be duly elected, and a certificate of election by the governor^ under 
the seal of the Territory^ is accordingly issued to the said John W. 
Whitfield. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 603 

ELECTION OF OCTOBER 9, 1855, (of Reeder.) 



Patrick Laughlin testifies. 

I have been to no free-soil elections, except those held last fall, I 
was at the election of the 9th of October last^ and voted for Reeder. 
When at Lawrence, at the time I went to the 5th of September con- 
vention, I saw a great number of people in tents, who appeared not 
to be settled, but only appeared to be remaining for only a limited 
length of time. I had a conversation with some of them, who told 
me they were going to return to the States about the latter part of 
the fall. The public instructions of the executive committee, of 
which I have been speaking, are already published, but their private 
instructions were, in case pro-slavery men attempt to vote, and are 
likely to outnumber you, you can adjourn from day to day, and finally 
to any free-soil district in the Territory. These instructions were 
never given to the judges, but were given to me by Marcus J. Parrott. 
I never gave them to any one. 

PAT. LAUGHLIN. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 28, 1856. 



Marcus J. Parrott called and sworn. 

To Governor King : 

I am a resident of the Territory of Kansas. On the 30th of August 
I was at Kansas City, in Missouri, at the American hotel. Governor 
Reeder was then stopping there at that time. We sat up and con- 
versed together about what was to be done there. At the same time 
I was on my way to another convention, to be held at Tecumseh on 
the 31st day of August. The object of that convention was to meet 
with persons who were desirous to organize the democratic party in 
the Territory. While we were together. Governor Reeder spoke 
about making some arrangements about going up himself to attend 
the convention at Big Springs. His trunks at that time werein the 
office at the hotel, which comprised, so far as I know, all the personal 
property he had in the Territory. He wanted to get a valise to take 
some clothes up into the Territory. He borrowed a valise of Major 
Eldredge, of the hotel, which was brought out in my presence, put 
into the buggy, and he left before I did. I overtook him in company 
with Judge Johnson at the Shawnee Mission. We both started out 
on the road at night, and we separated at Donaldson, where Governor 
Reeder tarried all night, but Judge Johnson and myself drove on all 
night for Tecumseh. I did not see Reeder again until two or three 
days afterwards, at Lawrence, and then had some conversation with 
him concerning his being a candidate of the Big Spring convention 
for delegate to Congress. The impression left upon my mind was, 
that unless he became a candidate he was going to leave the Territory. 



604 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Afterwards, on the first day of tlie convention, I think, there was a 
good deal said about his not being a resident of the Territory. I was 
myself of that opinion, and, in order to determine exactly about that 
matter, I agreed with Colonel Lane and some others to call him out 
and ask him the question. I did call him out and ask him if he was 
a resident of the Territory. He stated, in reply to that, something 
about the reason he did not bring his family here, as that was the 
ground of complaint generally here. He did not answer the question 
directly at all, but answered it argumentatively, by stating some 
things in connexion with his position in the Territory. I do not re- 
collect that he satisfied the persons who had been called there to hear 
his answer to the question. 1 know that some of them were not satis- 
fied that he was a resident of the Territory. Colonel Lane and myself 
afterwards spoke of it, and neither of us were satisfied with the an- 
swer he gave to the question. Since that time I have never known 
him to have any visible domicil or residence in the Territory. In the 
conversation at Lawrence, he spoke of a claim that he thought he 
would buy^ if his wife liked it, but his wife and family were not, and 
never have been in the Territory, and were understood to be in Penn- 
sylvania. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

Colonel Lane was spoken of as a candidate. I was in favor of 
Judge Johnson. I never heard any one speak of Colonel Lane being 
a candidate but himself. Reeder was nominated without a vote, and 
by acclamation. 

To Governor King : 

My objection to Governor Reeder was on account of some resolutions 
which he had with him at Kansas City, and written by him, and 
adopted at the Big Spring convention, which provided for the election 
of delegate to Congress being held on a different day. from that pro- 
vided by the territorial law ; and also to other resolutions written by 
him, which looked to a repudiation of the laws by force. I objected 
to this latter part in public in the convention. I saw resolutions, 
called miscellaneous resolutions, which were in Governor Reeder' s 
handwriting. 

MARCUS J. PARROTT. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



Charles Blakeley called and sworn. 

By Governor King: 

I reside at Iowa Point township, Doniphan county, Kansas Terri- 
tory, and have resided there since about July last. This is the place 
of voting for that township. There was no election held at that 
place on the 9th of October last, and no poll opened, and no vote cast 
for anybody, it being the day of election fixed by the Big Spring con- 
ention for the election of a delegate to Congress, and at which elec- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 605 

tion Governor Reeder was a candidate. Just after the election, I saw- 
in the ''Herald of Freedom" newspaper, published at Lawrence, a 
publication purporting to give the returns of election in each precinct 
or place of voting in the Territory, and among others it was reported 
that seventy-two or seventy-three votes has been cast at the Iowa 
Point precinct, which was not true, as no vote was at that place, as I 
have stated above. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

I do not know whether or not the judges adjourned the election to 
some other time, as I never attended any of the elections under the 
executive committee. I was at the place that the county commis- 
sioners fixed, under the territorial law, for holding the elections, but 
I do not know where the elections were held under the executive com- 
mittee. They held no election in that township, but I understood 
that they held an election about seven miles from Iowa Point, the 
place fixed by the county commissioners. I was not present, and do 
not know what was done there. The place, I believe, was not in that 
township. The election I speak of was held at the house of Mr. 
McCall, near Lloyd Ashley's. 

To Governor King : 

The vote I saw published in the ''Herald of Freedom" purported 
to be taken at the Iowa Point precinct. If any vote for that town- 
ship was taken at that election, it must have been taken at some point 
outside of the township, and I know of no reason why the people of 
that district, if they chose to vote, should not have held their election 
in the township, and at the place fixed for voting in the Iowa Point 
township precinct. We never had any trouble or difficulties at that 
place about who should or should not vote. No judges of election 
met on that day at Iowa Point and adjourned to any other place, 
either in or out of the township. 

CHARLES BLAKELEY. 

Leavenwokth City, K. T., May 29, 1856. 



James Davis recalled. 

To Mr. Mathias : 

In a conversation that Governor Reeder had with me, when he was 
here in April, 1856^ he remarked that the congressional nomination 
had been given to him without his desire or wishes at all ; that pre- 
vious to that time he had packed his trunks, and was about to leave 
the Territory to return to Pennsylvania. He did not say he did not 
regard himself as a resident of the Territory at that time. I have 
heard him say he had a family, and that he never had it in the Terri- 
tory. 

JAMES DAVIS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



606 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

William Y. Roberts called and sworn. 
Examined by the committee : 

I arrived at my present location on the first day of April, 1855. I 
live a mile and a half east of Big Springs. 

I was chairman of the convention at Topeka to take into consider- 
ation the propriety of forming a State government, and also a member 
of the convention to form a State constitution. I was elected lieuten- 
ant governor under the State constitution. I was familiar with all 
the steps taken to form a State government, except the meeting at 
Lawrence of the 15th of August. I canvassed a portion of the Terri- 
tory in favor of the State movement. I always regarded and treated 
the movement in my speeches, in canvassing prior to the election, as a 
movement of the people, without reference to party distinctions, and 
as the best mode to relieve themselves of their present difiiculties, and 
settle the vexed question of free or slave State. The movement was 
sanctioned by a very large majority of the people who were residents 
of the Territory. 

I have carefully examined the testimony of George W. Deitzler 
touching the steps taken to form the State government, and from my 
own knowledge know that he is correct, except in regard to the Law- 
rence meeting of the 15th of August, 1855, which I did not attend. 
The proceedings of that meeting were published, and meetings of a 
similar kind were held over the Territory, and upon their action was 
based the Topeka convention. 

W. Y. EGBERTS. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 13, 1856. 



George W. Deitzler recalled. 
Examined by the committee : 

After the invasion of the 30th of March, 1855, the first general 
movement of the people of the Territory was to call a meeting and 
draw up a memorial to be circulated for signatures, to be sent to the 
Congress of the United States. This memorial was drawn up, circu- 
lated, signed, and sent to Washington city. The paper herewith 
attached, marked "^A," is a copy of that memorial." 

During the summer of 1855 there was a great deal of discussion 
over the Territory generally, and several meetings were held in difier- 
ent parts of the Territory in relation to holding a convention to form 
a State government, and to apply for admission into the Union as a 
State. Public opinion gradually settled down in favor of such appli- 
cation to be made to the Congress to meet in December, 1855. 

The first general meeting was held in Lawrence, in pursuance of a 
call signed by many citizens, on the 15th of August, 1855, the pro- 
ceedings of which meeting were published. I was present at the 
meeting, and the paper herewith attached is, I believe^ a correct copy 
of those proceedings. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 607 

STATE CONSTITUTION. 

Lawrence, K. T., August 15, 1855. 

Pursuant to a published call, signed "many citizens," ''to take 
into consideration the propriety of calling a Territorial convention, 
preliminary to the formation of a State government, and other subjects 
of public interest," a convention of the citizens of Kansas Territory, 
irrespective oi -partj , met, and upon motion of C. K. Holliday, Dr. A. 
Hunting was called to the chair; Gr. W. Brown, E. D. Ladd, C. E. 
Blood, L. P. Lincoln, James Christian, and Dr. J. D. Barnes, elected 
vice presidents; and J. K. Goodin and J. P. Fox, secretaries. 

On motion of J. Hutchinson, esq, , a committee of five were appointed 
to prepare business for the convention. Messrs. G. W. Smith, C. K. 
Holliday, C. Robinson, John Brown, jr., and A. F. Powell, were chosen 
that committee. 

During the absence of the committee the convention was addressed 
by Rev. Lovejoy, G. W. Brown, J. Hutchinson, and M. F. Conway. 
After which, Mr. G. W. Smith, chairman, submitted the following 
as the report of the committee : 

Whereas the people of Kansas Territory have been, since its settle- 
ment, and now are, without any law-making power ; therefore be it — 

Resolved, That we, the peoj)le of Kansas Territory, in mass meet- 
ing assembled, irrespective of party distinctions, influenced by a com- 
mon necessity, and greatly desirous of promoting the common good, 
do hereby call upon and request all hona fide citizens of Kansas Ter- 
ritory, of whatever political views or predilections, to consult to- 
gether in their respective election districts, and in mass convention or 
otherwise elect three delegates for each representative to which such 
district is entitled in the house of representatives of the legislative 
assembly, by proclamation of Governor Reeder, of date 10th March, 
1855. Said delegates to assemble in convention at tne town of To- 
peka, on the 19th day of September, 1855, then and there to consider 
and determine upon all subjects of public interest, and particidarly 
upon that having reference to the speedy formation of a State consti- 
tution, with an intention of an immediate application to be admitted 
as a State into the Union of the "United States of America." 

After the discussion of the resolution by Mr. Stearnes and others, the 
report of the committee was adopted with but one dissenting voice. 

On motion it was ordered that the proceedings of this convention be 
published in the newspapers of the Territory, and Messrs. J. Speer^ 
R. G. Elliott, and G. W. Brown, were appointed a committee to pub- 
lish and circulate the call for the convention to be holden at Topeka. 

On motion, the convention adjourned si^ie die. 

A. HUNTING, President. 



G. W. BROWN, 
E. D. LADD, 
E. E. BLOOD, 
L. D. LINCOLN, 
JAMES CHRISTIAN, 
J. D. BARNES, 

J. K. GOODIN, } a X • 

J P Fox \ '^^c^^i'^''^'^^^- 



Vice Presidents. 



608 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

After this meeting at Lawrence, there were other meetings in dif- 
ferent parts of the Territory, which endorsed the action of that meet- 
ing, and delegates were accordingly selected. 

In compliance with the recommendation of that meeting, a delegate 
convention was held at Topeka, the 19th and 20th of September, 1855. 
The proceedings of that meeting were published generally in the 
papers of the Territory, and the annexed paper is a true copy of 
those proceedings. 



Proceedings of the State Constitutional Convention, held at TopeJca 
Kansas Territory, September 19 and 20, 1855. 

The delegate convention of the people of Kansas, to consider the 
expediency of the formation of a State government, with a view to 
application to Congress, at its next session, for admission as a State, 
met at Topeka on the 19tli of September. 

At 11 o'clock, a. m., the convention was called to order by G. W. 
Smith, esq., of the first district, and was temporarily organized by 
the choice of Erastus D. Ladd, of Lawrence, chairman, and C. K. 
Holliday, of Topeka, secretary. 

On motion a committee to report officers for the permanent organi- 
zation of the convention was appointed, consisting of the following 
persons : 

G, W. Smith, A. Curtiss, W. Y. Eoberts, J. F. Brannan, Joseph 
Hays. 

On motion of Judge Wakefield a committee on credentials was 
chosen, of the following persons : 

J. K. Goodin, J. A. Wakefield, A. M. Jordan, S. Mewhinney, 
Hamilton Smith, Thos. J. Addis, P. C. Schuyler, J. H. Nesbitt, L. 
P. Lincoln. 

The convention adjourned to half past one o'clock, p. m. 

The convention re-assembled at two o'clock. 

The committee on credentials reported the following as members of 
the convention. 

Delegates from first district .—Gc . W. Smith, E. D. Ladd, G. W. 
Deitzler, S. C. Smith, J. K. Goodin, G. W. Brown, John Speer, M. 
Hunt, J. H. Lane. 

Second district. — Robert Buftman, J. A. Wakefield, David BufF- 
nian, D. Vancil, A. Curtiss, N. Allguyor, 

Third district.— W. Y. Roberts, C. K. Holliday, A. M. Jordon. 

Fourth district. — Samuel Workman, Amos Hanna, Samuel Mew- 
hinney. 

Fifth and Sixth dist7'icts. — Hamilton Smith, James F. Brannan, 
Thos. J. Addis. 

Seventh district. — P. C. Schuyler^ J. D. Wood. 

Eighth district. — J. H, Nesbitt, S. R. Jenkins. 

Tenth district. — L. P. Lincoln, Joseph Hays. 

Thirteenth district. — J. B. Chapman, T. Jeuner, Richard Murphy. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 609 

Sixteenth district. — Marcus J. Parrott, C. M. Moore, R. H. Phelan, 
M. W. Delahay, S. N. Latta. 

The report was adopted. 

The committee on the permanent organization of the convention 
reported as follows : for — 

President. — W. Y. Roberts. 

Vice-presidents. — J. A. Wakefield, P. C. Schuyler, L. P. Lincoln, 
J. K. Goodin, S. N. Latta, R. H. Phelan. 

Secretaries. — K. D. Ladd, J. H. Nesbitt, M. W. Delahay. 

The report was adopted, and the officers elected took their seats. 

On motion, it was — 

Resolved, That parliamentary rules be the rules of this convention. 

On motion of Gr. W. Smith, a committee of fifteen members was 
elected to prepare business for the convention, as follows : 

G. W. Smith, Samuel Mewhinney, J. A. Wakefield, C. K. Holli- 
day, P. P. Lincoln, Hamilton Smith, J. H. Nesbitt, T. J. Addis, 
Thomas Jenner, J. B. Chapman, H. Miles Moore, Marcus J. Parrott, 
G. W. Deitzler, P. C. Schuyler, J. D. Wood. 

The convention adjourned until the committee were ready to report. 

The convention was called to order, and the committee on busi- 
ness, through G. W. Smith, chairman, submitted a report, which was, 
on motion, received. 

The convention adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. 

September 20, 9 o'clock, a. m 

The convention was called to order by the president. 

On motion of Col. Lane, the report of the business committee was 
re-committed to said committee, with instructions to report blank 
times for the holding of the election, and the meeting of the conven- 
tion, and number of delegates to said convention. 

Col. Lane moved the following resolution, which was adopted : 

Resolved, That a committee, consisting of eighteen members, be 
appointed, one from each election district, as far as the said districts 
are represented in this convention, and when said districts are ex- 
hausted, from those actually in attendance at this convention, the 
balance be raised and clothed with full power to write, print, and 
circulate an address to the people of this Territory, and to the civil- 
ized woi'ld, setting forth our greivances, and the policy we have been 
compelled to adopt, and which we have determined at all hazards to 
carry out. 

On motion, leave of absence was granted to the business committee. 

The convention took a recess of ten minutes. On re-assembling the 
chair appointed the following as the Committee on Address, author- 
ized by the resolution of Col Lane : 

J. H. Lane, Hamilton Smith, P. C. Schuyler, H. Miles Moore, 
J. 8. Emery, A. M. Jordan, M. W. Delahay, E. D. Ladd, G. W. 
Deitzler, J. A. Wakefield, Samuel C. Smith, Thomas J. Addis, J. 
H. Nesbitt, L. P. Lincoln, John Speer, G. W. Brown, S. N. Latta, 
James Pierce. 

The business committee made a report, which was accepted ; and 
the convention adjourned to half-past one o'clock, p. m. 
H. Rep. 200 39* 



610 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

At two o'clock the convention was called to order by the president, 
and on motion the report of the business committee was taken up, and 
after discussion and amendment was adopted unanimously, as follows : 
Whereas, the Constitution of the United States guarantees to the 
people of this republic the right of assembling together in a peaceable 
manner for their common good, to "establish justice, insure domestic 
tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general 
welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to themselves and their 
posterity;" and whereas, the citizens of Kansas Territory were pre- 
vented from electing members of a legislative assembly, in pursu- 
ance of the proclamation of Gov. Reeder, on the 30th of March last, 
by invading forces from foreign States coming into the Territory and 
forcing upon the people a legislature of non-residents and others, 
inimical to the interests of the j)eople of Kansas Territory, defeating 
the object of the organic act, in consequence of which the territorial 
government became a perfect failure, and the people were left without 
any legal government, until their patience has become exhausted, and 
"endurance ceases to be a virtue ;" and they are compelled to resort 
to the only remeiy left — that of forming a government for themselves. 
Therefore, resolved, by the people of Kansas Territory, in delegate 
convention assembled, That an election shall be held in the several 
election precincts of this Territory on the second Tuesday of October 
next, under the regulations and restrictions hereinafter imposed, for 
members of a convention to form a constitution, adopt^a bill of rights 
for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing 
a State government, preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the 
Union as a State. 

Resolved, That the apportionment of delegates to said convention 
shall be as follows : Two delegates for each representative to which 
the people were entitled in the legislative assembly, by proclamation 
of Governor Reeder, of date 10th March, 1855. 

Hesolved, That a committee of seven be appointed by the chair, 
who shall organize by the appointment of a chairman and secretary. 
They shall keep a record of their proceedings, and shall have the 
general superintendence of the affairs of the Territory so far as 
regards the organization of a State government, which committee 
shall be styled " The Executive Committee of Kansas Territory." 

Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the executive committee of 
Kansas Territory to advertise said election at least fifteen days before 
the second Tuesday of October next ; and to appoint three judges 
thereof for each precinct, and the said judges of each precinct shall 
appoint two clerks, all of whom shall be duly sworn or affirmed to 
discharge the duties of their respective offices impartially and with 
fidelity ; and they shall have power to administer the oath or affirma- 
tion to each other, and the said judges shall open said election at 10 
o'clock, a. m., at the place designated in each precinct by the said 
executive committee, and close the same at 4 o'clock, p. m. And in 
case any of the officers appointed fail to attend_, the officer or officers 
in attendance shall supply the vacancy or vacancies ; and in the event 
of all of them failing to attend, ten qualified voters shall supply 
their places. And the said judges shall make out duplicate returns 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 611 

of said election, seal up and transmit one copy of tlie same within 
five days to the chairman of the executive committee, to be laid 
before the convention ; and they shall^ within ten days, seal up and 
hand the other to some member of the executive committee. 

Resolved, That the chairman of the executive committee of Kansas 
Territory shall announce, by proclamation, the names of the persons 
electeil delegates to said convention ; and in case the returns from 
any precinct should not be completed by that day, as soon thereafter 
as practicable, and in case of a tie, a new election shall be ordered 
by the executive committee, giving five days' notice thereof, by the 
same officers who officiated at the first election. 

Resolved, That all white male inhabitants, citizens of the United 
States, above the age of twenty-one years, who have had a hona fide 
residence in the Territory of Kansas for the space of thirty days 
immediately preceding the day of said election, shall be entitled to 
vote for delegates to said convention, and all white male inhabitants, 
citizens of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, who 
have resided in the Territory of Kansas for the space of three months 
immediately preceding the day of election, shall be eligible as dele- 
gates to said convention. 

Resolved, That if, at the time of holding said election, it shall be 
inconvenient, on account of Indian hostilities, or any other cause 
whatever, that would disturb or prevent the voters of any election 
precinct in thg Territory from the free and peaceable exercise of the 
elective franchise, the officers are hereby authorized to adjourn said 
election into any other precinct in the Territory, and to any other 
day they may see proper, of the necessity of which they shall be the 
exclusive judges, at which time and place the qualified voters may 
cast their votes. 

Resolved, That said convention shall be held at Topeka on the 
fourth Tuesday of October next, at 12 o'clock, m., of that day. 

Resolved, That a majority of said convention shall constitute a 
quorum, and that the said convention shall determine upon the 
returns and qualifications of its members, and shall have and exercise 
all the rights, privileges, and immunities incident to such bodies, and 
may adopt such rules and regulations for its government as a majority 
thereof may direct. If a majority of said convention do not assemble 
on the day appointed therefor, a less number is hereby authorized to 
adjourn from day to day. 

Resolved, That in case of the death, resignation, or non-attendance 
of any delegate chosen from any district of the Territory, the presi- 
dent of the convention shall issue his writ ordering a new election, on 
five days' notice, to be conducted as heretofore directed. 

Resolved, That no person shall be entitled to a seat in the conven- 
tion at its organization except the members whose names are contained 
in the proclamation of the chairman of the executive committee. 
But after the convention is organized seats may be contested in the 
usual way. 

Resolved, That the members of the convention shall receive as a 
compensation for their services the sum of three dollars per day, and 
three dollars for every twenty miles travel to and from the same, and 



612 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

that Congress be respectfully requested to appropriate a sufficient 
sum to defray the necessary expenses of said convention. 

Resolved, That on the adoption of a constitution for the State of 
Kansas, the President of the convention shall transmit an authenti- 
cated copy thereof to the President of the United States, to the Presi- 
dent of the Senate, and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives ; 
to each member of Congress, and to the governor of each of the 
several States of the Union, and adopt such other measures as will 
secure to the people of Kansas the rights and privileges of a sovereign 
State. 

On motion, the committee on address was vested with authority to 
notify the people Off the several districts of the Territory of the coming 
election, by handbills, public addresses, and otherwise, as they may 
think proper. 

The territorial executive committee was appointed by the chair, 
consisting of the following persons: J. H. Lane, C. K. Holliday, M. 
J. Parrott, P. C. Schuyler, G-. W. Smith, G. W. Brown, and J. K. 
Ooodin. 

On motion, the proceedings of this convention were ordered to be 
published in all the papers of the Territory. 

A vote of thanks was passed to the president and officers of the 
convention. Adjourned with three enthusiastic cheers for the new 
government of Kansas. 

WM. Y. ROBERTS, 

President. 

E. D. Ladd, 

J. H. Nesbit, 

M. W. Delahat, 

Secretaries. 

The executive committee appointed by that convention, of which 
Colonel James H. Lane was chairman, and J. K. Goodin secretary _, 
accepted their appointment and entered upon the discharge bf their 
duties, and issued a proclamation in accordance with the instructions 
of that convention. The following is a copy of that proclamation is- 
sued by them : 

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. 
PROCLAMATION. 

To the legal voters of Kansas : 

Whereas, the territorial government, as now constituted for Kansas, 
has proved a failure ; squatter sovereignty, under its workings, a 
miserable delusion ; in proof of which it is only necessary to refer to 
our past history and our present deplorable condition. Our ballot 
boxes have been taken possession of by bands of armed men from for- 
eign States ; our people forcibly driven therefrom ; persons attempted 
to be foisted upon us as members of a so-called, legislature, unac- 
quainted with our wants, and hostile to our best interests, some of 
them never residents of our Territory, misnamed laivs passed, and 



KANSAS AFFAIRS G13 

now attempted to be enforced by the aid of citizens of foreign States 
of the most oppressive, tyrannical, and insulting character ; the right 
of suffrage taken from us, debarred from the privilege of a voice in 
the election of even the most insignificant officers, the right of free 
speech stifled, the muzzling of the press attempted ; and, whereas, 
longer forbearance with such oppression and tyranny has ceased to be 
a virtue ; and, whereas, the people of this country have heretofore 
exercised the right of changing their form of government when it be- 
came oppressive, and have at all times conceded this right to the peo- 
ple in this and all other governments ; and, whereas, a territorial form 
of government is unknown to the Constitution, and is the mere 
creature of necessity, awaiting the action of the people ; and, whereas, 
the debasing character of the slavery which now involves us impels to 
action, and leaves us, as the only legal and peaceful alternative, the 
immediate establishment of a State government ; and, whereas, the 
organic act fails in pointing out the course to be adopted in an emer- 
gency like ours : therefore, you are requested to meet at your several 
precincts in said Territory hereinafter mentioned, on the second Tues- 
day of October next, it being the ninth day of said month, and then 
and there cast your ballots for members of a convention, to meet at 
Topeka on the fourth Tuesday in October next to form a constitution, 
adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful 
measures for organizing a State government, preparatory to the ad- 
mission of Kansas into the Union as a State. 

PLACES FOR POLLS. 

First election district. — Lawrence precinct, at the office of John 
Hutchinson, in Lawrence. Blanton precinct, at the house of J. B. 
Abbott, in Blanton. Palmyra precinct, at the house of H. Burrick- 
low, in Palmyra. Wakarusa river the dividing line between the two 
precincts. 

Second election district. — Bloomington precinct, house of Harrison 
Burson on the Wakarusa. Benicia precinct, house of J. J. Cranmer, 
east Douglas. 

Third election district. — Topeka precinct, house of F. W. Giles, 
Topeka. Big Spring precinct, at the house of Wesley Frost, in 
Washington. Tecumseh precinct, at the house of Mr. Hoogland, in 
Tecumseh. 

Fourth election district. — Willow Springs precinct, at the house of 
Dr. Chapman, on the Santa Fe road, Springfield. 

Fifth election district. — Bull Creek precinct, at the house of Bap- 
tiste Peoria, on Pottawatomie creek. Pottawatomie precinct, at the 
house of Henry Sherman. Ossawatomie precinct, at the house of 
William Hughes, in Ossawatomie. Big Sugar Creek precinct, at the 
house of Elijah Tucker, at old Pottawatomie mission. Little Sugar 
Creek precinct, at the house of Isaac Stocktoii. Neosho precinct, at 
the store of Hamilton Smith, in Neosho. Hampden precinct, at the 
house of W. A. Ela, in Hampden. 

Sixtlt election district. — Fort Scott precinct, at the house of Mr. John- 



614 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

son^ or a suitable building in Fort Scott. Scott's Turn precinct, at 
the house of Mr. Vandever. 

Seventh election district. — Titus precinct, at the house of J. B. Ti- 
tus, on the Santa Fe road. 

Eighth election district. — Council Grove precinct, at Council Grove 
mission-house. Waubousa precinct, at some suitable building in 
Waubousa. Mill Creek precinct, at the house of Mr. Adams, in 
Ashland. 

Ninth Election District. — Pawnee precinct, at lioder & Shaw's store, 
in Pawnee. 

Tenth Election District. — Big Blue precinct, at the house of S. D. 
Dyer, in Juniatta. Rock Creek precinct, at the house of Robert 
Wilson. 

Eleventh Election District. — Vermillion precinct, at the house of 
John Schmidt, on Vermillion branch of Blue river. 

Tivelfth Election District. — St. Mary's precinct, at the house of R. 
F. Bertrand. Silver Lake precinct, at the house of Joseph Leframbois. 

Thirteenth Election. District. — Hickory Point precinct, at the house 
of Charles Hardt. Falls precinct, at the house of the '' Mill Compa- 
ny," at Grasshopper Falls. 

Fourteentli Election District. — Burr Oak 2)reciuct, at the house of 
Benjamin Harding. Doniphan precinct, (including part of the fif- 
teenth district, to Walnut creek.) at tlie house of Dr. G. A. Cutler, 
in Doniphan. Wolf river precinct, at the house of Aaron Lewis. 

Fifteenth Election District. — Walnut Creek precinct, (south of Wal- 
nut creek,) at the house of Charles Hays, on military road. 

Sixteenth Election District. — Leavenworth precinct, at the store of 
Thomas Doyle, in Leavenworth city. Easton precinct, at the house 
of Thomas A. Maynard, on Stranger creek. Wyandott precinct, at 
the council house, in Wyandott city. Ridge precinct, at the house of 
William Pennock. 

Seventeenth Election District. — Mission precinct, at the Baptist mis- 
sion building. Wakarusa precinct, at the store of Paschal Fish, 

Eighteenth Election District. — California precinct, at the house of 
W. W. Moore, on the St. Joseph's and California road. 

Instructions to judges of election. 

The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes for deposit- 
ing the ballots cast by electors ; shall appoint two clerks, all of 
whom shall be sworn, or affirmed, to discharge the duties of their 
respective offices impartially and with fidelity ; and the judges and 
clerks shall have power to administer the oath or affirmation to each 
other; and the said judges shall open said election at 10 o'clock, a. 
m,, at the place designated in each precinct by the executive commit- 
tee of Kansas Territory, and close the same at 4 o'clock, p. m. In 
case any of the oflicers a])pointed fail to attend, the officer or officers 
in attendance shall supply their places. And the said judges shall 
make out duplicate returns of said election, seal up and transmit one 
copy of the same, within five days, to the chairman of the executive 
committee, to be laid before the convention, and they shall within ten 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 616 

days seal up and hand the other to some member of the said executive 
committee. If at the time of holding said election it shall be incon- 
venient, on account of Indiaii hostilities, or any other cause whatever 
that would disturb or prevent the voters of any election precinct in 
the Territory from the free and peaceable exercise of the elective fran- 
chise, the officers are hereby authorized to adjourn said election into 
any other precinct in the Territory, and to any other day they may 
see proper, of the necessity of which they shall be the exclusive 
judges, at which time and place the qualified voters may cast their 
votes. 

Qualifications of voters, rfx\ 

All white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States, or who 
have declared their intentions before the proper authorities to become 
such, above the age of twenty-one years, who have had a bona fi,de 
residence in the Territory for the space of thirty days immediately 
preceding the day of the said election, shall be entitled to vote for 
delegates to said convention, and all white male inhabitants, citizens 
of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, who have 
had a bona fide residence in the Territory of Kansas for the space of 
three months immediately preceding the day of election, shall be eli- 
gible as delegates to said convention. 

Apportionment. 

The apportionment of delegates to said convention shall be as fol- 
lows : two delegates for each representative district the people were 
entitled to in the legislative assembly bv proclamation of Grovernor 
Boeder, of date of 10th of March, 1855. 

It is confidently believed that the people of Kansas are fully alive 
to the importance of the step they are about to take, in disenthralling 
themselves from the slaverj^ Avhich is now fettering them ; and the 
squatters of Kansas are earnestly requested to be at their several polls 
on the day above designated. See that there be no illegal votes cast, 
and that every ballot received be in accordance with j'our choice for 
delegate to the constitutional convention, and have all the regulations 
and restrictions carried out. 

The plan proposed in the proclamation to govern you in the elec- 
tion has been adopted after mature deliberation, and if adhered to by 
you, will result in establishing in Kansas an independent government 
that will be admitted into our beloved Union as a sovereign State, 
securing to our people the liberty they have heretofore enjoyed, and 
which has been so ruthlessly wrested from them by reckless invaders. 

By order of the executive committee of Kansas Territory. 

J, H. LANE. G hail-man. 

J. K. GooDiN, Secretary. 

After the above proclamation was issued, public meetings were held 
in every district in the Territory, and in nearly every precinct, I 
think, and speeches Avere made, and it became a general topic of dis- 
cussion throughout the Territory. But little opposition was exhibited 



616 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

in any portion of the Territory towards the State movement. Large 
posters were sent out in advance of these meetings, and stuck up all 
over the Territory, stating the object of the meeting, and the names of 
those who were expected to address the people. Some of those meet- 
ings I attended myself. At a very large meeting here in Lawrence, 
when the vote was taken upon that question, there was hut one dis- 
senting voice. Poll books, ballots and tally lists were prepared under 
the direction of the executive committee, and sent to all the precincts ; 
and the election, in all respects, so far as I understand it^ was con- 
ducted according to the organic law of the Territory. The following 
is the call circulated in the form of posters and sent throughout the 
Territory : 

" To the electors of Kansas Territory : You are hereby notified that 
an election will be held in the several election precincts of this Terri- 
tory, on the second Tuesday, the 9th of October next, for members 
of a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the 
people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a State 
government, preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the Union 
as a State. 

" By order of the executive committee of Kansas Territory. 

^' J. H. LANE, Chairman. 
"J. K. GOODIN, Secretary. 

"September 22, 1855." 

Three judges were appointed for each election precinct. The elec- 
tion was held at the time appointed, and the returns were brought 
in to the chairman of the executive committee, and left with the sec- 
retary of that committee. That committee then issued their procla- 
mation of the result of the election, of which the following, here in- 
serted, is a copy: 

ELECTION PROCLAMATION. 

By the authority vested in me by the people of Kansas Territory, 
and pursuant to the instructions of the convention held at Topeka, K. 
T., on the 19th ultimo, " for the purpose of taking into consideration 
the expediency of forming a constitution, with the intention of an im- 
mediate application for the admission of Kansas into the Union as a 
State," as chairman of the executive committee of. Kansas Territory, 
I do hereby make public and proclaim, that from the returns received 
and on fi.le in this office, it doth appear that the following named 
persons have, by the legal voters of Kansas Territory, been elected 
delegates to a convention to be assembled in Topeka, on the 23d day 
of October, 1855, at 12 o'clock, m., from the several districts set op- 
posite their names, to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for 
the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a 
State government preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State 
into the Union. 

First representative district. — Samuel McWhinney, Wm. Grraham. 
Second representative district. — G. W. Smith, J. ti. Lane, J. K. 
Goodin, 0. Robinson, J. S. Emery, Morris Hunt. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 617 

Third representative district. — J. A. Wakefield, A. Custis, J. M. 
Tuton, H. Berson. 

Fourth repi^esentative district. — C. K. Holliday, W. Y. Roberts. 

Fifth representative district. — P. C. Schuyler, J. H. Pillsbury. 

Sixth representative district. — James Phenis, Dr. Burgess, N. 

Vandever. 

Ill this district W. R. Griffith, John Hamilton, A. W. J. Brown, 
and W. Sanders have each a tie vote. The returns from Fort Scott 
have not yet come in. 

Seventh representative district. — W. T. Turner, James McArthur, 
W. T. Morris, 0. C. Brown, Richard Knight, F. Brown, H. Smith, 
W. G. Nichols. 

Eighth representative district. — Robert Klotz, A. Hunting. 

Ninth representative district. — M. F. Conway, J. G. Thompson. 

Tenth representative district. — George Hillyer, J. Whitney. 

Fourteenth representative district. — Robert Riddle, M. J. Parrott, 
Matt. France, S. M. Latta, D. Dodge, M. H. Delahay. 

Eleventh representative district. — G. A. Cutler, John Landis, C. W. 
Stewart, D. W. Field. 

Tivelfth representative district. — Composed of Burr Oak precinct, 
fourteenth election district, whole of eighteenth, and small part of 
fifteenth election district, which voted at Doniphan. [This district is 
entitled to four delegates. Returns have been received from Burr 
Oak precinct ; but the votes were cast for the delegates in the eleventh 
district above. As no delegates have been elected for this district, an 
immediate election will be called for that purpose.] 

Thirteenth representative district. — R. H. Crosby, Caleb May, San- 
ford McDaniel, James S. Layle. 

Done at the office of the executive committee of Kansas Territory^ 
this 16th day of October, A. D. 1885. 

J. H. LANE, Chairman. 

J. K. GooDiN, Secretary. 

The constitutional convention assembled at Topeka, 23d of October, 
1855, and framed a constitution to be submitted to the people, of 
which the following, herein inserted, is a true copy : 

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF KANSAS. 

Preamble : 

We, the people of the Territory of Kansas, by our delegates in 
convention assembled at Topeka, on the 23d day of October, A. D. 
1855, and of the independence of the United States the eightieth year, 
having the riglit of admission into the Union as one of the United 
States of America, consistent with the federal Constitution, and by 
virtue of the treaty of cession by France to the United States of the 
province of Louisiana, in order to secure to ourselves and our posterity 
the enjoyment of all the rights of life, liberty, and property, and 
the free pursuits of happiness, do mutually agree with each other to 
form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the name and 
style of the State of Kansas, bounded as follows ; to wit : Beginning 
at a point on the western boundary of the State of Missouri where the 



618 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

thirty-seventli parallel ot north latitude crosses the same ; thence west 
on said parallel to tlie eastern boundary of New Mexico ; thence north 
on said boundary to latitude thirty-eight ; thence following said boun- 
dary westward to the eastern boundary of the Territory of Utah on 
the summit of the Rocky Mountains ; thence northAvard on said sum- 
mit, to the fortieth parallel of latitude ; thence east on said parallel 
to the western boundary of the State of Missouri ; thence south with 
the western boundary of said State to the place of beginning ; and do 
ordain and establish the following Constitution and Bill of Kights for 
the government thereof: 

Bill op Rights. — Article I. 

Sec. 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and have cer- 
tain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and de- 
fending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, 
and seeking and obtaining liappiness and safety. 

Sec. 2. AH political power is inherent in the People. Government 
is instituted for their equal ])rotection and benefit ; and they have the 
right to alter, reform, or ab dish the same whenever they may deem it 
necessary ; and no special privileges or immunities shall ever be 
granted that may not be altered, revoked, or repealed by the general 
assembly. 

Sec. 3. The people liave the right to assemble together, in a peaceable 
manner, to consult for their common good, to instruct their repre- 
sentatives, and to petition the general assembly for the redress of 
grievances. 

Sec. 4. The peo})le have the right to bear arms for their defence and 
security ; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to 
liberty, and shall not be kept up ; and the military shall be kept in 
strict subordination to the civil power. 

Sec. 5. The right of trial by jury shall be inviolate. 

Sec. 6. There shall be no slavery in this State, nor involuntary ser- 
vitude, unless for the punishment of crime. 

Sec. 7. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship 
Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience. No 
person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of 
worship, or maintain any form of worship against his consent ; and 
no preference shall be given by law to any religious society ; nor shall 
any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. No reli- 
gious test shall be required as a qualification for office, nor shall any 
person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious be- 
lief; but nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths 
and affirmations. Religion, morality and knowledge, however, being 
essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the general as- 
sembly to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination 
in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to 
encourage schools, and the means of instruction. 

Sec. 8. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be sus- 
pended, unless, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety re- 
quires it. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 619 

Sec. 9. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless 
for capital offences where the proof is evident, or the presumption 
great. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines im- 
posed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. 

Sec. 10. Except in cases of impeachment, and cases arising in the 
army and navy, or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of 
war or public danger^ and in cases of petit larceny and other inferior 
offences, no person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise 
infamous crime, unless on presentment, or indictment of a grand 
jury. In any trial in any court, the party accused shall be allowed to 
appear and defend in person, and with counsel, to demand the nature 
and cause of the accusation against him, and to liave a copy thereof: 
to meet the witnesses face to lace, and to have compulsory process to 
procure the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy public 
trial, by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the of- 
fence is alleged to have been committed ; nor shall any person l)e com- 
pelled, in any criminal case, to be a witnes.s against himself, or be 
twice put in jeopardy for the same offence. 

Sec. 11. Every citizen mayfreel}^ speak, write, and jtublish his sen- 
timents on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of the right ; 
and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech 
or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libel, 
the truth may be given in evidence to tlie jury, and if it shall appear 
to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was pub- 
lished with good motives, and for justifiable ends, tlie party shall be 
acquitted. 

Sec. 12. No })erson shall be transported out of the State for any 
offence committed within the same ; and no conviction shall work 
corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate. 

Sec. 13. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any 
house, without the consent of the owner ; nor in time of war, except 
in a manner prescribed by lavv^. 

Sec. 14. The ri^ht of the })eople to be secure in their persons, houses, 
papers and possessions against unreasonable searches and seizures 
shall not be violated ; and no Avarrant shall issue but upon probable 
cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the 
place to be searched, and the persons and things to be seized. 

Sec. 15. No person shall be imprisoned for debt in any civil action, 
or mesne or final process, unless in case of fraud. 

Sec. 16. All courts shall be open ; and every person, for an injury 
done him in his land, goods, person, or reputation, shall have remedy 
by due course of law, and justice a-^l^ministered without denial or delay. 

Sec. 17. No hereditary emoluments, honors, or privileges shall 
ever be granted or conferred by this State. 

Sec. 18. No power of suspending laws shall ever be exercised, except 
by the general assembly. 

Sec. 19. The payment of a tax shall not be a qualification for exer- 
cising the right of suffrage. 

Sec. 20. Private property shall ever be held inviolate, but subservient 
to the public welfare. When taken in time of war, or other public 
exigency, imperatively requiring its immediate seizure, or for the 



620 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

purpose of making or repairing roads, which shall be open to the pub- 
lic use, without toll or other charge therefor, a compensation shall be 
made to the owner in money ; and in all other cases, where private 
property shall be taken for public use, a compensation therefor shall 
first be made in money, or first secured by a deposite of money, and 
such compensation shall be assessed by a jury, without deduction for 
benefits to any property of the owner. 

Sec. 21. No indenture of any negro, or mulatto, made and executed 
out of the bounds of the State, shall be valid within the State. 

Sec. 22. This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to impair 
or deny others retained by the people ; and all powers not herein 
delegated shall remain with the people. 

Elective Franchise. — Article II. 

Sec 1. In all elections by the people, the vote shall be by ballot, 
and in all elections in the general assembly the vote shall be viva voce. 

Sec. 2. Every white male person, and every civilized male Indian 
who has adopted the habits of the white man, of the age of twenty-one 
years and upward, who shall be at the time of ofi"ering to vote a 
citizen of the United States ; who shall have resided, and had his 
habitation, domicil, home, and place of permanent abode in the State 
of Kansas, for six months next preceding the election at which he 
offers to vote ; who, at such time, and for thirty days immediately 
preceding said time, shall have had his actual habitation, domicil, 
home, and place of permanent abode in the county in which he offers 
to vote, and who shall have resided in the precinct or election district 
for at least ten days immediately preceding the election, shall be 
deemed a qualified elector at all elections under this constitution, ex- 
cept in elections by general ticket in the State or district prescribed by 
law, in which case the elector must have the aforesaid qualifications, 
but a residence in said district for ten days will entitle him to vote : 
Provided, That no soldier, seaman or marine of the regular army or 
navy of the United States shall be considered a resident of the State 
in consequence of being stationed within the same. 

Sec 3. The general assembly shall, at its first session, provide for 
the registration of all qualified electors in each county, and thereafter, 
from time to time, of all who may become qualified electors. 

Sec 4. The legislature shall have power to exclude from every office 
of honor, trust or profit within the State, and from the right of suff'rage, 
all persons convicted of any infamous crime. 

Sec 5. No person shall be deemed capable of holding or being elected 
to any post of honor, profit, trust or emolument, civil or military, or 
exercise the right of suftrage under the government of this State, who 
shall hereafter fight a duel, send or acept a challenge to fight a duel, 
or who shall be a second to either party, or who shall in any manner 
aid or assist in such duel, or who shall be knowingly the bearer of 
such challenge or acceptance, whether the same occur, or be com- 
mitted in or out of the State 

Sec G. No person who may hereafter be collector or holder of public 
moneys shall be eligible to any office of trust or protlt in the State, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 621 

until he shall have accounted for and paid into the proper public 
treasury all sums for which he may be accountable. 

8ec. 7. No State officer or member of the general assembly of this 
State shall receive a fee, be engaged as council, agent, or attorney in 
any case or claim against the State. 

Sec. 8. No senator or representative shall, during the term of office 
for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office 
of profit in this State which shall have been created, or the emolu- 
ments of which shall have been increased during such term, except 
such offices as may be filled by election by the people. 

Sec. 9, All officers, civil and military, in this State^ before they 
enter upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take the follow- 
ing oath, or affirmation : ''I , do swear [or affirm,] that 

I will support the Constitution of the United States, and of the State 
of Kansas ; that I am duly qualified according to the constitution to 
exercise the office to which I have been elected, [or appointed,] and 
will, to the best of my abilities, discharge the duties thereof faithfully 
and impartially, according to law." 

Sec. 10. Every person shall be disqualified from holding any office 
of honor or profit in this State who shall have been convicted of 
having given or offered any bribe to procure his election, or who shall 
have made use of any undue influence from power, tumult, or other 
improper practices. 

Sec. 11. All civil officers of the State shall reside within the State, 
and all district and county officers within their respective districts 
and counties, and shall have their offices at such places therein as 
may be required by law. 

Sec 12. Returns of elections for members of Congress, the general 
assembly, and all other officers not otherwise provided for, shall be 
made to the Secretary of State, in such manner as may be prescribed 
by law. 

Sec. 13. Electors shall in all cases be privileged from arrest during 
their attendance on elections, and in going to and returning there- 
from^ except in case of felony, treason, and breach of the peace. 

Distribution of Powers. — Article III. 

Sec. 1. The powers of the government shall be divided into three 
separate departments: the legislative, the executive, including the 
administrative and the judicial ; and no person charged with official 
duties under one of these departments shall exercise any of the func- 
tions of another, except as in this constitution expressly provided. 

Legislative. — Article IV. 

Sec. 1. The legislative power of this State shall be vested in the 
general assembly, which shall consist of a senate and house of rep - 
resentatives. 

Sec 2. The senators and representatives shall be chosen annually 
by the qualified electors of the respective counties, or district, for 
which they are chosen on the first Monday of August, for one year, 
and their term of office shall commence on the first day of January- 
next thereafter. 



622 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Sec. 3. There shall be elected at the first election twenty senators 
and sixty representatives, and the number afterwards shall be regulated 
by law. 

Sec. 4. No person shall be eligible to the office of senator or rep- 
resentatives who shall not possess the qualifications of an elector. 

Sec. 5. No person holding office unfter the authority of the United 
States, or any lucrative office under the authority of this State, shall 
be eligible to, or have a seat in tlie general assembly ; but this pro- 
vision shall not extend to township officers, justices of the peace, 
notaries public, postn\asters, or officers of the milita. 

vSec. G. Each house, excei)t as otherwise provided in this constitution, 
shall choose its own officers, determine its ow^n rule of proceeding, 
punish its members for disorderly conduct, and with the concurrence 
of two-thirds expel a member, but not the second time for the same 
cause; and shall judge of the qualification, election and return of its 
own members, and shall have all other powers necessary for its safety 
and the undisturbed transaction of business. 

Sec. 7. Each house sliall keep a journal of its proceedings and 
publish the same. The yeas and nays on any question shall, at the 
request of two members, be entered on the journal. 

Sec. 8. Any member of either house shall have the right to protest 
against any act or resolution thereof; and such protest, and reason 
tlierefov, shall, without alteration, commitment, or delay, be entered 
on the journal. 

Sec. 9. All vacancies which may occur in either house shall, for 
the unexpired term, be filled by election as shall be prescribed by law. 
Sec. 10. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases except 
treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during 
the session of the general assembly, and in going to and returning 
from the same ; and for words spoken in debate they shall not be 
questioned in any other place. 

Sec. 11. A majority of all the members elected to each house shall 
be necessary to pass every bill or joint resolution, and all bills and 
joint resolutions so passed shall be signed by the presiding officers 
of the respective houses and presented to the governor for his approval. 
Si'^c. 12. The doors of each house^ and of committees of the whole, 
shall be kept open. Neither house shall, without the consent of tlie 
other, adjourn for more than two days, nor to any other place than 
that in which tlie two houses shall be sitting, except for personal safety. 
Sec. 13. Every bill shall be read by sections on three several days 
in each house ; unless in case of emergency. Two-thirds of the house 
where such bill is pending may, if deemed expedient, suspend the 
rule on a call of the yeas and nays ; but the reading of a bill by 
sections, on its final passage, shall in no case be dispensed with ; 
and the vote on the passage of every bill or joint resolution shall be 
taken by yeas and nays. 

Sec. 14. Every act shall contain but one subject, which shall be 
clearly expressed in its title. Bills may originate in either house, 
but may be altered, amended or rejected by the other. 

Sec. 15. In all cases when a general law can be paade applicable, 
special laws ahall not be enacted. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 623 

yEC. 16. No act shall ever be revived or amended by mere reference 
to its title ; but the act revived or the section amended shall be set 
forth and published at full length. 

Sec. 17. No act shall take effect until the same shall have been 
published and circulated in the counties of the State, by authority, 
except in case of emergencjf, which emergency shall be declared in 
the preamble or the body of the law. 

Sec. 18. The election and appointment of all officers, and the filling 
of all vacancies, not otherwise provided for by this constitution or 
the Constitution of the United States, shall be made in such manner 
as shall be prescribed by law ; but no appointing power shall be exer- 
cised by the general assembly, (except as provided in this constitution, 
and in the election of the United States senator, and in these cases 
the vote shall be taken viva voce. 

Sec. 10. The general assembly shall not have power to enact laws 
annulling the contract of marriage in any case where by law the 
courts of this State may have power to decree a divorce. 

Sec. 20. The general assembly shall not have power to pass retro- 
active laws, or laws impairing the 'obligation of contracts; but may, 
by general laws, authorize courts to carry into effect, upon such terms 
as shall be just and equitable, the manifest intention of parties and 
officers, by curing omissions, defects, and errors in instruments, and 
proceedings arising out of a wiint of conformity with the laws of this 
State. 

Sec. 21. The style of the laws of this State shall be, '■^ Beit enacted 
by the general assembly of the State of Kansas." 

Sec. 22. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of 
impeachment. All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate, and 
when sitting for the purpose the senators shall 1)0 upon oath or affir- 
mation to do justice according to law and evidence. No person shall 
be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the senators 
present. 

Sec 23. The governor and all other civil officers under the laws of 
this State shall be liable to impeachment i'or any misdemeanor in 
office, but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to 
removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, 
profit, or trust, under this State. The party, whether convicted or 
acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judgment, 
and punishment according to law. 

Sec 24. Within one year after the ratification of this constitution, 
and within every subsequent two years thereafter, for the term of ten 
years, an enumeration of all the white inhabitants of this State shall 
be made in such manner as shall be directed by law. 

Sec 25. All regular sessions of the general assembly shall be held 
at the capital of the State, and shall commence on the first Tuesday 
of January, annually. 

Sec 26. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house 
of representatives, subject, however, to amendment or rejection as in. 
other cases. 

Sec. 27. The members of the general assembly shall receive for 
their services the sum of four dollars per day for each and every day 
they are actually in attendance at any regular or special session, and 



624 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

four dollars for every twenty miles they shall travel in going to and 
returning from the place of meeting, hy the most usually travelled 
route; and no session of the general assembly, except the first under 
this constitution, shall extend beyond the term of sixty days, nor anf 
special session more than forty days. 

Executive. — Article V. 

Sec. 1. The executive department shall consist of a governor, a 
lieutenant governor, secretary of slate, treasurer, auditor, and attor- 
ney general, who shall be chosen by the electors of the State at the 
same time and place of voting for the members of the general 
assembly. 

Sec. 2. The governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state^ trea- 
surer, auditor, attorney general, and state printer, shall hold their 
office for two years. Their terms of office shall commence on the first 
Tuesday of January next after their election, and continue until their 
successors are elected and qualified, neither of which officers shall be 
eligible for re-election more than two out of three consecutive terms ; 
nor shall any person be eligible for the office of governor who shall 
not have attained the age of thirty years. 

Sec. 3. The returns of every election for the officers named in the 
foregoing section shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of 
government by the returning officers, directed to the secretary of state, 
who sliall lay the same before the general assembly at their first meet- 
ing thereafter, when they shall open, publish, and declare the result 
thereof, in the presence of a majority of the members of both houses. 
The person having the highest number of votes shall be declared duly 
elected, and a certificate thereof given to such person, signed by the 
presiding officers of both bodies; but if any two or more shall be 
highest and equal in votes for the same office, one of them shall be 
chosen by the joint vote of both houses. 

Sec. 4. The supreme executive power shall be vested in a governor. 

Sec 5. He may require information in writing from the officers in 
the executive department upon any subject relating to the duties of 
their respective offices, and shall see that the laws are faithfully exe- 
cuted 

Sec 6. He shall communicate at every session, by message to the 
general assembly, the condition of the afi'airs of the State, and recom- 
mend such measures as he shall deem expedient for their action. 

Sec 7. He may on extraordinary occasions convene the general 
assembly by proclamation, and shall state to both houses, when as- 
sembled, the purposes for which they were convened. 

Sec 8. In case of disagreement between the two houses in respect 
to the time of adjournment, he shall have power to adjourn the gene- 
ral assembly to such time as he may think proper, but not beyond the 
regular meetings thereof. 

Sec 9. He shall be commander-in-chief of the military in the State, 
except when they shall be called into the service of the tJnited States. 

Sec 10. The pardoning power shall be vested in the governor, under 
such regulations and restrictions as may be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 11 . There shall be a seal of the State, the device of which shall 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 625 

be fixed upon by the governor and other State officers^ be kept by the 
governor and used by him officially, and shall be called "the great 
seal of the State of Kansas." 

Sec. 12. All grants and commissions shall be used in the name and 
by the authority of the State of Kansas, sealed with the great seal, 
signed by the governor, and countersigned by the secretary of state. 

Sec. 13. No member of either house of Congress or other persons 
holding office under the authority of this State, or of the United 
States, shall execute the office of governor except as herein provided. 

Sec. 14. In the case of death, impeachment, resignation, removal 
or other disability of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall ex- 
ercise the duties of the office of governor, until another governor shall 
be duly qualified ; but in such case another governor shall be chosen 
at the next annual election for members of the general assembly, un- 
less such death, resignation, impeachment, removal or other disability 
shall occur within three calendar months immediately preceding such 
next annual election, in which case a governor shall be chosen at the 
second succeeding annual election for members of the general assem- 
bly, and in case of the death, impeachment, resignation, removal, oi 
other disability of the lieutenant governor, the president of the senate 
pro tern, shall exercise the office of governor until a governor shall be 
duly qualified as aforesaid. 

Sec. 15. The lieutenant governor shall be president of the senate, 
but shall vote only when the senate is equally divided, and shall be 
entitled to the same pay as the speaker of the house of representatives, 
and in case of his death, impeachment, resignation, removal from 
office, or when he shall exercise the office of governor, the senate shall 
chose a president joro tern. 

Sec. 16. Should the office of secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, 
or attorney general become vacant, for any of the causes specified in 
the fourteenth and fifteenth sections, the governor shall fill the va- 
cancy or vacancies until the disability is removed or a successor is 
elected and qualified. Every such vacancy shall be filled by election, 
at the first general election that occurs more than thirty days after 
such vacancy shall have occurred, and the person chosen shall hold 
the office for the full term fixed in the second section of this article. 

Sbc. 17. The officers mentioned in this article shall, at stated times, 
receive for their services compensation to be fixed by law, which shall 
neither be increased or diminished during the period for which they 
shall have been elected. 

Sec. 18. The officers of the executive department, and of the pub- 
lic State institutions, shall, at least ten days preceding each regular 
session of the general assembly, severally report to the governor, who 
shall transmit the same to the general assembly. 

Sec. 19. Every bill which shall have passed both houses shall be 
presented to the governor. If he approve, he shall fngn the same, 
but if he shall not approve, he shall return it with his objections to 
the house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the ob- 
jections at large upon the journal, and proceed to reconsider the same. 
If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of that house shall agree to 
pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other house' 
H, Rep. 200 40* 



626 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

by which likewise it shall he reconsidered, and if approved by two- 
thirds of that house it shall he a law. But in such case, the votes of 
both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of 
the persons voting for or against the bill shall be entered upon the 
journals of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned 
by the governor within five days (Sunday excepted) after it shall have 
been presented to him, it shall be a law, in like manner as if he had 
signed it, unless the general assembly, by their adjournment, pre- 
vented its return, in which case it shall also be a law, unless sent back 
within two days after the next meeting. 

Sec. 20. Contested elections for governor, lieutenant governor, 
judges of the supreme court, and all other State officers, shall be de- 
termined by the general assembly, in such manner as may be pre- 
scribed by law. 

Sec. 21. The general assembly shall have power to provide by law 
for the election of a surveyor general. State geologist and superin- 
tendent of common schools, whose duties shall be prescribed by law. 

Judicial. — Article VI. 

Sec. 1. The judicial power of the State shall be vested in a supreme 
court, courts of common pleas, justices of the peace, and in such other 
courts inferior to the supreme court as the general assembly may es- 
tablish. 

Sec. 2. The supreme court shall consist of three judges, a majority 
of Avhom shall form a quorum. It shall have such original and ap- 
pellate jurisdiction as may be provided by law. It shall hold at least 
one term each year at the seat of government, and such other terms 
as may be provided by law. The judges of the supreme court shall 
be elected by the electors of tlie State at large. 

Sec 3. The State shall be divided by the first general assembly, 
under this constitution, into three common pleas districts of compact 
territory, bounded by county lines, and as nearly equal in population 
as practicable ; and a judge for each district shall be chosen by the 
electors thereof, and their term of office shall be for three years. 

Sec. 4. The courts of common pleas shall consist of one judge each, 
who shall reside within the district for which he is chosen during his 
continuance in office. 

Sec 5. The jurisdiction of the court of common pleas, and of the 
judges thereof, shall be fixed by law. 

Sec 6. A competent number of justices of the peace shall be elected 
by the electors in each township of several counties. The term of 
office shall be three years, and their powers and duties shall be fixed 
by law. 

Sec 7. AH judges, other than those provided for in the constitu- 
tion, shall be elected by the electors of the judicial district for which 
they may be created, but not for a longer term of office than thre« 
years. 

Sec. 8. The judges of the supreme court shall, immediately after 
the first election under this constitution, be classified by lot, so that 
one shall hold for the term of one year, one for the tern^i of two years, 
and one for the term of three years ; and all subsequent elections the 
term of each of said judges shall be for three years. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 627 

Sec. 9. In case the office of any judge shall become vacant before 
the expiration of the term for which he was elected, the vacancy shall 
be filled by appointment by the governor, until a successor shall be 
elected and qualified ; and such successor shall be elected for the resi- 
due of the unexpired term at the first annual election that occurs 
more tlian thirty days after such vacancy shall have happened. 

Sec. 10, The judges of the supreme court and of the court of com- 
mon ])leas shall, at stated times, receive such compensation as may be 
provided by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during 
their term of office; but they shall receive no fees or perquisites, nor 
hold any other office of profit and trust under the State, other than a 
judicial office. 

Sec. 11. The general assembly may increase or diminish the num- 
ber of the judges of the supreme court, the number of the districts of 
the courts of common pleas, the number of judges in any district, or 
establish other courts, whenever two thirds of the members elected to 
each house shall concur therein ; but no such change, addition, or 
diminution shall vacate the office of any judge. 

Sec. 12. There shall be elected in each county^ by the electors 
thereof, one clerk of the court of common pleas, who shall hold his 
office for the term of three years, and until his successor shall be 
elected and qualified. 

Sec 13. The general assembly shall provide, by law^ for the speedy 
publication of the decisions of the supreme court made under this 
constitution. 

Sec. 14. The supreme court shall, upon the decision of every case, 
give an opinion, in writing, of each question arising in the record in 
such case, and the decision of the court thereon. 

Sec. 15. There shall be elected by the voters of the State a clerk 
and a reporter for the supreme court, who shall hold their offices for 
three years, and whose duties shall be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 16. Judges may be removed from office by concurrent resolu- 
tion of both houses of the general assembly if two thirds of the mem- 
bers elected to each house concur therein ; but no such removal shall 
be made except upon com23laint, the substance of which shall be en- 
tered upon the journal, nor until the party charged shall have had 
notice thereof and an opportunity to be heard. 

Sec. 17. The several judges of the supreme court, of the court of 
common pleas, a^nd of such other courts as may be created by law, 
shall respectively have and exercise such power and jurisdiction at 
chambers or otherwise as may be provided by law. 

Sec. 18. The style of all process shall be "the State of Kansas." 
All prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by the authority 
of the State of Kansas ; and all indictments shall conclude, "against 
the peace and dignity of the State of Kansas." 

Education. — Article VII. 

Sec. 1. The principal of all funds arising from the sale or other 
disposition of lands or other property granted or entrusted to this 
State for educational and religious purposes, shall forever be preserved 



628 KANSAS AFFAIRS 

inviolate and undiminisliecl, and the income arising therefrom shall 
he faithfully applied to the specific objects of the original grants or 
appropriations. 

Sec. 2. The general assembly shall make such provision, by taxa- 
tion or otherwise, as, with the income arising from the school trust 
fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools 
throughout the State ; but no religious or other sect or sects shall ever 
have any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds 
of this State. 

Sec. 3. The general assembly may take measures for the establish- 
ment of a university, with such branches as the public convenience 
may hereafter demand, for the promotion of literature, the arts, 
science, medical and agricultural instruction. 

Sec. 4. Provision may be made by law for the support of normal 
schools, with suitable libraries and scientific apparatus. 

Public Institutions. — Article VIII. 

Sec 1 . It shall be the duty of the general assembly, at as early a 
date as possible, to provide State asylums for the benefit, treatment, 
and instruction of the blind, deaf and dumb, and insane. 

Sec. 2. The general assembly shall make provision for the establish- 
ment of an asylum for idiots, to be regulated bylaw. 

Sec 3. The respective counties of the State shall provide, in some 
suitable manner, for those inhabitants who, by reason of age, infirm- 
ity, or other misfortune, may have claims upon the sympathy and aid 
of society, under provisions to be made by the laws of the general 
assembly. 

Sec 4. The general assembly shall make provision for the estab- 
lishment of houses of refuge for the correction, reform, and instruction 
of juvenile offenders. 

Sec 5. It shall be the duty of the general assembly to make pro- 
YLsion, as soon as possible, for a State general hospital. 

Public Debt and Public Works. — Article IX. 

Sec 1. No money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pur- 
suance of an appropriation by law. 

Sec 2. The credit of the State shall never be given or loaned in aid 
of any individual association or corporation. 

Sec 3. For the purpose of defraying extraordinary expenditures, 
ibe State may contract public debts, but such debts shall never in the 
aggregate exceed one hundred thousand dollars, unless authorized by 
« direct vote of the people at a general election. Every such debt 
ehall be authorized by law, and every such Jaw shall provide for the 
payment of the annual interest of such debt., and the principal within 
ten years from the passage of such law ; and such appropriation shall 
not be repealed until the principal and interest shall have been wholly 
paid. 

Sec 4. The legislature may also borrow money to, repel invasion, 
fluppress insurrection, or defend the State in time of war ; but the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 629 

money thus raised shall be applied exclusively to the object for which 
the loan was authorized, or repayment of the debts thereby created. 

Sec. 5. No scrip, certificate, or other evidence of State debt what- 
ever shall be except for such debts as are authorized by the third and 
fourth sections of tliis article. 

Militia. — Article X. 

Section 1. The militia shall consist of all able-bodied white male 
persons between the ages of eighteen and forty years, except such as 
may be exempt by the laws of the United States or of this State, and 
shall be organized, officered, armed, equipped, and trained in such 
manner as may be provided by law. 

Sec. 2. The governor shall appoint the adjutant, quartermaster, 
and commissary generals. 

Sec. 3. All militia officers shall be commissioned by the governor, 
and shall hold their offices not longer than three years. 

Sec. 4. The general assembly shall determine the method of dividing 
the militia into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, and com- 
panies, and fix the rank of all officers. 

Sec. 5. The militia may be divided into classes, in such manner as 
shall be prescribed by law. 

Sec. 6. No person conscientiously opposed to bearing arms shall be 
compelled to clo militia duty, but such person shall pay an equivalent 
for such exemption, the amount to be prescribed by law. 

Sec 7. The first general assembly shall offer inducements for the 
formation, uniforming, and drilling independent volunteer companies 
in the different cities and counties of this State. 

Finance and Taxation. — Article XI. 

Section 1 . The general assembly shall provide by law for a uniform 
and equal rate of assessment and taxation, and taxes shall be levied 
upon all such property, real and personal, as the general assembly 
may from time to time prescribe ; but all property appropriated and 
used exclusively for municipal, literary, educational, scientific, or 
charitable purposes, and personal property to an amount not exceed- 
ing one hundred dollars for each head of a family, and all property 
appropriated and used exclusively for religious purposes, to an amount 
not exceeding $200,000, may, by general laws, be exempted from 
taxation. 

Sec 2. The general assembly shall provide by law for an annual 
tax sufficient to defray the estimated ordinary expenses of the State 
for each year. 

Sec 3. Every law imposing a tax shall state distinctly the object 
of the same to which it shall be applied. 

Sec. 4. On the passage in either house of the general assembly of 
any law which imposes, continues, or renews a tax, or makes, con- 
tinues, or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or re- 
leases, discharges, or commutes a claim or demand of the State, the 
question shall be taken by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered 



630 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

on the journal ; and three-fifths of all the members elected to such 
house shall in all such cases be required to constitute a quorum. 

County and Township Officers.— Article XII. 

Section 1. The general assembly shall provide by law for the elec- 
tion of county, city, town, and township officers. 

Sec 2. All officers whose election or appointment is not provided 
for by this constitution shall be elected by the people, or appointed as 
the general assembly may by law direct. 

Sec. 3. Provision shall be made by law for the removal, for miscon- 
duct or malversation in office^, of all officers whose powers and duties 
are not local or legislative, and who shall be elected at general elec- 
tions, and also for supplying vacancies created by such removal. 

Sec. 4. The legislature may declare the cases in which any office 
shall be deemed vacant, where no provision is made for that purpose 
in this constitution. 

Corporations. — Article XIII, 

Section 1. The general assembly shall not create corporations by 
special act except for municipal purposes. 

Sec. 2. Corporations may be formed under general laws, but such 
laws may at any time be altered or repealed. 

Jurisprudence. — Article XIV. 

Section 1. The general assembly, at its first session, shall constitute 
three commissioners, whose duty it shall be to revise, reform, simplify, 
and abridge the rules of practice, pleadings, forms, and proceedings 
of the courts of record of this State, and to provide, so far as practica- 
ble and expedient, that justice shall be administered by intelligent 
and uniform proceedings, without any distinction between law and 
equity. 

Sec. 2. The proceedings of the commissioners shall be reported to 
the general assembly, and be subject to the action of that body. 

Miscellaneous. — Article XV. 

Section 1. The first general assembly shall locate the permanent 
seat of government. 

Sec 2. Lotteries and the sale of lottery tickets, for any purpose 
whatever, shall forever be prohibited in the State. 

Sec 3. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in thia 
State unless they possess the qualifications of an elector. 

Sec 4. There may be established in the secretary of state's office a 
bureau of statistics and agriculture, under such regulations as may be 
prescribed by law, and provision shall be made by the general assem- 
bly for, the organization and encouragement of state and county agri- 
cultural associations. 

Sec 5. The first general assembly shall provide by law for securing 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 631 

to the wife the separate property acquired by her before or after cover- 
ture, and the equal right with the husband to the custody of the chil- 
dren during their minority; and in case of death, insanity, intemper- 
ance, or gross impropriety of the husband, their exclusive custody. 

Amendments to the Constitution. — Article XVI. 

Sec. 1. All propositions for amendments to the constitution shall 
be made by the general assembly. 

Sec. 2. A concurrence of two-thirds of the members elected to each 
House shall be necessary, after which such proposed amendments shall 
be entered upon tlie journals Avith the yeas and nays, and the secretary 
of state shall cause the same to be published in at least one newspaper 
in each county in the State where a newspaper is published, for at 
least six months preceding the next election for senators and repre- 
sentatives, when such proposed amendments shall be again referred to 
the legislature elected next succeeding said publication. If passed by 
the second legislature, by a majority of two-thirds of the members 
elected to each house, such amendments shall be republished as afore- 
said for at least six months prior to the next general election, at which 
election such proposed amendments shall be submitted to the people 
for their approval or rejection, and if the majority of the electors 
voting at such election shall adopt such amendments, the same shall 
become a part of the constitution. 

Sec. 3. When more than one amendment is submitted at the same 
time they shall be so submitted as to enable the electors to vote upon 
each amendment separately. 

Sec. 4. No convention for the formation of a new constitution shall 
be called, and no amendment to the constitution shall be by the gen- 
eral assembly made, before the year 1865, nor more than once in five 
years thereafter. 

Banks and Currency. — Article XVII. 

Sec. 1. No banks shall be establis'ued otherwise than under a gen- 
eral banking law. 

Sec. 2. If the general assembly shall enact a general banking law, 
such law shall provide for the registry and countersigning hj the 
auditor of State of all paper credit designed to be circulated as money, 
with ample collateral security, readily convertible into specie for the 
redemption of the same in gold or silver shall be required ; which col- 
lateral security shall be under the control of the proper officer, or offi- 
cers of State, Such law shall restrict the aggregate amount of all 
paper credit to be circulated as money, and the aggregate amount to 
be put in circulation in any one year ; and no note issued under the 
provision of this section shall be of a less denomination than ten dollars. 

Sec 3. The stockholders in every bank or banking company shall 
be individually liable to an amount over and above their stock equal 
to their respective shares of stock for all debts and liabilities of said 
bank or banking company. 

Sec. 4. All bills or notes issued as money shall be at all times re- 



632 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

deemable in gold or silver ; and no law shall be passed sanctioning, 
directly or indirectly, the suspension, by any bank or banking com- 
pany, of specie payments. 

Sec. 5. Holders of bank notes shall be entitled, in case of insolven- 
cy, to preference of specie payment over all other creditors. 

Sec. G. No bank shall receive, directly or indirectly, a greater rate 
of interest tlian shall be allowed by law to individuals loaning money. 

Sec. 7. Every bank or banking company shall be required to cease 
all banking operations within twenty years from the time of its or- 
ganization, and promptly thereafter to close its business. 

Sec. 8. The State shall not be a stockholder in any bank or banking 
institution. 

Sec 9. All banks shall be required to keep officers and proper offices 
for the issue and redemption of their paper at some accessible and con- 
venient point within the State. 

Sec 10. The said banking law shall contain a provision reserving 
the power to alter, amend or repeal said law. 

Sec 11. At the time of submitting this constitution to the electors 
for their approval or disapproval, the articles numbered, in relation 
to a general banking law, shall be submitted as a distinct proposition 
in the following form : general banking law — yes or no ; and if a ma- 
jority of the votes cast shall be in favor of said article, then the same 
shall form a part of this constitution ; otherwise it shall be void and 
form no part thereof. 

SCHEDULE. 

In order that no inconvenience may arise from the organization and 
establishment of a State government, and that the wishes of the peo- 
ple may be fully accomplished, it is declared — 

1st. That no existing rights, suits, prosecutions, claims and con- 
tracts shall be affected by a change in the form of government. 

2d. That this constitution shall be submitted to the people of Kan- 
sas for ratification on the 15th day of December next. 

3d. That each qualified elector shall express his assent or dissent to 
the constitution by voting a written or printed ticket, labelled " Con- 
stitution," or "No constitution," which election shall be held by the 
same judges, and conducted under the same regulations and restric- 
tions as is hereinafter provided for the election of members of the gen- 
eral assembly, and the judges therein named shall within ten days 
after said election, seal up and transmit to the chairman of the execu- 
tive committee of Kansas Territory the result of said election, who 
shall forthwith make proclamation of the same ; and in case the con- 
stitution be ratified by the people, the chairman of the executive com- 
mittee shall cause publication to be made by proclamation tliat an 
election will be held on the third Tuesday of January, A. D. 1856, 
for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of State, treasurer, audi- 
tor, judges of the supreme court. State printer, attorney general, re- 
porter of the supreme court, clerk of the supreme court, and members 
of the general assembly, which said election shall be held by the same 
judges, under the same restrictions and conducted in the same manner 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 633 

as is hereinafter provided for tlie election of members of the general 
assembly ; and the judges herein named are hereby required within 
ten days after said election to seal up and transmit duplicate copies 
of the returns of said election to the chairman of the executive com- 
mittee, one of which shall be laid before the general assembly at its 
first meeting. 

4th. At the same time and place the qualified voters shall, under 
the same regulations and restrictions, elect a member of Congress, to 
represent the State of Kansas in the 34th Congress of the United 
States ; the returns of said election to be made to the chairman of the 
executive committee, who shall deposit the same in the office of the 
secretary of state as soon as he shall enter upon the discharge of the 
duties of his office. 

5tli. The general assembly shall meat on the fourth day of March, 
A. D. 185G, at the city of Topeka, at 12, m., at which time and place 
the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, judge of the 
supreme court, treasurer, auditor. State printer, reporter, and clerk of 
the supreme court, and attorney general, shall appear, take the oath 
of office, and enter upon the discharge of the duties of their respec- 
tive officers under this constitution, and shall continue in office in the 
same manner and during the same period they would have done had 
they been elected on the first Monday of August, A. D. 1856. 

6th. Until otherwise provided by law, the State shall be divided 
into election districts ; and the senators and representatives shall be 
apportioned among the several districts as follows: 

First district. — Commencing in the Kansas river, at the mouth of 
Cedar creek ; thence up said river to the first tributary above the town 
of Lawrence ; thence up said tributary to its source ; thence by a 
direct line to the west side of Johnson's house; thence by a due south 
line to the Santa Fe road, and along the middle of said road to a point 
due south of the source of Cedar creek ; thence due north to the source 
of said Cedar creek, and down the same to the i^lace of beginning. 

Second district. — Commencing at the mouth of Big Spring branch, 
on the south bank of the Kansas river ; thence up said branch to its 
furthest source; thence by a southerly line crossing the Wakarusa 
river, on the east side of the house of Charles Matney, to the middle 
of the Santa Fe road ; thence along the middle of said road to the 
line of the first district; thence by the same along the west side of 

the house of Johnson, to the head of the first tributary of the 

Kansas, above the town of Lawrence; and thence by the same tribu- 
tary to the Kansas river, and up the south bank of said river to the 
mouth of Big Spring branch, the place of beginning. 

Third district. — Commencing at the mouth of Big Spring branch, 
on the south side of the Kansas river ; thence up the same to its fur- 
thest source; thence by a southerly line to the north bank of the 
Wakarusa river, on the east side of the house of Charles Matney ; 
thence up said river and its main branch to the line of the Pottawa- 
tomie reservation ; and thence by the southern and western line of 
said reservation to the Kansas river, and down the said river to the 
place of beginning. 

Fourth- pufsip — Commencing at the Missouri State line, in the 



634 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

middle of the Santa Fe road ; thence along the middle of said road to 
Rock creek, near the BSth mile of said road ; thence south to the line 
of the Shawnee reservation ceded by the treaty of 1854 ; thence due 
east along the south line of said reservation and the north lines of the 
existing reservations of the Sacs and Foxes, the existing reservations 
of the Chippewas and Ottawas, and the reservations of the Pianke- 
shaws, Weas, Peorias, and Kaskaskias, to the Missouri State line ; 
thence up the Missouri State line to the place of beginning. 

Fifth district. — Commencing at the Missouri State line at the south- 
ern boundary of the fourth district ; thence west along the same to 
the northwest corner of the Sac and Fox reservation ; thence due south 
along the western line thereof, and due south to the south branch of 
the Neosho river, about seventy miles above the Catholic Osage mis- 
sion ; thence down said river to the north line of the reserve for the 
New York Indians, and east along said line to the headwaters of 
Little Osage river, or the nearest point thereto ; and thence down said 
river to the Missouri State line, and up said line to the place of be- 
ginning. 

Sixth district. — Commencing on the Missouri State line in Little 
Osage river ; thence up the same to the line of the reserve for the New 
York Indians, or the nearest point thereto ; thence to and by the north 
line of said reserve to the Neosho river, and up said river and the 
south branch thereof to the head ; and thence by a due south line to 
the southern line of the Territory ; thence by the southern and eastern 
lines of said Territory to the place of beginning. 

Seventh district. — Commencing at the east side of the house of 
Charles Matney^ on the Wakarusa river ; thence due south to the 
middle of the Santa Fe road ; thence westwardly along the middle of 
said road to Rock creek, near the 65th mile of said road; thence due 
south to the north line of the Sac and Fox reservation ; thence along 
the north and west lines thereof, and due south, to tlie Neosho river; 
thence up said river to a point due south of the mouth of Elm creek ; 
thence due north to the mouth of Elm creek, and Tip said creek to the 
Santa Fe road, and thence by a direct line in a northerly direction to 
the southwest corner of the Pottawatomie reservation ; thence along 
the southern line of said reservation to the head waters of the Waka- 
rusa river, or the point nearest thereto; thence to and down the said 
river to the place of beginning. 

Eighth district. — Commencing at the mouth of E^lm creek, one of 
the branches of Osage river ; thence up the same to the Santa Fe 
road ; thence by a direct northerl)'" line to the southwest corner of the 
Pottawatomie reservation ; thence up the western line thereof to 
Kansas river ; thence up said river and the Smokey Hill fork, beyond 
the most westerly settlements ; thence due south to the line of the 
Territory; tlience by the same to the line of the sixth district; thence 
due north to the head of the south branch of the Neosho river ; thence 
down said river to the line of the seventh district ; thence due north 
to the place of beginning. 

NintJi district. — Commencing at Smoky Hill fork, beyond the most 
westerly settlements ; thence down the same and the K9,nsas river to 
the mouth of Wild Cat creek ; thence up said creek to the headwaters 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 639 

thereof; thence due north to the Independence emigrant roaa . '^., Mr. 
up said road to the north line of the Territory ; thence west alo> 
same heyond the most westerly settlements ; and thence due soiv -€ of 
the place of beginning. 'k. 

Tenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Vermillion riv«' 
thence up the same beyond tlie house of Josiah D. Adams ; thenc 
due north to the Independence emigrant road ; thence up the middle ot 
said road to the line of the ninth district ; thence by the same to the 
head of Wild Cat creek,, and down said creek to tlie Kansas river; 
thence down said river to the place of beginning. 

Eleventh district. — Commencing in the Vermillion river, opposite 
the north side of tlie house of Josiah D. Adams ; thence up said river 
to the head of the main branch ; thence due north to the military road 
from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney ; thence along the middle of 
said road to the crossing of the Vermillion branch of the Blue ; thence 
due north to the northern line of the Territory ; thence west, along 
said line, to the Independence emigrant road ; thence down said road 
to a point due west to the north end of the house of Josiah D. Adams, 
and due east to the place of beginning. 

Twelfth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Soldier creek, in the 
Kansas river ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch ; 
thence due north to the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort 
Kearney ; thence along the middle of said road to the line of the 
eleventh district ; thence due south to the head of Vermillion river, 
down Vermillion river to the mouth, and down Kansas river to the 
place of beginning. 

Thirteenth district. — Commencing in the Kansas river, at a point 
three miles above the mouth of Stranger creek : thence in a north- 
wardly direction by a line corresponding to, and three miles west of 
the several courses of said creek, to the line of the Kickapoo reserva- 
tion : thence by the southern and western line of said reservation to 
the military road from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Kearney; thence 
along the middle of said road to the line of the twelfth district ; tlience 
due south to the head of Soldier creek, down Soldier creek to the 
mouth, and down Kansas river to the place of beginning. 

Fourteenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Independence 
creek ; thence up said creek to the head of the main branch, and thence 
due west to the line of the late Kickapoo reservation ; thence north 
along said line, and the line of the late Sac and Fox reservation, to 
the north line of the Territory ; thence along said line eastwardly to 
the Missouri river, and down said river to the place of beginning. 

Fifteenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Salt creek, on the 
Missouri river ; thence up said creek to the military road, and along 
the middle of said road to the lower crossing of Stranger creek ; thence 
up said creek to the line of the late Kickapoo reservation, and thence 
along the southern and western line thereof to the line of the fourteenth 
district ; thence by the same, and down Independence creek, to the 
mouth thereof, and thence down the Missouri river to the place of be- 
ginning. 

Sixteenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of Salt creek ; thence 
up said creek to the military road: thence along the middle of said 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

J the lower crossing of Stranger creek ; thence up said creek to 

le of the Late Kickapoo reservation, and thence along the same 

J line of the tliirteenth district, and thence by the same, along 

ue corresponding to the source of Stranger creek, and keeping three 

ies west thereof, to the Kansas river ; thence down the Kansas river 
J the Missouri, and up the Missouri river to the place of beginning. 

Seventeenth district. — Commencing at the mouth of the Kansas 
river ; thence up the south bank thereof to the mouth of Cedar creek ; 
thence up Cedar creek to its source ; and thence due south to the Santa 
Fe road ; along the middle of said road to the Missouri State line ; 
and along said line to the place of beginning. 

Eigliteentli district. — Commencing in the military road at the cross- 
ing of the Vermillion branch of Blue river ; thence due north to the 
line of the Territory ; thence east along said line to the fourteenth dis- 
trict; thence due south along said line to the aforesaid military road, 
and along the middle of said road to the place of beginning. 

Senatorial and representative district. — 1st. The first election dis- 
trict shall be entitled to three senators and eight representatives. 

2nd. The second election district shall be entitled to one senator 
and three representatives. 

3d. The third election district shall be entitled to one senator and 
three re]iresentatives. 

4th. The fourth and seventeenth election districts shall constitute 
the fourth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to one 
senator and two representatives. 

5th. Tlie fifth election district shall be entitled to three senators 
and nine representatives. 

6th. The sixth, seventh, and eighth election districts, shall consti- 
tute the sixth senatorial and representative district^ and be entitled to 
two senators and five representatives. 

7th. The ninth and tenth election districts shall constitute the sev- 
enth senatorial district, and be entitled to one senator and four repre- 
sentatives. 

8th. The eleventh and twelfth election districts shall constitute the 
eighth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to one 
senator and three representatives. 

9th. The thirteenth election district shall constitute the ninth sen- 
atorial and representative district, and be entitled to one senator and 
two representa'ives. 

10th. The fourteenth and eighteenth election districts shall consti- 
tute the the tenth senatorial and representative district, and be enti- 
tled to two senators and sevenepresentatives. 

nth. The fifteenth election district shall constitute the eleventh 
senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to one senator 
and five representatives. 

12th. The sixteenth election district shall constitute the twelfth 
senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to three Senators 
and nine representatives. 

Sec. 3. Until otherwise provided by law, the election in the several 
districts shall be held at the following places, and the following named 
persons are hereby appointed as judges of the elections : 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
PLACES OF VOTING. 

Sec. 4. First senatorial district. — Lawrence precinct, at the . 
State hotel ; A. D. Searle, Lyman Allen, Henry Bronson, judges. 

Franklin precinct, at the store of Mr. Purdam ; James McGt 
Horace L. Enos, I. Purdam, judges. 

Blanton precinct, at the house of J. B. Abbott ; John Stewart, R. 
Vaughn, P. T. Hupp, judges. 

Palmyra precinct, at the house of li. Barricklow ; H. Barricklow, 
Louis Green, A. Pierson, judges. 

Second senatorial district. — Blooraington precinct, at the house of 
H. Burson; Samuel Smith, Daniel Vancil, J. M. Dunn, judges. 

2 hird senatorial district. — Washington jirecinct, at the house of W. 
R. Frost: W. Riley, Caleb Antram, Eli Allen, judges. 

Tecumseh precinct, at the house of J. Taylor ; Charles Jordan, John 
Morris, Francis Grassmuck, judges. 

Topeka precinct, at the law office of E. C. K. Garvey ; Dr. F. L. 
Grain, Milton C. Dickey, J. F. Cummings, judges. 

Brownsville precinct, at the house of G. W. Brown ; G. W. Brown, 
Mr. Simmerwell, Dr. Bowen, judges. 

Fourth senatorial district. — Prarie City precinct, at the house of 
Samuel Mewhenny ; W. Moore, Samuel Workman, Amos Hanna, 
judges. 

Mission precinct, at tlie Baptist Mission building ; G. L. Osborn, S. 
M. Cornautzer, Lewis Dougherty, judges. 

Wakarusa precinct, at the store of Paschal Fish ; L. H. Bascom, 
Ellis Bond, A. G. Green, judges. 

Fifth senatorial district. — Osawatomie precinct, at the house of Sam- 
uel Geer ; William Chestnut, B. Woodbury, William Sailing, judges. 

Stanton precinct, at the house of Mr. Staniford ; J. Woollard, Mr. 
Morse, W. G. Nichols, judges. 

Pottawatomie precinct, at the meeting-house ; F. Brown, J. Grant, 
S. B. Morse, judges. 

Hampden precinct, at the house of W. A. Ela ; W. A. Ela, Chaun- 
cey Morse, George Law, judges. 

Sugar Creek precinct, at tlie house of Silas Young ; Silas Young, 
James W. Dudley, William Dyer, judges. 

Little Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Isaac D. Stockton ; 
J. D. Stockton, Thomas Sears, James Osborn, judges. 

Little Osage precinct, at Miller's store ; Thomas Osburn, Mr. 
Miller, Mr. Fawbus, judges. 

Osage precinct, at the house of Thomas Polks ; Mr. Wycoff, Mr. 
-, Mr. , judges. 

Sixth so filarial district. — Scott's Town precinct, at the house of Mr. 
Vandevre ; T. Crabtree, Isaac Chatham, F. S. Froscel, judges. 

Titus precinct, at the house of J. B. Titus, on the Sante Fe road ; 
J. B. Titus, John Drew, W. Lord, judges. 

Council Grove precinct, at the Mission house ; J. Goodell, G. H. 
Rees, B. Wright, judges. 

Waubonsa precinct, at the house of John H. Nesbit. in Waubonsa ; 
E. R. McCurdy, J. M. Bisby, D. B. Hiatt, judges. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Creek precinct, at the house of J. E. Hoenick ; J. E. Hoenick, 
judges. 



shland precinct, at the house of ; Mr. Adams, 

-, judges. 

Clark Creek precinct, at some suitable place near the junction of 
Jlark and Hurabolt creeks ; William McCreadj, Mr. Berry, Mr. Mit- 
chell, judges. 

Seventh senatorial district. — Pawnee precinct, at Loder and Shaw's 
store, in Pawnee; S. P. Pliggens, W. M, McClure, L. Knapp, judges. 

Big Blue precinct, at the house of S. D. Dyer, in Juniata ; J. 
Stewart, S. D. Houston, J. T. Goodenow, judges. 

Rock Creek precinct, at the house of Mr. Haitt ; James Darnell, 
Charles Jenkins, Henry Remmell, judges. 

Eighth senatorial district. — Black Vermillion precinct, at some suit- 
able house in said precinct on the Vermillion branch of the Blue river ; 
John Shmidt, Mr. HoUingburg, M. Alvey, judges. 

St. Mary's precinct, at the house of B. F. Bertrand ; Dr. Palmer, C. 
Garrett, C. Dean, judges. 

Silver Lake precinct, at some suitable house at Indianola ; E. Ken- 
nedy, J. AV. Hopkins,, John G. Thompson, judges. 

Ninth senatorial district. — Daton precinct, at the store of Bainter and 
Hoover ; Lewis Hoover, Nathan Adams, G. B, Hall, judges. 

Grasshopper Falls precinct, at the house of the Mill Company ; S. 
H. Dunn, John W. Clark, J. B. Ross, judges. 

Whitfield precinct, at the house of J. B. Chapman ; Thomas Jen- 
ners, Vincent D. Cohee, James A. Gray, judges. 

Tenth senatorial district. — California precinct, at the house of W. 
W. Moore ; W. W. Moore, W. Jackson, judges. 

Iowa Point precinct, at the house of Mr. McCall ; Mr. Hanby, Mr. 
Pader, judges. 

Voters on Independence and Deer creeks will vote at Doniphan. 

St. Jo. Bottom precinct, at the house of B. Harden ; George Bry- 
ant, H. Smallwood, A. A. Jamison, judges. 

Burr Oak precinct, at the house of Mr. Wilson ; Mr. Brock, Mr. 
Wilson, Thomas McCulloch, judges. 

Palermo precinct, at the house of R. Martin; John White, R. Ladd, 
N. White, judges. 

Doniphan precinct, at Collins' mill ; David Lee, D. W. Fields. J, 
McNamee, judges. 

Wolf River precinct, at the house of Mr. Searl ; Mr. Searl, Mr. 
Ulse, Mr. Richardson, fudges. 

Eleventh senatorial district. — Kickapoo precinct, at some suitable 
house in Kickapoo City; Dr. McCormas, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Boyd, 
judges. 

Port William precinct, at the house of Dr. Hathaway ; Dr. Hatha- 
Tfay, Mr. Oliphant, Mr. Potter, judges. 

Mount Pleasant precinct, at the house of M. A. Potter ; Mr. Ridg- 
way, B. Ellioit, M. A. Potter, judges. 

Oceana precinct, at the store of Crosby '& Co.; Archibald Elliott, A. 
T;andntm, S. J. H. Snyder, judges. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 639 

Atchinson precinct, at the house of Mr. Bay ; R. Meciibhins, Mr, 
Bay, Henry Williams, judges. 

Twelfth senatorial district. — Leavenworth precinct, at the office of 
Gardiner & Dodge ; Adam Fisher, Thomas H. Doyle, Hide Hook, 
judges. 

Easton precinct, at the house of T. A. Maynard ; T. A. Maynard, 
G. J. Clark, Wm. Pennock, judges. 

Wyandot precinct, at the council house in Wyandot City ; Abelard 
Guthrie, G. J. Clark, Ebenezer Lane, judges. 

The executive committee of Kansas Territory is authorized to ap- 
point additional precincts and judges therefor. 



INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES. 

Sec. 7. The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes for 
depositing the ballots cast by electors — shall appoint two clerks, all 
of whom shall be sworn or affirmed to discharge the duties of their 
respective offices impartially and with fidelity ; and the judges and 
clerks shall have power to administer the oath or affirmation to each 
other; and the said judges shall open said election at 9 o'clock, a. m., 
at the place designated in each precinct, and close the same at 6 
o'clock, p. m. In case any of the officers appointed fail to attend, the 
officer or officers in attendance shall supply their places, and in the 
event of all of them failing to attend, the qualified voters shall supply 
their places ; and the said judges shall make out duplicate returns of 
said election ; seal up and transmit the same within ten days to the 
chairman of the executive committee, one copy of which is to be laid 
before the general assembly. If at the time of holding said election 
it shall be inconvenient, from any cause whatever, that would disturb 
or prevent the voters of any election precinct in the Territory from 
the free and peaceable exercise of the elective franchise, the officers 
are hereby authorized to adjourn said election into any other precinct 
in the Territory, and to any other day they may see proper, of the 
necessity of which they shall be the exclusive judges, at which time 
and place the qualified voters may cast their votes. 

Sec. 8. Until otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the execu- 
tive committee of Kansas Territory shall announce by proclamation 
the result of the election and the names of persons elected to office. 

Sec. 9. No person shall be entitled to a seat in the first general as- 
sembly at its organization, except the members whose names are 
oontained in the proclamation of the chairman of the executive com- 
mittee, but after the general assembly is organized, seats may be con- 
tested in the usual way. 

Sec. 10. Certificates of indebtedness may be issued by the territorial 
executive committee for all necessary expenses accruing in the forma- 
tion of the State government, not exceeding twenty-five tliousand dol- 
lars ; provided, no certificates shall be issued except for legitimate ex- 
penses. All claims shall be made in writing, and shall be numbered 
and kept on file in the secretary's office, and all certificates of indebt- 



640 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

edness shall be signed by tbe president and secretary, and counter- 
signed by the treasurer, and numbered to correspond with the number 
of the claim or bill for which it was issued. The certificate shall 
bear ten per cent, interest per annum. 

Sec. 11. The first general assembly shall provide by law for the 
redemption of the certificates of indebtedness issued under the pro- 
visions of the foregoing section. 

Sec. 12. Until the great seal of the State of Kansas is agreed upon 
and procured, as provided for in the 11th section of the 5th article of 
this constitution, the governor shall use his own private seal as the 
seal of State. 

Sec, 13. At the election for the ratification of this constitution, and 
the first election for State officers^ a representation in the Congress of 
the United States, and members of the general assembly of this State, 
an actual residence in the Territory of thirty days immediately pre- 
ceding said election, shall be sufiicient as a qualification for the elector ; 
and an actual resident of ninety days for the candidates, provided 
said electors and candidates possess all the other qualifications re- 
quired by the provisions of this constitution. 

Sec. 14. The first legislature shall provide by law for the enforce- 
ment of the provisions of the 6th section of the bill of rights on or 
before the 4th day of July, 1857, as to all persons in the Territory 
before the adoption of this constitution, and as to all others the pro- 
visions of said section shall operate from and after the ratification of 
this constitution by the people. 

ROB'T KLOTZ, W. GRAHAM, 

M. J. PARROTT, MORRIS HUNT, 

M. VV. DELAHAY, J. H. NESBITT. 

W. R. GRIFFITH, C. K. HOLIDAY, 

G. S. HILLYER, DAVID DODGE, 

WILLIAM HICKS, J. A WAKEFIELD, 

S. N. LATTA, W. Y. ROBERTS, 

JOHN LANDIS, G. W. SMITH, 

H. BURSON, J. G. THOMPSON, 

C. W. STEWART, G. A. CUTLER, 

J. M. ARTHUR, J. K. GOODIN, 

J. L. SAYLE, J. M. TUTON, 

CALEB MAY, THOMAS BELL, 

S. MEWHINY, R. H. CROSBY, 

A. CURTISS, P. C. SCHUYLER, 

A. HUNTING, C. ROBINSON, 

R. KNIGHT, M. F. CONWAY, 

O. C. BROWN, J. S. EMERY, 



Sam. C. Smith, Secretary. 

Cha's a. Foster, Assistant Secretary. 



J. H. LANE, President. 



Before the vote was taken by the people, upon the adoption of the 
■jonstitution, the executive committee, in pursuance of instructions 
from the constitutional convention, prepared and issued a proclama- 
tion, of which the following is a copy : 



KANSASP AFATRS. 641 

PROCLAMATION". 

Constitution and general hanking law. 

By authority vested in me as chairman of the executive committee 
of Kansas Territory, I do hereby proclaim and make known — 

That the qualified voters of said Territory will meet at the several 
precincts hereinafter mentioned, on the 15th day of December, A. D. 
1855, and then and there cast their ballots for or against the consti- 
tution framed by the convention which met at Topeka on the 23d day 
of October, 1855, in the following form : Those in favor voting a bal- 
lot upon which is written or \)v\nte'l Constitution ; those against, No 
Constitution . 

At the same time and places they will cast their ballots approving 
or disapproving an article in relation to a general banking law, framed 
by said convention, which article is submitted as a distinct proposi- 
tion, to be voted upon by casting a written or printed ballot, in the 
following form : Those in favor, voting General Banking Law — Yes; 
those against, General Banking Law — No. 

If a majority of the votes cast shall be in favor of said article, then 
the same shall form a part of the constitution ; otherwise it shall be 
void and form no part thereof. 

Places of voting 

Sec. 4. First senatorial, district Lawrence precinct, at the Free 
State hotel ; A. D. Searl. Lyman Allen, Henry Bronsou, judges. 

Franklin precinct, at the store of Mr. Purdam ; James McGee, 
Horace L. Enos, I. Purdam, judges. 

Blanton precinct, at the house of J. B. Abbott : John Steuart, K. 
Vaughn, P. T, Happ, judges. 

Palmyra precinct, at the house of H. Barricklow ; H. Barricklow, 
Lewis Green, A. Pier son, judges. 

Second senatorial district, Bloomington precinct, at the house of 
H. Burson ; Samuel Smith, Daniel Vancil, J. M. Dunn, judges. 

Third senatorial district, Washington precinct, at the house of W. 
E. Frost ; W. Eiley, Caleb Antram, Eli Allen, judges. 

Tecumseh precinct, at the house of J. Taylor ; Charles Jordan, 
John Morris, Francis Grussmuck, judges. 

Topeka precinct, at the law office of E. C. K. Garvey ; Dr. F. L. 
Crain, Millton C. Dickey, J. T. Cummins, judges. 

Brownsville precinct, at the house of G. W. Brown ; G. W. Brown, 
Mr. Simmerwell, Dr. Bowen, judges. 

Fourth senatorial district, Prairie City precinct, at the house of 
Samuel Mewhenney ; W. Moore, Samuel Workman, Amos Hanna, 
judges. 

Mission precinct, at the Baptist Mission building ; G. L. Osborne^ 
S. M. Cornantzer, Lewis Dougherty, judges. 

Wakarusa precinct, at the store of Paschall Fish ; L. H. Bascom , 
Ellis Bond, A. G, Green, judges. 

Fifth senatorial district, Osowatomie precinct, at the house of 
Samuel Gear ; Wm. Chestnut, B. Woodbury, Wm. Sailing, judges. 
H. Ptep. 200 h^- 



642 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Stanton precinct, at the house of Mr. Staniford ; J. Woollard^ Mr. 
Morse, W. G. Nichols, judges. 

Pottawatomie precinct, at the meeting house ; F. Brown, J. Grant, 
S. B. Morse, judges. 

Hampden precinct, at the house of W. A. Ela ; W. A. Ela, Chaun- 
cey Morse, George Law, judges. 

Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of SiLas Young ; Silas Young, 
James W. Dudley, William Dyer^ judges. 

Little Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Isaac D. Stockton ; I. 

D. Stockton, Thomas Sears, James Osborne, judges. 

Little Osage precinct, at Miller's store ; Thomas Osburn, Mr. Mil- 
ler, Mr. Fawbus, judges. 

Osage precinct, at the house of Thomas Polks ; Mr. WycoflP, Mr. 
, Mr. , judges. 

Sixth senatorial district, Scottstown precinct, at the house of Mr. 
Vaudevere ; T. Crabtree, Isaac Chatham, F. A. Froscel, judges. 

Titus precinct, at the house of J. B. Titus, on the Santa Fe road ; 
J. B. Titus, John Drew, W. Lord, judges. 

Council Grove precinct, at the Mission house; J. Goodell, G. H. 
.Eees, B. Wright, judges. 

Waubousa precinct, at the house of John H. Nesbit, in Waubousa; 

E. R. McCurdy, J. W. Bisby, D. B. Hiatt, judges. 

Mill Creek precinct, at the house of J. E. Hoenick ; J. E. Hoenick, 
, judges. _ 

Ashland precinct, at the house of ; Mr. Adams, , 

judges. 

Clark Creek precinct, at some suitable place near the junction of 
Clark and Humboldt creeks ; William McCready, Mr. Berry, Mr. 
Mitchell, judges. 

Seventh senatorial district-, Pawnee precinct, at Loder & Shaw's 
store in Pawnee ; S. P. Higgins, W. M. McClure, L. Knapp, judges. 

Big Blue precinct, at the house of S. D. Dyer, in Juniata ; J. Stew- 
art, S. D. Houston, J. T. Goodenow^ judges. 

Rock Creek precinct, at the House of Mr. Haitt ; James Darnell, 
Charles Jenkins, Henry Remmell, judges. 

Eighth senatorial district ; Black Vermillion precinct, at some 
suitable house in said precinct on the Vermillion branch of the Blue 
river ; John Schmidt, Mr. Hollingburg, M. Alvey, judges. 

St. Mary's precinct, at the house of B. F. Bertrand ; Dr. Palmer, 
C. Garrett, C. Dean, judges. 

Silver Lake precinct, at some suitable house in Indianola; E. Ken- 
nedy, J. W. Hopkins, John G. Thompson, judges. 

Ninth senatorial district ; Dayton precinct, at the store of Bainter 
& Hoover ; Lewis Hoover, Nathan Adams, G. B. Hall, judges. 

Grasshopper Falls precinct, at the house of the mill company ; 
S. H. Dunn, John W. Clark, J. B. Ross, judges. 

Whitfield precinct, at the house of . B. Chapman ; Thomas Jen- 
ners, Vincent D. Cobce, James A. Gray, judges. 

Tenth senatorial district ; California precinct, at the house of W. 
W. Moore.; W. W. Moore, W. Jackson, judges. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 643 

Iowa Point precinct, at the house of Mr. McCall ; Mr. Hanby, Mr. 
Pader, judges. 

Voters on Independence and Deer creeks will vote at Doniphan. 

St Joseph's bottom precinct, at the house of B. Hardin; George 
Bryant, H. Smallwood, A. A. Jamison, judges. 

Burr Oak precinct, at the house of Mr. Wilson ; Mr. Brook, Mr. 
Wilson, Thomas McCullock, judges. 

Palermo precint, at the house of R. Martin; John White, E. 
Ladd, N. White, judges. 

Doniphan precinct, at Collins' mill ; David Lee, D. W. Fields, 
J. McNamee, judges, 

Wolf River precinct, at the house of Mr. Searle ; Mr. Searle, Mr. 
Ulse, Mr. Richardson, judges. 

Eleventh senatorial district ; Kickapoo precinct, at some suitable 
house in Kickapoo City ; Dr. McCormas, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Boyd, 
judges. 

Port William precinct, at the house of Dr. Hathaway ; Dr. Hath- 
away. Mr. Oliphant, Mr. Potter, judges. 

Mount Pleasant precinct, at the house of M. A. Potter ; Mr. Ridg- 
way, B. Elliot, M. A. Potter, judges. 

Oceana precinct, at the house of Crosby & Co.; Archibald Elliott, 
A. Landrum, S. J. H. Snyder, judges. 

Atchison precinct, at the house of Mr. Ray ; R. McCubbins, Mr. 
Ray, Henry Williams, judges. 

Twelfth senatorial district ; Leavenworth precinct, at the office 
of Gardiner & Dodge ; Adam Fisher, Thomas H. Doyle, Hide Hook, 
judges. 

Eastern precinct, at the house of T. A. Maynard ; T. A. Maynard, 
0. J. Clark, William Pennock, judges. 

Wyandot precinct at the council house in Wyandot City ; Abelard 
Guthrie, O.J. Clark, Ebenezer Lane, judges. 

The executive committee of Kansas Territory is authorized to ap- 
point additional precincts and judges therefor. 

Instructions to judges. 

Sec. 7. The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes for 
depositing the ballots cast by electors ; shall appoint two clerks, all 
of whom shall be sworn or affirmed to discharge the duties of their 
respective offices impartially and with fidelity ; and the judges and 
clerks shall have power to adminster the oath or affirmation to each 
other ; and the said judges shall open said election at nine o'clock, 
a. m., at the place designated in each precinct, and close the same at 
six o'clock, p. m. In case any of the officers appointed fail to attend, 
the officer or officers in attendance shall supply their places ; and in 
the event of all of them failing to attend, the qualified voters shall 
supply their places ; and the said judges shall make out duplicate 
returns of said election, seal up and transmit the same within ten 
days to the chairman of the executive committee, one copy of which 
is to be laid before the general assembly. If at the time of holding 
said election it shall be inconvenient, from any cause whatever that 



644 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

would disturb or prevent the voters of any election precinct in the 
Territory from the free and peaceable exercise of the elective franchise, 
the officers are hereby authorized to adjourn said election into any 
other precinct in the Territory, and to any other day they may see 
proper, of the necessity of which they shall be the exclusive judges, 
at which time and place the qualified voters nuiy cast their ballots. 

Qualification of voters. 

Sec. 2. Every white male person and every civilized male Indiau 
who has adopted the habits of the white man, of the age of twenty- 
one years and upward, who shall be at tlie time of offering to vote a 
citizen of the United States, who shall have resided and had his 
habitation, domicil, home, and place of permanent abode in Kansas 
Territory for thirty days next preceding the election, shall be deemed 
a qualified elector ; provided that no soldier, seaman, or marine of 
the regular army of the United State shall bQ entitled to vote. 

BLANKS. 

Printed forms of poll books, tally papers, and tickets will be fur- 
nished to the officers of each election precinct. 

The importance of the election will doubtless induce you to observe 
the forms transmitted, and scrupulously to adhere to the rules herein 
recited. 

It is confidently expected the people of Kansas will be permitted to 
exercise the right of suffrage upon so vital a subject as their first con- 
stitution, without interference from foreign invaders; if, however, you 
are disapjjointed and any attempt should be made to pollute the ballot 
box by force or otherwise, the judges will unhesitatingly exercise the 
authority vested in them, and adjourn or remove the polls to such 
time and place as in their judgment will secure a legal election. 

Given under my hand, at tlie office of the executive committee of 
Kansas Territory, at Topeka, this 24th day of November, A. D. 1855. 

J. H. LANE, Chairman. 

J. K. GooDiN, Secrdarij. 

A regularly conducted election was lield on the 15th of December, 
1855, in pursuance of that proclamation and in ^compliance with the 
order of the constitutional convention. The returns of the election 
were brought in and given to the executive committee. 

On the 29th of December, 1855, the following proclamation was 
issued by the executive committee. It is here inserted: 

CONSTITUTIONAL PROCLAMATION. 

At an election holden on the 15th day of December, 1855, to deter- 
mine, by ballot, for or against the adoption of a constitution for the 
State of Kansas, framed by a convention of delegates which assembled 
at Tojjcka on Tuesday, the 2od of October, 1855, i-t doth appear by 
the returns of said election now on file in the office of the executive 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 645 

committee, tliat a majority of all the votes cast arc in favor of the said 
constitution. Now, therefore, by virtue of authority in me vested as 
chairman of the executive committee of Kansas Territory, I do hereby 
proclaim and make known, that the constitution framed by the said 
Topeka convention has been ratified by the qualified voters of Kansas 
Territory, and I do now declare the same to be the constitution op the 
State of Kansas. 

And I do further proclaim and make known, that of all the votes 
cast at the aforesaid election "for" and "against" a separate and dis- 
tinct article on the subject of bmiking, a majority are in favor of a 
" general hanking laiv," as ascertained by the returns of said election 
now on file in the office of the executive committee ; and I do now de- 
clare the said article to be a part of the constitution of the State of 
Kansas. 

And I do further proclaim and make known, that of the votes casi 
at tlic aforesaid election "for" and "against" "the passage of laws 
by the general assembly providing for the exclusion of free negroes 
from the State of Kansas — the result of such vote to operate as in- 
structions to tlie first general assembly upon that subject," a majority 
are in favor of ''exclusion," as ascertained by the returns of said elec- 
tion now on file in the office of the executive committee. 

Given under my hand, at the office of tho executive committee of 
Kansas, at the city of Topeka, this 27th day of December, A. D. 1855. 

J. H. LANE, Chairman. 
Attest ; 

C. K. HoLLiDAY, Secretary pro temijore. 

On the same day a proclamation was issued for the election of State 
officers and members of the general assembly of the State of Kansas, 
to be held on the 15th of January, 185G, of which the following is a 
true copy : 

ELECTION PROCLAMATION. 

By virtue of autliority in me vested as chairman of the executive 
committee of Kansas Territory, I do hereby proclaim and make known, 
that the qualified voters of Kansas will meet at the several precincts 
hereinafter mentioned, on tlie 15th day of January, A. DT 185G, and 
then and there elect: 

One person for governor ; one person for lieutenant governor ; one 
person for secretary of State ; one person for auditor of State ; one 
person for treasurer of State ; one person for attorney general ; three 
persons for judges of supreme court ; one person for reporter of su- 
preme court ; one person for clerk of supreme court ; one person for 
public printer; one person for representative to Congress. 

At the same time and places they will also elect twenty persons for 
^enators and sixty persons for representatives to the general assembly 
of the State of Kansas, to be apportioned among the several districts 
as follows, to wit: 



64G KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Senatorial aiul representaiivc districts. 

Ist. Tlie first election district shall be entitled to three senators and 
cip;ht rc])rcscnt<itivcs. 

2d. Tlie second election district shall he entitled to one senator and 
three representatives. 

3d. The third election district shall he entitled to one senator and 
three representatives. 

4th. Tlie t'ourth and seventeentli election districts shall constitute 
the fourth senatorial and representative district, and he entitled to 
one senator and two re}u-eseutatives. 

5th. The fifth election district shall he entitled to three senators 
and nine representatives. 

()th. The sixth, seventh, and eighth election districts shall consti- 
tute the sixth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to 
two senators and ^\\q representatives. 

Hh. The ninth and tenth election districts shall constitute the 
seventh senatorial district, and be entitled to one senator and four 
representatives. 

8th. The eleventh and twelfth election districts shall constitute the 
eighth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to one 
senator and throe rejuesentatives. 

9th. The tliirteenth election district shall constitute the ninth sena- 
torial and representative district, and be entitled to one senator and 
two representatives. 

10th. The fourteenth and eighteenth election districts shall consti- 
tute the tenth senatorial and representative district, and be entitled 
to two senators and seven representatives. 

11th. The fifteenth election district shall constitute the eleventh 
senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to one senator 
and five representatives. 

12th. The sixteenth election district shall constitute the twelfth 
senatorial and representative district, and be entitled to three senators 
and nine representatives. 

Until otherwise provided by law, the election in the several districts 
shall be held at the following places, and the following named persons 
are hereby appointed as judges of the elections. 

Election Precincts. 

1st senatorial district, Lawrence precinct, at the Free State hotel; 
A. D. Searl, Lyman Allen, Henry Bronson, judges. 

Franklin precinct, at the store of E. B. rurdam; James McGee 
Horace L. Enos, E. B. Purdani, judges. 

Blanton precinct, at the house of J. B. Abbott; John Stewart, R. 
Vaughn, V. T. Hup}), judges. 

Palmyra precinct, at the house of II. Barricklow ; H. Barricklow, 
L. Green, A. Pierson, judges. 

2d senatorial district, Bloomington precinct, at the house of H. Bur 
son; Sanuiel Smith, Daniel Vancil, J. M. Dunn, judges. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 647 

East Douglas precinct, at the liousc of Esquire Cranmer; John 
JaclcBon, Mr. Harris, Mr. Shiminiiis, judges. 

3(1 senatorial district, Wasliington precinct, at the house of W. 
Frost; W. Riley, Caleb Antram, Eli Allen, judges. 

Tecurnseh precinct, at the house of J. Taylor; Charles Jordan, 
John Morris, F. Grasmuck, judges. 

Topeka precinct, at the law office of E. C. K. (larvey ; Dr. F. L. 
Crane, Milton C. Dickey, J. F. Ciinimins, judges. 

Brownsville })recinct, at the house of Gr. W. Brown ; G. W. Brown, 
Mr. Simnierwell, Dr. Bowen, judges. 

4th senatorial district, Prairie City precinct, at the house of S. Mew- 
hinney; W. Moore, Samuel Workman, Amos Hanna, judges. 

Mission precinct, at the Ba))tist mission building; G. L. Osborn, 
S. M. Cornantzer, Lewis Dougherty, judges. 

Wakarusa precinct, at the house of Paschal Fish ; L. If. Bascom, 
Ellis Bond, A. G. Green, judges. 

5th senatorial district, Osawatomie i)recinct, at the house of Samuel 
Gcer; William Chestnut, B. Woodbury, William Sailing, judges. 

Stanton precinct, at the house of Mr. Staniford; J. WoUard, Mr. 
Morse, W. G. Nichols, judges. 

Pottawatomie precinct, at the meeting house ; F. Brown, J. Grant, 
F. B. Morse, judges. 

Hampden precinct, at the house of W. A. Ela; W. A. Ela, Chaun- 
cey Morse, George Law, judges. 

Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Silas Young ; Silas Young, 
James W. Dudley, William Dyer, judges. 

Little Sugar Creek precinct, at the house of Isaac D. Stockton; I. 
D. Stockton, T. Sears, James^Osborn, judges. 

Little Osage precinct, at Miller's store; T. Osborn, William Miller, 
Abram Fanbus, judges. 

Big Osage precinct, at some suitable place in the precinct; Mr. 
Hamilton, Mr. Nichols, judges. 

6th senatorial district, Scottstown precinct, at the house of Mr. Van- 
devere; S. Crabtree, Isaac Chatman, F. S. Froscel, judges. 

Titus precinct, at the house of J. B. Titus on the Santa Fe road; 
J. B. Titus, J. Drew, W. Lord, judges. 

Council Grove precinct, at the mission house; J. Goodell, G. H, 
Rees, B. Wright, judges. 

Waubousa precinct, at some suitable building in Waubousa; E. R. 
McCurdy, S. M. Bisby, D. B. Hiatt, judges. 

Clark's creek precinct, at some suitable house at Mill creek; Hoen- 
rich, , judges. 

Ashland precinct, at some suitable house at Ashland ; Messrs. 
Adams, , judges. 

Yth senatorial district, Moneka i)recinct, at Sunnamaker's store, on 
Seven Mile creek; S. B. White, L. Lincoln, W. M. McClure, judges. 

Big Blue precinct, at the house of S. D. Dyer in Juniata; J. Stew- 
art, S. H. Houston, S. Whiteborn, judges. 

Rock creek precinct, at the house of Robert Wilson ; James Dar- 
nell, Charles Jenkins, Henry Remmell, judges. 

8th senatorial district. Black Vermillion precinct, at some suitable 



648 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

house in said precinct, on the Vermillion brancli of the Blue river I 
John Shmidt, Mr. Hollingburgh, M. Avely, judges. 

St. Mary's precinct, at the house of B. Betrand; Dr. Palmer, C. 
Garrett, C. Dean, judges. 

Silver Lake precinct, at some suitable house in Indianola ; E. Ken- 
nedy, J. W. Hopkins, John G. Thompson, judges. 

9th senatorial district, Dayton precinct, at the house of Bainter & 
Hoover; Lewis Hoover, Nathan Adams, G. B. Hall, judges. 

Grasshopper Falls precinct, at the house of the Mill Company; S. 
H. Dunn, John W. Clark, J. M. Ross, judges. 

Whitfield precinct, at the house of J. B. Chapman; Thomas James, 
Vincent D. Cohee, James A. Gray, judges. 

Crooked Creek precinct, at the house of A. Simmons; A. Simmons, 
Simeon Hall, G. T. Donaldson, judges. 

Bills Creek precinct, at the house of Mr. McKinney ; Messrs. James, 
Jones, McKinney, judges. 

Slough Creek precinct, at some suitable place in the precinct ; R. 
Ward, Mr. Owen, , judges. 

10th senatorial district, California ])recinct, at the house of W. W. 
Moore; W. W. Moore, W. Jackson, judges. 

St. Jo. bottom precinct, at the house of B. Harden; George Bryant, 
H. Smallwood, A. A. Jamison, judges. 

Burr Oak precinct, at the house of Mr. Wilson ; Mr. Brock, Mr. 
Wilson, Thomas McCollock, judges. 

Palermo precinct, at the house of R. Martin ; John White, R. Lacld, 
N. White, judges. 

Doniphan precinct, at Collin's mill; D, Lee, D. W. Fields, J. 
McName, judges. 

Wolf river precinct, at the house of Mr. Searl : Messrs. Searl, Ulse, 
Richardson, judges. 

Iowa Point precinct, at the house of Mr. McColl ; Mr. Hundy, Mr. 
Padue, judges. 

11th senatorial district, Kickapoo precinct, at some suitable house 
in Kickapoo city ; Mr. Giegle, Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. May, judges. 

Port William precinct, at the house of Dr. Hathaway; Mr. Oli- 
phant, Mr. Potter, judges. 

Mt. Pleasant precinct, at the house of M. A. Potter ; Mr. Ridge- 
way, B. Elliott, M. A. Potter, judges. 

Oceana precinct, at the store of Crosby & Co.; Archibald Elliott, A. 
Landrum, S. J. H. Snyder, judges. 

12th senatorial district, Leavenworth precinct, at the office of Gar- 
dener & Dodge ; A. Fisher, T. H. Doyle, H. Hook, judges. 

Easton precinct, at the house of T. A. Maynard; T. A. Maynard, 
G. J. Clark, W. Pennock, judges. 

Wyandott j)recinct, at the council house in Wyandott city ; A. 
Gurthrie, G. J. Clark, E. Zane, judges. 

Instructions to Judges of Election. 

The three judges will provide for each poll ballot boxes for deposit- 
ing the ballots cast by electors ; shall appoint two clerks, all of whom 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 649 

shall be sworn or affirmed to discliarge the duties of their respective 
offices impartially and with fidelity ; and the judges and clerks shall 
have power to administer the oath or affirmation to each other ; and 
the said judges shall open said election at nine o'clock, a. m., at the 
place designated in each precinct in this proclamation, and close the 
same at six o'clock, p. m. In case any of the officers appointed fail 
to attend, the officer or officers in attendance shall supply the vacancy 
or vacancies ; and in the event of all of them failing to attend, the 
qualified electors shall supply their places. And the said judges shall 
make out duplicate returns of said election, seal up and deliver to 
the chairman of the executive committee the same within ten days 
after said election. If at the time of holding said election it shall be 
inconvenient on account of any cause whatever that would disturb or 
prevent the voters of any election precinct in the Territory from the 
free and peaceable exercise of the elective franchise, the officers are 
authorized to adjourn said election to any other precinct in the Terri- 
tory, and to any other day they may see proper ; of the necessity of 
which, ^7ie?/ shall be the exclusive judges; at which time and place 
the qualified voters may cast their votes. 

QualifiGations of Voters. 

Every white male person, and every civilized Indian who has 
adopted the customs of the white man, of the age of twenty-one years 
and upwards, who shall be^ at the time of offering to vote, a citizen 
of the United States, and who shall have resided and had his habita- 
tation, domicil, home, and place of permanent abode in Kansas Terri- 
tory, for thirty days next preceding the election, shall be deemed a 
qualified elector ; provided, that no soldier, seaman or marine of the 
regular army of the United States shall be entitled to vote. 

Blanks. 

Printed forms of poll books, tally papers and tickets will be fur- 
nished to the officers of each election precinct. 

The importance of the election will doubtless induce you to observe 
the forms transmitted, and scrupulously to adhere to the rules herein 
recited. 

Given under my hand at the office of the executive committee of 
Kansas Territory, at Topeka, this 27th day of December, A. D., 1855. 

J. H. LANE, Chairman. 

C. K. HoLLiDAY, 8ec7-€tary 2)T0 tempore. 



An election was held in conformity with the above proclamation, 
and returns made to the executive committee. The following is an 
abstract of the returns of that election. 



650 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Sic 


•Xcqaiaa "M "W 


S^SSSSSSSF 


§ 


S£ 






o. 


§S2Si5 


s^l 


? 


TO Tt 


- 










•iiotna -o a 


CI 






t~ 








TO 




^s;!§« 




S 




^^"S^S is 






•joadt! iiiiof 


'^SS2SSSS;l?SS?5SSS928'"?§2§'^22SR2 


s;? 




c 

3 
C 
u 

en 




g5?§2jesSSS?SS^?3I^S^* S5!§g2§!ii 


igS£32SS 




•nojsanqi "W 'a 


-^?SS2SSSSS§?3^§SS55?2S°°S2S 








■^ 




•aizua^DW -g s 






s 




(OTO 


s*-^ 


-a* 




1 

1 
03 


•piaUOJiBAi -V T 


si:::::::::: :S5!5"^ 




^ 










u5 -TO 


o 






•uosmiof "AV S 


§ : : l'^ : : : :^ : i^g!?*' 




ui 




Sto 


-Ji^oo 


■>1" 






•iIJiHis •A^ "0 


S i I :^ I I i > : i^S^"* 

! ' I . I . . I . • 




«5 




COTO 


lO CO 


-S" 






•Xbmuoo -j -N 


-SS22SSS;8S5;5§§!il£5?2S«'JS2S'" 












•mvj -N -s 


"?3S2SSSSS€SSSJ§Sa52S=°S25S 


^goiTO-crio 




•lunH W 




2SS2Si? 






•asanWH 




ira— •COTO 

COOCM— 1 
1-^ •<T 


s 




3 


•A'a.UT!0 -H "3 


§ 






00 








TO 




■a>I^OO(J» 




s 




^S 


S'-S? 


•<}< 






•piaijaJiBAV -V T 


-^g2SS;§S^So5?iSSS52S«'S2g="§2S|2 








o 

■a 
a 

<; 


•qiwpo a -M 


05 






t^ 








TO 




■<f Tf o (N 




's 




C) f TO -^ t~ 
tC TO CN b- 




I-t* 






•jaijno -v O 


rH -H .-1 en to ■* 0> t^ to 00 — ' C35 00 ^ t^ TO O «? 00 "J- OS TO — CC1" -a- O TO '.in 




2 

ca 

'o 


•XBpinoH -a. "0 








t~ 








TO 




'5^=^ 




g 




00 •>«>«-< t^TO 

toTOom ■«• 


■* 






•iaiXnqog o -a 


'-g2S2gSS£;S?§55^§!S?&52S*g52f;- 


sss 




J? 




o 

g 

1 

3 


•JJOilBJ •[ -M 


S 






t^ 








TO 




•^nmaoi 


S : 












•swaqoa -A -Ai 




Ojoa>(OTr05t^mG0^05oO{?»iftTOpHioicy50i^i-(TOcO'^coTO*V"^ 




o 

a 

> 
o 
O 


•sjwqoa -A AV 


§5 






CO 


- 




TO 




-^Sgc, 




00 : 


tOTOWifJ 5- 


■^•l-l 


o 
5< 


•uosinqoy 'O 


-?5S2gS;?S^Sc?g§gS§52S<"g?2S-"3Sg 




- 


i 




i 

g 

1 
a. 


E 
C 


c 
C 


c 
-■ 

C 


c 


c 


2C 

c 


£ 
c 

c 
cc 

< 
1 


c 

c 
c 

X 


1. 

; 

c 




"5 

c 
C 




) 

c 
c 


a 

c 
c 

1 

c 
E- 




C 

c 
c 


> 


c 
c 




> 

E 

C 




a 

u 
ei 
t 

ir. 


a. 

C 

6 
1- 


c 
o 
E- 




a. 
1 

c 


C 
O 
C 


X. 
c 


0) 

c 

t 


O 

c 


M 

o 











KANSAS AFFAIRS. 651 

On tlie 6th of February, 1856, the executive committee issued pro- 
clamations announcing the results of the election of State officers, of 
which the following are copies: 

PROCLAMATION. 

By authority vested in me, as chairman of the executive committee 
of Kansas Territory, I do hereby proclaim that at an election held in 
the different precincts of said Territory, on the 15th day of January, 
1856, as provided for by the convention which met at Topeka to 
"frame a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, 
and take all needful steps toward the formation of a State government, 
preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the Union," that Charles 
Kobinson, having received the highest number of votes cast at said 
election, has been chosen governor; and that William Y. Eoberts, 
having received the highest number of votes cast at said election, has 
been chosen lieutenant governor; and that Philip C. Schuyler, hav- 
ing received the highest number of votes cast at said election, was 
chosen as secretary of state ; and that George A. Cutler, having re- 
ceived the highest number of votes cast at said election, was chosen 
as auditor of state ; and that John A. Wakefield, having received the 
highest number of votes cast at said election, was chosen as treasurer of 
state ; and that H. Miles Moore, having received the highest number 
of votes cast at said election, was chosen as attorney general ; and 
that S. N. Latta, Morris Hunt, and M. F. Conway, having each re- 
ceived the highest number of votes cast at said election, were chosen 
as judges of the supreme court ; and that E. M. Thurston, having re- 
ceived the highest number of votes cast at said election, was chosen as 
reporter of the supreme court; and that S. B. Floyd, having received 
the highest number of votes cast at said election, has been chosen 
State printer. 

And I do hereby proclaim that the same are hereby elected to the 
positions mentioned, and that they be and appear, as provided in the 
constitution aforementioned, at the city of Topeka, Kansas, on the 
4th day of March, A. D., 1856. 

Given under my hand at the office of the executive committee of 
Kansas Territory, this 6th day of February, A. D. 1856. 

J. H. LANE, 
Chairman Executive Committee, K. T. 

J. K. GooDiN, Secretary. 



proclamation. 

Office of the Executive Committee, 

Lawrence, K. T., February 8, 1856. 

By authority vested in me as chairman of the executive committee 
of Kansas Territory, I do hereby proclaim that at an election held in 
the several precincts of said Territory, on the 15th day of January, 
A. D. 1856, as provided for by the convention which met at Topeka to 
''frame a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, 
and take all needful steps toward the foundation of a State govern- 
ment preparatory to the admission of Kansas into the Union," that 
Mark W. Delahay received the highest number of votes cast at said 



652 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

election for representative to the 34th Congress of the United States, 
and is hereby declared duly elected as said representative. 

Given under my hand tlie day and year above written. 

J. H. LANE, Chairman Executive Committee. 

J. K. GooDiN, Secretary. 

The legislature met on the day and at the place designated by the State 
constitution, the State officers and members of the general assembly 
elect were sworn in, and entered upon the discharge of their respective 
duties. After electing United States senators, passing some laws, 
and appointing a codifying committee, the general assembly adjourned 
to meet on the 4th of July, 1856. 



G. W. DEITZLER. 



Lawrence, K. T., May 13, 1856. 



(A.) 

MEMORIAL. 

To the Senate and House of JRepresentatives in Congress assembled: 

The memorial of the subscribers, citizens and residents of the Ter- 
ritory of Kansas, respectfully represents: 

That a state of things exists in said Territory, unparalleled, as we 
believe, in the history of our country, and which it becomes our solemn 
duty to lay before you^ and through you before our fellow-citizens of 
the United States. Under the guaranties of your law for the organi- 
zation of the Territory, and in consideration of the privileges which 
that law held out to us, we left our former homes, met the privations 
of an uninhabited country, and prepared for adding another rei)ublic 
to our Union. The right of civil and religious liberty, the rght of 
suffrage and self-government Avere set up as the beacon lights which 
beckoned us on. As freemen we were invited, as freemen we came^ 
and as freemen we expected to live. But we address you now as an 
outraged and subjugated people, disfranchis and enslaved, stripped of 
our dearest rights, and governed by a set of master foreign to our 
soil, and responsible only to their own lawless will. One of the 
States of our Union^ strong in wealth, population, and resources, re- 
lying upon her accumulated strength of almost half a century, and 
taking advantage of our feeble infancy as a people, has invaded our 
soil, seized upon our rights, subjugated our Territory, and selected for 
us our rulers; intending, also, to dictate our laws, and make us the 
slaves of their will. This may well seem an almost incredible thing 
in the nineteenth century, and in this republican Union, the peculiar 
and boasted land of liberty and self-go\ ernment ; but the evidence of 
it is as palpable and undeniable as the fact is bitter and mortifying to 
us and disgraceful to the public. 

This invasion of our soil and usurpation of our rights commenced 
at the first moment of calling those lights into action. The first 
ballot box that was opened upon our virgin soil Avas closed to us by 
overpowering numbers and impending force. It became, not what 
Americans have been proud to designate it, the exponent of the peo- 
ple's will, but was converted into the sword of the oppressor to strike 
vil liberty. So bold and reckless were our inva^ders that they 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 653 

cared not to conceal their attack. Tlicy came upon us, not in the 
guise of voters, to steal away our franchise, hut holdly and openly to 
snatch it with the strong hand. They came directly from their own 
homes, and in compact and organized hands, with arms in hand and 
provisions for the expedition, marched to our polls, and when their work 
was done returned whence they came. It is unnecessary to enter into 
the details; it is enough to say that tliree districts, in which, hy the 
most irrefragahle evidence, there were not 150 voters, most of whom 
refused to participate in this mockery of the elective franchise, these 
invaders polled over a thousand votes. Loving our country and its 
institutions, we were w^illing, if this was to bc^only a solitary instance, 
to suffer it in silence, I'ather than to proclaim to the world that even 
in this remote spot of our great country civil liberty was but a name. 
Bitter and mournful experience has taught us, however, that this was 
no isolated act, no temporary ebulition^ but the commencement of a 
well matured and settled plan, by a large portion of the people of one 
of the States of our Union, permanently to enslave us and constitute 
themselves our masters. 

On the 30th day of March last, we were again invited to the l)allot- 
box, under the law which we, in common with our fellow-citizens of 
the States, had, through your body, enacted. Our vigilant and faith- 
ful chief magistrate had surrounded it with all the guards and pre- 
cautions with which his authority invested him, and we were pre- 
pared to exercise the dearest and most cherished privilege of American 
citizens, with a full sense of the vital and interesting importance of 
this peculiar occasion. The occasion came, and with it came our in- 
vading and self-constituted masters in thousands, and with all the 
paraphernalia of war. They came, organized in bands, with officers, 
and arms, and tents, and provisions, and munitions of war, as though 
they were marching upon a foreign foe, instead of their own unoffend- 
ing fellow-citizens. Upon the principal road leading into our Terri- 
tory and passing several important polls, they numbered not less than 
twelve hundred men, and one camp alone contained not less than six 
hundred. They arrived at their several destinations the night before 
the election, and having pitched their camps and placed their sentries, 
waited for the coming day. Baggage-wagons were there, with arms 
and ammunition enough for a protracted tight, and among them two 
brass field-pieces, ready charged. They came with drums beating 
and flags flying, and their leaders were of the most prominent and 
conspicuous men of their State. 

In the morning they surrounded the polls, armed with gun??^ ])owie- 
knivcs, and revolvers, and declared their determination to vote at all 
hazards, and in spite of all consequences. If the judges could be 
made to subserve their purposes and receive their votes, and if no 
obstacle was cast in their way, the leaders exerted themselves to pre- 
serve peace and order in the conduct of the election, but, at the same 
time, did not hesitate to declare that if not allowed to vote they would 
proceed to any extremity in the destruction of property and life. If 
control of the polls could not be had otherwise, the judges were, by 
intimidation, and, if necessary, by violence, prevented from perform- 
ing their duty ; or, i.' unyielding in this respect, were driven from 
their post, and the vacancy filled, in form, by the persons on the 



654 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

ground, and whenever, by any means, thev had obtained the control 
of the board, the foreign vote was promiscuously poured in, without 
discrimination or reserve, or the slightest care to conceal its netarious 
illegality. At one of these polls, two of the judges, having manfully 
stood up in the face of this armed mob and declared they would do 
their duty, one portion of the mob commenced to tear down the house, 
another proceeded to break in the door of the judges' room, whilst 
others, with drawn knives, posted themselves at the window, with the 
proclaimed purpose of killing any voter who would allow himself to 
be sworn. Voters were draggeil from the window because they would 
not show their tickets or vote at the dictation of the mob, and the in- 
vaders declared openly, at the polls, that they would cut the throats 
of the judges if they did not receive their votes without requiring an 
oath as' to their residence. The room was finally forced, and the 
judges, surrounded by an armed and excited crowd, were offered the 
alternatives of resignation or death, and five minutes were allotted for 
their decision. The ballot-box was seized, and, amid shouts of 
'^ hurra for Missouri," was carried into the mob. The two menaced 
judges then left the ground, together with all the resident citizens, 
except a few who acted in the outrage because the result expected 
from it conformed to their views, and because it enabled the few to 
rule the many. When an excess of the foreign force was found to be 
had at one poll, detachments were sent to others where it was sup- 
posed they might be needed. At the polls adjoining the one above 
alluded to, one of the judges, a minister of the Gospel, who refused 
to accede to the demands of a similar mob of some four hundred armed 
iind organized men, was driven by violence from his post and the 
"vacancy" filled by themselves. Threats and violent demonstrations 
were rife, and another clergvman, ior the expression of his opinion, 
was assaulted and beaten. The inhabitants of the district, powerless 
to resist the abundant supply of arms and ammunition, the organized 
preparation, and the overwhelming numbers of these foreigners, lefk 
the polls without voting. 

In the Lawrence district, where was the largest camp of these in- 
vaders, speeches were made to them by leading residents of 3Iissouri. 
in which it was said that they would carry their purpose, if need be, 
at the point of the bayonet and K^wie-knife, and one voter was fired 
at as he was driven from the election ground. Finding they had a 
greater force than was necessary for that pv>ll, some two hundreil men 
were drafted from the number and sent ofi\ under their proper ctficers, 
to another district, after which they still polled from this camp over 
seven hundreil votes. In the fourth and seventh districts, along the 
Santa Fe road, similar scenes were enacted. The invaders cAme to- 
gether in one arme*.! and organized body, with trains of fit\y wagons, 
besides horsemen, and, the night l>efore election, pitched their camp 
in the vicinity of the polls, and having appointed their own judges in 
place of those who, from intimidation or otherwise, failed to attend, 
they voted without any proof of residence. In these two election dis- 
tricts, where the census show one hundred voters, there were polled 
three htindre\.l and fourteen votes, and last fall seven hundreil and 
sixty-five votes, although a large portion of the actual residents did 
not vote upon either occasion. In the sixteenth election district hun- 



■■ KANSAS AFFAIRS. 655 

dreds of men came together, as in the other cases, crossing the river 
from Missouri the day before election and encamping together, armed 
and provisioned, made the fiercest threats against the lives of the judges, 
and during the night called several times at the house of one of them 
for the purpose of intimidating him, declaring, in the presence of his 
wife, that a rope had been prepared to hang him. and, although we 
are not prepared to say that these threats would have been carried out, 
yet they served to produce his resignation, and give these invaders, 
in the substitution, control of the polls ; and on the morning of the 
election a steamboat brought from the town of Weston. Missouri, to 
Leavenworth, an accession to their numbers of several hundred more, 
who returned in the same boat after depositing their votes. There 
were over nine hundred and fifty votes palled, besides from one hun- 
dred to one hundred and fifty actual residents who were deterred or 
discouraged from voting, while the census returns show but three 
hundred and eighty-five votes in the district a month before. Not 
less than six hundred votes were here given by these non-residents of 
the Territory, who voted without being sworn as to their qualifica- 
tions, and immediately after the election returned back to Missouri ; 
some of them being the incumbents of important public ofiices there. 
Indeed, so well was the character of this foreign vote understood that 
the judges struck out of the prescribed form of return the words "6«/ 
lawful resident voters." 

We might continue the list of these sickening details until the 
blood of every freeman would boil with indignation ; but it is useless. 
One more instance alone we will refer to. In the eighteenth election 
district, where the population was sparse, and no great amount of 
foreign votes was needled to overpower it, a detachment from Missouri, 
from sixty to one hundred, passed in with a train of wagons, arms 
and ammunition, making their camp the night before tlie election 
near Moorestown, the place of the polls, without even a pretext of 
residence, and returning immediately to Missouri after their work was 
done, their leader and captain being a distinguished citizen of Mis- 
souri, but late the presiding officer of the Senate of the United States, 
and who had bowie knife and revolver belted around him, apparently 
ready to shed the blood of any m^an who refused to be enslaveil. All 
these facts we are prepared to establish, if necessary, by proof that 
■would be considered competent in a court of justice. 

From a careful examination of the returns we are satisfied that 
over three thousand votes were thus cast by the citizens and residents 
of the States, and that a very large portion of the residents were 
deterred or discouraged from going to the polls. If this condition of 
things is allowed to prevail, we are reduced to the state of a vassal 
province, and are governed by the State of Missouri. 

It would be mere af ectation in us to attempt to disguise the fact 
that the question of ir^.king Kansas a free or slaves States is at the 
bottom of this moveuivut, and that the men who thus- invade our soil 
and rob us of our liberties are i'rom the pro-slavery men of Missouri, 
who are unwilling to submit the question to the people of the Terri- 
tory, and abide the compact between the north and south, which the 
Kansas-Nebraska bill contains. That compact we want carried oat, 
and by that test we want the question settled if it can be ; but there 



656 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

are few things that we woukl not prefer to the domination of irrespon- 
sible invaders from Missouri That enactment is not only a law 
which States and individuals are bound to obey, but it is a compact 
between the north and the south, a solemn covenant between the 
sovereign States of our Union, which none can violate without 
becoming recreant to the principles of honor and justice, without the 
betrayal of confidence re})osed, without such breaking of plighted 
faith as in an individual would load him to the earth with scorn and 
contempt, and drive him from the society of honest men. That bill 
which northern statesmen, backed with northern votes, had obtained for 
southern rights, is made by men who invade our soil the very instru- 
ment for deprivingus of our dearest privileges, and stabbing to the heart 
those who magnanimously gave it into their hands for other ends. 

That bill is made to mean popular sovereignty for them, serfdom 
for us. The doctrine of self-government is to be trampled under foot 
here^ of all other places in the world, on the very spot which had 
been hallowed and consecrated to its most signal vindication. The 
altars which had been reared to it on this chosen ground, and around 
which at least the democracy of the whole Union had sworn allegiance, 
and to Avhich we had come as pilgrim w*orshippers in the wilderness, 
are to be ruthlessly demolished. The compact is to be basely broken^ 
and the ballot of the freeman (in effect) torn from our hands, almost 
before the ink of the covenant is dry. Not only, too, is the principle 
of popular sovereignty to be blotted out, but more than this, even the 
object of the contest is to disappear. The question oi negro slavery is 
to sink into insignificance, and the great portentous issue is to loom 
up in its stead, whether or not we shall be the slaves, and fanatics 
who disgrace the honorable and chivalric men of the south shall be 
our masters to rule us at their pleasure. 

With a feeble and scattered community just struggling into exist- 
ence, without organization and almost without shelter, we are power- 
less to resist an old, strong, and populous State, full of men and arms 
and resources, and we therefore appeal to you, and through you to the 
people of the States. Remedy here we have none. 

Our executive has with manly determination and persistent fidelity 
stood by his people, and endeavored to carry out the principles of 
popular sovereignty^ and secure us the privilege of managing our own 
affairs and governing ourselves, until his reputation has been assailed 
and his life openly threatened witV a bitterness almost unparalleled ; 
and, although as chief magistrate he is all we could desire, and has 
fearlessly pursued the path of duty amid a storm of menace and 
detraction, under v,diich many men wouhl have quailed, yet he is 
powerless like ourselves. 

We make noM^ this last appeal, not to the north, not to the south, 
not to any political party, but to the representatives of the whole 
Union. We beg that no men will sport with our fearful condition, 
by endeavoring to make political capital^ or build up party at the 
expense of our civil and physical existence. We want the men of the 
north and the men of the south to protect us. Through yourselves, 
their r(?presentatives, we appeal to their honor, to. their justice, to 
their patriotism, to their sympathies, not for favors but for rights — 
not for trivial rights, but for the dearest rights guarantied to us by 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 657 

the Declaration of Independence, by the Constitution of the Union, 
by the law of our organization, hy the solemn compact of the States, 
and which you pledged to us as the condition of our coming here, 

Communities are not to Hame for the conduct of their fanatics 
unless they sanction them. We cannot believe that the States of the 
South will sanction the outrages that have been perpetrated upon us, 
or will allow them to be continued. And, although we might reason 
the matter as a question of policy, and show that it is contrary to the 
laws of nature and sociely, and opposed to all human experience, that 
good can come from such an evil, (although we might prove that it is 
" sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind," and that the reaction will 
be fearful,) yet we feel that this is unnecessary, that it is enough to 
appeal to their honor and their sense of justice;, and to rely upon their 
plighted faith. 

Inside our bounds we shall have no serious troubles. Northern 
and southern men mingle together in harmony and good feeling, and 
in mutual dependence and assistance in the hardships and privations 
of a pioneer life. As we learn to understand each other, friendships, 
are engendered and prejudices melt away,. so that we shall be able to 
meet all questions that may arise in a spirit of justice and kindly 
feeling, which will secure the rights of all, and cheerful acquiescence 
in the decision of the majority. From foreign oppression, however, 
we ask for relief of that power which passed the Kansas bill, and 
pledged to us its benefits if we would come here. We have a right 
to ask, and do ask, its enforcement. It remains for your honorable 
bodies to decide whether you will keep the compact between you and 
us which exists by that bill and our emigration, whether you wiU 
vindicate the sacred doctrines of the government, or whether you will 
leave us in a state of vassalage and oppression. We cannot and d(> 
not doubt that you will in some way give us justice and protection.. 

Gr. P. LowREY, recalled. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

I was present at Lawrence, in the Territory of Kansas, on the 9th 
of October, 1855, at an election for delegates to a constitutional con- 
vention and delegate to Congress. The election for constitutional 
delegates and congressional delegate were held on the same day and 
at the same place, but under different proclamations and with different 
ballot-boxes. The election was conducted peaceably and quietly that 
day. I voted. The number of votes cast for delegate to Congress 
was 557, and about the same number for constitutional delegates. 
The returns of these elections were delivered to the executive commit- 
tee, of which James H. Lane was chairman, and J. M. Goodin was 
secretary. Some time last winter I called upon Mr. Lane, at the re- 
quest of Governor Reeder, for the poll-books and returns of his elec- 
tion as delegate to Congress, in order to use them in his contest for 
that seat. I received from Mr. Lane a package'of election papers, and 
sent them to Governor Reeder. They are the same papers that I pro- 
duced before this committee in New York city. I do- not think the 
returns of the Lawrence election were among the papers when I first 
received them, though I did not examine them closely. I know they 
are not among them now. But I remember distinctly the number of 
H. Rep. 200 42* 



658 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

votes cast, and there were 557 for Keeder, and, I think, one or two 
for Whitfiekl. 

The returns of the election for memhers to the constitutional con- 
vention were also placed in charge of the executive committee, and 
were generally in the charge of the secretary, Mr. Goodin. At the 
time the committee were in Kansas, at least until I left, they were at 
Leavenworth. Goodin was down on the Neosha, laying out a town, 
some 125 miles from Lawrence. G. P. LOWREY. 

Washington City, D. C, July 11, 1856. 



Dr. J. N. 0. P. Wood called and affinned. 

To Mr. King : 

I came into the Territory first about the 1st of April, 1854. 1 
located permanently in Lawrence about the 7th of October, 1854. I 
resided there until some time the last of March or the first of April 
last, and then I went to Lecompton. About the time I came there^ 
there was considerable difficulty between what was called the Law- 
rence Association, of which Dr. Robinson was president, and the set- 
tlers that were not members of this association. The members of the 
association held a meeting two or three evenings after I got there, and 
elected a judge, &c., Mr. Grover, marshal, and organized a company — 
I think they called it the "Shot-gun Battalion" — for the purpose of 
preventing persons that did not belong to their association from set- 
tling about the place, and taking timber and stone from the claims of 
those who did live there. They said there was no law in the Terri- 
tory ; that the organic act was unconstitutional, made so by the repeal 
of the Missouri compromise ; and that they intended to form an asso- 
ciation, and make and enforce their own laws, irrespective of tlie laws 
of Congress, until there should be a change in Congress, by v/hich the 
Missouri compromise could be restored, and the organic act set aside. 

There was no open opposition to the execution of the law until 
Governor Reeder appointed justices of the peace, and one or two mem- 
bers of the association were arrested. They refused to recognize the 
power of the justice of the peace, and refused to attend as witnesses, 
and would only attend their own provisional court, as they called it. 

When the legislature was about to be elected, they held a meeting, 
and brought out their candidates. After the legislature was elected, 
and before they met, there were several meetings held in Lawrence, 
and, at tliose meetings, they passed resolutions declaring they would 
submit to no laws passed by that legislature. This was what was 
called the Lawrence Association, different from tlie town association. 
It was composed of men sent out under the auspices of the Emigrant 
Aid Society, and Dr. Robinson was at the head of the association. 
Many belonging to this association lived in different parts of the Ter- 
ritory. They were allowed to vote at the meetings of the association, 
which I sometimes attended ; and those who were not enrolled as mem- 
bers of the association were not allowed to vote or debate at their meet- 
ings. Some of them lived at Osawotomie, Topeka, Manhattan, and 
other places in the Territory. They resolved not to obey the laws that 
would be passed by the legislature, and only obey their own provisional 
laws until they could form a provisional government for the Territory. 

The first general meeting, while the legislature was in session, wai 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 659 

^eld in July or August, 1855. Before that time, their meetings had 
been of the association, hut this was the first general meeting. That 
was the first meeting at which I recollect hearing Colonel Lane take 
ground in opposition to the law^s that the legislature then in session 
should pass. All the public speakers that I heard there said they did 
not intend to obey the laws that would be passed, but intended to 
form a provisional government for themselves. 

After the legislature adjourned, the first meeting at which I heard 
«,ny declarations with regard to the resistance of the laws Vv'-as held at 
Blanton's bridge. Colonel Lane, Mr. Emery, and Mr. John Hutchin- 
son addressed the meeting, urging the people to resist the laws, let 
the consequences be what they might. In private conversation with 
•those men, they always expressed their determination to resist the 
laws, and &aid the officers and posse should not enforce the laws. 
They said they had a new code of laws called Sharpe's Revised Statutes, 
^nd they were going to use them in preference to any others. It was 
a common remark that they would use Sharpe's Revised Statutes in 
preference to any others. 

I think the first box of rifles came there marked Revised Statutes. 
I think after Mr. Dietzler came back, he said he brought the rifles 
with him. When tliey were brought to Lawrence, they wanted to 
put them in my warehouse. They were lying at my door, and I in- 
quired what they were, and Mr. Saulter, who was keeping the ware- 
house for me, said they were emigrant aid guns. I objected to their 
being put in my warehouse, and they were taken and put in Mr. 
Simpson's office. I told them I would not be the first to harbor guns 
brought there for revolution. I often expostulated with Lane, Robin- 
-son, and others, both publicly and privately, as to their course, and 
addressed the meeting at Blanton's bridge in opposition to that course. 
They said they would resist the laws regardless of consequences. 

The next public meeting I recollect of was the Big Spring conven- 
tion. At that convention I had but little conversation, except with 
Oovernor Reeder and Judge Johnson. Prior to the meeting, several 
days. Governor Reeder came up to our place. I heard that he was 
urging the people to resist the laws, and do so by setting a differ- 
ent day lor the election of delegate to Congress on which he should 
be voted for. I called on him at his room, and asked him if he had 
recommended that course, and he said that he had intended to have 
returned to Pennsylvania, but upon reflection he had concluded tluit 
if they would take that course at the convention, he would be a can- 
didate for Congress, and liad returned from Kansas City, where he had 
taken his trunks and baggage. He said he had understood, since he 
came there, that Lane, Roberts, and others would be candidates before 
the convention ; but if they would withdraw, and the course he had 
indicated was taken, he would be a candidate for Congress. He said 
it would give him an opportunity to bring the matter before Congress, 
and, with the majority they had then in Congress against the Demo- 
cratic party, he thought he could succeed in ousting General Whitfield 
if elected. A meeting was held in Lawrence, and it was agreed upon 
that a diff'erent day should be fixed upon for the election, and the 
candidates who were there — Robinson,* Lane, and some others — agreed 
to withdraw in favor of Governor Reeder. This was four or five days 
before the Big Spring convention. 



660 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I rode up to that convention in company with General Pomeroj^ 
who invited me to go up with him. At the convention I had another 
conversation with Grovernor Keeder. We had always heen on the 
most intimate terms, and I talked with him as I would with any 
friend. I talked with him, and said that I thought that by taking 
that course, and thereby repudiating the laws, it would bring a state 
of anarchy upon the Territory that he nor I would probably live to see 
the end of. I said it would be opening the door, and giving an invi- 
tation to outlaws outside of the Territory to come and make that the 
field of operations ; that it would bring about a state of things that 
would be injurious to the country, by preventing capitalists from 
risking their means in such a country. He replied that he thought 
differently ; that they had determined to adopt the platform of the 
Topeka convention, held before that time, recommending the form- 
ation of a provisional government. I think he took a pencil and 
draughted a resolution recommending the calling of a convention to 
form a State constitution. He said he would offer that resolution ; they 
could go on and form the State constitution, appoint an executive 
committee to issue a proclamation calling for the election of delegates 
to form a free-State constitution, and they would elect their members 
to the legislature, pass their laws, and, if Congress did not admit them, 
they would pass their own laws, and go on independently of Congress 
until such time as they could be admitted, 1 remarked that would 
bring them immediately in conflict with the acts of the Territorial 
legislature, one or the other of which must become supreme ; and I 
thought it would necessarily bring on a collision between the two 
opposing parties, and involve the country in an armed difficulty. He 
replied that they had made up their minds to resist the laws, and by 
forming a free-State constitution they could get the aid and sympathy 
of the north to help them to enforce their provisional laws; that they 
were determined to resist the Territorial laws. That was about the 
substance of the conversation. 

In his speech before the convention he urged them to resist the Ter- 
ritorial laws at all hazards. I have read the speech of Governor Kee- 
der as reported in the proceedings of the Big Spring convention, in 
a printed copy now before me, and I cannot say that it contains all 
his speech. He spoke for an hour or a little over an hour. I under- 
stood him distinctly to say this : that he wanted them^ if they had 
any regard for their rights, not to appeal to the Jaws for redress, nor 
answer others if appealed to. He called them "bogus" laws, meaning 
thereby the Territorial laws. That, I think, is abont the substance 
of what he said. 

I came down home, I believe, in company with Judge JohnsoDy 
who disapproved of the course adopted. I had conversations with 
Governor Reeder afterwards, but we held our respective positions, 

A proclamation was issued hj what was called the executive com- 
mittee, calling an election for State officers and legislature, a con- 
vention to form a State constitution having met and formed a State 
constitution. I talked with Lane and Robinson of*"en about this mat- 
ter. Tliere were free-State men in Lawrence who opposed this course, 
and oppose it yet. I myself co-operated with the free-State party 
until they took these revolutionary steps, and then I left them. I lived 
in Hlinois twelve years before I came to this Territory. 

Westfort, Missouri, June 2, 1856. J. N. 0, P. WOOD. 



ELECjriON OF DELEGIATES 



CONVENTION OP OCTOBER 9, 1855, 



First District. — Blanton Precinct, 
F<M-hooh of voters for delegates to convention to form a constitution, <&c. 



1 J. K. Goodin 


38 A. R. Smith 


2 J. E, Kenedy 


39 A. W. Mobley, jr. 


3 Charles Dickson 


40 Wm. Parks 


4 L. S. Houghton 


41 Leonard Crame 


5 L. Smith 


42 C, W. Dowe 


6 Ira Brown 


43 A. D. Todd 


*l Edward Jones 


44 0. P. Kenedy 


8 Julius Fairfield 


45 Jacob Bronson 


9 John T. Moor 


46 Augustin W. Mabery 


10 Enan C. Griffitk 


47 J. W. Hayne 


11 Ernest Smith 


48 F. P. Vaughn 


12 T. E. Whitlock 


49 W. H. Carles 


13 Lewis Stagers 


5*0 Simeon Gillson 


14 A. Still 


51 Alisha F. Mayo 


15 Samuel G. Johnson 


62 William Livermore 


16 Collins Hollo way 


53 W. D. Jenerson 


17 Robert Irvin 


54 Philip T. Hupp 


18 W. J. Kenedy 


55 Samuel Jones 


19 John E. Stewart 


56 Ste2)hen Ogden 


20 B. Abott 


57 Enoch Howland 


21 J. Ogden 


58 William Soule 


22 R. P. Mow 


59 Andrew T. Still 


23 Thomas C. Still 


60 Lewis Howland 


24 R. D. Norton 


61 Hugh Pettengill 


25 Amasa Sole 


62 


26 Samuel S. Burgess 


€3 Virgil Pierce 


27 J. Eliot 


64 Joseph Eberhart 


28 Seth Rodibough 


€5 Louis S- Eberhart 


29 William Estabrook 


€6 Henry S. Eberhart 


30 James A. Coffey 


67 Bethuel Hitchcock 


31 Samuel Gill 


68 Wm. Meairs 


32 P. S. Hutchison 


69 Harrison Nichlos 


33 H. F. Saunders 


70 L. H. Rowley 


34 T. B. Smith 


71 A. F. Bercaw 


35 Levi W. Plumb 


72 W. Bennett 


36 E. A. Landon 


73 N. B, Blanton 


37 James Whaly 


74 John Derby. 



662 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
that the whole number of votes cast at an election held at Blantors 
precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second Tuesday of October, 
1855, it being the 9th day of said month, between the hours of l6 
o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, "for delegates to a 
convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people 
of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a State gov- 
ernment preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State,." was 
seventy-four votes. 

We, the judges and clerks of said election, further certify that the 
said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States^ 
above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents of said Terri- 
tory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of thirty 
days immediately preceding said election day, 

October 9, 1855. 

JULIUS ELIOT, 
PAUL JONES, 
N. B. BLANTON, 

William Meairs, Judges, 

E. W. Bennett, Clerlts, 

We, the judges and clerks of election, hereby certify, that at an elec- 
tion held at Blanton precinct, Kansas Territory, on the 9th of Octo- 
ber, 1855, for delegates to a convention to form a constitution, adopt 
a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, &c., 

Charles Robinson has received 67 votes. 

J. H. Lane 70 

G. W. Smith 70 

J. K. Goodin 61 

Edward Jones 30 

Morris Hunt.. 72 

Abraham Still 40 

And we further certify, that the voters were free white male in" 
habitants, citizens of the United States, and residents of Kansas Ter- 
ritory, who have had, and now have, a bona fide residence therein. 

JULIUS ELIOT, 
PAUL JONES, 
N. B. BLANTON, 
William Meairs, Judges. 

E. W. Bennett, Clerks. 



Tally-list for delegates to convention. 

C. Robinson 67 

J. H. Lane 70 

G. W. Smith 70 

J. K. Goodin 61 

Morris Hunt '. 72 

Abraham Still 40 

Edward Jones 30 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 663 

The duplicate tally-list is certified as follows : 

We, the officers of election held at Blanton's, on the Wakarusa, 
the 9th day of October, 1855, do certify that (etc. as above) at an 
election held in Blanton precinct, in Kansas Territory, between the 
hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, for dele- 
gates to a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for 
the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a 
State government, preparatory to tlie admission of Kansas as a State. 

We, the judges and clerks of saidelect^n, further certify, upon our 
oaths, that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of 
the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, bona fide resi- 
dents of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for 
the period of thirty days immediately preceding said election day. 

[Signed as above.] 

October 9, 1855. 



First District. — Palmyra Precinct. 

Poll-hooJc of voters paiiicipating hi the election of delegates to the consti- 
tutional convention. 

James H. Fiser Salem Gleason 

Jacob Canterell Elizur Hill 

John Roe Henry Barricklow 

Henry Barricklow William Roe 

Hiram McAlister Robert Pearson 

T. W. Lyon Charles Augustus Kiser 

Thomas Miller David Eldred 

Joseph Barricklow John P. Lehe. 



Tally-list of votes cast on this ninth day of Octoher, 1855, /or* delegates 
to a convention to form a constitution. 

C Robinson 16 

J. H. Lane 16 

G. W. Smith 16 

J. K. Goodin , 16 

Edward Jones 16 

Morris Hunt 16 

We, the judges and clerks of this election, hereby certify upon our 
oaths, that on this, the 9th day of October, 1855, Joseph H. Lane has 
received sixteen votes, C. Robinson sixteen votes, G. W. Smith sixteen 
votes, J. K. Goodin sixteen votes, Edward Jones sixteen votes, Mor- 
ris Hunt sixteen votes, for delegates to a convention to form a consti- 



664 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



tiition, adopt a "bill of rights for the- people of Kansas, and talkie all 
necessary steps preparatory to our admission into tlie Union as a State. 
And we further certify, that the same were free white male inhabit- 
ants, citizens of the United States, above the age of twenty-one 
years, wlio have had a hona-fide residence in the Territory for the 
space of thirtv days immediately preceding this election. 

SALEM GLEASON, 
HENKY BARRICKLOW, 
^ ELIZUR HILL, 

Judges 
Joseph Barricklow, 
William Roe, Clerics. 



Second District — Bloomington Precinct. 

List of voters. — Talhj-Ust* of votes cast for delegates to a convention to 
form a constitution for Kaiisas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth 
day of October, A. D. 1855, at the house of Harrison Burson, in the 
toion of Bloomington, in the second election district in Kansas Ter- 
ritory. 



1 James A. Nelson 


27 H. R. Rason 


2 Edward Borton 


28 Wm. Watson 


3 Dudley Bryant 


29 J. B. F. McPherson 


4 Isaac Stout 


30 Wm. Sacket 


5 Andrew Wliite 


31 E. W. Smith 


6 James Hud 


32 Lemuel Woodard 


7 Thomas R. Hud 


33 Joseph Brvant 


8 Thomas W. Barber 


34 Henry W.^ Tick 


9 Aaron Sims 


35 George W. Snvder 


10 Wm. Richap 


36 H. T': Waterfield 


11 A. J. CorbeVt 


37 R. F. Barber 


12 Chas. C. Emery 


38 S. M. Pearson 


13 Geo. Cosby 


39 A. Curtis 


14 H. A. Cosby 


40 Samuel Smith 


15 Joseph Oakley 


41 Samuel Jones 


16 Wm. Haseltine . 


42 Thomas W. Barber 


11 Theo. Edwards 


43 L. DuftV 


18 John Brannan 


44 Samuer Walker 


19 Daniel Vansill 


45 Thos. Wolverton 


20 John Scott 


46 Geo. Butt^im 


21 0. L. Spradling 


47 David G. Buifum 


22 John Hatfield 


48 Thos. Woodard 


23 J. Z. Peterfish 


49 Geo. 0. Beam 


24 R. J. Haseltine 


50 Joseph Oakley 


25 J. Roberts 


51 Isaac Davis 


26 A. E. Love 


52 Edward Oakley 



■ By mistake, the list of voters was put under the head of "tally-list." 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



665 



53 Kobert Allen 

54 Henry Alderman 

55 N. Allguire 

56 Alfred Peck 

57 J. A. AVakefield 

58 Stephen Dunken 

59 J. H. Tuton 

60 H. Burson 

61 M. Cay ton 

62 John Moss 

63 E. S. Jewett 

64 Geo. W. Perse 

65 Geo. W. Zinn 

66 Saml. Paal 

67 Kichard Day 

68 James Dunn 

69 James R. Moss 

70 Samuel Canaday 

71 C. C. Scofield 

72 Wm. McCready 

73 E. Disbro 

74 Andrew S. Baldwin 

75 David J. Casebier 

76 Henry L. Baldwin 

77 John Dewitt 

78 G. W. Ptunber 

79 Kinsey Lamm 

80 Richard Miller 

81 Abel Yates 

82 A. J. Smith 

83 Michael Albin 

84 G. Norton 



85 J. H. Wood 
8G Robert Hudson 

87 Henry Lewis 

88 Warner Stowie 

89 Daniel W. Lewis 

90 Charles B. Bailey 

91 John R. Lewis 

92 Aaron E. Piatt 

93 J. C. Casebier 

94 Benjamin Stowie 

95 Harrison Wood 

96 Zadoc Bhur 

97 Robt. Buffum 

98 J. L. Spear 

99 Henry Smith 

100 Saml. Casebier 

101 William Byerly 

102 Ebenezer Archibald 

103 John C. Archibald 

104 C. W. McCormick 

105 J. J. Miller 

106 J. C. Lamm 

107 Marguis Kelso 

108 Willis Myers 

109 H. B. Lacy 

110 Isaac Shirley 

111 Joseph Cather 

112 William Glen 

113 Alexander Glen 

114 D. Aikin 

115 D. C Blakely 

116 William Draper. 



Before the polls were opened, the judges administered to each other 
the following oath, and at the same time to the clerks : 

We do sAvear that wo will perform our duty as judges of the elec- 
tion, held at the house of Harrison Burson, in the second election 
district of the Territory of Kansas, on the 9th day of October, 1855, 
for four delegates to frame a State constitution, and a delegate to 
Congress, to the best of our judgment and ability; that we will 
keep a true, correct, and faithful record or list of all persons who 
shall vote at said election ; that we will poll no ticket from any per- 
son who is not an actual inhabitant and resident of said Territory, 
and who we shall not honestly believe to be a qualified voter, ac- 
cording to the provisions of the act of Congress organizing said Ter- 
ritory; that we will reject the votes of all non-residents who we 
shall believe have come into this Territory for the mere purpose of 
voting ; that in all cases where we are ignorant of the voter's right, 
we will require legal evidence thereof, by his own oath, or otherwise; 
and that we will truly count and record the votes received, and make 



666 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

true and faitliful return thereof to the executive committee of Kansas 
Territory. 

Sworn and subscribed October 9th, 1855, previous to opening the 
polls, before me, one of the judges of the election. 

SAMUEL WALKER, 
ROBERT BUFFUM, 
G. W. MEHERGER, 
E. S. Jewett, Judges of tlie election, 

Thos. B. WolvertoNj Clerks. 

We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that the following persons have received votes for dele- 
gates to frame a State constitution for Kansas Territory : 

John A. AVakefield received one hundred and sixteen votes ; Alfred 
Curtis received one hundred and sixteen votes ; J. M. Tuton received 
one hundred and sixteen votes ; Harrison Burson received one hun- 
dred and sixteen votes, cast at an election held at the second election 
district, in Kansas Territory, on the second Tuesday of October, 1855, 
it being the ninth day of said month, between the hours of 10 o'clock, 
a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, for delegates to a convention 
to form a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the peo})le of Kansas, 
and take all needful measures for organizing a State government, 
preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State. We, the judges 
and clerks of said election, further certify upon our oaths, that the 
said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States, 
above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents of said Ter- 
ritory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of 
thirty days immediately preceding said election day. 
October 9, 1855. 

SAMUEL WALKER, 
G. W. REMBERGER, 
ROBERT BUFFUM, 
Attest: E. S. Jewett, Judges. 

T. B, WoLVERTON, Clerks. 



Second District — Benicia Precinct. 

PoU-hook. — List of voters ivho have cast their hallotsfor delegates to a con 
vention to form a constitution for Kansas, on this second Tuesday, the 
ninth da7j of October, A. D. 1855. 



1 P. B. Harris 


9 J. H. Furman 


2 Joel Montgomery 


10 H. E. Brooks 


3 Nan no Smith 


11 John H. Lyon 


4 Owen Taylor 


12 John Sjiauiding 


5 Owen T. Bassett 


13 H. Hobbs 


6 Alplionso Jones 


14 F. Barker 


7 Andrew Marks 


15 Ephraim Conner 


8 Charles Smith 


16 H. H. Conner 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 667 

17 Edward Jones 23 J. H. Shemraons 

18 W. Phillips 24 John Phillips 

19 V. Cornic 25 Wm. Loyd 

20 V. Wickens 26 Wm. Hall 

21 Nathan Hackett 21 Henry Leorned. 

22 Joel Phillips 

We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that the whole nuraber of legal votes cast at an 
election held at Benicia precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second 
Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said month, be- 
tween the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, 
for the election of delegates to a convention to form a constitution, 
adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful 
measures for organizing a State government, preparatory to the ad- 
mission of Kansas as a State, was twenty-seven. 

We, the said judges and clerks, further certify upon our oaths, that 
the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United 
States, above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents of said 
Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of 
thirty days immediately preceding said election day. 

October 9, 1855. 

P. B. PIARRIS, 
0. T. BASSETT, 
J. H. SHEMMONS, 

Attest : Alphonso Jones, Judges. 

0. T. Bassett, Clerks. 



Tolly-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1855. 

A. Curtis 27 votes. 

H. Burson 27 '' 

J. A. Wakefield 24 '' 

J. M. Tuton 27 " 

We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that A. Curtis has received twenty-seven votes, H. 
Burson has received twenty-seven votes, J. A. Wakefield has received 
twenty-four votes, and J. M. Tuton has received twenty-seven votes, 
cast at an election held at Benicia precinct, in Kansas Territory, on 
the second Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said 
month, between the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of 
said day, for delegates to a convention to form a constitution, adopt a 
bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures 
for organizing a State government, preparatory to the admission of 
Kansas as a State. We, the judges and clerks of said election, further 
certify upon our oaths, that the said voters were white male inhabit- 
ants, citizens of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, 



668 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



bona-fide residents of said Territory of Kansas, having actually re- 
sided therein for the period of thirty days immediately preceding said 
election day. 
October 9. 1855. 

0. T. 
P. B. 
J. H. 
Attest : 0. T. Bassett, 

Alphonso Jones, Clerics. 



BASSJbTT, 

HARRIS, 

SHEMMONS, 

Judges. 



Third District. — Washington Precinct. 
Foil List. 



Edmund Brown 
Merritt Shulkeln 
Jesse M. Roberts 
Wm. C. Jones 
Geo. W. Gilman 
Daniel R. Lawson 
Joseph K. Lawson 
Wm. R. Frost 
Eli Allen 
T. y. Rush 
Wm. Riley 
John Roorback 
Wm. Y. Roberts 
Joseph Molton 
Geo. S. Ramsey 
S. J. Acklin 
Ephraim Banning 



Wm. A. Cardwell 
Solomon G. Reffer 
H. A. Custard 
Paul Shepherd 
H. P. Galan 
Caleb Antrim 
Wm. Harper 
Stephen Scott 
Alexander Wells 
Wm. T. Kerby 
Wm. B. Kertii 
Benjamin Moore 
Peter Eppison 
Barnet Foyle 
Henry F. HufFer 
R. W. Custard. 

GEO. S. RAMSEY, 
S. J. ACKLIN, Clei'Jcs. 



TaUy-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to^form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the dth day of October, 
1855. 

C. K. Holliday 33 votes. 

Wm. Y. Roberts 33 " 

We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that Wm. Y. Roberts and C. K. Holliday have each 
received thirty-three votes, cast at an election held at Washington, 
Big Spring precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second Tuesday of 
October, 1855, it being the 9th day of said month, between the hours 
of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, for delegates to a 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 669 

convention to form a constitution, adopt a "bill of rights for the people 
of Kansas, and take all needful measures for organizing a >State gov- 
ernment, preparatory to the admission of Kansas as a State, We, 
the judges and clerks of said election, further certify upon our oaths, 
that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the 
United States, above the age of twenty-one years, hona-fide residents 
of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the 
period of thirty days immediately preceding the said election day. 
Washington, October 9^ 1855. 

ELI ALLEN, 
WILLIAM RILEY, 
W. R. FROST, 
Attest: Geo. S. Ramsey, Judges. 

Samuel J. Acklin, Clerks. 



Third District. — Tecumseh Precinct. 

Pollrlist of voters for delegates to constitutional convention^ Octoher 9, 

1855. 

Orlando Moffet John McPherson 

John Morris Anderson Delop 

J. Tyler Samuel Updegraff 

C. W. Moffet George Osborn 
M. M. Robinson William Hook 
J. Vorhies A. M. Jourdan 
Francis Grasmuck Patrick Feril 
Andrew Jones J.Stephenson 
M. J. Mitchell William Kasten 
George C. McCormick N. L. Williams 

D. Updegraff Isaiah Cox 
John Carsgal Theodore Jonea 
Osborn Naylor William Norton 
James Brown E. R. Moffett 
Hiram Shields Lee Tewell. 
Wm. H. Morris 



Tally-list for delegates to constitutional convention, October 9, 1855. 

William Y. Roberts 31 votes. 

C. K. Holliday 31 '' 

FRANCIS GRASMUCK, 
C. W. MOFFET, Judges. 
Attest : M. M. Robinson, 

M. J. Mitchell, Clerks. 



670 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Certificate in usual printed form " that William Y. Roberts and 
C. K. Hollidaj received thirty-one votes each," &c., &c. 
October 9, 1855. 

FRANCIS GRASMUCK, 
JOHN MORRIS, 
C. W. MOFFET, Judges, 
Attest : M. M. Robinson, 

M. J. Mitchell, Clerks. 



Third District. — Third and Seventh Precincts, 
Foil-list. 



1 Wm. A. Simerwell 


13 Lindsey T. Cook 


2 Walter AV. Philips 


14 James Grillpatrick 


3 Geo. W. Pigott 


15 F. E. Hood 


4 Robert Turner 


16 William Matam 


5 William Turner 


17 Sam. Rainey 


6 J. D. Wood 


18 John W. Brown 


*J T. J. Anderson 


19 John Baxter 


8 William Armstrong 


20 Wm. F. Johnston 


9 Darius W. Herald 


21 Geo. S. Holt 


10 S. H. Hill 


22 David P. Hammond 


11 William Handly 


23 James Hammond 


12 Sam'l Cavender 


24 Aureliiis Bowen. 



Tally-list, 

AndrewH. Reeder ,. , 24 votes. 

C. K. Holliday 19 " 

W. Y. Roberts , 19 '* 

P. C. Schuyler 5 " 

The certificate is in the usual printed form, ''that C. K. Holliday 
and W. Y. Roberts have received nineteen votes each, and P. C. 
Schuyler has received five votes, cast at the election held at the house 
of W. W. Philips, in part of the 3d and 7th precincts," &c. 
Signed Oct. 9, 1855. 

JOHN W. BROWN, 
W. F. JOHNSTON, 
GEO. S. HOLT, 

Jtidges. 
Attest: W. F. Johnston, 

Geo. S. Holt, Clerks, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



671 



Third District — Topeka Precinct. 
PdUflist of voters for delegates to convention to form a constitution. 



Josepli C. Miller 
F. L. Crane 
Greorge Davis 
Leonard W. Horn 
Sanford Hews 
James C. Disney 
Enoch Chase 
J. C. Gordon 
George F. Boyd 
Isam Chad wick 
David Smith 
E. C. K. Gawes 
M. C. Martin 
William P. Thompson 
Hiram Higgins 
K. L. Mitchell 
H. B. Burgess 
T. Mclntire 
John Long 
E. S. Dexter 
Lervin Farnsworth 
0. C. Nicholas 
Francis Davis 
Daniel H. Horn 
Horatio Fletcher 
Ahel F. Hartwell 
Daniel Hall 
Philip Briggs 
L. Shadie 
M. Birch 
Elnatlian Trask 
William Scales 
James Chad wick 
Christopher Leonard 
Parsons Haskell 
Chai'les Farnesworth 
Amhrose W. Ford 
Benjamin F. Getchel 
George B. French 
A. W. Moore 
Barney Miller 
J. W. Emmerson 
Leonard Wendell 
Daniel Sayres 
William R. Dyre 
John Kitchey 
David II. Moore 



John B. Horn 
P. 0. Conner 
Charles Wilher 
A. Doane 
D. Canperos 
Charles Sarden 
G. F. Callog 
D. W. Cleaveland 
F. W. Giles 
J. F. Cummins 
Israel Zimmerman 
John A. Wirt 
H. P. Waters 
F. G. Thornton 
M. C. Dickey 
David Stofield 
Henry Stofield 

C. K. Holliday 
A. F. Whitney 
J. T. Jones 

Wm. W. Henderson 
Charles Creitz 
John Fletcher 
Samuel Harriot 
Ephraim Harriot 
Robert H. Matthews 
Charles A. Gray 
Eugene Parker 

D. Mincum 
William F. Cretez 
W. L. Brigden 
Thomas C. Stevens 
Harvey Young 

C. G. Howard 
R. M. Luce 
J. F. Meriam 
A. A. Ward 
Charles A. Sexton 
H. H. Wentworth 
Charles Masley 
Edward Plummer 
Leroy S. Bown 
Joseph H. Chase 
Jacob B. Chase 
M. K. Smith 
Joseph L. Young 
C. L. Terrell 







672 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Augustus H. Barnard 
S. E. Martin 
Thomas H. Taylor 
Julius D. Clarkson 
Joseph L. Young, jr. 
D. Banta 
James Tregart 
J. Willets 
S. N. Frazier 
Hiram C. Cortl 
William Miles 
George H. Wood 
L. G. Cleaveland 



Philip Ingraham 
William C. Lencker 
Thomas W. Scudder 
James McAnany 
William M. Jordan 
H. B. CoAvles 
James Cowlcs 
Lemuel Burson 
John Martin 
William R. Boggs 
0. H. Drinkwater 
Andrew S. Waters. 



Tally-list. 

C. K. Holliday 104 votes. 

W. Y. Roberts 94 " 

J. Cowles 14 '' 

H. H. Wentworth 12 '' 

Edward >Segroves , 2 " 

Sanford Henry 1 " 

Wentworth and Cowles 1 " 

Coles and Segroves 1 " 

The certificate is in the usual printed form, and certifies ''that 
C. K. Holliday has received one hundred and four votes, W. Y. 
Roberts ninety-four votes, J. Cowles fourteen votes, H. H. Went- 
worth twelve votes, Edward Segroves two votes, Sanford Henry one 
vote, Coles and Segroves one vote, Wentworth and Coles one vote. 

[Signed, &c.] 
ToPEKA, K. T., Octoher 9, 1855. 

HENRY P. WATERS, 
MILTON C. DICKEY, 
F. L. CRANE, Judges. 
Attest : Israel Zimmerman, 

JouN A. Wirt, Clerks. 



Third District — Camp Creek Precinct. 

List of voters iclio cast their hallots for delegates to a convention to form 
a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth da,y 
of Octoher, A. D. 1855. 



Heberling 



1 Hiram H 

2 W. T. Stout 

3 John Kinney 

4 John G. Fulton 



5 Eli B. Dailey 

6 George Strobridge 

7 H. M. CaAfield. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



€73 



Tally-list for candidates for constitutional convention, 

<C. K. Holliday 7 votes. 

William Y. Roberts 7 '' 

We, tlie nndei\signed judges of an election held at the house of 
Hiram H. Heberling, in the third election district, on the 9th day of 
October, A. D. 1855, do certify upon our oaths as judges of said elec- 
tion, that the above is a true and correct return of the votes polled 
for members of constitutional convention by lawful resident voters. 

HIRAM H. HEBERLING, 
JOHN KINNEY, 
Henry M. Canpield, Judges, 

Geo. Strobfjdge, Clerks\ 



FouKTH District. — Willoio Springs Precinct. 

*oU-book of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo- 
ber, A, D, 1855. 



A. J. Miller 
Charles Legg 
Tlieron E. Curtis 
H. W. Hyde 
Nathaniel Parker 
Mansfield Carter 
Franklin Barns 
Archibald Harris 
D. B. Hyde 
Joseph Banks 
A. B. Gil I er land 
Thos. Doaty 
Silas H. Moore 
C. H. Far 
J. F. Javans 
William Graham 
Peter Bassinger 
J. E. Carpenter 
Wm. Mewhinney 
John Wilson 
J. G. Moore 
John Eddy 
Wm. Harris 
iS. B. McManners 
Levi Uoaty 
Geo. Ripley 
Wiley Jones 
S. Cleaveland 

H. Rep. 200- 



J. P. Moore 

T. J. Mewhinney 

Sam'l Mewhinney 

Thomas McCowan 

Wra. Moore 

Sam'l Workman 

C. Howard Carpenter 

S. T. Shore 

Benjamin Fell 

E. G. Plolt 

David Hendrilik 

A. F. Powell 

■R. N. Pearson 

Silas Dexter 

Patrick Claharn 

€. P. Holt 

Albert Whitcomb 

Gideon Seymore 

Wm. B. Hay don 

J. D. Hope 

Washington M. Bulharou 

Elkanah Timons 

A. R. Banks 

Perry Fuller 

Aaron Moore 

Wm. C. Sadler 

Wm. B. Sowens. 



43^ 



674 KANSAS AFFAIRS, 

We, the nndersigned judges and clerks of election, IicreLy certify 
apon oatli, that the whole number of legal votes cast at an elcctioD 
held at Willow Springs precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second 
Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said month, be- 
tween the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said 
day, for delegates to a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill 
of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for 
organizing a State government preparatory to the admission of Kan- 
sas as a State, to be fifty-five. 

We, the judges and clerks of said election, further certify, upon 
our oaths, that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens 
of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide 
residents of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein 
for the period of thirty days immediately preceding said election day„ 
OcTOBEii 9, 1855. 

C. HOWAED CARPENTER, 
SAMUEL WORTMAN, 
WILLIAM MOORE, 

Judges . 
Attest: Thos. McCowan, 

Sam'1 T. Shore. Clerks. 



Talhj-lisi. 

8. Mewhinney , , 55 

Wm, Griahara 55 

Judge's Return. 

We, the undersigned judges of an election held on the 9th of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1855, at the house of Samuel Mewhinney, in tlie Willow 
Springs precinct, 4th election district, for the election of delegates to 
a constitutional convention, to be held at Topeka on the fourth Tues- 
day of October, A. D. 1855, do hereby certify, upon our oatli, as 
judges of said election, that the following is a true and correct return 
of the votes polled at such election by lawful resident voters, namely: 
S. Mewhinney, fiftv-five; Wm. Graham, fifty-five. 

SAMUEL WORTMAN, 
WILLIAM MOORE, 
C. HOWARD CARPENTER, 

Judges. 



Fifth District. — Hampden Precinct. 
Poil-list of voters for delegates to convention, October 9, 1855. 

John Evans Stephen P. Pepper 

Andrew Harrington Franklin Pease 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



675 



Charles J. Burkee 
Richard Knight 
Charles R. Newcomb 
William A. Elas 
James Headdens 
George M. Abbey 
Alberto Hill 
William Blasdale 
Caleb T. Atheam 
Matthew Blasdale 
Joseph B. Weatherby 
John L. Mellen 
William W. Higgins 
John P. Pepper 
Chaiincy Morse 



George Law 
Luther C. Smith 
Charles Morse 
Hart well F. Turner 
Tallmadge M. Church 
Thomas Y. Proctor 
J. A. D. Clark 
Silas Smith 
Amasa B. Sampson 
Thomas Richards 
Phineas Knowlton 
Fenton Bayley 
Lucius Morse 
Loomis Richards. 



Certificate in usual form, (signed.) 

W. A. ELAS, 

S. P. PEPPER, 

CHARLES J. BURKEE, Judges. 
Attest: Richard Knight, Cleric. 

" We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths that William F. Turner, James M. Arthur, M. J. 
Morris, Orville Brown, Frederick Brown, and Richard Knight, have 
received thirty-three votes cast at an election held at Hampden pra- 
cinct," &c., &;c., as in the printed form. 
Hampden, October 9, 1855. 

W. A. ELAS, 
S. P. PEPPER, 

CHARLES J. BURKEE, Judges, 
Attest: Richard Knight, Clerk. 



Fifth District. — Osawatomie Precinct. 

Poll-book. — List of voters ivho have cast their ballots for delegates to a, covr- 
vention to form a constitution for Kansas, at an election held on this 
second, Tuesday., the ninth day of October, 1855, at the house of Mr. 
White, Osaivatomie. 



1 Curtis Jackson 


11 Bartow Darrach 


2 Amos Finch 


12 John Telton 


3 0. C. BroAvn 


13 J. H. Houser 


4 C. G. Grout 


14 Wm. Chesnut 


5 John Carr 


15 John Goodrich 


6 Harvev Jackson 


16 Henry Carson 


7 WesleV H. Pinnell 


17 Morgan Cronkhite 


8 Joel Goodrich 


18 Orran Williams 


9 John P. Glen 


19 B. F. Huskins 


.0 Charles A. Foster 


20 Samuel Fisher 



676 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



21 Samuel Adair 


45 


C. F. Lake 


22 Cornelius W. Yocum 


46 


George R. Ferris 


23 James Stotts 


i1 


Asa S. White 


24 William Saling 


48 


Thomas J. Hammon 


25 R. C. Cottle 


49 


Jackson Black 


26 Richard Saling 


50 


Jackson Hendrick& 


27 Benjamin Woodbury 


51 


Alfred Lossing 


28 Johnson Dow 


52 


M. A. Fairchilds 


29 Elias Higgins 


53 


James Williams 


30 Richard Mendenhall 


54 


John Rose 


31 Jesse Pickering 


55 


John C. Hendy 


32 Crawford Oliver 


56 


Francis Brenan 


33 Henry Cox 


57 


Edmund Avery 


34 E. W. Collins 


58 


J. B. Higgins 


35 N. J. Roscoe 


59 


John Richison 


36 J. B. Bingham 


60 


Harmon Dace 


37 J. W. Troy 


61 


Joseph Redfield 


38 Orville Nicols 


62 


George W. Phillip» 


39 Horace Norton 


63 


Samuel Geer 


40 John C. Lowman 


64 


Caleb Sharar 


41 Levi Fenner 


65 


Charles H. Crone 


42 John Benning 


66 


Tliomas Hitchings 



43 Wm. C. Childers 

44 James H. Houser 



67 William Quick. 



The certificate as to the number and qualification of voters is in the 
UBual form, signed as follows : 

OSAWATOMIE, October 9, 1855. WM. CHESNUT, 

JOHN TELTON, 
Attest: B. Darbach, Judges. 

Charles A. Foster, Clerks. 



TaUy-Ust of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution 
for Kansas, at an election held on tJiis second Tuesday, the ninth day 
of October, A. D. 1855, at the house of Mr. White, in Osaiuatomie, 
ffth election district. Whole member of votes &T . 

Wm. T. Turner had 67 votes. 

James M. Arthur 67 " 

M. T. Morris 66 '' 

Orville C. Brown 66 " 

Richard Knight 67 " 

Hamilton Smith 66 " 

N. G. Nicols , 3 '' 

Frederick Brown 64 " 

William G. Nichols 64 " 

The certificate is correct '' that the above-named persons had re- 
ceived the number of votes set against their respective names, cast at 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 677 

an election held at Osawatomie precinct," &c., &c., as in the printed 
form. 

October 9, 1855. WILLIAM CHESNUT, 

JOHN TELTON, 
SAMUEL H. HOUSER, 
Attes t : B . D A RR Acii , Judges . 

Charles A. Foster, Clerks. 



Fifth District. — Little Osage Precinct. 

PoU list. 

Daniel Henderson John Wagoner 

John A. Wakefield James Curry 

Amhrose Ripley Daniel Francis 

William T. Curry Wm. H. Wilson 

David C. Forhes Stephen M. Overbey 

Allen Beeson Samuel M. Jennings 

John Spears Thomas Osborn 

John Sutton William Stone. 



Tally-list for delegates to a convention to form a, constitution. 

William T. Turner 16 votes. 

James M. Arthur IG " 

M. T. Morris 16 " 

Orville C. Brown 16 '' 

Frederick Brown 16 '' 

Richard Knight ., 16 " 

Hamilton Smith 16 " 

David C. Forbes 16 '' 

We, tlie undersigned, judges and clerks of election, do hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that the wliolo number of legal votes cast at an elec- 
tion held at Little Osage precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the second 
Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said month, be- 
tween the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, 
for the election of delegates to a convention to form a constitution, 
adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful 
measures for organizing a State government, preparatory to the ad- 
mission of Kansas as a State, to be a free v/liite State, to be sixteen. 

We, the said judges and clerks, further certily upon our oaths, that 
said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the United States, 
above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents of said Territory 
of Kansas, having actually resided therein for tlie period of thirty 
days immediately preceding said election day. 

October 9, 1855. WILLIAM STONE, 

THOMAS OSBORN, 

Attest : Samuel M. Jennings, Judges. 

John Wagner, Clerks. 



678 KANSAS AFFAIKS. 

Fifth District. — Neosho Precinct. 

PoU-hooh. — List of voters who cast their ballots for delegates to a conveiv- 
iion to form a constitution for Kansas, held this second Tuesday, tJie 
ninth day of October, A. D. 1855. 

1 Levi E. Hubble 8 Hiram Hoover 

2 John H. Bowen 9 Sampson Depain 

3 Morgan Dix 10 Thomas Bowen 

4 Enos Strawn 11 John D. Beettz 

5 Hamilton Smith 12 Hiram Harr 

6 Joseph Creeil 13 William R. Vail. 

7 Hiram D. Depew 

(The certificate as to the number and qualifications of the voters is 
in the usual form, sii^ned as follows): 
October 9, 1855. ^ MORGAN DICKS, 

THOMAS BOWEN, 
HIRAM HOOVER, 
Attest : Ends Strawn, Judges. 

Wm. K. Vail, Clerks. 



Tally-list for delegates to a convention to form a constitution. 

Hiram Hoover 13 

Mahlon T. Morris 9 

James M. Artliur 9 

William R. Turner 8 

The certificate is in the usual printed form "that Hiram Hoover han 
received thirteen votes, Mahlon T. Morris nine votes, J. M. Arthur 
nine votes, William R. Turner eight votes^ cast at an election held at 
Neosho precinct," &c. 
October 9, 1855. MORGAN DICKS, 

THOMAS BOWEN, 
HIRAM HOOVER, 
Attest: Enos Strawn, Judges, 

William H. Veele, Clerks. 



Fifth District. — Big Sugar Creek Precinct. 

Poll-book . — List of voters who cast their ballots for delegates to a conven- 
tion to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, 
the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855, at the house of Silas Young ^ 
in Big Sugar Creek precinct , Kansas Territory. 

1 William Dudley 4 Samuel Farra 

2 William Daniel 5 James A. Watkins 
* 3 Reuben Daniel 6 John Lance 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 679 



7 Waller Cash 


16 John Jones 


S James M. Arthur 


17 D. P. Brown 


9 Allen Stewart 


18 Silas Young 


10 A. J. Long 


19 A. P, McLeland 


11 William Cash 


20 T. C. Cregger 


12 William Dyer 


21 Z. W. Lasure 


13 James W. Dudley 


22 F. H. Graham 


14 Samuel J. Sprague 


23 James Dudley 


15 Jonah Daniel 


24 John Wikel. 



Tcdty-Ust of delegates' names for constitutional convention. 

William Turner received 24 votes. 

James M. Arthur 24 

M. T. Morris 23 

Orville C. Brown 24 

Frederick B ro wn 24 

Richard Kniglit 24 

Hamilton Smith 23 

Hiram Hoover 17 

We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
sapon our oaths, that the whole number of legal votes cast at an elec- 
tion held at Big Sugar Creek precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the 
second Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said 
month, between the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., 
of said day, for the election of eight delegates to a convention to form 
a constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and 
take all needful measures for organizing a State government, prepar- 
atory to the admission of Kansas as a State, to be twenty-four. 

We, the judges and clerks, further certify upon our oaths, that the 
said voters were white male inhabitants, citizensof the United States, 
above the age of twenty-one years, bona fide residents of said Terri- 
tory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the period of 
thirty days immediately preceding said election day. 

October 9, 1855. JONAH DANIEL, 

SILAS YOUNG, 
D. P. BROWN, 

Attest: J. W. Dudley, Judges. 

William Dyer, Clerics, 



FiFTK District. — Pottowatomie Precinct. 

TaUy-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas^ held on this second Tuesday^ tlie ninth day of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1855. 

W. T. Turner 49 

J. W. Arthur 49 

0. C. Brown.. 49 



680 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Hamilton Smith 48 

Richard Knight 49 

Frederick Brown 47- 

W. T. Morris 49 

The certificate is in the nsual printed form, "that William T.. 
Turner has received forty-nine votes, J. W. Arthiir has received 
forty-nine votes, 0. C. Brown has received forty-nine votes, Hamil- 
ton Smith has received forty-eight votes, Richard Knight has received 
forty-nine votes, Frederick Brown has received forty-seven votes, W. 
T. Morris has received forty-nine votes, cast at an election held at 
Pottowatoraie meeting-house," &c., &c. 
Signed and dated October 9, 1855. 

JOHN T. GRANT, 
CYRUS TAYLOR, 
DAVID BALDWIN, 

Jndgcs. 
Attest: Wm. N. Woods, 

John Gr. Moore, Clerks, 



Fifi'ii District. — Litile Sugar Creel: PreeincL 

PoU-llst of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a. constitw'icm 
for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the uinlh day of Ociohfyr^ 
J. i). 1855. 



Julius Wilhoit 
Temple Wayne 
Robert Throckmortojx 
M. A. Morris 
John Gr. Pierce 
Leander Fonts 
Coii])e Phillip 
A. F. Sellers 
Sam'l Meckel 
Isaac Jackson 
H. Goodpasture 
J. B. Pyler 
John Eerstcp 
William Many 
Levi Ward 
William B. Perry 
[No certificate.] 



Solomon Copple 
Hiram Daniels 
Enoch Osborri 
A. G. Copple 
John Fonts 
H. M. Gibhs 
R. W. Bradlev 
W;. T. Turner 
Michael Kanavare 
David Reese 
S. B. Flqyd 
D. F. Park 
D. W. Cannan 
F. A. Hamilton 
William NickeL 



The certificate is in the usual printed form, -'That William Tur- 
ner has received thirty-two votes, James M. Arthu,r has received 
thirty-two votes, M. J. Morris has received thirty-two votes, Orvilie 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 681 

C. Brown bas received thirty-two votes,, Frederick Brown has received 
thirty-two votes, Richard Knight has received thirty-two votes, Ham- 
ilton Smith has received thirty-two votes, cast at an election held at 
Little Sugar Creek precinct," &c. 
Signed and dated October 9, 1855. 

D. REESE, 
S. B. FLOYD, 
ENOCH OSBORN, 
Attest: D. F. Park, Judges. 

David W. Cannan, Clerks. 



Fifth District — Stanton Precinct. 

Tally-list for delegates to form a State constitution. 

William T. Turner 35 votes. 

James A. Arthur 35 " 

M. J. Morris 35 '^ 

OrvilleC. Brown 35 " 

Fred. Brown 35 " 

Richard Knight 35 " 

Hamilton Smith 35 " 

Isaac Woollard 29 " 

William a. Nichols 1 " 



Fifth District — Alderman's house. 

Judges' return. 

We, the undersigned judges of an election held on the ninth of 
October, A. D. 1855, at the Alderman house, in the fifth election 
district, for the election of a delegate to 34th Congress of the United 
States, and for delegates to the constitutional convention, do hereby 
certify upon our oaths as judges of said election, that the following is 
a true and correct return of the votes polled at such election, by law- 
ful resident voters. 

For delegate to Congress, Andrew H. Reeder has received thirteen 
votes. 

For delegates for the constitutional convention, Hiram Hoover has 
received thirteen votes, Mahlon T. Morris nine votes, James M. 
Arthur nine votes, William R. Turner eight votes. 

MOROAN DICKS, 
THOMAS BOWEN, 
HIRAM HOOVER, 
Attest : Enos Strawn, Judges of election. 

Wm. K. Vaill, Clerks. 



682 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Sixth District. — House of Richard J. Far qua. 

Tally-list of votes for Congress, and for the convention to form a State 
const itiction, October 9, 1855. 

Delegate to Congress, A. H. Eeeder 12 votes. 

For delegates to constitutional convention : 

W. R. Griffith 12 votes. 

John Hamilton 12 " 

A. W. J. Brown 12 '' 

William Saunders 12 " 

"We, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby cer- 
tify upon our oaths, that Andrew H. Reeder has received twelve votes 
for delegate to Congress; and that William R. Griffith, John Hamil- 
ton, A. W. Brown, and William Saunders each received twelve votes, 
cast at an election lield at the house of Richard J. Farqua," &c. , as 
in the printed form. 

October 9, 1855. R. J. FARQUA, 

WM. C. KEETH, 
H. W. HUMPHREY, 
Attest : Geo. W. Goodrich, Judges. 

Jacob Sherlock, Clerks. 



Sixth District — Scott Town Precinct. 
List of voters for delegates to convention, October 9, 1855. 



1 Marion Medlen 

2 Gaston Reeves 

3 Gilford Noris 

4 James Johnson 

5 Hiram Hayward 

6 John Moberly 
1 David Ward 

8 Henry Bennett 

9 A. W. J. Brown 

10 Thomas Burgess 

11 David Dotson 

12 Isam Prewett 

13 Giles Later 

14 William Darden 



15 William Later 
IG Hiram Cable 

17 Augustus Todd 

18 Thomas Owen 

19 John Kyzer 

20 D. D. Brown 

21 Edmond Henly 

22 G. W. Jackson 

23 Anderson Raye 

24 Davis Parsons 

25 James Hertson 

26 Hiram Ward 

27 A. Jones 



TaMij-list. 
Delegates to convention : 

A. H. Brown 26 votes. 

T. H. Burgess 24 '' 

John Hamilton 27 '' 

W. J. Griffith 27 " 



KANSAS AFFAIRS G83 

Sixth District. — Columbia Precinct. 

Tally-list. 

A. H, Reeder 20 votes. 

James H. Phenis 20 '' 

" We, tlie undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that James H. Phenis has received twenty votes, cast 
at an election held at Columbia," &c., as in the printed form. 
October 9, 1855. 

PHILIP COOK, 
JAfe. H. PHENIS, 
THOMAS J. ADDES, 
Attest: Jesse J. WniTSON, Judges. 

Peter A. Phenis, Clerks. 



Judge's certificate. 

Lawrence, September 22, 1855. 

Sir: Having entire confidence in your integrity, patriotism, and 
ability, you have been selected, and are hereby appointed as one of 
the judges of the election to be holden in your precinct, in the Terri- 
tory of Kansas, at Columbia, on the second Tuesday (October ninth,) 
for members of a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill of 
rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for 
organizing a State government, preparatory to the admission of 
Kansas into the Union as a State. 

Per order of executive committee of Kansas Territory. 

J. H. LANE, Chairman. 

J. K. GooDiN, Secretary. 

[Endorsed '' Philip Cook," and similar certificates addressed to 
the other judges. Printed form.] 



Seventh District. — Council City Precinct. 

PoU-list of voters for delegates to convention to form a constitution, Octo- 
ber 9, 1855. 

A. Smith Alexander Melison 

Lewis D. Joy George Bonser 

William Lord W. H. Toothman 

John Drew I. B. Titus 

Philip C. Schuyler Samuel Scott 

George Bralton Charles Fish 

David Condite Lucien Fish 

Abel Policy Nicholas Schuyler. 



6S4 



KANSAS AJTAmS. 



Frederick C. Upson 
L. T. Miller 
William Drew 
William Graham 
Hiram Graliam^ 
Marcus C. Rose 
Tliiel Srrite 
Harvey R. Hall 
Stephen D. Smith 
John Smith 
M. H. Rose 
W. X. Havens 
Henry Morell 
Harvev Eperson 
G. J. Morell 
John Lowry 
Joseph Brovm 
Jackson MiiUers 
David Stanley 
John Crawford 
Thomas Armden 
Samuel B. Harvey 
Greor^je M. Harvev 



Hirara Mills 
Jacoh Beyer 
Alexander Hoover 
Adam Bothel 
Samuel A. Allison 
William Tillinghast 
GeoTiie M. Barnes 
J. W. Kerr 
James T. Miller 
Joseph McDonald 
James R. Stewart 
David Hoover 
E. M. Ferine 
A. Leonard 
H. Black 
Robert Smith 
John Cozier 
Oliver Philips 
Henrv Zodel 
A. L. Watkins 
James Bothel 
Victor McDonald 
James Kirn:;. 



'* We. the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby certify, 
upon our oaths, that the following persons. Josiah H. Pillsbury and 
Philip C. Schuyler have received the highest number of votes for del- 
egates to Territorial convention, cast at an election held at Council 
City, in the seventh district," ti-c tSrc. . as in the printed form. 
October 9, 1S55. 

JOny DREW, 
WM. LORD, 

Judges. 
Attest: Abel PoLLBT. 



Judgf's JRctum. 

We. the undersigned, judges of an election held on the 9th of Oc- 
tober, A. D. ISoo" at the house of I. B. Titus, in the precincts o:" 
the seventh election district, for the election of a delegate to the 34 1 
Congress of the Unitevl States, do hereby certify upon our oaths, as 
judges of said election, that the following is a true and correct re- 
turn of the votes polled at such election, by lawful resident voter? . 
to wit: There was cast for Andrew H. Reevler at said election. tV- 
Congressman, sixty-two votes; and for Territorial convention, ther 
was cast sixty votes for Josiah H. Pillsbury delegate to the same; 
and sixty votes cast for Philip C. Schuyler for delegate to said con- 
vention. Two persons not voting for delegates to Territorial con- 
vention that voted for Conirressman. 



EAXSAS Aipins. 



68$ 



Done at OouDdl CStr. TBriihiu tlie piwnct^ oi" tht^ Ttli district, ihis 
9th dar of October, one thousand eii^ht hnnired and ntiv-tire, 

\\"\:. LORD. 



EiteHTH District. — Wa-iihamisc': P 



Pii.V->.,\.I-. — L^sT ,;-" vc'icr^ trie <\7si ffirir h.ilhf-f fo" 
Pii%tl a J I' of OctcbiT, A. D. 1S55, 



HiiTry Jones: 
Heary S. GlPoert 

? ^ :rai 
' . . > 1\ FarnsTrorth 
John C- Massman 
Daniel L. Bates 
OalTin H, Sairin 
Fi^ancis A, Ablvrt 
William B. Marshall 
Jonathan M. BnrleT 
F. W. B<>ss 
James M. Bisl>ey 
E. E. Persons 



Allen B. Lee 
Crrns Bishoj^ 
D, E. Adi^ms 
G. W. 
T. B. V:,^ 

Bartholomevr Shaxai 
Lafaretie W. Bri.>TBrn 
E- B. MeCiirdT 
D. B. Hiatt 
Jno. H. Xes^hitt 
Horace W. Tavlor 
George H. Hill 
Harrison F. Brotrn. 



WArBAuys-vf 



: T^f :v.:"-X'r and qnaiin.-anj'Zi o: i^.e voters is 

: y, lS5o. 

E. S, M^tCFRDY, 
J. M. BISBET, 
DAXIEL B. HIATT, 

Attest : HosACi: W. Tatl=?ii, 

JoHX H. Xi:£BiTT, Cleris, 



Taibf-iui cflcgai vdess^^ ddegates t& tite comslitMiHmai comvemtitm. 

J. H. Pillsl>iirv 27 rotes. 

P. C. Schuyler 27 '* 

E. B. Mt:1?UBDY, 
J. M. BISBEY, 
rA:^IEL B- HIATT, 

Judges. 
Attest: JqhjtH. Xssbitt, 

Hqucb W. Tatloe, CZeHb. 



6S6 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



EiGirrn District. — Wauhaiinsee Precinct, (to Jill a vacancy.) 

PoU-hook. — List of the names of legal voters icho cast their votes for dele- 
gate to convention, Ocioher 30, 1S55. 



H. T. Brown 
Geo. H Hill 
D. L. Bates 
P. Shanii 
Henrv Bisby 



Attest: D. L. Bat^, Clerk, 



Y. R. Morse 
Hiram Tadder 
J. M. Bisby 
Latavette Brown 
J. H". Nosbitt. 

HENRY BISBY, 
Y. R. MORSE, 
J. M. BISBY, 

Judges. 



Talhj list for delegate to co7ivention. 

J. H. Nesbitt 10 votes. 

"We, tbe undersigned, judges of the election held at the house of 
Peter Sharai, Waubaunsee, in the eight election district, to elect a 
delegate to the constitutional convention, in place of J. H. Pillsbury, 
resigned, declare the whole number of votes cast for J. H. Nesbitt to 
be ten. H. BISBY. 

Y. R. MORSE, 
J. M. BISBY, 
Attest: D. L. Bates, Clerk. Judges. 



Ninth District. — Pawjiee Prcciiict. 

List of voters to^io have cast their votes for delegates to a atnvention to 
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth 
day of October J 1855. 



1 Robert Klotz 


15 Jolm M. Moses 


2 Henrv Green 


IG H. ^Y. Martin 


3 S. B.' White 


17 Matthew Mudcator 


4 Adolph Kurtze 


IS John Jarahass 


5 R. Whitehare 


19 George Peacock 


6 F. Yember 


20 John" Pipe 


7 George Blesch 


21 Isaac Bi octree 


8 J. H^ Green 


22 S. P. Hiogins 


9 R. Leavitt Lincoln 


23 Silas Klotz . 


10 Reuben Kleintop 


24 John C. Bertolett 


11 Isaac H. Loder 


25 Charles Weidkrecht 


12 Alexander Shaw 


56 Joseph Barry 


13 Diversica Fursom 


27 John Hi bier 


14 Charles Albright 


28 Benjamin' Kleintop 



Bu^^SAS AFFAIRS. 



687 



29 

30 

31 

32 

oo 

34 
•■> - 
oo 

30 

ot 

3S 

30 

40 

41 

42 

43 

44 

45 

40 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 



Patrick Chandit 


53 


Georoje Taylor 


54 


J. M": :\lTers 


55 


Thomas Bickerton 


56 


William H. Moore 


57 


Milton Bnhor 


5S 


George F. Brown 


59 


J. C^Conter 


60 


Samuel Hill 


61 


Emery P. Lockhart 


62 


James S. Rhodes 


63 


Johnson ^Iclntire 


64 


(t. F. Gordon 


65 


William M. McClure 


66 


James B. Alexander 


67 


Jacob Swartwood 


68 


J. W. Stewart 


69 


Jeremiah Yonnkin 


70 


G. M. Fountain 


71 


Joseph McClure 


72 


Jacob Dutcher 


73 


Charles A. Berry 


74 


G. W. Marston ' 


75 


J. 0. Sawver 


76 



Lemuel Knapp 
Samuel Allen 
8. W. Jolmson 
R. H. Higgins 
John Hoi brook 
T. H. Mills 
Thomas Blacklin 
James Holse 
J. B. Dickerson 
Beni. Coppenhaven 
W. H. Mackey 
C. More 
C. G. Nolan 
Franz Hogg 
James Chrers 
Adam Kelber 
John Schumaker 
R. H. Hammond 
W. C. Gibbons 
Abraham Barry 
William Grace 
David German 
A. B. Marchol 
Geori^e Darling. 



[The certificate appended to the poll-list fails to state the number 
of Toters, and is therefore of no value, except as to the qualification 
of voters. The words quoted in the other certificate, as to the five 
Wyandot Indians, are repeated in this.] 



Talh/-lisf of votes c^si/or delegates to a convention to form a co7istitiition 
for Kansas, held on this second Tuesdaij, the ninth day of October, 
\4. D. 18a5. 

Robert Klotz 53 

A . Hunting 54 

'^We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that Robert Klotz has received fitYy-three votes, and 
A. Hunting fifty-four votes, cast at an election held at Pawnee," &c., 
as in the printed form. They add to the printed certificate that the 
voters were white male inhabitants '^(except five, wlio are members 
of the Wyandot tribe of Indians)." 



Pawxee^ October 9, 1855. 



Attest: J. B. Dickerson, 

J. M. Myers, Clerks. 



S. P. HIGGINS, 
WM. M. :McCLURE, 
LEONARD KNAPP, 

Judges. 



688 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



Tenth District. — Big Blue Frecind. 

Poll-hook. — List of voters tvho cast their ballots for delegates to a con- 
vent ion to form a consfifutiou for Kansas, held on this second Tues- 
d<ii/y the ninth dai/ of Ociober, A. 1). 1855. 



1 Harrv Whiteside 

2 Henrv B. Noalv 

3 S. Whitehoiue 

4 8. P. Lincoln 

5 M. L. Wisiier 

6 J. E. Wood 

7 S. B. McKenzie 

8 H. B. Leonard 

9 C. II. Lovejoy 

10 A. llnnting 

11 Kezin Arnold 

12 William S. Arnold 

13 Christian Goty 

14 Samuel Hensley 

15 J. Stewart 

IG Henry Condray 

17 ^[inoiiev Condrav 

18 E. E. Blood 

19 William C. Dver 

20 William Jacobs 

21 E. M. Thurston 

22 Peter Xeyhart 

23 William Hanna 

24 David Hays 

25 Sauuiel Caruahan 

26 Thomas C. Wells 

27 John am 

28 0. N. Wilson 

29 S. D. Houston 

30 M. E. Gennis 

31 J. P. Hare 

32 T. E. Hare 

33 James Hare 

34 James Johnson 

35 Thomas Raltree 
3l) Henrv Green 

37 Asahel O. Allen 

38 Simon Perry 

39 Ephraim Adkins 

40 Henry Bishop 



41 C. W. Beehee 

42 Ambrose Todd 

43 Joseph Havs 

44 J. P. Goodnow 

45 J. W. Dver 

40 B. M. Whilden 

47 Geo. W. Eubank 

48 William Carroll 

49 Samuel Havs 

50 Seth J. Childs 

51 Tenman Shadduck 

52 Stephen B. Barns 

53 Joseph Denison 

54 John Morris 

55 Thomas W. Piatt 

56 Lorenzo Westover 

57 Newell Tratton 

58 E. Huntins]^ 

59 J. D. Heald 

60 J. B. Smith 

61 Asaph Browning 

62 Thomas Randolph 

63 John Randolph 

64 J. F. HoUicker 

65 John ^[cCorusev 

66 W. W. Davis 

67 Willard Whitney 

68 William ^IcCorusey 
Ctd John Flagg 

70 Cornelius X. Low 

71 John Hoar 

72 John Hudson 

73 John flails 

74 John Soupene 

75 Augtistus Wattles 

76 David Ward 

77 Jacob Thier 

78 Christopher Thomas 

79 Moodv B. Powers 
SO A. H." Powers. 



[The certilicate to the poll-list tails to state the number of voters, 
but is good as to their qualiticatious — the printed form being used.] 
Signed, Juniata, October 9, 1855. J. STEWART, 

PETER XEYHART, 
WILLIAM HAXNA, 
Attest: C. N. WnsoN, Judgcjs. 

Thomas C. Wells. Clerks. 



KJLNSAS AFFAIRS. 



689 



Tenth I>i?TrvTc"T. — Bhj BJuc Prccincf. 

TaUy-Jist of votes cast for delctjatcs to a convcuiioii to form a constitu- 
tion for Kojisa^, held on thiit scavid Tucsdatf, the ninth doi/ of Octo- 
ber, 'a. D. 1S55. 

Dr. A. Kuriting (Vt votes. 

Kobert Klotz T3 

'* We, the undersigned, judges and elerks of eleeti'ou, hereby eer- 
tity upon our oaths, tluit Dr. A. Hunting has received sixty-tour 
votes, and l^obert Khitz has received seventy-three votes, cast at an 
election hehl at the tenth precinct," tS:c. , as in tl\e printed form ; to 
which is added, "except voters who have been here eiuhteeu davs." 
JrxiATA. Oetd>cr9. 1855. J. 8TEWAHT, 

WM. HANNA, 
PETEK NEYHART. 
Attest : 0. X. Wn.<o\, Judges. 

Thomas 0. Welt.^, Clerl-s. 



Tenth Dr?TRiOT. — Boel- Creek Freeinef, 

roU-l)Ool'. — List of voters who cast their haUotsfor detegates to a amven- 
fion to form a consfitntion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesdai/., 
the ninth dat/ of Octolter, A. D. 1855. 



Joliu Adams 
]\[osos Jenkins 
William iSevmour 
William H." Wilson 
John ]\[idev 
Michael Flush 
Mathias Flush 
William Jenkins 
John I\[yers 
Theophihis Dickets 
Julius Berger 
Michael l\app 
Francis Burgrow 
John King 
A. Dicketis 

(^Tlie certificate to the poll-list tails to 
but is good as to their qualitications, the 
Rock Creek, October 9, 1855. 



Attest: J. E. DA^^:s, 

Wm. S. Seymour, Clerks. 
H. Eep. 200 44* 



R. Wilson 
Henry Rodex 
Zacharias Kabor 
William Seymour 
Henry Hoftman 
James Long 
John J. Davis 
Charles Jenkins 
James Darnell 
T. F. Jenkins 
F. H. Jenkins 
Henry Rammelt 
Andrew Nolle 
J. H. Haide 
Andrew Laffler. 

state the number of voters, 
printed form being used.) 
JAMES DARNELL, 
CHARLES JENKINS, 
HENRY RAMMELT, 

Judges^ 



690 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Judges and clerks' certificate. 

''We, tlie under signed, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer- 
tify upon our oaths, that Dr. A. Hunting and Eohert Klotz have re- 
ceived thirty (30) votes, cast at an election held at Kock Creek pre- 
cinct," &c,, &c., as in the printed form. 
EocK Creek, October 9, 1855. JAMES DAENELL, 

CHAELES JENKINS, 
HENEY EAMMELT, 

Judges. 
Attest : J. E. Davis, 

Wm. S. Seymour, Clerks. 



Eleventh District, — Blach Vermillion Precinct. 

List of votey^s who have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention to 

form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth : 

da]} of October, A. D. 1855. I 

'* 

James A. Smith Lonse Bellow . 'i 

John Herron Henrick Hollenherg l 

William Harmon Zachariah Duman | 

Frederick Brockmeyer William Sanders i 

Leven Jessen S. W. Furbay I 

William Thule A. M. Bell \ 

Henry Brockmeyer Kees Furbay. ' 

Following the list are these words: "14 total number of votes cast . 
for delegates." ''At house of Henry Hollenburg." \ I 

[The certificate omits to state the number of voters, but it is good as 
to their qualifications ; the printed form being used.] 

October 9, 1855. H. HOLLENBUEG-, 

F. DUMAN, 
WM. SAUNDEES, 

Judges. 
Attest : S. W. Furbay, 

A. M. Bell, Clerics. 



Twelfth District. — Silver Lalce Precinct. 

Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Saturday, the \Wi of October, 
A. D. 1855. 

Martin F. Conway 12 votes. 

Joseph M. Coles .'..18 " 

John G. Thompson 21 " 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 691 

Following the tally-list^ the vote for eacli candidate is correctly 
jstated ; but the blank in the printed certificate is not filled. It is, 
however^ signed by the judges and clerks^ and is good as to the quali- 
fication of voters. 
October 13, 1855. JOHN G. THOMPSON, ^ 

JOHN W. HOPKINS, 
E. E. BERNAPvDY, 

Judges. 
Attest: J. G. Thompson, 

John W. Hopkins, Clerhs. 



Twelfth District. — St. Mary's Precinct. 

List of voters loTio have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention to 
form a constitution for Kayisas, held on this second Tuesday, the 9th 
day of October J A. D. 1855. 

11 Stephen Hopkins 

12 P. B. Dean 

13 J. P. Wilson 

14 B. C. Dean 

15 Parmer McCartney 

16 C. Milet 
IT A. Peltier 

18 J. L. Wilson 

19 Augustus Becker. 



Certificate in the usual printed form, signed St. Marv's precinct, 
October 9, 1855. J. P. WILSON, 

BENJ. C. DEAN, 
OSCAE B. DEAN, 
Judges, 
Attest: J. P. Wilson, 

Oscar B. Dean^ Clerhs, 



1 


A. 


Higbee 


2 


D. 


S. Garrison 


3 


Charles Dean 


4 


Pt 


lilip Werner 


5 


Jo 


hn Leonard 


6 


B. 


0. Menger 


n 


J. 


B. D acker n 


8 


S. 


L. Horn 


9 


F. 


Shafi'er 


10 


H. 


Oslerhouse 



Tally-list of votes ^ cast for delegates to a convention to form a State con- 
stitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of 
October, A. D. 1855. 

For Martin F. Conway 20 votes. 

Printed certificate properly filled, and signed October 9, 1855. 

J. P. WILSON, 
OSCAE B. DEAN, 
BENJ. C. DEAN, 

Attest: J. P. Wilson, Judges. 

0. B. Dean, Clerhs. 



692 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



THIRTEE^■TH DISTRICT. — FaJU Frccind. 

Z4sf of voters for dcJqjatcs to a convention to form a const it lUion, held 
at Falls precinct , tJiirteenth district, October 9, 1855. 

Epliraim Cowman 
Jacob "\Veli"bor 
Henry Webber 
Henry Conn 
William Cowen 
Daniel WiUey 
Martin Yanderlx>rg 
Benjamin Wise 
John Eoderiok 
Nathaniel Hart 
Fayette P. Hart 
Jesse B. Tavlor 
Marshall X.' Hart 
Sidney Scanlin 
John Hmrlian 
John McDowell 
Alexander Hnghan 
Stephen H. Dunn 
John B. Ross 
Jacob Fisher 
William Boles. 



1 John Wearer 


23 


2 William Millikau 


24 


3 Foter Taylor 


25 


4 Henry Morris 


26 


5 Chalmers Scott 


27 


6 John W. Clark 


28 


Y Michael Hasler 


29 


8 John Roberts 


30 


9 Theophilus Jolly 


31 


10 Georiie S. Hillver 


32 


11 Richard Hull " 


33 


12 Thomas Moiney 


34 


13 Francis J. Crowberi^er 


35 


14 Henly Mendenhall ^ 


36 


15 George T. Donaldson 


37 


16 John Conway 


38 


IT Samuel Johnson 


39 


IS Pavton Roderick 


40 


19 John Ernst 


41 


20 William Catt 


42 


21 William Grii^sbee 


43 


22 J. K. Williams 




!S"o certificate. 





TaUy-iist of rotes cast for delegates to a cont'oition to form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the 9th day of October, 
1855. at Falls jyreci net, thi)ieenth district. 

George S. Hillyer 43 votes. 

William Grigsbee 41 " 

'' We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer- 
tify upon our oaths, that George S. Hillyer has received forty-three 
votes, and William Grigsbee forty-one votes, cast at an election held 
at Falls precinct," &c.,"in the usual printed form. 
October 9, 1S55. 

S. H. DUXN, 
J. B. ROSS. 
J. W. CLARK, 

Judges, 
Attest : Chaoiers Scott. 

Peter Taylor, Clerks, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



693 



TiiiRTEBNTU District. — Pleasant Hill Precinct, 

List of voters ivho have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention to 
form a const itution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the dth 
day of October, 1855. 



1 William Hides 

2 Andrew Francis 

3 Lewis Hoover 
Robert Ward 
Nathan Adams 
John A. I'epers 
Lewis Kemiattc 
Pliilip Kepler 
James E. Stevenson 

10 Huo-h Mc(5eliee 

11 John Nichols 

12 Nathan Grilliths 

13 William 0. Walker 

14 James Griffiths 

15 Jaa)b A. Brown 

16 Rufus W. nice 
lY Joseph Dnnn 

18 John H. Brown 

19 Nathan Cory 

20 Byron Stewart 

21 Richard S. Bunker 

22 Epliraim Bainter 



23 Sidney Stewart 

24 Aaron Cook 

25 (1. B. Hall 
20 Stephen Oj^an 

27 James Dempsey 

28 Daniel Damert 

29 John Buzhee 

30 Leonard Buzhee 

31 Ahram Smith 

32 Alexander McDonald 

33 Aaron Smith 

34 Alexander McDonald, jr. 

35 James G-. Points 

36 Henry Owens 
3*7 AVilliam Butler 

38 Thomas Mount 

39 Ashhcrry Kepler 

40 William B. Ward 

41 William Duck 

42 Thomas McGehec 

43 James C, Ward 



Foil-list properly certified and signed as follows: 

Pleasant Hill, October 9, 1855. ROBERT WARD, 

NATHAN ADAMS, 
WILLIAM HICKS, 
Attest: Andrew J. Francis, Judges. 

Lewis Hoover, Clerks. 



'2^ally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution, 
held on this second Tuesday, the 9th day of October, A. D, 1855. 

William Hicks 43 votes. 

J. Whitney 43 '' 

Printed certificate properly filled and signed as follows : 

Pleasant Hill, October 9, 1855. ROBERT WARD, 

NATHAN ADAMS, 
WILLIAM HICKS, 
Attest : Andrew J. Francis, Judges. 

Lewis Hoover, Clerks. 



694 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Fourteenth District. — Doniphan Precinct. • 

PoU-hooh of voters wJio have cast their ballots for delegates to a convenr- 
tion to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, 



the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855. 

1 Samuel Collins 

2 William Peopges 

3 Norman Alexander 

4 D. M. Field 

5 Luther Dickerson 

6 Lyman Oaks, jr. 
Y Lyman Oaks, sr. 

8 William P. Irwin 

9 Eobert Mealer 

10 John Snider 

11 Benjamin McCan 

12 Thomas Collins 

13 B. R. Wilmott 

14 G. A. Cutler 

15 Thomas Cook 

16 John McNamee 
1*7 Peter Olison 

18 0. G. Lock 

19 N. Tomson 

20 Oly Homson 

21 John Bell 



22 B. a. Cody 

23 Alexander Ringord • 

24 Lawrence Grunderson 

25 Kinder Nelson 

26 Josten A. Josten 

27 Robert Rockey 

28 Monroe Lediogton 

29 William Ledington 

30 Barnard Bradley 

31 William Colcott 

32 Lonson Mealer 

33 Richard Tuck 

34 Gunder Tronson 

35 John Steiz 

36 J. H. Whittaker 

37 T. D. Hoffman 

38 John Landis 

39 J. H. Gilbert 

40 Wm. H. Wills 

41 Thomas Lawton 

42 William Smith. 



The certificate as to the number and qualification of the voters is 
in the usual form, signed as follows : 
Doniphan, October 9, 1855. JOHN H. WHITTAKER, 

T. D. HOFFMAN, 
J. LANDIS, 

Judges. 
Attest: P. LouGHLiN, 

Thomas Collins, Clerics. 



Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to fornfi a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the 7iinth day of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1855. 

George A. Cutler 42 

John Landis 42 

D. M. Field 42 

C. M. Stewart 42 

''We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election*, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that John Landis, George A. Cutler, D. M. Field, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 695 

and C. M. Stewart, have received forty-two votes, at an election held 
at Doniphan precinct," &c., as in the printed form. 
Doniphan, October 9, 1855. 

JOHN H. WHITTAKER, 
T. D. HOFFMAN, 
J. LANDIS, Judges. 

Attest: T. Collins, 

P. LouGHLiN, Clerks. 



Fourteenth District. — Palermo Precinct. 

TaUy-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1855. 

a. A. Cutler , 40 

John Landis 40 

D. M. Field 40 

C. M. Stewart 39 

''We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, lierehy certify 
upon our oaths, that G. A. Cutler, John Landis, and D. M. Field 
have received forty votes, and C. M. Stewart has received thirty-nine 
votes, cast at an election held at Palermo precinct," &c., &c., as in 
the printed form. 

Palermo, October 9, 1855. 

NATHAN D. WHITE, 
WILLIAM CHAPMAN, 
Attest: Wm. Brittain, Judges. 

Oliver R. Howe, Clerks. 



Fourteenth District. — Burr Oak Precinct. 

Poll-book of voters tvho cast their ballots for delegates to a convention to 
form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth 



11 Jacob Zander (sworn) 

12 Jacob 0. Rooke (sworn) 

13 John T. Brady_ 

14 Benjamin Harding 

15 Samuel S. Shelton 

16 William Newman 

17 John Yeatman 

18 Caspian Lanmer 

19 Richard Hunley 

20 James M. Grooms 



day of October, 1855. 


1 Alfred Langden 


2 Wm. M. E. F. Greer 


3 W. H. High 


4 William Keaton 


5 Robert McSpanncr 


6 William Jourdan 


7 Samuel Piles 


8 John Rhodes 


9 F. Leber (sworn) 


10 A. Grooms 



696 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



21 Charles Eggers 

22 John Stantorf 

23 James Kendall 

24 Nelson Abby 

25 A. Zezean 

26 Abs. Grooms 

27 G. H. Bryan 

[No certificate to the poll-list.] 



28 E. S. Davis 

29- Thomas C. Ste^vart 

30 A. A. Jamison 

31 Mathew Isles 

32 Henderson Small wood 

33 E. P. Weaver. 



Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to foicm a constitu- 
tion /or Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1855. 

G. A. Cutler 33 

John Landis 33 

0. M. Stewart 33 

D. M. Field 33 

''"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certily 
upon our oaths, that G. A. Cutler has received thirty-three votes, 
John Landis has received thirty-three votes, C. M. Stewart has re- 
ceived thirty-three votes, D. M. Field has received thirty-three votes, 
cast at an election held at B. Harding's, in Burr Oak precinct," &c., 
as in the printed form. 

Burr Oak, October 9, 1855. 

HENDERSON SMALL WOOD, 
MATHEW ISLES, 
A. A. JAMISON, Judges. 

Attest: HE]n)ERSON SiiALLWooD, 
A. A. Jamisox, Clerks. 



FiTTEEJS'TH District. — (Walmit Creek*) Precinct. 
FoU-list of voters icho balloted for delegates to a convention to form a 



constitution for Kansas, October 9, 


1855, at precinct, loth 


district. 




1 H. B. Gale 


8 John E. Shiff 


2 B. Y. Edwards 


9 Charles J. Foster 


3 James Le Sale 


10 Henrv C. Sutton 


4 Jackson B. Crow 


11 John Howse 


5 Lewis Shiff 


12 Henrv Owens 


6 W^illiam Morganson 


13 S. J. Elliott 


T John A. Beeher 


14 James HoUoway 



« The words ' 'Walnut creek' ' erased. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



697 



15 Robert T. Parks 


23 M. Seely 


16 Martin Kleim 


24 Stanford McDaniel 


17 John Strum 


25 Harrison D. Patterson 


18 James H, Vants 


26 Philip Baker 


19 Thomas Newman 


27 E. R. Zimmerman 


20 David Halls 


28 John Miller 


21 Charles P. Allgea 


29 John C. Ridgeway 


22 Thomas J. Aliff 


30 Joseph F. Miisser. 



[No certificate to the poll-list.] 

No tally-list, hut the following certificate : 

""VVe, the undersigned judges and clerks of election, hereby cer- 
tify, ujion our oaths, that Stanford McDaniel has received 30 votes, 
James S. Sayle 30 votes, H. B. Gale 28 votes, and Charles S. Fos- 
ter 2 votes, being the full number cast at an election held at the 
fifteenth election precinct," &g., as in the printed form, except that 
the voters arc said to be bona-Jide residents ^'at the time of election," and 
not for thirty days . 
October 9, 1855. 

CHARLES S. 
STANFORD 
JACKSON B. 
Attest : Meriman Seely, 

BENJAmN F. Edwards, Clerks. 

The returns are accompanied by the ''judges' certificate" of ap- 
pointment, with their oaths endorsed on the back. (See forms.) 



FOSTER, 
McDANIEL, 
CRANE, 

Judges. 



Fifteenth District. — Croshfs Store Precinct. 

Foil-list of voters ivlio balloted for delegates to a convention to form a 
constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day 
of October, A. JD. 1855. 



1 Daniel F. Graham 


16 J. W. Elliott 


2 Beverly W. Dureese 


17 James Dougherty 


3 E. Landrum 


18 E. Peck 


4 Luther Knox 


19 W. H. Stewart 


5 E. Jones 


20 Stephen McAvet 


6 Caleb May 


21 T. B. Elliott 


7 William Crosby 


22 Lewis Minch 


8 R. H. Crosby 


23 Sam'l Rider 


9 G. W. Johnston 


24 Daniel Campbell 


10 Joseph Trocax 


25 Miles T. Perry 


11 G. W. Cobb 


26 John Graves 


12 John Abbott 


27 William Landrum 


13 John Hart 


28 H. J. Rust 


14 Thomas Duncan 


29 Hiram Perry. 


15 A. Elliott 





698 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

''We liereby certify tliat the number of votes cast at tins election 
amounts to twenty-nine for Cobb, May, and K. 11. Crosby," 

CALEB MAY, 
E. LANDRUM, 
WM. CROSBY, 
Attest: Miles Carlton, Judges. 

R. H. Crosby, Clerks. 



There is no tally-list, but the officers certify as follows : 
"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify, 
upon our oaths, that Caleb May and R. H. Crosby each have received 
twenty-nine votes, cast at an election held at the store of Crosby 
& Co., Oceana precinct, and 15th election district," &c., as in the 
printed form. 

October 9, 1855. CALEB MAY, 

E. LANDRUM, 
WM. CROSBY, 
Attest: Miles Carlton, Judges. 

R. H. Crosby, Clerhs. 

This return is accompanied by the commissions or authority of 
judges of elections, signed by J. H. Lane; and by the oaths of the 
judges. (See the form.) 



Sixteenth District. — Leavenworth Precinct. 
Poll-list of Leavenioortli. 



1 William Brown 


20 A. Fisher 


2 Thomas Shankland 


21 Charles E. Pearson 


3 William Phillips 


22 J. W. Skinner 


4 J. K. Edscll 


23 H. R. Hook 


5 G-. N. Propper 


24 C. F. Warren 


6 Thomas S. Slocum 


25 G. J. Park 


T Ely Wilson 


26 J. L. JRounds 


8 A. W. Walker 


27 M. E. Clark 


9 C. Wilson 


28 R. Morrison 


10 J. A. Wilson 


29 Jesse Kirkham 


11 James C. AVilson 


30 James Lillie 


12 S. N. Latta 


31 J. Conroy 


13 P. Lane 


32 John Kelley 


14 Charles Putnam 


33 W. S. Coleman 


15 Jerad Phillips 


34 B. S. Hughes 


16 D. C. Ames 


35 J. Ream 


17 A. S. Downey 


36 Alex. Chas. Kasky 


18 William G. Marvin 


37 John Valkavitz 


19 W. Anthony 


38 W. G-. Simpson 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



699 



39 S. Molly aiisky 

40 E. Furguson 

41 D. Brown 

42 J. Brace 

43 D. W. Lane 

44 N. Myers Say re 

45 A. Kisten 

46 Jolm Allen 

47 John Warren 

48 E. F. Powell 

49 E. Boss 

50 H. C. Gardner 

51 T. Pemerill 

52 James Kastien 

53 P. Malon 

54 Thomas Shawn 

55 A. Hoelean 

56 M. Galeher 

57 James Polka 

58 G. W. McLane 

59 John Kog'chinck 

60 William Long 

61 John Zimmerman 

62 Charles Milten 

63 Charles Knownan 

64 J. Near 

65 Thomas Welsh 

66 M. Bowe 

67 Charles Lockamyer 

68 J. W. Baker 

69 C. Harris 

70 John Link 

71 A. Heynbrook 

72 Alexander Beed 

73 William Browley 

74 W. Howl 

75 A. Near 

76 E. O'Beily 

77 Peter Smith 

78 A. Lipstone 

79 H. Tucker 

80 B. Wisener 

81 S. Miller 

82 B. P. Brown 

83 J. W. Liedez 

84 William L. Bilsden 

85 John Gleeson 

86 William Bentley 

87 John B. Boss 

88 B. G. Newlin 

89 William H. Wells 



90 D. Sullivan 

91 A. Foster 

92 B, Jennings 

93 P. Garvy 

94 James Meade 

95 Charles Bobinson 

96 S. Breeden 

97 H. Grovener 

98 S. Burns 

99 H. S. Wilson 

100 T. H. Doyle 

101 A. Lerell 

102 J. Hall 

103 JohnH:. McCleUand 

104 D. M. F. Talliford 

105 H. C. Sremp 

106 B. C. Harris 

107 M. W. Delahay 

108 Henry Fisher 

109 George Bussell 

110 A. Bechin 

111 John Hess 

112 F. Gardner 

113 John Gorman 

114 D. Dodge 

115 J, F. Bowman 

116 Thomas Sayles 

117 S. E. Bird 

118 Edward Killen 

119 Henry Bentz 

120 William Fracker 

121 Henry Hare 

122 William 0. Canden 

123 Thomas Crawford 

124 C. Beane 

125 J. Howell 

126 John Perry 

127 W.L. Ship 

128 George Witherell 

129 John Stanley 

130 L. A. Goodrich 

131 G. W. Gardner 

132 H. H. Johnson 

133 M. McCracken 

134 C. Salser' 

135 James Madden 

136 W. McGraw 

137 James Wallace 

138 G. G. Campbell 

139 William B. Butter 

140 B. B. Bobcrts 



voo 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



141 Eobcrt Briglit 

142 J. B. Lackev 

143 John J. Fulton 

144 Jolm Roiindy 

145 William Newcomb 

146 J. B. Richoiise 

147 Jacob Shobel 

148 D. C. Smith 

149 Peter Eexeker 

150 John Williams 

151 John Hoegner 

152 L. Werx 

153 John Kok 

154 D. S. Morton 

155 D. Comstock 

156 Alexander Malthy 

157 C. Fiders 

158 B. Bennett 

159 J. Decin 

160 W. M. Jones 

161 Henry Edwards 

162 Thomas Donelson 

163 William Lanner 

164 William Conway 

165 John O'Niel 

166 A. E. Eeddin 

167 J. S. Spear 

168 E. Jessey 

169 Panl E. Orr 

170 F. Nile 

171 A. Mayner 

172 J. Bncler 

173 W. G-. Weihlin 

174 John Thompson 

175 William Ashern 

176 J. H. Bird 

177 J. C. Green 

178 Thomas Bishop 

179 G-eorge Copelt 

180 H. J. Adams 

181 John Owens 

182 William H. Hefsley 

183 William Wallace 

184 F. Hickman 

185 W. Gehart 

186 A. J. Spalding 

187 James LeAvis 

188 G. P. Elliott 

189 G. Brooker 

190 M. Shape 

191 A. M . Sevier 



192 John Farrish 

193 A. Stewart 

194 H. C. Fields 

195 B. S. Brown 

196 J. B. McAffee 

197 Y. Lucas 

198 J. Heiss 

199 William Gorman 

200 0. Morric 

201 B. Lambert 

202 F. Denlvten 

203 W. Seven 

204 E. Fracken 

205 J. Strabek 

206 Otto Beolar 

207 Fred. Beolar 

208 Charles H. Pearce 

209 S. Warrenburg 

210 Alex. Mongondy 

211 G. Genesebery 

212 A. Hven 

213 Uti Hobert 

214 John Coben 

215 George M. Ban 

216 Henry Decker 

217 A. Neff 

218 Thomas Turnbnll 

219 Terry Crutchfield 

220 John Eup 

221 F. Webber 

222 C. W. Lucas 

223 George Leddle 

224 E. Wentworth 

225 E.Whitney 

226 John Wright 

227 F. Waymind 

228 John Kelly 

229 Thomas Morgan 

230 WilliaTn Morgan 

231 John Stanton 

232 L. B. Snow 

233 W. Wakefield 

234 J. Clark 

235 George H. Keller 

236 Charles Jones 

237 D. H. Cook 

238 John A. King 

239 James Eldridge 

240 M. Whiteman 

241 H. Bleddn-er 

242 Thomas Cass 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



701 



243 James Murpliy 

244 IT. Brown 

245 W. Englcraan 
240 J. E. Gould 

247 B. Luce 

248 J. M. Christman 

249 P. T. Luce 

250 George Brucker 

251 William Woods 

252 Wood Leberton 

253 Ira P. Georgeus 

254 A. S. Kyle 

255 John Grime 
25 G Peter May 

257 0. Sieves 

258 L. P. Pattic 

259 T. PhifFen 

260 N. Creste 

201 H. Blyle 

202 F. Bentz 

203 B. J. Bringan 

204 A. M. Latty 

205 George French 
200 Jolm Bronson 

207 P. Palmer 

208 J. Leglilfred 

209 W. Thornbergh 

270 Peter Meneir 

271 William Berin 

272 John Agio 

273 John Alutstein 

274 Jolm Sedler 

275 William Abus 
270 James Davis 

277 AV. Sliellen 

278 J. S. Sauner 

279 James Dugan 

280 John H. Bird 

281 M. Mahony 

282 S. H. Brady 

283 A. D. liock 

284 F. L. Salter 

285 E. Coffen 
280 P. Warnett 

287 James E. Gant 

288 Is. McCuUugh 

289 G. M. Burress 

290 J. Halsey 

291 H. Millerson 

292 L. J. Wallace 

293 James France 



294 Alexander Mann 

295 James KnofF 
290 C. W. Scroop 

297 J. M. Scroop 

298 C. D. Plicks 

299 William Kasey 

300 Levy Slye 

301 G. Shull 

302 E. P. Abbott 

303 W. E. Parrott 

304 J Cunningham 

305 J. F. Troy 

306 John Smith 

307 F. G. Hook 

308 B. Miller 

309 F. Butts 

310 S. Metzger 

311 George P. Kocroft 

312 James P. Curren 

313 M. Burke 

314 James Cade 

315 John Freborn 
310 Thomas Hammond 

317 William Catt 

318 John Bager 

319 C. Dengler 

320 Samuel Ankerfer 

321 M. H. S. Miller 

322 James Pvay 

323 H. Ward 

324 John McNaman 

325 Charles H. Dodge 
320 P. Carney 

327 John Flctt 

328 John Vincent 

329 A. Litton 

330 S. E. Kelberg 

331 A. Snyder 

332 M. Harley 

333 E. M. Mackemer 

334 William Chambers 

335 C. Austin 

330 John II. Slatten 

337 G. W. Hollies 

338 William Higgins 

339 L. Ptuchny 

340 James Huesting 

341 1). Colden 

342 William Cox 

343 J. Cranley 

344 G. Long 



702 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



345 John Butts 

346 John Eussell 

347 George McKenna 

348 C. Sante 

349 0. Phate 

350 John A. Miller 

351 J. S. Werden 

352 D. Short 

353 Thomas Shumaker 

354 P. Fredrick 

355 Geo. My berth 

356 John Francis 

357 C. Bann 

358 John "Williams 

359 J. Smith 

360 George Myer 

361 George Coakley 

362 C. Harrington 

363 M. Eldridge 

364 James Waldock 

365 John Kennett 

366 P. M. Barber 

367 Charles Smith 

368 H. Portman 

369 J. Minik 

370 Henry Keller 

371 J. McMinnie 

372 Jacob Sutton 

373 T. Eckler 

374 D. 0. Keffen 

375 F. Peck 

376 John Brown 

377 James Martin 

378 H. Bleckner 

379 W. J. Card 

380 M. J. Parrott 

381 M. D. Short 

382 H. H. C. Harrison 

383 John Sullivan 

384 George Henderson 

385 D. Murphy 

386 John Brabacker 

387 Thomas Lanem 

388 C. C. Cady 

389 J. B. McGinnis 

390 J. A. Lancaster 

391 D. A. Smith 

392 Geo. Fillman 

393 Andrew Deitz 

394 S. Fuller 

395 Geo. Luggeder 



396 Fed. Buck 

397 T. Mewhinney 

398 John Hoffman 

399 Fr. Grenwell 

400 Charles Gryer 

401 John Jacob 

402 John Bohea 

403 William Veis 

404 John F. Bomell 

405 D. B. Dickson 

406 Mark Welch 

407 John Smith 

408 (Jereslawn) 

409 A. B. Howe 

410 I. Woman 

411 Adam Mill 

412 William Pean 

413 John Heckett 

414 Thomas Murphy 

415 William Smith 

416 Wm. J. Percifer 

417 J. R. CLark 

418 A. S. Palleper 

419 J. McCarty 

420 John Killerhan 

421 L. M. Par 

422 J. Beoler 

423 Hecks 

424 T. Silkman 

425 Wm. Alexander 

426 Col A. Gurney 

427 J. William 

428 John Griffiths 

429 S. McEverds 

430 J. S. Gorham 

431 Geo. M. Whassey 

432 James Dare 

433 Samuel Bard 

434 Charles Myers 

435 John Davis 

436 C. Peters 

437 D. Dulin 

438 Edward Mahoney 

439 H. Dontt 

440 Thomas Caffer 

441 John Kelly 

442 J. Lester 

443 Joseph Palmer 

444 H. Storm 

445 L. Leriiand 

446 James McSidn 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



703 



447 Jolm E. Comb 

448 Greorge Cleson 

449 M. E. Merrett 

450 Flu Hasbrick 

451 J. W. Mezerd 

452 A. A. Hasldll 

453 T. A. Hasldll 

454 James Hallam 

455 Lin McCarty 

456 William Cashmere 

457 M. Conroy 

458 Thomas Slime 

459 George W. Wood 

460 E. Latter 

461 A. Drink 

462 L. Fosnelle 

463 George L. Gem 

464 George Harvey 

465 W. McEarland 

466 Samuel Hawkins 

467 James Birch 

468 C. Gehus 

469 F. Nedae 

470 D. Bland 

471 Thomas Hamilton 

472 Thomas Glunen 

473 John Ecerry 

474 William Hines 

475 S. E. Berivy 

476 William Kelly 

477 W. Henny 

478 Peter McGild 

479 W. A. Kickern 

480 Horace Wahen 

[No certificate.] , 



481 Charles L. Krafer 

482 C. Lewis 

483 J. H. Sanders 

484 H. Smith 

485 James King 

486 James Jones 

487 J. C. Smith 

488 W. Sawo 

489 V. Payden 

490 James Haws 

491 A. Graffe 

492 G. Lenden 

493 J. Walden 

494 C. W. Burden 

495 S. W. Wood 

496 John Kefferty 

497 Samuel Green 

498 L. P. Brim 

499 G. W. Martin 

500 AVilliam Philips 

501 A. Kelsey 

502 A. Way 

503 S. Griffiths 
•504 Edward Setler 

505 V. Gates 

506 B. H. Otis 

507 John Lewis 

508 John Presner 

509 P. Watson 

510 Charles Keal 

511 James Newell 

512 C. W. Sperry 

513 J. S. Sumhu 

514 John Luskey. . 



Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution 
for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of October, 
1855. 



M. J. Parrott , 492 votes. 

M. W. Delahay 495 

Matt France 493 

D. Dodge 493 

S. W. Lattie 493 

Kobert Kiddle 493 



704 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer- 
tify upon our oaths, that M. J. Parrott has received four hundred and 
ninety-two votes, M. W. Delahay four hundred and ninety-five votes, 
Matt France four hundred and ninety-three votes, S. W. Lattie four 
hundred and ninety-three votes, Eobcrt Eiddle four hundred and 
ninety-three votes, D. Dodge four hundred and ninety-three votes, 
cast at an election held at Leavenworth precinct," &c., &c., as in the 
printed form. 

Leavenworth City, October 9, 1855. 



Attest : Scott J. Anthony, 

Charles E. Pearson, Clerks. 



ADAM FISHER, 
WM. T. HARPvISON, 
H. H. HOOK, 

Judges. 



Sixteenth District. — Easton Precinct. 



Poll-hooJc. — List of voters tvJio have cast their ballots for delegates to a con- 
vention to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tues- 
day y the ninth day of October^ A. D. 1855. 



1 Joseph Hicks 

2 Francis Browning 

3 Thomas A. Menard 

4 Joseph Elliot 

5 George Swaim 

6 Anaziah Sparks 



7 
8 
9 

10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 



E. L. Monley 
Stephen Sparks, jr. 
Moses Hicks 
William H. Goble 
David P. Bethuram 
P. E. Orr 



Simpson Gohle 
John W. Hendricks 
16 William Eose 
lY Joseph Langley 

18 Daniel Nixon 

19 William Sparks 

20 Jacob Loughmiller 

21 Daniel Shepley 

22 Henry Eeady 

23 C. C. Lenville 

24 Stephen Sparks, sr. 

25 Henderson Thomas 
26 

27 Levi White 

28 Henry Ogle 



29 Michael Green 

30 J. D. Leepen 

31 James Halchens 

32 John Hobaugh 

33 Thomas W. Brooks 

34 William H. P. Prists 

35 G. W. Messersmith 

36 William Butt 
3*7 B. B. Mize 

38 Philip Miller 

39 Daniel McNish 

40 Zachariah Sparks 

41 J. H. York 

42 William Pyle 

43 F. G. Bradin 

44 Thompson Coker 

45 J. H.. Mize 

46 Bauben L. Bean 

47 Jacob Anderson 

48 Melzer Cole 

49 Isaac S. Pyle 

50 John C. Norton 

51 Samuel Horton 

52 Jonathan Wallace 

53 Stephen A. Danner 

54 Thomas Vanner 

55 Andrew Phillips 

56 John Wattle 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



705 



57 William B. Pearson 

58 Joseph A. Trower 

59 John Fiddler 

60 John N. Tencher 



61 Joshua Pearson 

62 John T. Sparks 

63 John Maxwell. 



(The certificate to the poll-list fails to state the number of voters, 
but is e;ood as to their qualifications, the printed form being used.) 
Easton, October 9, 1855. STEPHEN SPARKS, 

JACOB LOUGHMILLER, 
C. C. LINVILLE, Judges. 
Attest : Jacob Loughmiller, 

C. C. LiNViLLB, Clerks. 



Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1855. 

M. J. Parrott 61 votes. 

M. W. Delahay 61 " 

Matt France 61 " 

Mr. Latta 61 " 

D. Dodge 61 " 

Robert Riddle 61 " 

•'We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer- 
tify upon our oaths, that M. J. Parrott, M. W. Delahay, Matt France, 
Mr. Latta, D. Dodge, and Robert Riddle, have received each sixty-one 
votes, cast at an election held at Easton precinct," &c., &c., as in the 
printed form. 

Eastox\, October 9, 1855. STEPHEN SPARKS, 

JACOB LOUGHMILLER, 
C. C. LINVILLE, Judges, 
Attest : Jacob Loughmiller, 

C. C. LiNViLLE, Clerks. 



Sixteenth District. — Wyandot Precinct. 

Poll-booh. — lAst of voters ivho have cast their ballots for delegates to a con- 
vention to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tues- 
day, the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855. • 



1 C. Calhoun 


7 John Brumback 


2 S. E. Forsythe 


8 Lewis Clark 


3 William Johnson 


9 James Bigtree 


4 J. H. Denis 


10 John L, Coon 


6 Mathew Splitlogs 


11 Squire Gray Eyes 


6 James Todd 


12 George J. Clark 


H. Rep. 200 45* 





706 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



13 William P. Good 

14 Granville Peacock 

15 John Chop the Logs 

16 Benjamin Poormer 

17 John Little Chief 

18 John Batiste 

19 Ahelard Guthrie 

20 John Beaver 

21 Henry Middlehiisher 

22 George Spy Buck 

23 Clayburn Henderson 

24 Peter Bearskin 

25 Isaac P. Driver 



26 Joseph Williams 

27 Jesse Game 

28 Captain Bullhead 

29 William Hicks 

30 John Salloman 

31 Jacob Heek 

32 White Wing 

33 Jacob White Crow 

34 Robert Johnson 

35 Ethan Big Arms 

36 John Little Cornstalk 

37 John Spy Buck 

38 Horatio Walton. 



(The certificate as to the number and qualifications of the voters \^ 
in the usual form, signed as follows :) 

Wyandot, October 9, 1855. 

ABELARD GUTHRIE, 
GEORGE J. CLARK, 



his 



Attest : William P. Goode, 
Jaimes Todd, Clerks. 



MATHEW -f SPLITLOG, 

mark. 

Judges, 



There is no tally-list. 

" We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certif}' 
upon our oaths, that M. J. Parrott has received thirty-eight votes, M, 
W. Delahay thirty-eight votes, Matt Franco thirty-eight votes, D. 
Dodge thirty-eight votes, S. M. Latta thirty-eight votes, Robert 
Riddle thirty-eight votes, being the unanimous vote cast at an elec- 
tion held at Wyandot precinct," &c., &c., as in the printed form. 
Wyandot, October 9, 1855. 

ABELARD GUTHRIE, 
GEORGE CLARK, 



Attest: Walton P. Goode, 
James Todd, Clerks. 



MATHIAS + SPLITLOG, 

mark. 

Judges. 



SiXTEEiifTH District. — Ridge Precinct. 

Poll-book. — List of voters loho have cast their ballots for delegates to a 
convention to form, a constitution for Kansas, held on this second 
Tuesday, the ninth day of October, A. D. 1855. 

1 J. W. Golden 3 Hiram.Keith 

2 C. F. Bredo 4 James Wells 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



•707 



5 Jacob Copple 

6 aeorge K. McKnight 

7 William Boliart 

8 Henry Eoot 

9 Thomas Selfe 
C. B. Sherman 
James Fraser 
Joseph Pennock 
William Hasford 
Paul Dowlin 
H. L. Pennock 

16 Isaac Cady 
11 Gr. B. Merrlman 
J. M. Pinkinson 
Charles H. Pennock 
Kohert Dallas 
J. B. Pennock 
Nicholas Lockerman 
Samuel M. Lyon 
John fl. Henderson 
Jesse G . Henderson 
Orick S. Allen 



10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 



18 
19 
20 
21 

22 
23 
24 
25 
26 



27 James P. Solsbury 

28 John H. Justis 

29 Harrison Farris 

30 Ehud Justis 

31 Kichard H. Phelan 

32 William Pennock 

33 J. A. Lindsey 

34 H. Howard 

35 John Checkfield 

36 John Kussinger 

37 James McClintec 

38 James Shaggs 

39 Baston Kussinger 

40 C. J. Wise 

41 Isaac Edwards 

42 Isaac Vancamp 

43 William Wright 

44 J. B. Marion 

45 G-arrett Drew 

46 John A. Sawyer 

47 James Shaggs. 



No certificate to the poll-list. 



Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu- 
tion for Katisas, held on this second, TuesdoAj^ the ninth day of Octo- 
ber, A. D. 1855, oi the house of William Pennock, in the sixteenth 
election district. 



M. J. Parrott 47 votes. 

M. W. Delahav 47 

Matt France .. .". 47 

D. Dodge 47 

A. M. Latta 47 

K. Riddle 47 



"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby cer- 
tify upon our oaths, that the above-named persons have received forty- 
seven votes each, cast at an election held at William Pennock's, in 
Pvidge precinct," &c., as in the printed form. 

PiiDGE Precinct, OctoUr"^, 18 5. WM. PENNOCK, 

J. A. LINDSEY, 
N. LOCKERMAN, 

Judges. 
Attest: J. B. Pennock, 

R. H. Phelan, Clerks. 



708 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Sixteenth District. — Delmoare Prechyct. 

Poll-booJv of votes polled at the Delaware pi^ecinct (sixteenth election dis 
trict) for delegates to a convention to form a constitution for Kansas. 



1 A. Ray 


12 


F. A. Hart 


2 Charles Seacav 


13 


Samuel France 


3 George Evens 


14 


Peter Wyland 


4 Jonali Hague 


15 


James Withers 


5 F. J. Absliirc 


16 


James 0. Curley 


6 Jacob Wvland 


n 


Ahram Helems 


7 Merril Davis 


18 


Hiram Massoner 


8 Jeremiah Wheeler 


19 


E. Creger 


9 F. M, McGrew 


20 


John Hartsel 


10 Philip Zeigler 


21 


Louis Moore 


11 Henry Turner 


22 


P)yram Hague. 


No certificate of poll-list. 







Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to fonn a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of Octo- 
ber, A. n. 1855. 

M. J. Parrott 22 votes. 

M. W. Delahay 22 

Matt France 22 

D. Dodge 22 

S. M. Latta 22 

Robert Riddle 22 

"We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of -election, hereby cer- 
tify upon our oaths, that A. H. Reeder has received twenty-two votes, 
and delegates to the convention twenty-two votes, cast at an election 
held at the city of Delaware precinct," &c., &c., as in the printed 
form. 

Delaware City, October 9, 1855. 



Attest : Jacob Wyland, 

Jeremiah Wheeler, Clerhs. 



F. M. McGREW, 

ABRAHAM RAY, 

MERRIL DAVIS, 

Judges. 



Seventeenth District. — Wakarusa Precinct. 

Poll-list of voters for delegates to a convention to form a constiiuti&i\ for 
Kansas, October 9, 1855, at Wakarusa precinct. 



Lewis H. Bascom 
Albert G. Green 
Martin Ficcle 



Ellis Bond 
Charles Freeman. 



No tally-list. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 709 

Certificate tliat — 

*' We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that William Graham and Samuel Mewhinney have 
received five votes each, cast at an election held at Pascal Fish's store, 
Wakarusa," &c., as in the printed form. 
October, 9, 1855. 

LEWIS H. BASCOM, 
ELLIS BOND, 
ALBERT G. GREEN, 
Attest : Charles Freeman, Judges. 

Silas Bond, ClerJcs. 



Seventeenth District. — Mission Precinct. 

L-lst of voters who have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention to 
form a constitution for Kansas, lieldon this second, Tuesday , the ninth 
day of October , 1855. 

1 Henry Wilson 8 James Ironsides 

2 Henry Bolenger 9 Sam'l M. Conatzer 

3 Jeremiah A. Hadley 10 George L. Osborn 

4 John H. Smith 11 Lewis Dougherty 

5 Newton Henshaw 12 A. Gregory 

6 J. B. Swain 13 0. A. Conatzer. 

7 J. G. Snodgrass 

Certificates properly filled, and signed as follows : 
Mission Precinct, October 9, 1855. 

GEORGE L. OSBORN, 
SAMUEL M. CONATZER, 
LEWIS DOUGHERTY, 

Atfest: Calvin A. Conatzer, Judges. 

A. Gregory, Clerks. 



Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitution 
for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of October, 1 855 . 

William Graham 13 

Samuel Mewhinnej'' 13 

Printed certificates properly filled, and signed: 

Mission Precinct, October 9, 1855. 

GEORGE L. OSBORN, 
LEWIS DOUGHERTY, 
SAMUEL M. CONATZER, 

Attest: C. A. Conatzer, Judges. 

A. Gregory, ClerJcs. 



710 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



BLANK FOEMS. 



Form of judge's certificate. 

Lawrence, September 22, 1855. 
Mr. 

Sir: Having entire confidence in your integrity, patriotism, and 
ability, you have been selected and are hereby appointed as one of the 
judges of the election to be holden in your precinct, in the Territory 
of Kansas, at , on the second Tuesday, (October 9th, 1855,) 

for members of a convention to form a constitution, adopt a bill 
of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all needful measures for 
organizing a State government preparatory to the admission of Kansas 
into the Union as a State. 

Per order executive committee of Kansas Territory : 

J. H. LANE, Chairman. 

J. K. GooDiN, Secretary. 



Oath. 



I, do swear that I will perform my duties as 

judge of the election to he held at in the 

election district of the Territory of Kansas, to the best of my judg- 
ment and ability ; that I will keep a true, correct, and faithful record 
or list of all persons who shall vote at said election ; that I will poll 
no ticket from any person- who is not an actual inhabitant and resi- 
dent of said Territory, and whom I shall not honestly believe to be a 
qualified voter according to the provisions of the act of Congress 
organizing said Territory ; that I will reject the votes of all non-resi- 
dents who I shall believe have come into the Territory for the mere 
purpose of voting ; that in all cases where I am igborant of the voter's 
right, I will require a legal evidence thereof by his own oath or 
otherwise ; and that I will truly count and record the votes received, 
and make a true and faithful return thereof to the executive committee 
of Kansas Territory, 

Sworn before me, this day of 1855. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



711 



List of voters lolio have cast their ballots for delegates to a convention 
to form a constitution for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the 
ninth day of October, A.D. 1855. 



I We, the unrlersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
iipon our oaths, that the whole number of legal votes cast at an elec- 
tion held at precinct, in Kansas Territory, on the sec- 
ond Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the ninth day of said month, 
between the hoursof 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, 
fa- the election of delegates to a convention to form a con- 
slitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, and take all 
needful measures for organizing a State government, preparatory to 
the admission of Kansas as a State, to be 

We, the said judges and clerks, further certify upon our oaths, 
that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens of the 
United States above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fide residents 
of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein for the 
period of thirty days immediately preceding said election day. 

October 9, 1855. 



Attest ; 



Judges, 



Clerics. 



712 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Tally-list of votes cast for delegates to a convention to form a constitu- 
tion for Kansas, held on this second Tuesday, the ninth day of October, 
A.D. 1855. 



— r 



We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that has received votos 

cast at an election held at precinct, in Kansas 

Territory, on the second Tuesday of October, 1855, it being the nintii 
day of said month, between the hours of 10 o'clock, a. m., and 4 
o'clock, p.m., of said day, for delegates to a convention to forma 
constitution, adopt a bill of rights for the people of Kansas, aul 
take all needful measures for organizing a State government, prepai- 
atory to the admission of Kansas as a State. 

We, the judges and clerks of said election, further certify upon 
our oaths, that the said voters were white male inhabitants, citizens, 
of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, bona-fidei 
residents of said Territory of Kansas, having actually resided therein j 
for a period of thirty days immediately preceding said election day. 

October 9, 1855. 



Judges. 



Attest: 



\ Clerls. 



ADOPTION OF A CONSTITUTION 



DECEMBER 15, 1855. 



Poll-hook of voters loli^ have cast their haUots at an election held on 
the 15th day of December, A. ZJ. 1855, a^ Laivrence precmct, in 
district No. ^ , in Kansas Territory, on the adoption or rejection of a 
constitution for the Stcde of Kansas, and upon the general hanJcing- 
law clause and black-laiu proposition. 



1 James H. Lane 

2 E. D. Searl 

3 William L. Brigden 

4 James F. Legatt 

5 a. F. Earl 

6 Solomon Oilds 

7 W. K. R. Blacmore 

8 G. P. Lowry 

9 H. N. Bent 

10 D. N. Conger 

11 J. L. Crane 

12 R. S. Bassett 

13 C. F. Doy 

14 Levi Charles, jr. 

15 Wm. Kitchenman 

16 P. R. Brooks 

17 G. S. Leonard 

18 C. P. Farnsworth 

19 Henry Arthiirton 

20 S. J. Pratt 

21 H. A. Hancock 

22 Wm. Hutchison 

23 Joseph Sheilds 

24 a. W. Deitzler 

25 J. W. Hopping 

26 J. H. Green 

27 B. C. Galliday 

28 C. C. Hyde 

29 Morris Hunt 

30 G. W. Smith 

31 R. G. Elliot 

32 Edwin Emerson 

33 G. W. Rhinehack 

34 Oscar Harlow 

35 S. M. Kirdy 

36 J. P. Purdy 

37 H. N. Simpson 

38 Fred. Kimball 

39 A. A. Saxton 



40 Richard Knight 

41 A. Knight 

42 A. R. Burdett 

43 Simon Ritter 

44 C. S. Pratt 

45 J. W. Ackley 

46 Daniel Curry 

47 G. W. Nichols 

48 James White 

49 Mathew Spittle 

50 J. P. Filer 

51 W. N. Baldwin 

52 Daniel Lowe 

53 S B. Bacon 

54 John Mack 

55 Benton Oakley 

56 Am. Whitlack 

57 S. E. Knight 

58 J. M. Colburn 

59 F. A. Muzzy 

60 Charles Robinson 

61 E. D. Lyman 

62 A. P. Knowles 

63 Edward Monroe 

64 A. J. Gabert 

65 C. N. Henley 

66 J. G. Crocker 

67 H. A. Campbell 

68 Benjamin Johnson 

69 J. B. Conway 

70 R. H. Waterman 

71 William Andrews 

72 E. D. Whipple 

73 N. L. By ant 

74 John Day 

75 Robert BuiFune 

76 S. P. Brown 

77 R. F. Hooton 

78 J. J. Geraud 



714 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



79 J. M. Gillis 

80 G. M. Biiffune 

81 R. H. Kimball 

82 Adam Johns 

83 M. D. Earl 

84 Arthur Gunther 

85 D. K. Aright 

86 S. N. Hard well 

87 L. B. Dennis 

88 S. Whitehorn 

89 C. Clemens 

90 Joshua Shaxter 

91 J. W. Morey 

92 J. A. Pike 

93 Charles Gavin 

94 A. Saddis 

95 Clark Stearnes 
9G Ira Brown 

97 C. H. White 

98 Columbus Hornsby 

99 N. S. Storiz 

100 Edward Clark 

101 Edward Ainslow 

102 C. A. Wrio-ht 

103 L. 0. FoUis 

104 L. C. Follis 

105 B. G. Livingston 

106 C. H. Thomas 

107 D. 0. Lindsley 

108 John Moorhead 

109 J. S Emery 

110 E. Bomans 

111 Henrv Hard 

112 John'Kidwell 

113 J. P. Clark 

114 A. M. Hughes 

115 S. J. D. Prentiss 

116 J. L. Witney 

117 G. S. Lapham 

118 C. R. Newcomb 

119 C. P. Fitch 

120 Wm. Parks 

121 Francis Killani 

122 J. H. Gleason 

123 Samuel Bryson 

124 L. M. Cox 

125 Wm. Yates 

126 S. F. Tappan 

127 Otis Potter 

128 Harrison Nichols 

129 Stephen Logue 



130 Ferdinand Fuller 

131 W. D. Attwood 

132 N. Snyder 

133 J. S Tabor 

134 Albert Slanders 

135 J. J. McGee 

136 Jcmathan Pigdon 

137 A. H. Mallery 

138 W. S. Bishop 

139 Reuben Cragg 

140 Norman Allen 

141 J. G. Fuller 

142 E. A. Coleman 

143 J. G. Richer 

144 Joseph Cracklin 

145 Joseph Savage 

146 0. D. Smith 

147 F. Savage 

148 Hugh O. Neil 

149 C. M. Adams 

150 William Orr 

151 M. Blowers 

152 Joseph Hutchinson 

153 Milan Grout 

154 Otis Wilmoth 

155 L. D. Coleman 

156 Alexander Meyers 

157 William Carles 

158 John Pierson 

159 David Parin^ton 

160 M. R. Clough 

161 Noah Cameron 

162 James Blood 

163 H. P. Cutting 

164 J. S. Jones 

165 Allen Ham 

166 Joshua Smith 

167 S. J. Willis 

168 Henry Green 

169 Henry Smith 

170 John Smith 

171 Pleasant Kirby 

172 Sol. Everett 

173 B. S. Richardson 

174 P. L. Titer 

175 Theodore Jones 

176 Frank Hunt 

177 Seth Rodibougli 

178 M. L. Gaylord 

179 T. S. Smith 

180 Howard York 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



715 



181 P. V. Eslddge 

182 Churchill 

183 James Smith 

18-4 Wm. B. Hormsbey 

185 S. P. Cimple 

186 Charles Campbell 

187 G. W. Hunt 

188 W. A. Gentry 

189 J. A. Coffey 

190 M. W. Taylor 

191 Robert Morrow 

192 A. Pavne 

193 J. P. Strout 

194 J. P. Aright 

195 Reuben Randall 
19C) A. Witcomb 

197 James Anderson 

198 B. R. Whillow 

199 Lewis Anderson 

200 Josiah.Miller 

201 Rubcrt Garvin 

202 P. A. Woodward 

203 J. A. Dale 

204 T. Hill 

205 Joel Grover 

206 C. H. Lovejoy 

207 A. J. Kennedy 

208 Thomas Brooke 

209 N. D. Howland 

210 C. G. Hoyt 

211 C. A. Pease 

212 B. F. Pease 

213 Samuel Kimball 

214 Joseph Merchant 

215 David Browne 

216 Leonard Merchant 

217 E. D. Ladd 

218 A. Cutler 

219 S. Anderson 

220 S. O. Harrington 

221 W. B. Hayden 

222 S. Johnson 

223 H. E. Babcock 

224 E. S. Scudder 

225 F. A. Bailey 

226 Newman Garwood 

227 S. N. Simpson 

228 J. W. Graham 

229 T. J. Casseborn 

230 Moses Meal 

231 N. F. Hirrick 



232 J. A. Finley 

233 Alex. Miller 

234 John Ross 

235 Francis Parker 

236 A. H. Vince 

237 Silas Green 

238 Tiiomas Brinkley 

239 James Jamison 

240 James Jenkins 

241 R. H. Pierce 

242 G. H. Crocker 

243 William Lyon 

244 Wm. L. Anderson 

245 Henry Bronson 

246 John Lowry 

247 B. W. Woodward 

248 J. D. DMvidson 

249 Samuel Reynolds 

250 E. F. Reynolds 

251 L. J. Worden 

252 George Gilbert 

253 Ellmore Allen 

254 A. G. Weeks 

255 Turner Sampson 

256 C. C. Emery 

257 William Evans 

258 J. F. Morgan 

259 Wm. Warriker 

260 N. J. Lyon 

261 J. W. VVilliams 

262 Steven Crocket 

263 Ezra Pierce 

264 J. M. Mathews 

265 N. D. Short 

266 W. H. Oliver 

267 Edward Webb 

268 B. H. Whitlow 

269 Ransom Calkins 

270 J. G. Sands 

271 Jas. Christian 

272 Thos. McFarland 

273 Robert McFarland 

274 John McFarland 

275 Samuel Gill 

276 A. K. Allen 

277 G. W. Goss 

278 Thos. McAboy 

279 O. A. Hanescomb 

280 Jno. N. Penoyer 

281 G. W. Brown 

282 John Clarey 



716 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



283 Norman CharQlDers 

284 C. W. Williams 

285 L. Fer^-uson 

286 Chester Waldroff 

287 G-. W. Gillis 

288 Henry Blair 

289 John Wise 

290 J. M. Fuller 

291 S. S. Snyder 

292 John G-ingery 

293 W. a. Welles 

294 Samuel Fry 

295 Aron Perry 

296 Kichard Miller 
29*7 Thomas Haskell 

298 Charles Pearsall 

299 J. C. Hartweil 

300 L. Haskell 

301 E. A. Dellam 

302 Philip Cook 

303 Emery Whetherbcy 

304 Daniel Mallay 

305 W. Cleland 

306 David Black 

307 Willard Colburn 

308 Green Bridges 

309 Jas. F. Wood 

310 J. D. Barnes 

311 Geo. Paps 

312 John McClelland 

313 Franklin Monroe 

314 Oscar Barress 

315 H. Tucker 

316 Michael Cratbey 

317 A. Rowley 

318 Hiram Dunbar 

319 James Cowan 



320 
321 
322 
323 
324 
325 
326 
327 
328 
329 
330 



B. W. Miller 
J. C. Brook 
A. B. Wade 
Calvin Adams 
A. Stearnes 
E. A. Barnes 
Michael Albin 
J. A. Davidson 
Morton Adams 
S. Y. Suno 
HoUis Wilbur 

331 Philip Wymer 

332 T. Welles 

333 Abram Wilder 

334 Ephraim Nute 

335 W. S. Kimball 
T. E. Sumner 
Robert Gilbert 
Malon Moore 

C. A. Adams 
Chas. Garrett 
Ludwig Meyers 



336 
337 
338 
339 
340 
341 



342 R. A. Cummins 

343 G. W. Hutchison 

344 Jno. Wilder 

345 J. H. Ferman 

346 J. E. Rice 

347 C. W. Southward 

348 Edwin Bond 

349 A. A. McGee 

350 N. H. Wheeler 

351 Lyman Allen 

352 Acelph Allen 

353 H. N. Canfield 

354 Jno. A. Ladd 

355 G. W. Campbell 

356 A. Rowley 



The printed certificate properly filled, (see forms,) and signed as 
follows : 

A. D. SEWELL, ) 

LYMAN ALLEN, V Judges. 
JAMES F. LEGATE, ) 



Attest: W. L. Brigden 
Morris Hunt 



i 



Clerks. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution ^4° 

No constitution 1 

General banking law — Yes • 225 

General banking law — No 83 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



717 



Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 133 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 223 ^ 

The above tallies are properly arranged in the table. (See form.) 
They are incomplete. The certificate is not properly made out, and is 
not in agreement with the tally-list. Two hundred and fifty-five is in- 
serted in the certificate as voting for the general banking law instead 
of two hundred and twenty-five; but in the duplicate the tally-list 
and the certificate agree. 

Each copy of the certificate lias one hundred and thirty-four, instead 
of one hundred and thirty-three, as voting for the exclusion of negroes 
and mulattoes. 
Signed as follows : 

A. D. SEARL, ) 

LYMAN ALLEN, V Judges. 
JAMES Y. LEGATE, ) 
Attest : Wm. S. Brigden, ) ^n j, 
Morris Hunt, \ ^^ '^' 



Franklin Pre 


CINCT. 




PoU-hooJc. 






1 William Rollins 




28 


Homer Hays 


2 H. L. Ennis 




29 


Ben. Rogers 


3 Thos. Seaton 




30 


E. B. Jolmsou 


4 David Burton 




31 


J. G. MacClelland 


5 James McGee 




32 


William Stroup 


6 Jackson Sellers 




33 


A. Still 


7 Robert Ervin 




34 


James M. Still 


8 Isaac Shoop 




35 


E. M. Wallace 


9 Daniel Scannell 




36 


J. Vanwrinckle 


10 Samuel Southerland 




37 E. C. Sanith 


11 J. Garvin 




38 


Jno. P. Wood 


12 Wm. Bridges 




39 


Jno. J. McGee 


13 E. B. Piirdoin 




40 


Thos. McGee 


14 Thos. Waller 




41 


Millikin Wallace 


15 David Meechem 




42 


H. P. Lacy 


16 Joseph Shuler 




43 


Jas. S. Smith 


17 J. D. Harrington 




44 


A. N. McGee 


18 Franklin Currans 




45 


W. G. Piper 


19 L. A. Prather 




46 


H. A. Hunter 


20 Thos. Artlebury 




47 


W' . S. Hull 


21 Michael Glenn 




48 


B. C. Talley 


22 S. T. Hannon 




49 


T. W. Painter 


23 A. Lawhead 




50 


A. W. Wheadon 


24 H. T. Crane 




51 


Moses Flora 


25 H. H. Bybee 




52 


John R. Lawhead 


26 John Stroup 




53 


Thomas Anderson. 


27 John Anderson 









718 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

The printed forms properly filled, (see forms,) and signed as follows: 

H. S. ENOS, ) 

DAVID BURTEN, } Judges. 
JAMES McCtEE, ) 
Attest: S. Sutherland, ) Qierks 
Daniel Scannell, S 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 48 

No constitution 4 

General banking law — Yes 31 

General banking law — No ._. 15 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattocs — Yes 48 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 2 

The certificate is correctly filled out, and signed as follows: 

H. S. ENOS, ) 

DAVID BURTEN, } Judges. 
JAMES McGEE, ) 
Attest: Samuel Sutheiiland, ) ^; 7 
Daniel Scannell, ) 



Palmyra Precinct. 

Poll-hook. 

William Barricklow David Eldridge 

John Peasley William Roe 

Daniel Barricklow John Roe 

Thomas Chapman John Brown 

Joseph Barricklow * Richard N. Pearson 
Eobert Pearson Jacob Cant well. 

The printed forms properly filled, (see fornls,) and signed as 
follows : 

WM. BARRICKLOW, ) 

R. H. PEARSON, } Judges. 

JOHN H. PEASLEY, S 



Attest: William Roe, ? ^, , 
John Roe, \ ^^^*'^- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



719 



Tally -list. 



Constitution. 


No constitu- 
tion. 


Geu'l banking Gen'l banking 
law. — Yes. ! law. — No. 


Exclusion of ne- 
groes and mu- 
lattoes. — Yes. 


Exclusion of ne- 
groes and mu- 
lattoes. — No. 
























_ 












1 












^ ^ 












1 






















1 






1 




















11 


1 


9 ?, 


12 













The certificate is correctly filled out. Sisjned as follows : 



WILLIAM BARKICKLOW, 

R. H. PEARSON, \ Judges. 

JOHN H. PEASLEY, S 



Attest : Wjm. Roe, 
John Roe, 



Clerks. 



Blanton Precinct. 
Poll-hook. 



1 Samuel Smith 


18 Jonathan Ogden 


2 Lewis Howell 


19 Collins Halloway 


3 Hugh Pallengall 


20 Peter Praetty 


4 Charles Gorden 


21 E. Smith 


5 J. R. Kennedy 


22 David Griffiths 


6 F. N. Hellstrum 


23 Jno. Roberts 


7 J. J. Smith 


24 Henry Williams 


8 Isaac Shaffer 


25 F. G. Vaughen 


9- Joseph Everhart 


26 L. W. Plumb 


10 James E. Saffer 


27 Josiah Houghton 


11 Geo. F. Pabst 


28 Wm. Estabrook 


12 J. W. Hotwater 


29 James M. Jones 


13 John Saletiel 


30 G. W. Berry 


14 F. H. Kennedy 


31 N. B. Blanton 


15 0. P. Kennedy 


32 James Lane 


16 R. P. Moore 


33 Wm. P. Kennedy 


17 F. J. Loock 


34 Edward Jones 



720 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



35 Wm. Livermore 
3P) B. Hitchcock 

37 S. G. Johnson 

38 Geo. W. Fitz 

39 A. B. Smith 

40 S. L. Lapham 

41 Enoch Howard 

42 Jno. E. Stewart 

43 P. S. Hutchison 

44 P. F. HujBf 

45 J. B. Abbott 

46 Simon Gilson 

47 H. F. Saunders 

48 E. W. Bennett 

49 Paul Jones 

50 Samuel Lucas 

51 Edmund Corless 

52 J. R. Griffith 

53 K. D. Norton 

54 Chas. Dickson 

55 L. H. Rowley 



56 Wm. L. G. Soule 

57 Wm. D. Jimmerson 

58 E. Griffith 

59 Samuel Merrill 

60 D. T. Morris 

61 Charles Newman 

62 Henry Newman 

63 Leonard Crane 

64 Jacob Branson 

65 Ezekiel Duzan 

66 Jno. Curtis 

67 Lewis Staggers 

68 J. Elliot 

69 Joshua Hews 

70 Thos. Hopkins 

71 Salem Gleeson 

72 A. F. Bercaw 

73 Clark Tefft 

74 George Carey 

75 Thos. B. Smith 

76 E. A. Landon. 



The printed forms properly filled, (see forms,) and signed as 
follows : 



Attest : Geo. W. Fitz, 

Samuel G. Johnson, 



JOHN E. STEWART, ) 
PHILIP S. HUPP, V J 
P. S. HUTCHISON, ) 



Clerl 



'S. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 72 

No constitution 2 

General banking law — Yes 59 

General banking law — No 14 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 



The certificate is correctly filled out, and signed as follows: 

JOHN E. STEWART, 



Attest : Geo. W. Fitz 

Daniel G. Johnson 



PHILIP S. HUPP, \ Judges. 
P. S. HUTCHISON, S 



.1 



Clerks. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



721 



Second District — Bloomington Precinct. 

Foil-hook of voters ivho have cast their ballots at an election held on the 
15th day of December, A. D. 1855, at the Jiouse of B. Bursen, Bloom- 
ingto)i precinct, in district No. 2, in Kansas Territory, on the adop- 
tion or rejtC'i<m uf a constitution for the State of Kansas, and upon 
the general banking-laiv clause and black-law proposition. 



1 William W. Henning 


44 


George Anderson 


2 G. Norton 


45 


J. J. Ater 


3 Isaac Davis 


46 


L. M. Pierson 


4 Wm. Diaper 


47 R. F. Barber 


5 R. N. Woodard 


48 


L. Dufi'ee 


6 N. Ramsay 


49 


Hazeltine 


7 Nicholas Allgues 


50 


Richard Day 


8 H. T. Wakefield 


51 


H. L. Baldwin 


9 J. 0. Durm 


52 


G. W. Cosby 


10 Joseph Anderson 


53 


Samuel Cary 


11 Wm. Haseltine 


64 


Samuel Walker 


12 Marquis Kelsi 


55 


Samuel Kenedy 


18 H. C. Alderman 


56 


Levi Kenoz 


14 Henry Hine 


57 


William Ferguson 


15 Thomas Bicerten 


58 


Eli Herring 


16 James Herring 


59 


A. Walker 


17 William Watson 


60 


John Macy 


18 0. L. Spradling 


61 


Daniel Haseltine 


19 Robert Allen 


62 


David P. Haseltine 


20 George W. Perse 


63 


J. M. Nelson 


21 J. P. Miller 


64 


William Jesse 


22 R. H. Rawson 


65 


H. A. Cosby 


2o Wm. Byerty 


66 


John Wilsey 


24 John Hatfield 


67 


Robert Hughes 


25 Daniel C. Holbert 


68 


William Hall 


26 A. N. Baldwin 


69 


George Levin 


27 Thomas Over field 


70 


T. Edwards 


28 H. Burson 


71 


J. C. Casebier 


29 J. A. Wakefield 


72 J. N. Mace 


30 Thomas li. Snyder 


73 D. B. Hiatt 


31 Thomas VVolverton 


74 Jonathan Doan 


32 A. Curtis 


75 


William McCready 


33 James M. Dunn 


76 


Green Morgan 


34 C. W. Bailey 


77 


Charles Wrijj-ht 


35 Edward Jones 


78 Nathan Hachet 


36 J. A. Boyd 


79 James Wallace 


37 Cyrus C. Scofield 


80 


Daniel Hager 


38 E. Disbro 


81 


E. Booter 


39 H. Tacket 


82 


Benjamin Stowe 


40 Daniel Vansell 


83 


F. Hendricks 


41 Thomas Barber 


84 


L. Scott 


42 a. W. Umberger 


85 


John Flemister 


43 J. C. Archibald 


86 


Owen T. Basset 


H. Rep. 200 46=?= 







722 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



87 E. W. Smith 

88 J, Oakely 

89 E. Conner 

90 Henry H, Conner 

91 Kit'us Swainc 

92 K. 0. Jolinston 

93 J. W. Hamiltoa 

94 A. J. Smith 

95 E. lluddlestoii 

96 J. Gardner 

97 J. N. Reynolds 

98 J(thn Kinney 
98 J. W. Futon 

100 G. T. Mock 

101 Madison Chiyton 

102 Samuel Jones 
108 David Ward 

104 Parson Masking 

105 Geor<;e Hill 

106 C. Oakley 

107 T. B. Woodard 

108 Kirsy Soneer 

109 Robert Roberts 

110 John Branner 

111 Joseph Cox 

112 David Levels 



113 Jackson Roberts^ 

114 Henry Lewis 

115 Allied Reak 

116 George Fillmore 

117 Harrison H. Wood 

118 Abei Yates 

119 Samuel Casebar 

120 A. J. Casebar 

121 John Dewitt 

122 B. F. Hancock 

123 Dudley Bryant 

124 Aaron Platts 

125 Frederick Hoffman 

126 J()se})h Bryant 

127 Jabez Petepit 

128 L. B. Wolverton 

129 Andrew White 

130 A. White 

131 H. Fick 

132 William Tacket 

133 J. L. Speer 

134 David Aikin 

135 J. B. F. McPhersin 

136 A. E. Love 

137 G. W. Chapin 



We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify^, 
upon our oaths, tliat the whole number of votes cast at an election: 
held at Bloomington precinct, in second district, in Kansas Territory^ 
on the 15th day of December, A. D. 1855, for the ado})tioH or rejec-' 
tion of a constitution, the separate article in relation to a general 
banking-law, framed by the constitutional convention which assembled 
at Topeka, on the 23d day of October, 1855. for the State oi' Kansas^ 
and the independent ])roposition in relation to instructing the lirst 
general assembly on the subject of negroes and mulattoes, to be in 
number one hundred and thirty-seven; and we further certify that the 
fiaid voters were bona Jide citizens of the United States, above the age 
of twenty-one years, and actual residents of the Territory of Kansa» 
for thirty days immediately preceding this election, and still continue 
the same as their home and residence. 

JAMES M. DUNN, ) 
DANIEL VANEIL, \ Judges. 
Z. W. REMBERGER, > 
Attest: Thomas B. Wolverton, 
Henry L. Baldwin, 



Clerks . 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



723 



Tally-list. 
The tallies are not givea. Blank filled as follows 



Constitution. 

YCB. 


Constitution. 

No. 


Gen' 1 banking 
law. — Yes. 


Gen' I banking 
law.— No. 


Exclusion of ne- 
groes and mu- 
lattoes. — Yes 


Exclusion of n**- 
grocsand Jnor 
lattoes. — No. 


137 




122 


11 


113 


15 









The printed certificate is filled properly with the above numbers, 
see form in first district,} and signed as follows : 

JAMES M. DUNN, ) 
DANIEL VANP:IL, } Judges, 
F. W. BEMBERGER, ) 
Attest: Thos. B. Wolverton, 
Henry L. Baldwin, 



Clerics. 



Second District — East Douglas, 



jPoU-hook. 



1 Henry Conrad 

2 P. B. Harris 

3 J. F. Jackson 

4 S. Smith 

5 J. Oakly, sen. 

6 H, C. Muz 

7 R. Cole 

8 J. W. Emerson 

9 J. H. Shimmons 



10 Alphonso Jones 

11 Owen Taylor 

12 William Phillips 

13 William Hampton 
U William Caler 

15 Mortimer Tript 

16 Joel Phillips 

17 William Cage 

18 E. B. Knight 



The printed certificate is properly filled, in accordance with the 
above, and signed as follows : 



Attest: P. B. Harris, 
J. H, Suimmons 



J 



P. B. HARRIS, 
J. H. SHIMMONS, 
J. F. JACKSON, 



Judges, 



Clerks. 



Second District — East Douglas, 

Tally-list^ 

Constitution 18 

No constitution 



724 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Greneral banking law — Yes 13 

General banking law — No 4 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 14 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 4 

[The above tallies are under the proper headings in the printed 
form.] 

The certificate is properly filled^ and accords with the tally-liet, 
sifigued as follows : 

P. B. HARHIS, ) 
J. H. SHIMMONS, } Judges. 
J. F. JACKISON, ) 
Attest: P. B. Harris, ) ^j ■, 
J. F. Shimmons, ^^^^^/'^*- 



Third District — Topeha. 



PoU-hook. 



1 C. C. K. aarvey 

2 J. K. Goodin 

3 P. L. Crane 

4 Milton C. Dickey 
6 James Chadwick 

6 Dean Chadwick 

7 Christopher C. Leonard 

8 C. L. Terrel 

9 Moses Dudley 

10 D. H. Home, 

11 James J. Goodrich 

12 J. Orcott 

13 D. W. Clearland 

14 Wm. ScaleH 

15 Timothy Mclntire 

16 H. P. Walters 

17 John T. Lawrence 

18 James G. Bunker 

19 D. R. Sailor 

20 James McNamee 

21 R. L. Mitchel 

22 T. R. Foster 

23 James C. Miller 

24 Humphrey Coburn 

25 J. F. Cummings 

26 Harris Stratton 

27 Billey T. Wetmore 

28 Daniel Sayer 

29 Israel Zimmerman 

30 Charles Creitz 

31 Loving Farnswortli 



32 Wm. F. Kelso 

33 Augustus Barnard 

34 Edward Seg raves 

35 Alexander Moore 

36 Abner Doane 

37 A. M. Lewis 

38 C. G. Howard 

39 Thomas G. Thornton 

40 C. A. Sexton 

41 T. Jones 

42 L. W. Home 

43 S. E. Martin 

44 F. W. Giles 

45 Gilford Dudley 

46 John R. Lewis 

47 George Davis 

48 George F. Boyd 

49 Darius Minium 

50 S. C. tiarriot 

51 Ephraim Harriot 

52 E. Banter 

53 James L. Stevens 

54 John H. Doty 

55 J. D. Clarkson 

56 James Taggett 

57 W. H. Waymoth 

58 Wm. R. Bogs 

59 H. C. Coral 

60 Lewis C. Wilmuth 

61 Ambrose W. Ford 

62 Paul Sheppard 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



725 



63 A, G. Adams 

64 G. W. Hathaway 

65 Jolm Richey 

66 W. Miles 

67 Luther H. Wentworth 

68 H. H. Wentworth 

69 Gabriel Wright 

70 James Disney 

71 Moses Hubbard 

72 P. R. Hubbard 

73 Manie Campdoras 

74 diaries Landon 

75 Claud Chamboniere 

76 Eugene Dumez 

77 Estienne Vollotte 

78 C. N. Grey 

79 P. 0. Conner 

80 A. S. Walter 

81 E. S. Parker 

82 Jesse ^towe 

83 0. H. Drinkwater 

84 Samuel Hall 

85 Leonard Wendell 

86 Wm. W. Ross 

87 E. Plumber 

88 A. F. Whiting 

89 Wm. E. Bowker 

90 Jean Francois Carloz 

91 S. N. Frazier 

92 Amos Trott 

93 M. C. Martin 

94 Wm. P. Thompson 

95 David H. Moore 

96 Wm. W. Henderson 

97 Wm. Gibbons 

98 James Pearce 

99 Enoch Chase 



100 Jonas E. Greenwood 

101 M. K. Smith 

102 Philip Briggs 

103 Horatio Fletcher 

104 Abel F. Hartwell 

105 Charles L. Wilbur 

106 David Smith 

107 A. G. Thompson 

108 Charles Morely 

109 Wm. F. Creitz 

110 G. H. Wood 

111 Geo. B. French 

112 Elnathan Trask 

113 San ford Henry 

114 Leroy S. Brown 

115 Thos. H. Taylor 

116 John Long 

117 J. C. Gordon 

118 Augustus Robarts 

119 C. Nickols 

120 Charles Farnesworth 

121 H. C. Young 

122 Nelson Young 

123 John Martin 

124 James Cowles 

125 R. M Lace 

126 Francis Davis 

127 J. B. Chase 

128 Ozias Judd 

129 John Spear 

130 H. B. Burgess 

131 Wm. Pickerel 

132 H. B. Cowles 

133 Theorene Tucker 

134 Richard Gustine 

135 L. G. Clearland 

136 J. A. Wirt 



The printed certificate properly filled, and signed as follows : 

F. L. CRANE, ) 

M. C. DICKEY, [Judges. 
J. T. CUMMINGS, ) 



Attest : Joseph C. Miller, \ r^i t, 
Henry P. Waters, \ ^^^^'^** 



Third District — T<ypeka. 
Tally -list. 

Constitution 135 

No constitution'. 



726 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

General hanlcinj;" law — Tos 125 

G(MUM'al baiikiui:; law— No t:> 

Exclusion of noj^roos nnd niulattoes — Yos 69 

Exclusion of noi::roe8 and mnlattoes — No 64 

The al)ove tallies are properly arranp;ed under the table. (See form.) 
The ceititicate is properly filled with the above numbers, and signed 
»^s follows : 

F. L. CKANE, ) 
M. C. DICKF.Y, [Judges. 
J. T. CUMMINGS, ) 
Attest : Joseph 0. Miller, } pi^,^.j.^ 
Henry P. Waters, J ' • 



Third District — TecumseJi. 
FoU-lH)ok. 



1 John Morris 

2 Charles Jordan 
r> H. W. Curtis 

4 M. M. Kobinson 

5 Orlando Moffitt 

6 Jos. n. AVeaver 
T J as. M. Dawson 

8 B. F. Dawson 

9 Sanil. Updegraph 

10 C. W. MollH 

11 Jas. Hoppins 

12 D. Updegraph 

18 Jos. K. Bartleson 

14 Geo. C. IMcCormac 

15 J. W. Stephenson 

16 E. H. Mof«t 

IT Nathaniel L. Williams 
18 Josiah Cox 



19 Wm. H. Morris 

20 Thomas J. Jordan 

21 Hiram Shields 

22 Jahial Tyler 

23 John F. Freeland 

24 John ^r. Ferson 

25 Andeson Delop 

26 Osborn Naylor 
2T Jehn Frank 

28 Francis Grapmuck 

29 Wm. Norton 

30 Geo. Osborn 

31 Saml. Spruill 

32 M. J. ]\Iitchel 

33 Jer. Nicum 

34 Wm. A. Hamer 

35 Huston Ingram. 



Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

CHARLES JORDAN, ) 

[ Jud(j^s 

Attest: M, M. Robinson, 
H. W. Curtis, 



JOHN MORRIS. 
M. J. MITCHEL, 

Clerks. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 35 

No coustitutiou 



ICANSAS AVPAIRg. 727 

d fineral T);inl{ i n ^ 1 ii w — Yoh 23 

<jron«;ral banking law — No 11 

Exclusion of tic^ro(!K Jirid triulattoeH — YcR 35 

KxcluKion of ncgrof^s and iimlattocH — No 

Ocrtificato correctly filled, and h\'^\\oA hh CoIIowk : 

CIIAIUiKS JOIIDAN, ) 
.JOHN MOmtiS, }Jv,d(je8. 

M. J. MiTCJiKh, ) 

Attest: ir. W. Ciirtir, ) ./, , 

M. M. Jl0l5INH0>f, ) 



TiiiKSD District — BrowmvUle. 
PoU-hook. 

13 Wm. A. Rimer well 

14 JaracH Turner 

15 Win. I)ail(;y 
If) John l>axier 

17 I). T, Ilatnrnend 

18 (I. S. Holt 

19 (J. H. LykinH 

20 Samuel II. Hill 

21 JarneK (j!ill[)atriek 

22 Wm. Turner 
2!{ JamcH Maulian 
24 iJanuel Turner 

Certificate correctly filled, aad signed aw follows: 



1 


James M. Haramcmd 


2 


Geo. W. Pigott 


'^ 


ThoK. J. And(;rKom 


4 


1). W. Harold 


5 


Rohcrt '^I'urncir 


<] 


P.ohert T(jdd 


7 


d. 1). Wood 


H 


J. W. Brown 


'J 


L. T. Cook 


10 


W. F. J<jhnston 


11 


(Samuel (>avender 


12 


F. E. ilood 



AtteKt: Wm. F. Johnbton, } ^« , 



J. D. WOOD, ) 

L. T. (X)OK, }Jadf/e8. 

J. W. JiltOWN, ) 



TaUy-list. 

OonHti tilt ion 24 

No constitution 

Oeneral banking law — Yes 22 

Oeneral banking law — No 2 

Exeluwion of" negrocM and mulattocH — Yes 22 

Exclusion of negroes and rnulattoew — No 2 

Certificate correctly filled, and wigned as follows : 

J. J). WOOD, ) 

J. W. IHiOWN, } Judges. 

L. T. COOK, ) 

Attest : W. F. Joiinstov, \ ni i. 
lioBKKT Todd, } ^^^^*^* 



•728 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Thirb District — Washington. 
PoU-hook. 



1 A. J. Custard 

2 Peter E{){)ison 

3 E|iliraim Banning 

4 Eli Allen 

5 Geo. 8. Ramsay 

6 Solomon G. Riffle 

7 Caleb Antrim 

8 p](lmnnd Brewer 

9 Jesse M. Roberts 

10 James K. Lawrence 

11 Danl. K. Lawrence 

12 Wm. C. Jones 

13 Wm. Riley 

14 W. L. Roberts 

15 Geo. W. Gilmore 

16 W. A. Card well 

17 Amos Hicks 

18 Geo. W. Duncan 

19 Benj. Moore 

20 Geo\ W. Zinn 

21 H. F. Huffer 



22 Milbourn Sbirley 

23 W. C. McCaul 

24 Robt. Hudson 

25 J. J. Aklin 

26 Norman Smith 

27 Wm. Rowles 

28 Wm. R. Frost 

29 J. G. Strini,^er 

30 Jas. Moltori 

31 T. V. Rush 

32 R. W. Custard 

33 Merrit Thrilkeld 

34 Alex. Wells 

35 Jno. D. Hopkins 

36 Thos. D. Kemp 

37 Wm. Harper 

38 Wm. Lamb 

39 A. H. Lamb 

40 F. Cook 

41 W. Carter 

42 Barnet Fagrle 



Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

WM. RILEY, 
ELI ALLEN, 
CALEB ANTREM, 

Attest : Geo. S. R.\msay, ) ^j ^ 

S. J. AcKLINj ) 



Judges. 



fCS. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 42 

General banking law — Yes 41 

General banking law — No ' 1 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 42 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows: 

ELI ALLEN, ) 

WM. RILEY, [Judges. 

CALEB ANTREM, ) 



Attest: ^. S- Ramsay, ) ^^^^,^ 
S. J. Acklin, ) 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



729 



Fourth District — Prairie City Precinct. 



Poll-list. 



1 Charles Lepj^e 


37 


W, J. Bucliannon 


2 Cl.arles Clark 


38 


A. 0. Car])enter 


3 J. P. Moore 


39 


Elkana Fimons 


4 Franklin Barnes 


40 


R. Mayfield 


5 Wm. B. Harris 


41 


W. M. Mewhinny, sr 


G Jacob (^lark 


42 


John Wilson 


T A. R. Banks 


43 


George Havens 


8 C. H Carpenter 


44 


N. D. Sprague 


9 Arcliibald Harris 


45 


Champion Mayfield 


10 A. B. Webster 


46 


Levi Doty 


11 W. S. Ewart 


47 


W. M. E. Crura 


12 John F. Jarans 


48 


Perry Fuller 


13 A. J. Miller 


49 


W. M. Moore 


14 Samuel McManus 


50 


Thomas McCowan 


J5 E. H. Bavsinger 


51 


Samuel J. Shore 


16 W. B. Foster 


52 


Amos Hannah 


17 Thos. Shirley 


53 


Samuel Mewhinney 


18 David Hendricks 


54 


Eleazur Hill 


19 Mansfi. Id Carter 


55 


Hiram McAlister 


20 A. F. Powell 


56 


T. E. Curtis 


21 A. Clearland 


57 


J. W. M. Shore 


22 Charles Keiser 


58 


W. M. B. Sowers 


23 J. (^. Moore 


59 


Aaron Moore 


24 Peter Baysinger 


60 


J. P. Neal 


25 S. H. Moore 


61 


John S. Edie 


26 George Powers 


62 


A. B. Gilliland 


27 Constant Biirtell 


63 


W. M. Graham 


28 Wn). David 


64 


J. D. Hope 


29 CeU'stiu (xarder 


65 


W. L. Jones 


SO J. C. Hughes 


66 


J. S. Scott 


31 M. M. Westfall 


. 67 


John Graham 


32 Henry H. Wiggins 


68 


Geo. W. E. Griffith 


33 P. P. Case 


69 


J. E. Carpenter 


34 M. M. D. Lysner 


70 Miichael Blake 


35 Nathaniel Parker 


71 


John P. Lehr 


36 W. M. Mewhinny, jr. 


72 Wily E. Jones. 



The printed certificate properly filled, (see form,) and signed as 
follows : 



AMOS HANNAH, 
WILLIAM MOORE, 
PERRY FULLER, 
Attest : Tiros. McCowan, \ rii t, 

Sam L Theodore Shore, \ ^*^^^- 



Judges. 



730 



KANSA.S AFFAIRS. 



Tally -list. 

Constitution 72 

No const itu tion 

General banking law — Yes 39 

General banking law — No 33 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 69 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 3 

Printed form correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

AMOS HANNAH, ) 
WILLIAM MOORE, ) Judges. 
PERRY FULLER, ) 
Attest: Thos. McGowaist, \ n -h 

Sam'l Theodore Shore, s ' ' 



Fifth District. — Osawatomie. 



Poll-book. 



1 Crawford Oliver 

2 Benj. Woodbury 

3 Chas. A. Foster 

4 William Collin 

5 N. J. Roscoe 

6 Nathan McYey 

7 James H. Howson 

8 Henry Alderman 

9 Horace Norton 

10 Harrison Updegraff 

11 Amos Alderman 

12 Jeremiah Harrison 

13 Barber Darrach 

14 Wm. W. Updegraff 

15 James Stots 

16 Samuel Geer 

17 James J. Holbrook 

18 Samuel Mendenhall 

19 C. F. Lake 

20 S. L. Adair 

21 S. M. Merritt 

22 Caleb Shearar 

23 Samuel H. Howser 

24 Thomas Roberts 

25 Amos Finch 

26 Albe Sanborn 

27 Andrew Bruce 

28 J. Carr 

29 William Cain 

30 James Fuller 



31 Silas Wheat 

32 Francis Brenan 

33 William Chestnut 

34 John C. Loman 

35 William Quick 

36 Asa S. White 

37 Joel Goodenick 

38 Levi Fenner 

39 Charles Cranston 

40 J. L. Littlejohn 

41 John Yelton 

42 Richard Mendenhall 

43 William Cater 

44 John P. Glenn 

45 William Brownhall 

46 Henry Carson 

47 Thomas Jackson 

48 David Mendenhall 

49 Doctor Morris 
John Brown 
Martin Chissmore 
George Ferris 
J. R. Everett 



50 
51 
52 
53 
54 
55 
56 
57 
58 



J. B. Higgins 
Milon Fairchild 
James Hughes 
Thomas J. Hammond 
Jackson Hendricks 



59 Noah Barker. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



731 



Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

B. WOODBURY, ) 

DANIEL W. COLLIES, \ Judges. 
N. J. ROSCOE, ) 

Attest : Wm. W. Updegraff, ) qi^^j^ 
Crawford Oliver, ) 



Tally-list. 

^jonstitution 56 

^0 constitution -, 1 

General banking law — Yes 33 

General banking law — No 20 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 38 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 17 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

B. WOODBURY, ) 

DANIEL W. COLLIES, \ Judges. 
N. J. ROSCOE, ) 

Attest : Wm. W. Updegraff, ) riUyT.g 
Crawford Oliver, \ 



Fifth District — Stanton. 





Poll-hook. 




I Isaiah Nichols 


20 H. B. Standiford 


2 W. B. Nichols 


21 


A. H. Standiford 


3 J. B. Bingham 


22 


W. G. Bundy 


4 P. V. McMillan 


23 


George Thompson 


5 Benjamin Goodrich 


24 


Orran Williams 


6 J. H. West 


25 


B. H. Reed 


7 J. T. Benning 


26 


Thomas M. Horton 


8 0. R. Nicbols 


27 


Jesse W. Wilson 


9 William Stephenson 


28 


John R. Kirkland 


10 Jesse B. Way 


29 


Robert Reed 


11 C. P. Kirkland 


30 


William Kellogg 


12 John Lay 


31 


James Milliken 


13 Jesse Lay 


32 


William H. Kinkai 


14 James R. Kinkaid 


33 


S. L. Morse 


15 James D. Kinkaid 


34 


W. G. Nichols 


16 A. J. Talbott 


35 


Isaac Wollard 


17 M. D. Lane 


36 


Joseph Bundy 


18 David H. Bundy 


37 Israel Christie. 


19 John Standiford 







732 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Certificate properly filled, and signed as follows : 

ISAAC WOOLLARD, 
W. G. NICHOLS, 
S. L. MORSE, 

Attest : Israel Christie, 

JOSIAH BUNDY, 



Judges. 



Clerks. 



Tally -list. 

Constitution 32 

General banking law — Yes 4 

General banking law — No 33 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 32 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 5 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

ISAAC WOOLLARD, ) 
WM. G. NICHOLS, \ Judges. 
S. L. MORSE, ) 

Attest : Israel Christie, } .yj j 

JOSIAH BUNDY, 



Fifth District — Little Sugar Creek. 
Poll-hook. 



1 W. W. Harris 

2 J. D. Stockton 

3 John Spears 

4 D. B. Perry 

5 S. R. Floyd 

6 Thomas K. Hooper 

7 H. C. Uonaghe 

8 David Reese 

9 Harris Vance 

10 John Baslowick 

11 James E. Dunlap 

12 Stephen Mehaffe 

13 Joshua Russel 

14 Salmon Bennet 

15 John Handy Shel 

16 Enoch Estep 
11 H. M. Gibbs 
18 E. Barnes 
19 
20 
21 



Thomas Hargus 
J. P. Fox 
William Murray 



22 Joseph B. Runals 



23 W. A. Cavan 

24 H. J. Dingus 

25 Solomon Mason 

26 G. W. Halte 

27 G. W. Sharpe 

28 A. M. B. D. E. S. Ripley 

29 M. H. Davis 

30 J. W. Duren 

31 Abram Medlin 

32 James Osbern 

33 John Barrick 

34 James Montgomery 

35 Samuel Medlin 

36 Charles Barnes 

37 Solomon Adams 

38 John Medlin 

39 Levi Ward 

40 John Brant 

41 Allen Sellers 

42 Alfred Ward 

43 Samuel Nickel 

44 J. R. Miller 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



733 



45 F. A. Halleter 


53 P. Y. Glover 


46 George Morris 


54 Benjamin Burcli 


47 Elvin Ford 


55 David Burch 


48 A. F. Fascett 


56 John C. Jemison 


49 Fred. Crawse 


57 William Park 


50 William Morris 


58 Temple Wayne 


51 J. M. Morris 


59 T. F. Dark 


52 Green Wartliy 


60 Samuel Camock. 



Certificate properly filled and signed as follows : 

J. D. STOCKTON, ) 

D. KEESE, } Judges 

H. C. DONAGHE, ) 



Attest 



W. S. Turner, 
S. R. Floyd, 



Clerks. 



Tally-list. 

Con stitution 42 

No constitution 18 

General banking law — Yes - 33 

Gen eral ban ki n g law — No 13 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 42 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 2 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

J. D. STOCKTON, ) 
D. REESE, [judges. 

H. C. DONAGHE, ) 
Attest: S B.Floyd, ) rn^,,i,^ 
W. S. Turner, p''^^'^^- 



Fifth District — Pottawatomie. 



Poll-hook. 



1 Henry H. Williams 

2 Simeon B. Morse 

3 William Partridge 

4 Wra. N. Woods 

5 Ephraitn Reynolds 

6 John Blunt 

7 Frederick Brown 

8 Willis T. Ayres 

9 Samuel Anderson 

10 Dennis West 

11 E. G. Blunt 

12 David Baldwin 

13 Darius Frankenberger 

14 James B. Tenbrook 



15 Wm. J. Whitney 

16 Wm. L. Frankenberger 

17 John Blanden 

18 Solomon Blanden 

19 Daniel Harrison 

20 Wakeman Partridge 

21 Wesley H. Pineli 

22 J. W. Greer 

23 Benj. L. Cockrun 

24 Joseph L. Morcy 

25 John Grant 

26 James Townsley 

27 Allen M. Smitii 

28 JohnMcDaniel 



734 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



29 Dewitt C. Davenport 

30 James SuttoQ 

31 Samuel Mac 

32 Jason Brown 

33 Henry Thompson 

34 John Brown, jr. 

35 Owen Brown 

36 Anson Hunt 



37 C. E. Dewey 

38 M. M. Minkler 

39 Benjamin Dan 

40 R. W. Sturajeon 

41 David D. Davis 

42 Alexander Furdee 

43 Joseph James. 



Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

FRED. BROWN, 
S. B. MORSE, 
WM. PARTRIDGE, 

Attest : Henry H. Williams, 
Ephraim Reynolds, 



Judges. 



Clerks, 



Tally-list, 

Constitution 39 

No constitution ^ 3 

General banking law — Yes 21 

General banking law — No 19 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes— Yes 25 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes— No 18 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

FRED. BROWN, ) 

S. B. MORSE, \ Judges, 

W^M. PARTRIDGE, i 

Attest : Henry H. Williams, \ rti ,t. 
Ephraim Reynolds, ^' ' 



Fifth District — Neosho, 



FoU'book. 



1 Hiram Carr 

2 James Branan 

3 Jesse V. Williams 

4 Matthew Fenimore 

5 Hiram Hoover 

6 Hardin McMahon 



7 Thomas Bowen 

8 Benjamin Whitakef 

9 Simpson De Spain 

10 Morgan Dix 

11 Nathaniel Danton 

12 John H, Bowen. 



Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

HIRAM HOOVER, 
THOMAS BOWEN, 
MORGAN DIX, 

Attest : Hard. McMahon, l nj j^ 
Matthew Fenimore, ) ^^ * 



Judges, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 735 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 12 

No consti tu tion 

General banking law — Yes 6 

General banking law — No ". 6 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 12 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoeS' — No 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

HIRAM HOOVEH, ) 
THOMAS BOW EN, \ Judges. 
MORGAN DIX, ) 



Attest : Hard. McMaiion, ) ^; . 
Tilt 1,1 f O levies, 

Matthew I^enimore, ) 



Fifth District — Big Sugar Greek. 
Poll-hook. 

1 Samuel Farrar 12 Allen Stewart 

2 George Wykle 13 Jonah Daniel 

3 William Dudley 14 John Dance 

4 James E. Wadkins 15 William M. Smith 

5 Zachariah Rowe 16 0. M. Mc Daniel 

6 Green Stricklin 17 W. B. Robinson 

7 James M. Arthur 18 Ingram Lusk 

8 John Wykle 19 F. H. Graham 

9 M. Walk 20 John Robinson 

10 Silas Young 21 George 11. Alexander. 

11 William Dyer. 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

W. B. ROBINSON, ) 
WILLIAM DYER, ) Judges, 
WILLIAM M. SMITH, ) 

Attest : James M. Arthur, ) p-, ■, 
C. M. McDaniel, ] ^'■^^'^^' 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 18 

No con stitution 2 

General banking law — Yes 5 

General banking law — No a 16 



736 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 20 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

WILLIAM B. ROBINSON, ) 
WILLIAM DYER, } Judges. 

WILLIAM M. SMITH, ) 

Attest : James M, Arthur, 
C. M. McDaniel, 



Clerks. 



Fifth District — Little Osage. 
Foil-list. 



1 


R. T. Forbes 


17 Wm. Hinton 


2 


Wm Patrick 


18 


Sam'l Fleauer 


3 


E. Painter 


19 


James Curry 


4 


Etney Ecart 


20 


Thomas Oshorn 


5 


James H. Mars 


21 


Daniel Henderson 


6 


George Wakefield 


22 


Alexander Howard 


1 


Wm. Wick ham 


23 


W. W. Spratte 


8 


John Sanders 


24 


Paton Williams 


9 


Daniel Francis 


25 


Acy Williams 


10 


Isaac Sanders 


26 


E, Kepley 


11 


Julius Wilhite 


27 


Henry Miller 


12 


John A. Wakefield 


28 


Amos Stewai't 


13 


Wm. Williams 


29 


Sampson F.uris 


14 


Wm. Curry 


30 


Thomas Smith 


15 


Burton Kiwison 


31 


Thomas K. Hooper 


16 


Charles Bates 







Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

ROBERT T. FORBES, 
THOMAS OSBORN, 

Attest : Daniel Henderson, ) ^j ■, 
Wm. Curry, \ ^''^''"^^ 



Judges. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 21 

No constitution 7 

General banking law — Yes IC 

General ban king law — No 12 

lllxclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes .' 23 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 7 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



737 



Certificate correct, except that 11 is inserted instead of 12, as voting 
against the general banking law. 

Signed, as follows : 

THOMAS OSBORN, ) 
ROBERT T. FORBES, } Judges. 
THOMAS CURRY, ) 

Attest : Daniel Henderson, ) rij h 
William T. Curry, ^^^^'^' 



Seventh District — Titus. 




Poll-hook. 


1 Henry Todd 


23 Ami Smith 


2 W. F. Harer 


24 S. A. Allison 


3 Thos. White 


25 Abison Floorer 


4 J. B. Titus 


26 G. A. Drew 


5 John Drew 


27 John Smith 


6 S. M. Renin 


28 C. W. Fisk 


7 Abram Leonard 


29 P. C. Shyler 


8 Adam R. Bothel 


30 L. D. Joy 


9 Wm. Lord 


31 L. J. Miller 


10 Thomas Hill 


32 H. Polly 


11 Henry Stanley 


33 W. W. Fish 


12 Alex. Millson 


34 John Crowford 


13 Aaron Dow 


35 L. Fish 


14 Jasper Goodwill 


36 N. G. Densmore 


15 N. Shyler 


37 R. Miller 


16 0. H. Sheldon 


38 David Hoover 


17 C. F. Richards 


39 G. Bratton 


18 Hiram Mills 


40 G. Hairy 


19 Geo. M. Barnes 


41 J. Street 


20 William Drew 


42 John Miller 


21 0. B. Harvey 


43 Thos. Kussell 


22 Joseph Ramsey 


44 F. Upson. 



The printed form properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follows 

J. B. TITUS, ) 
JOHN DREW, V Judges. 
E. M. PERRIN, ) 

Attest: Lewis D. Joy, 

Abraham Leonard, 



Clerks. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 39 

No constitution 5 

H. Rep. 200—^47* 



738 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Greneral banking law — Yes 32 

General banking law — No 7 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 25 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 15 

The printed form is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

J. B. TITUS, ) 
JOHN DREW, V Judges. 
E. M. PERRIN, ) 

Attest : Lewis D. Joy, 



Abraham Leonard, 



Clerks. 



Seventh District — Juniatta. 
Poll-hook. 



1 Newell Teafton 


17 Louis Sanford 


2 Lawrence Shattock 


18 Cyrus Bishop 


3 Wm. E. Goodwin 


19 Asah G. Allen 


4 Samuel D. Houston 


20 John Pipher 


5 Ambrose Todd 


21 Charles W. Bechee 


6 Amery Hunting 


22 Chas. Fay 


7 Cbas. E. Blood 


23 Joseph Dennison 


8 Wm. E. Parkersen 


24 Chas. Barnes 


9 Isaac T. Goodnow 


25 John 8. Hoflfecker 


10 John Gilt 


26 Stephen B. Barnes 


11 Simon Perry 


27 Joseph Stewart 


12 John Sanford 


28 Peter Nirhart 


13 Henry Nealy 


29 John Mclntyre 


14 Edward Hunting 


30 Wm. S. Arnold 


15 Geo. H. Moore 


31 Joseph Browning. 


16 Christian Gatz 





The printed certificate properly filled, (see form,) except the pre- 
cinct is called Big Blue in the poll-list, and Juniatta in the certi- 
ficate, and signed as follows : 

PETER NEYHART, ) 
J. STEWART, \ Judges. 

ISAAC T. GOODNOW, ) 
Attest: Wm. S. Arnold, \ ^, r 
C. E. Blood, ^ ^^^'^'^*' 



Tally-list, 

Constitution , . , , Z\ 

No constitution .' 

General banking law — Yes,........,,. , 2| 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 739 

General banking law — No 6 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 10 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 19 

The printed form is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

PETER NEYPIART, ) 

J. STEWART, [judges, 

ISAAC T. GOODNOW, ) 
I Attest: Wm. S. Arnold, ) p,-, -, 
C. E. Blood, ] 



Eighth District. — Ohio City Precinct. 





Poll-hook. 


1 A. G-. Barrett 


12 Lowry Trombly 


2 Rees Furbay 


13 Franklin Reed 


3 William Saunders 


14 William Harmon 


4 Lewis Furbay 


15 A, J. Ockerman 


5 Henry Hallenberg 


16 W. H. Brine 


6 D. M. Levitt 


15 Henry Brockmyre 


7 A. M. Bell 


18 Loren Jessen 


8 Jas. A. Smith 


19 Henry Brockmyre, j 


9 Thos. Warren 


20 Gulian Shangraed 


10 Samuel Langdon 


21 Joseph Breno. 


11 John Herron 





The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follows: 

HENRY HOLLENBERa, ) 
D. M. LEVITT, [judges. 

WILLIAM SAUNDERS, ) 

Attest : A. G-. Barrett, \ p-. -. 
Lewis Furbay, j ^^^^'Z^^- 



Tally-list, 

Constitution 21 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 16 

General banking law — No 5 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 20 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 1 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

HENRY HOLLENBERG, ) 
D. M. LEVITT, [Judges. 

WM. SAUNDERS, ) 



Attest: A. G. Barrett, 
Lewis Furbay, 



Clerks. 



740 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Eighth District — Wabauiisee Precinct, 



Foil-hook. 




1 Andrew B. Marshall 


11 W. J. Fodder 


2 J. M. Bisbey 


12 H. P. Leonard 


3 J. H. Nesbit 


13 J. H. PiUsburj- 


4 E. K. MoLundv 


14 Calvin H. Javin 


5 Oscar Meachaiul 


15 Henry Bisbey 


6 H. W. Taborr 


16 Henry Jones 


•7 H. J. Brown 


17 D. L. Bates 


8 Bar iSliarai 


18 L. W. Brown 


9 Francis Abott 


19 llermon Keyes. 


10 Peter 8harai 





The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follows: 

E. R. McCURDY, ) 

J. M. BISBEY, [judges, 

ANDREW B. MARSHALL, 

Attest : J. H. Nesbitt, 

Horace W. Tabor, 



I Cler. 



•Jcs. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 19 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 17 

General banking law — No 1 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 7 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 11 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows: 

E. R. McCURDY, ) 

J. M. BISBEY, [Judges. 

ANDREW B. lilARSHALL, ) 

Attest : J. H. Nesbitt, ) qj^^.j^.^ 

Horace W. Tabor, ) ^ 



Eighth District — St. Mary's Precinct. 





Pdl-booJi 


. 


1 Geo.Wnartla 


V 


8 William Y^'ounklin 


2 J. D. Adams 




9 E. Davis 


3 Moses Younklin 




10 0. B. Dean 


4 John King 




11 Charles Dean 


5 John Leonard 




12 B. C. Dean 


6 F. Shaetier 




13 Jas. P, Wilson 


7 August Beekeer 




14 0. Bayerou. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 741 

The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follows ; 

J. E. D. AVIS, ) 

OSCAE B. DEAN, } Judges. 
ClIAULKS DEAN, ) 

Attest: J. E. D. Avis, ) .,, , 
0. B. Dean, J^^^*^'^*' 



Tally-list. 

Constitntion ! 19 

No constitution 

General banki n g law — Yes 

General banking law — No 14 

Excl iision of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 19 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

CHARLES DEAN, ) 
OSCAK B. DEAN, V Judges. 
J. E. D. AVIS, ) 

Attest: O.B. Dean, } ^^^^,j^^^ 



J. E. D. Avis 



A 



Eighth District- 


-Mill CreeJc Precinct. 




FoU-boo7c. 


1 Karl Morasch 




11 Michael Metzger 


2 Johann Suhr 




12 Karl Bath 


3 Freidrich Palensge 




13 Johann Lemkc 


4 Herman Miller 




14 Bernhard Hansacok 


5 Bernard Schutter 




15 Christian Prath 


6 Christoph Schwanke 




16 Joseph Weise 


T Franz Schmidt 




17 V^ilhelm Ganther 


8 Johann Achlz 




18 Josei)h Tboes 


9 Pitt Tlioes 




19 Jacob Terr is 


10 Peter Pfeifer 




20 Vint Ludwig Henrioks 


The printed form is properly 


filled, (see form,) and signed as fol 


lows : 







Attest : WiLHELM Gandert, I rij h 
V. LuDWiG Henrioks, ^ ^*^''^*- 



JACOB TEREIS, ) 
JOSEPH THOES, } Judges. 
JOSEPH WEISE, ) 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 20 

No constitution 



742 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



General banlcing law — Yes ,. 

General ban king law — No '20 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 20 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

The printed form is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

JACOB TERRLSS, ) 
JOSEPH THOES, } Judges, 
JOSEPH WEISE, ) 

Attest : WiLHELM Gandert, > ^j , 
Z. Gen'd Henricks, ) 



Ninth District— 


-Grasshopper Falls. 


FoU-hooh. 


1 Chalmess Scott 




28 Nathan C. Hart 


2 Martin Vanderburgb 




29 W. H. Goodwin 


3 W. Hasley 




30 Geo. H. Cane 


4 James Griffiths 




31 Henry Morriss 


5 Daniel Remkles 




32 John Sills 


6 Epli. Loman 




33 John Ernst 


V Perry Moss 


• 


34 Benedict Myer 


8 Thomas H. Elliott 




35 William Cat 


9 John Elliott 




36 A. Crowbarger 


10 Sidney Scanland 




37 John Conway 


11 Daniel Willey 




38 Benjamin Wiger 


12 John H. Clark 




39 John Short 


13 S. H. Dunn 




40 Samuel S. Smith 


14 Wm. Gregsby 




41 Wm. Bales 


15 George S. Hillger 




42 John W. Owens 


16 Atkinson Martin 




43 Henry Bales 


17 John W. Dowell 




44 Henry Zenn 


18 Alexander Hughaa 




45 J. k! Williams 


19 Zefuton Bugbee 




46 Isaac Cody 


20 Alpha Summons 




47 John Roberts 


21 Samuel Brown 




48 Jacob Wiher 


22 John Hughan 




49 John Roderick 


23 Martin Price 




50 Peter Roderick 


24 Fred. Christman 




51 Peter Taylor 


25 G. T. Donaldson 




52 John Wigner 


26 E. Mendenhall 




53 Kenry Wiher 


21 Jesse B. Taylor 




54 Anthony Weishaar 


The printed form is properly 


filled 


., (see form,) and signed as fol 


lows : 








J. 


W. CLARK, ) 




S. 


H. DUNN, [Judges, 




WM. GREGSBEY, ) 



Attest : Gporge S. Hillger, 
Atkinson Martin, 



Clerks. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



743 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 54 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 19 

General banking law — No 34 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 50 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 3 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows: 

J. W. CLAKK, ) 

S. H. DUNN, ) Judges. 

WM. GREGSBEY, ) 

Attest : George S. Hillger, ? ^7 t. 
Atkinson Martin, \ ^^«^^*- 



Ninth District — Paivnee Precinct. 



Poll-hook. 



1 Robert Klotz 

2 Jacob Hill 

3 Laritt Lincoln 

4 Jeremiah Youester 

5 S. B. White 

6 Lemuel Napp 
T Silas Klotz 

8 Isaac H. Dodar 

9 Reinbold Whitehair 
S. P. Allon 
James W. Hulse 
George W. Switzer 

13 Adolph Kurtze 

14 Lemon Kouth 
Wm. Miller 
James Warren 
T. K. Mills 
J. R. Wills 
N. H. Moore 
J. C. Coulton 
Harris Smith 

22 George T. Brown 

23 Jacob Schoonmaker 



10 
11 
12 



15 
16 
17 

18 
19 
20 
21 



24 Johnson McFire 

25 Samuel Jones 

26 George McFarland 

27 J. S. Williams 

28 Wm. L. Shane 

29 H. H. McKey 

30 John Drennan 

31 J. W. Colvill 

32 Samuel Parr 

33 John C. Nolan 

34 Thomas Marshall 

35 M. H. Beardsley 

36 John Halbrook 

37 William Harris 

38 Eugene Cunningham 

39 John O'Neil 

40 Charles Gibson 

41 James Tully 

42 James Cirba 

43 Joseph Nighta 

44 Alexander Dean 

45 William Forest 



The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as 
follows : 



Attest : Silas Klotz, 

Alexander Doan, 



SAMUEL KNAPP, 
ISAAC H. LODGE, 
S. B. WHITE, 

Clerks. 



Judges. 



744 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Tally -list. 

Constitution 45 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 15 

General banking law — No 29 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 40 

Exclusion of Negroes and mulattoes — No 5 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows 

LEMUEL KNAPP, } 
ISAAC LODGE, \ Judges, 
S. B. WHITE, S 

Attest : Silas Klotz, ) ^^ , 

Alexander Dean, \ ^* ** 



Tenth 


DlSTRICT- 


-Burr Oak. 




P oil-book. 


1 Valentine Gunselman 


13 Henry Wilson 


2 J. L. Higins 




14 J. S. Hall 


3 James Leveel 




15 T. H. McCullock 


4 Thomas Devolt 




16 Thomas Bell 


5 J. P. Harper 




17 L. D. Lockin 


6 Henry Rapp 




18 Dan Morrow 


7 George Schuyler 




19 Wm. C Gilliam 


8 F. Fritzer 




20 A. Shultz 


9 C. A. Hale 




21 E. L. Gilliam 


10 P. Kleppell 




22 Charles Hack 


11 Wm. B. Sharp 




23 Daniel Bowman 


12 B. H. Brock 







Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

B. H. BROCK, ) 

HENRY WILSON, V Judges. 
T. H. McCULLOCK, ) 

Attest: Wm. B. Sharp, \ rii i. 
Isaacs. Hail, p^^*''^*- 

Tally-list. 

Constitution 23 

No constitution • . . 

General banking law — Yes 7 

General banking law — No 16 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 22 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 1 

The certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

B. H. BROCK, ) 

HENRY WILSON, \ Judges. 
T. H. McCULLOCK, ) 
Attest : Wm. B. Sharp, \ pci j 
Isaacs. Hail, ^ ^^«»'^'*- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 745 



Tenth 


DlSTRICT- 


-Doniphan. 




Poll-hooh. 


1 J. H. Whilker 




12 J. W. Collins 


2 W. Lancaster 




13 B. Brady 


3 T. Vest 




14 J. Standerf 


4 A. Dunn 




15 J. McNema 


5 E. Hamilton 




16 a. A. Cutler 


6 P. J. Collins 




17 N. Alexander 


7 B. a. Cady 




18 B. R. Milmot 


8 R. Rockett 




19 J. Landes 


9 T. Cook 




20 L. Oak 


10 W. H. Wells 




21 William Popges 


11 A. Yinc^art 




22 W. Irvin 



Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

B. G. CODY, ? r 7 ,, 

JOHN McNEMA, \ ^^^9^8. 

Attest : T. J. Collins^ Clerk. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 22 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 5 

General banking law — No 14 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 21 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

B. G. CODY, I J J 

JOHN McNEMA, ] ""*"^^*- 

Attest: T. J. Collins, Clerk. 



Tenth District — Jesse Padon's, Pilot Grove. 

Poll-book. 

1 W. C. Foster 7 William Smitcli 

2 Thomas Briggan 8 J. M. Bridges 

3 E. B. Osburn 9 W. R. Bridges 

4 Jesse Padon 10 Philip Weis 

5 John Smitch 11 Henry Smitch. 

6 Wm. Purket 12 E. Painter 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

JESSE PADON, ) 
JOHN SMITCH, V Judges. 
WM. PURKET, ) 



Attest: E. Painter, 

Wm. R. Bridges, 



Clerks. 



746 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Tallg-list. 

Constitution 12 

No const i tution 

General banking law — Yes 1 

General banking law — No 11 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 12 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows: 

WILLIAM PURKET, ) 
JOHN SMITCH, ) Judges. 

JESSE PADON, ) 

Attest : E. Painter, ) ^-j ^ 

William R. Bridges, \ ^^ '^' 



Eleventh District — Ocean Precinct. 
Foil-book. 

1 James Limerick 15 G. W. Cobb 

2 Isaac Hasen 16 Josepb Trueax 

3 Robert A. Connelly 17 T. B. Elliot 

4 Caleb May 18 Jesse W. Elliot 

5 JobnHelwig 19 Wm. H. Stewart 

6 Wm. Crosby 20 Lutber Knox 

7 N. Connelly 21 Daniel Campbell 

8 S. J. H. Snyder 22^ D. F. Grabam 

9 Arcb. Elliot 23 Wm. Landrum 

10 Milo Carlton 24 E. Landrum 

11 Henry W. Campbell 25 Jos. Dougberty 

12 Lewis Mincb 26 Tbos. C. Duncan 

13 Jobn Graves 27 Edward Wood 

14 Lack Morris 28 -G. G. Asb 

The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

A. ELLIOTT, ) 

MILES CAPLTON, } Judges. 
S. J. H. SNYDER, > 

Attest : Newman Connelly, ) ^ii ? 
Wm. Crosby, ^ ^^'''^'^ 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 28 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 8 

General banking law — No 20 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 747 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 28 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

A. ELLIOTT, ) 

MILES CARLTON, \ Judges. 
S. J. H. SNYDER, ) 

Attest : Newman Connelly, \ n-i t. 
Wm. Crosby, \ 



Eleventh Senatorial District — Kkkapoo Precinct. 
Poll-hook. 

•1 James L. Sayle 11 Edward Minetu 

2 Jackson B. Crane 12 Joshua Morgan 

3 Wm. H. Nichols 13 D. E. Jones 

4 H. B. Craie 14 H. C. Jones 

5 Jonathan Robinson 15 Jno. Miller 

6 C. R. Zimmerman 16 Jno. Strain 

7 Stanford M. Daniel 17 Philip Baker 

8 Jno. A. Becker 18 J. F. Hathaway 

9 Henry C. Sutton 19 B. F. Edwards 
10 Martin Kleim 20 Riston Wiley. 

The printed form is properly filled, (see fofm,) and signed as 
follows : 

H. B. GALE, ) 

JONATHAN ROBINSON, \ Judges. 
E. R. ZIMMERMANN, S 



Attest : Wm. H. Nichols, \ n. ■, 
B. F. Edwards, \ ^^^''"'• 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 20 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 7 

General banking law — No 13 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 16 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 4 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows: 

h. b. gale, } 

JONATHAN ROBINSON, \ Judges. 
E. R. ZIMMERMANN, ) 
Attest : B. F, Edwards, \ /ii h 
Wm. H. Nichols, ] 



748 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Thirteenth District — Pleasant Hill Precinct. 
Poll-hook. 



1 Andrew K. Branes 

2 Nathan Adams 

3 Lewis Hoover 

4 Eufiis W. Kin 

5 Solomon Hicks 

6 a. B. Hall 

7 William Hicks 

8 Richard S. Banhum 

9 W. C. Quitt 

10 John S. Quitt 

1 1 Nathan Griffith 

12 William A. Wade 

13 John H. Brown 

14 Aaron Coock 

15 Lewis Rennalte 

16 Bryan Stewart 

17 Jacob W. Brown 

18 James A. Stevenson 

19 Jacob Fisher 

20 William Dactt 

21 Henry Hoover 

22 William C. Walker 

23 Jesse F. Collins 

24 John Hanny 

The printed forms properly 
lows : 



Attest : Andrew J. Francis, 

RUFUS W. RiN, 



25 Francis Claywell 

26 William Nickles 

27 David Ransier 

28 Henry Ransier 

29 Joseph Nichols 

30 J. R. Smith 

31 Stephen Ogan 

32 John Renoit 

33 Franklin Etigah 

34 Thadeus Owes 

35 B. F. Bernett 
■■ 36 T. L. Pooler 

37 Philip Cessler 

38 Nathan Cory 

39 Stephen J. Elliott 

40 Josep Dunn 

41 Alexander McDonald^ jr. 

42 Alexander McDonald, sr, 

43 Jame Dempsey 

44 Mathew Robinson 

45 Ashbury Bissler 

46 E. Banter 

47 Leonard Busbee. 

filled, (see forms,) and signed as fol- 

G. B. HALL, ) 

LEWIS HOOVER, \ Judges. 
NATHAN ADAMS, ) 

Clerks. 



Tally -list. 

Constitution 47 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 37 

General banking law — No 6 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 45 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 1 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows ' 

G. B. HALL, ) 

LEWIS HOOVER, \ Judges. 
NATHAN ADAMS, ) 
Attest : Andrew Francis, ) ^; , 
RuFUsW. RiN, J^^e^«*- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



749 



Thirteenth District — Whitfield Precinct. 
Poll-booh. 



5 William Burr 

6 Eobert McNawn 

7 Frederick Swige. 



1 Hiram House 

2 J. F. Turner 

3 J. B. Chapman 

4 Thomas Turner 

The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as fol- 
lows : 

THOMAS JANNER, ) 
HIRAM HOUSE, \ Judges. 
J. F. JANNER, ) 
Attest: J. B. Chapman, \ m t. 
Robert McNowN, X^'^'^'^^- 



Tally -list. 

Constitution -. 7 

No constitution , 

General banking law — Yes , 3 

General hanking law — No , 4 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattes — Yes 6 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

THOMAS JANNER, ) 
HIRAM HOUSE, \ Judges. 
J. F. JANNER, ) 

Attest : Robert McNown, ] pj j 
J. B. Chapman, \ 



Thirteenth District- 


-Indianola Precinct. 




Poll-hooh. 




1 S. R. Mossteller 






11 Timothy Dounie 


2 Jolin Damewood 






12 A. K. Winegardner 


3 Samuel Cummins 






13 J. H. Damewood 


4 Joseph Kapp 






14 Thomas Ferguson 


6 Joseph M. Cole 






15 Daniel Harlow 


6 David Menley 






16 Daniel Downey 


7 Charles Columbo 






17 G. D. Fidling 


8 Richard Murphy 






18 Joshua Murphy 


9 Thomas Lamar 






19 Jonathan Nilchel. 


10 J. M. Fouts 









750 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

The printed form is properly filled, (see form,) and signed as fol- 
lows : 

A. H. WINEGAEDNER, ) 
JONATHAN NILCHEL, } Judges. 
THOMAS LAMAR, ) 

Attest : J. H. Damewood, ) (JIq^.]^ 
Joseph M. Cole, ) 



Tally-list. 

Constitution 19 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 

General banking law — No 18 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 19 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

The printed certificate is correct, (see form,) and signed as follows : 

A. H. WINEGARDNER, ) 
JONATHAN NILCHEL, \ Judges. 
THOMAS LAMAR, ) 

Attest : J. H. Damewood, ) fjiQ^-i-g 
Joseph M. Cole, ] 



Fourteenth District — St. Joseph's Bottom. 
Poll-hooh. 

1 Benjamin Harding 9 W. C. Graham 

2 Geo. H. Bryan 10 Thos. Stewart 

3 A. H. Jamison 11 H. Small wood 

4 James Campbell 12 John T. Braidy 

5 C. W. Stewart 13 Nelson Abby 

6 Alfred Langden 1-4 Wm. Newman 

7 Florian Leber 15 W. H. Harrison. 

8 Ugene Vogal 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

BENJAMIN HARDING, ) 

A. A. JAMISON, \ Judges. 

GEORGE H. BRYAN, ) 

Attest : Benj. Harding, I m h 
A. A. Jamison, ^^«»''^- 



Tally-Ust, 

Constitution i 15 

No constitution , 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 751 

General banking law — Yes 4 

General banking law — No 9 

Exclusion of negroes and mnlattoes— Yes 14 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 1 

Certificate correctly filled^ and signed as follows : 

BENJ. HARDING, ) 

A. A. JAMISON, \ Judges. 

G. H. BRYAN, ) 

Attest : Benj. Harding, ) pj j 
A. A. Jamison, \ ^^^^' 



Fourteenth District — Wolf River. 

Tally -list. 

Constitution 24 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes 11 

General banking law — No 12 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 18 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 6 

Certificate correctly filled, and #gned as follows : 

E. P. RICHARDSON, ) 

J. M. IRWIN, V Judges. 

P. J. JOHNSON, ) 

Attest : Wm. Doolittle, \ ^-, , 
A. J. Miner, \ ^^^^^*- 

No poll-book. 



Fifteenth District — llount Pleasant. 

Poll-hook. 

1 Tinlsly Potter 18 Wm. Martin 

2 Joseph Potter 19 James Martin 

3 John C. Rid g way 20 Moses Greenougli 

4 Charles S. Foster 21 Josiah Martin 

5 George Porter 22 Hiram Quilt 

6 James Foster 23 Hezekiah Dehart 

7 C. S. Anderson 24 Wm. J. Mayfield 

8 George Blodgett 25 John H. Blizzard 

9 George W. Harrison 26 James McNema 

10 Andrew W. Peebles 27 John Rutledge 

11 John Harman 28 Levis Cox 

12 Wm. W. Peebles 29 David Bunle 

13 Thomas S. Hensley 30 C. A. Harleigh 

14 James S. Iddings 31 W. J. Oliphant 

15 H. S. Peck 32 Jacob Filer 

16 William Martin 33 Joel Martin. 

17 Alexander Cox 



752 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

JOSEPH POTTER, 
JOHN RIDGWAY, 

Attest : Charles S. Foster, Clerk. 



Judges. 



Tally-list. 

Constitution , 32 

No constitution 

General banking law — Yes • 32 

General banking law — No 1 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 30 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 2 

Certificate correct, except that 32 are set down as voting for the 
exclusion of negroes and mulattoes, instead of 30. 

JOSEPH POTTER, ) j. 

JOHN RIDGWAY, ] '^^^9'e«. 
Attest : Charles S. Foster, Clerk. 



Sixteenth District — Easton. 




Poll-book. 


1 F. G. Braiden 


25 H. Ovel 


2 C. J. Myers 


26 Stephen Sparks 


3 Wm. J. Pyle 


27 R. E. Courtney 


4 Josiah Hix 


28 G. P. Minney 


5 Josiah Dark 


29 Joseph Elliot 


6 Levi White 


30 S. A. Dunn 


T S. Hull 


31 George Swaim 


8 R. Bean 


32 F. Browning 


9 S. Dark 


33 J. W. Hendricks 


10 D. P. Bethurim 


34 D. McMichael 


11 Isaac Vancamp 


35 D. Comstock 


12 Jackson Goble 


36 Jame^ Comstock 


13 Wm. Johnson 


37 B. F. Hix 


14 W. P. Goble 


38 M. A. Tubbs 


15 D. D. Baker 


39 Moses Hix 


16 D. Swim 


40 Enos Numan 


17 A. E. Hendricks 


41 T. H. Gabert 


18 B. B. Myers 


42 William Butt 


19 A. Bower 


43 A. Phillips 


20 D. Murphy 


44 B. Sparks 


21 George Goble 


45 Caswell Rose 


22 James Benfrow 


46 Thomas Gwartney 


23 A. Sparks 


47 Jacob Lockmiller. 


24 J. M. Parkman 





KANSAS AFFAIRS. 753 

48 N. W. Taylor 61 M. H. Langley 

49 J. H. Kincaid 26 F. A. Minard 

50 Wm. Sparks 63 P. R. Orr 

51 M. Sparks 64 Wm. Renwick 

52 Daniel Shipley 65 David Rose 

53 Wm. Rose 66 John Wilfiey 

54 Samuel Horton 67 J. J. Crook 

55 Wm. M. Bathurst 68 William Biibb 

56 D. B. Nixon 69 S. S. Hamlet 

57 Joshua Hall 70 W. R. Tubbs 

58 John Sparks 71 J. W. Hendricks 

59 D. McNish 72 W. B. Pristow 

60 Jacob Sarven 73 James Hutchings 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

WM. PENNOCK, ) 

P. R. ORR, [Judges. 

T. A. MINARD, ) 

Attest : Wm. Pennock, ) ^j , 
T. A. Minard, j ''*^*''^^- 



Talhj-Ust. 

Constitution 71 

No constitution 2 

General banking law — Yes 53 

General banking law — No 19 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 71 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 00 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows: 

THOMAS A. MINARD, ) 
WM. PENNOCK, \ Judges. 

P. R. ORR, ) 

Attest : Thomas A. Minard, > ^,, .7 
William Pennock, ) 



Seventeenth District — Mission Precinct. 

Poll-list. 

1 Jeremiah Hadley 5 John Lockport 

2 Ira Hadley 6 John H. Osborn 

3 Henry Wilson 7 George Osborn 

4 Charles Johnson 

(This is wrongly designated the 4th district. The following in- 
formal certificate embraces the poll and tally-list.) 
H. Rep. 200 48* 



754 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Mission Precinct, December 15, 1855. 
We, the legally qualified judges of the 17th representative district 
(should he senatorial) of the Territory of Kansas, do certify, that the 
following report is a full and correct return of the election held in 
district aforesaid, oh the ahove date, for the purpose of adopting or 
rejecting a "constitution" for the State of Kansas, and for electing 
a delegate to represent the district aforesaid in the free-State conven- 
tion to he held at Lawrence, on Saturday, December 22, and approv- 
ing or disapproving ""a general banking law system," and approving 
or disapproving of the exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes. There 
were cast — ■ 

For constitution 7 

For general banking law 3 

For exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes 1 

Delegate to state convention 6 

For exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes 1 

Against exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes 2 

Majority against exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes 1 

Whole number of votes cast 7 

JEREMIAH A. HADLEY, ) 
HENRY WILSON, V Judges. 

JOHN LOCKHART, ) 

Attest : John Lockhart, Clerk. 



Foil-hook of voters who have cast their ballots at an election held on the 

loth day of December, A. D. 1855, at precinct, in district 

No. — , in Kansas Territory, on the adoption or rejection of a consti- 
tution for the State of Kansas, and upon the general banking law 
clause and black-laiv proposition. 



No. 



Names of voters. 



No. Names of voters. 



We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify, 
upon our oaths, that the whole number of votes cast at an election 

held at precinct, in district of Kansas Territory, on 

the 15th day of December, A. D. 1855, for the adoption or rejection 
of a constitution ; the separate article in relation to a general banking 
law, framed by the constitutional convention which assembled at To- 
peka on the 23d day of October, 1855, for the State of Kansas ; and 
the independent proposition in relation to instructing the first general 
assembly on the subject of nej:froe8 and mulattoes, to be in number ' 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



755 



And we further certify, that the said voters were bona fide citizens of 
the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, and actual resi- 
dents of the Territory of Kansas for thirty days immediately preceding 
this election, and still continue the same as their home and residence. 



Judges. 



Attest 



Clerks. 



Tally-list of votes cast at an election held on the 15iA day of December, 
A. D. 1855, precinct, in district No. — , in Kansas Terri- 
tory., on the adoption or rejection of a constitution for the State of 
Kansas, andj upon the general banking clause and black laiu-propo- 
sition. 



Constitution. 



No constitu- iGen'I banking 
tion. I law — Yes. 



Gen' 1 banking 
law — No. 



Exclusion of ne- 
groes and mu- 
lattoes — Yes. 



Exclusion of ne- 
groes andniu- 
lattoes — No. 



We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify, 
upon our oaths, that the whole number of votes cast at an election held 

district, in Kansas Territory, on 



at precinct, m 

the 15th day of December, A. D. 1855, for the adoption or rejection 
of a constitution framed by the constitutional convention which as- 
sembled at Topeka on the. 23d day of October, A. D. 1855, for the 
State of Kansas, to be in number as follows : 

Constitution 

No constitution 



We further certify, that the whole number of votes cast at said elec- 
tion, approving or disapproving an article in relation to a general 
banking law, submitted as a distinct proposition, to become a part of 
said constitution, if adopted by a majority of the people, to be in 
number as follows : 

General bankinar law — Yes 



General banking law — No. 



We further certify, that the whole number of votes cast at said elec- 
tion, approving or disapproving the passage of stringent laws by the 
general assembly for the exclusion of free negroes and mulattoes froic 



756 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

the State of Kansas, the result of said vote to operate as instructions 
to the first general assembly, to be in number as follows : 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — Yes 

Exclusion of negroes and mulattoes — No 

And we further certify, that the said voters were bona fide citizens of 
the United States, above the age of twenty-one j^ears, and actual resi- 
dents of the Territory of Kansas for thirty days immediately preceding 
this election, and still continuing the same as their home and residence. 

, > Judges. 

Attest : , ) (jiQ^,^g^ 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



757 



ELECTION OF JANUARY 15, 1856. 

First District — Blanton. 

Poll-hook. 



ISC Smith 


40 B Hitchcock 


2 John E Stewart 


41 L A Hammond 


3 Samuel Merrill 


42 Edmund Carles 


4 J Elliott 


43 Levi W Plumb 


5 Ira Brown 


44 Jonathan Kenedy 


f) H E Bahcock 


45 Hiram Dunbar 


7 Josliua Hughes 


46 W V Kennedy 


8 Charles Dickson 


47 William Nettleton 


9 Elisha F. Mayo 


48 William Blegman 


10 L J Eberhard 


49 P S Hutcherson 


11 W S Bishop 


50 T B Smith 


12 Collins Holiiway 


51 P T Hupp 


13 J Salathiel 


52 James Lane 


14 Joseph Everhard 


53 Paul Jones 


15 James Gr Saifer 


54 James Waley 


16 J A Coffey 


55 A W Maberly 


17 W D Jennerson 


56 A W Maberly 


18 Daniel F Merris 


57 H F Saunders 


19 John Morehead 


58 Jonathan Ogden 


20 Seth Rodibaugh 


59 F P Vaughn 


21 L H Rowley 


60 Thomas Hopkins 


22 Harrison Nichols 


61 Joseph Curies 


23 William Carles 


62 Thomas Breeze 


24 Josiah Hutcheson 


63 E Smith 


25 R P Moore 


64 W Atwater 


26 P Kennedy 


65 L A Prather 


27 E W Bennett 


66 John G Smith 


28 T H Kennedy 


67 Isaac Shaper 


29 J K Goodin 


68 John R Griffitli 


30 William Whitlock 


69 James B Abbott 


31 Ezekiel Duzar 


70 Simon Gibson 


32 Lewis Staggers 


71 R D Horton 


33 G W Berry 


72 William Livermore 


34 L M Huddleston 


73 Josiah Houghton 


35 J M Jones 


74 Alex Mears 


36 Clark Teft 


75 William Mears 


37 Abram Still 


76 John Carter 


38 J H Gleason 


77 N B Blanton 


39 J W Jones 


78 Peter Pridy 



Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

JOHN E. STEWART, 
PHILIP T. HUPP, 
P. S. HUTCHESON, 

William S. Bishop, 

William Livermore, 



Judges. 



Clerics. 



758 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Tally-list. 

Governor — Charles Kobinson - - - - - 52 

" William Y Koberts - - - - - 25 

Lieutenant Governor -William Y Eoberts - - - 42 

'' M J Parrott - - - - 33 

Secretary of State — P C Schuyler - - - - - 55 

" CKHolliday - - - - 23 

Auditor — G A Cutler - - - - - - 54 

'' WE Griffith - - - - - - 23 

Treasurer — J H Wakefield - - - - - 55 

E C K Garvey - - - - - 17 

Attorney General — H Miles Moore - - - - 78 

Supreme Judge — S JST Latta - - - - - 55 

" M F Conway - - - - - 55 

" M Hunt - - - - - 55 

" GW Smith - - - - - 23 

SW Johnston - - - - - 23 

J A Wakefield - - - - - 23 

Reporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston - - - 55 

SB McKensie - - - - 23 

Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - - - - 77 

Public Printer — John Speer - - - - - 54 

RG Elliott - - - - - 24 

Representative to Congress — M W Delehay - - - 77 

State Senator — L Allen - - - - - -74 

'' GPLowry - - - - - 6 

" J Curtis - - - - - - 57 

BW Miller - - - - - 53 

" SNWood - - - - - 21 

WHutcheson - - - - - 16 

State Representative — Mr Leggett - - - - 2 

" LA Prather - - - - 16 

" John Hutcheson - - - - 57 

'' James Blood - - - - 55 

" Erastus D Ladd - - - - 18 

JoelGrover - - - - 19 

" WJRBlackman - - - - 17 

J B Abbott - - - - 35 

HF Sanders - - - - 34 

" R S Bassett - - - - 18 

'' Robert McFar land - - - 21 

" S N Hartwell - - - - 55 

AHMallory _ . _ - 3 

" G Jenkins - - - - 3 

" Columbus Hornsby - - - 59 

E B Purdham - - - - 56 

James McGliee - - - - 34 

NBBlanten - - - - 44 

" J R Kennedy - - , - - 43 

Josiah Miller - - ' - - 22 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



759 



Certificate correct, except that W. R. Griffith is stated to be 24 
instead of 23 votes for auditor. 

JOHN E. STEWART, ) 
PHILIP T. HUPP, } Judges. 
P. S. HUTCHESON, ) 

William Livermore, 

William S. Blshop, 



Clerks. 



First District — FranMin precind. 




PoU-booJc. 


1 T G Murray 


37 Norman Chambers 


2 W Bridges 


38 Fleming Bridges 


3 J McFarlane 


39 A M Whedon 


4 T McFarlan 


40 W J Kennedy 


5 B H Nelson 


41 John Stroup 


6 Moses Flora 


42 William Stroup 


7 J L Smith 


43 E A Landon 


8 DScannell 


44 James Anderson 


9 James McGhee 


45 T M Arterbery 


10 D Burton 


46 J W Hague 


11 John Lawhead 


47 Samuel Crane 


12 H L Enos 


48 Lewis Anderson 


13 Jos. Shuler 


49 William S Hull 


14 J D Harrington 


50 Edward T Webb 


15 T W Waller 


51 John Van winkle 


16 Homer Hays 


52 W G Piper 


17 John Piatt 


53 Robert Shields 


18 T Anderson 


54 Isam C Taylor 


19 E B Purdam 


55 Herbert Sterling 


20 Hiram Crane 


56 Armstrong Lawhead 


21 Thomas Seaton 


57 E B Johnston 


22 R H Pierce 


58 J H Crocket 


23 S T Harmon 


59 John Anderson 


24 C N Day 


60 V F White 


25 Thomas Still 


61 Thomas Brindly 


26 Lucas Fish 


62 Joseph Young 


27 Green Phillis 


63 J W Hoping 


28 A C Smith 


64 J Sellers 


29 E Wallace 


65 D Meacham 


30 B R Whitlowe 


66 H C Bigbee 


31 Lucas Carlen 


67 J J McGhee 


32 David Wallace 


68 T S McGee 


33 J Wolf 


69 Adam McGhee 


34 S M Salters 


70 Michael Glenn 


35 C M Wallace 


71 Milligan Wallace 


36 Robert McFarlaud 


72 James Covel 



'60 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Y3 R J Crane 77 Samuel Sutherland 

74 William Robins 78 Simon Ritter 

75 T W Painter 79 William Wallace 

76 William Bridges 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

H. L. ENOS, 



DAVID BURTON, } Judges. 
T. W. WILBER, ) 



Daniel Scannell, ) ^j .■, 
J. D. Harkington, S 



Tally-list. 

Grovernor — W Y Roberts - - - - - - 58 

" Charles Robinson - - - - - 8 

Lieutenant Governor — M J Parrott - - - - 59 

'' " WY Roberts - - - - 5 

Secretary of State — C K Holliday - - - - 58 

" "PC Schuyler - _ _ _ 8 

Auditor— T R Griffith - - - - - - 58 

DA Cutler - - - - - - 8 

Treasurer — E C K Garvey - - - - - 58 

J A Wakefield - - - - - 8 

Attorney General — H Miles Moore - - - - G6 

Supreme Judge — G W Smith - - - - - 57 

" SNLatta - - - - - 8 

" SW Johnston - - - - - 57 

" M F Conway - - - - - 8 

'' J A Wakefield- - - - - 48 

M Hunt - - - - - 8 

Reporter Supreme Court — S B McKenzie - - - 58 

EM Thurston - - - 8 

Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - - - - 66 

Public Printer— R G Elliott - - - - - 58 

John Spear - - - - - 8 

Representative to Congress — M W Delehay - - - 66 

State Senator— B W Miller - - - - - 63 

G P Dowry - - - - - 2 

Lyman Allen - - - - - 65 

William Hutchinson - - - - 6 

John Curtis - - - - - 72 

S N Wood - - . . . - 5 

State Representative — E B Purdam - - - - 69 

" James Blood - - - - 7 

" James McGhee - - - - 47 

'^ SAPrather - - - - 39 

" N B Blanton - - , - - 27 

" James Legate - - - - 3 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



761 



state Representative — J H Kennedy 

" . Robert McFarland 

" Josiali Miller 

" Joel Grover 

" John Hntchinson - 

" W E R Blackman 

" Columbus Hornsby 

J B Abbott 
" S N Hartwell 

" William Yates 

H F Sanders 
ED Ladd - 
" R S Basset 

" Job Vanwinkle 

" S J Livingston 



- 58 

- 6 

- 61 

- 5 

- 56 

- 5 

- 61 

- 7 

- 47 

- 7 

- 7 

- 6 

- 5 

- 1 

- 1 



Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows: 



Daniel Scannell, 
J. D. HerpvIngton, 



Clerks. 



H. L. ENOS, 
DAVID BURTON, 
T. W. WALLER, 



Jitdges. 



First District — Palmyra precinct. 




Poll-hook. 


1 A F Still 


14 Jacob Canhill 


2 Thomas Chapman 


15 Wilson Lyons 


3 William Barricklow 


16 John Brown 


4 Daniel Barricklow 


17 Silas Dexter 


5 John Roe 


18 R H Pearson 


6 William Roe 


19 Leonard Crean 


7 V/illiam Wistfall 


20 Hugh Pettingall 


8 Joseph Barricklow 


21 Charles Jordan 


9 Samuel Grill 


22 Solomon Tappan 


10 William Griffin 


23 Enoch Howland 


11 David Eldridge 


24 a W Fitz 


12 Samuel Irvin 


25 WmLGSoule 


13 Jacob Bronston 





Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

WM. BARRICKLOW, 
WILLIAM WESTFALL, 
SILAS DEXTER, 

John Roe, ) ^^^^^j^^ 

William Roe, S 



Judges. 



762 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Tall'ij-list. 

Governor — Charles Robinson _ _ _ _ 

Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts - _ . 

Secretary of State — P C Schuyler . _ _ 

Auditor — G A Cutler - - _ _ . 

Treasurer — J A Wakefield _ _ _ _ 

Attorney General — H Miles Moore _ _ _ 

Supreme Judge — S N Latta _ _ _ . 

' ' M F Conway - - - - 

" MHunt - - - . 

Reporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston 
Clerk of Supreme Court— S B Floyd 
Public Printer — John Spear - _ _ _ 

Representative to Congress — Mark M Delehay 
State Senator — Lyman Allen _ _ _ _ 

'' W M Hutchinson 

'' Samuel N Wood . _ _ 

State Representative — James Blood 

Erastus D Ladd - _ - 

Joel Grover _ _ . 

W J R Blackman 

Z B Abbott 

R S Basset 

Robert McFarlane - - - 

H F Saunders _ _ _ 

GWFitzs 

Columbus Thornsby 

C Jordan - - - - 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows: 

WM. BARRICKLOW, 
WILLIAM WESTFALL, 
SILAS DEXTER, 



25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25-- 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

25 

23 

23 

22 

23 

6 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
17 

5 
17 

1 



Judges. 



Wm. Roe, 
John Roe, 



Clerks. 



First District — Lawrence. 
Poll-hoolc. 



Lyman Allen 
A D Searl 
L P Coleman 
W L Bridges 
Geo F Earl 
L K Dennis 
N Garwood 



8 


M Hunt 


9 


J Cracklin 


10 


H Hurd 


11 


J W Ackley 


12 


G W Hunt 


13 


J P Filer, 


14 


A Cutler 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



763 



15 A H Vince 
Ifi J H Firman 

17 C W Harley 

18 J E Rice 

19 H N Bent 

20 Geo H Crocker 

21 Frank Hunt 

22 J S Emory 

23 N D Harland 

24 G W Feitzler 

25 Daniel Carey 

26 Edward Clark 

27 Edward Jones 

28 James Frazer 

29 Albert Brown 

30 J H Jolmson 

31 A H Mallory 

32 E Bond 

33 T.L Whitney 

34 C F Day 

35 Howard York 

36 J Boyer 

37 N Snyder 

38 H S McClelland 

39 A K Burditt 

40 P J Warden 

41 John Crocker 

42 M F Conway 

43 R H Kimhall 

44 W S R Blackman 

45 E A Deland 

46 Milan Grant 

47 J Bigelow 

48 E D Ladd 

49 G W Smith 

50 T Sumner 

51 Charles Sanford 

52 L S Bacon 

53 E Chapman 

54 James Blood 

55 W N Baldwin 

56 Leverett Haskill 

57 J A Dull 

58 A Bonam 

59 P Carter 

60 H A Campbell 

61 J W Woodard 

62 J Wheeler 

63 R M Wilkinson 

64 David Brown 

65 B C Livino'ston 



66 Wm Parks 

67 Alex Moore 

68 Daniel Lowe 

69 John G Ricker 

70 Philo Harper 

71 J W Cochran 

72 Allen Haus 

73 E D Whipple 

74 N P Noles 

75 R H Waterman 

76 Daniel McDaniel 

77 Martin Young 

78 Alfred Justice 

79 G B Prentiss 

80 W L Anderson 

81 E S Leonard 

82 J F Tabor 

83 F G Stephens 

84 T Stevens 

85 Francis Killman 

86 H Y Jamison 

87 W B Hackett 

88 G W Hutchison 

89 James Jamison 

90 J B Conway 

91 S F Tappan 

92 HCNiel 

93 John T Harding 

94 G Anderson 

95 N L Bryant 

96 Wm Wahicle 

97 J J Alverson 

98 W S Taylor 

99 E Nute 

100 E B Wliitman 

101 Baker Morrow 

102 Wm Hawks 

103 A Hanscomb 

104 Fred Kimball 

105 B F Stone 

106 Joseph Shields 

107 John Pike 

108 Abner Eldred 

109 A W Bevel 

110 P B Hanson 

111 James Smith 

112 Stephen Ogden 

113 R G Elliott 

114 L Osborn 

115 AH Lattram 

116 F Freeman 







764 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



117 E A Pierce 

118 J W Junkiiis 

119 H J Delany 

120 a W Jarvis 

121 Homer Moore 

122 K Wiles 

123 Wilmartli 

124 J V Ncal 

125 Jonas Colburn 

126 Jacob Miller 

127 Wm Keinback 

128 J AV Morcy 

129 Allan son Harvey 

130 Geo Hiird 

131 John Bradbury 

132 Geo Warren 

133 Reuben Ci'aig 

134 Richard Gray 

135 H J Howard 

136 C M Adams 

137 Charles Longfellow 

138 James France 

139 C W Babcuck 

140 E P Fitch 

141 C A Wriglit 

142 William Hutchinson 

143 Samuel Kimball 

144 William Hare 

145 Charles Garrett 

146 James M Fuller 

147 William A Gentry 

148 George Harris 

149 M Bloucert 

150 William Tackett 

151 Andrew Neal 

152 R Neal 

153 Moses Neal 

154 Joseph Clem 

155 Benjamin Whitloe 

156 J W Stephens 

157 Moses Taylor 

158 Charles Robinson 

159 Jos H Lane 

160 H M Camfield 

161 J G Fuller 

162 Caleb S Pratt 

163 B W Woodard 

164 John Smith 

165 John F Wilson 

166 Lewis Howell 

167 Turner Sampson 



] 68 J A Pike 

1 69 C H Thrower 

170 B L Richardson 

171 L G White 

172 J Hamer 

173 HP Lee 

174 Z Hooncough 

175 Wm Matliews 

176 Henry Atherton 

177 Isley 

178 David Evans 

179 R T Hooten 
18W G P Venalt 

181 D B Allen 

182 Robert Allen 

183 L M Cox 

184 J Dennis 

185 Joshua Smith 

186 L T Colwell 

187 J B Smith 

188 Wm Henson 

189 A Baker 

190 J A Gutzgon 

191 John Mack 

192 P Zimmerman 

193 C Hall 

194 S J Pratt 

195 J French 

196 C Clear 

197 T Clemmons 

198 J H Green 

199 Ben] Savage 

200 G W Brown 

201 C E Lenhart 

202 A Whitcomb 

203 B C Golliday 

204 T Jones 

205 Alonzo Fiat 

206 Jameg Knowl 

207 Henry Stevens 

208 J C Henmon 

209 David Purington 

210 J H Harrison 

211 Geo Mathews 

212 Levi Gates 

213 John Baldwin 

214 Henry Smith 

215 R Banks 

216 W T Ayers 

217 J Stiller . 

218 C Schoolcraft 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



765 



219 L Miller 

220 Cornelius Pitover 

221 Robert Irvin 

222 K C Dicks 

223 Otis Potter 

224 S S Snyder 

225 John Gringery 

226 J P Davidson 

227 Jas S Cowan 

228 Wm Kitcheman 

229 Clarke Stearnes 

230 Adam Johns 

231 Henry Green 

232 Thomas Brook 

233 R L Bassett 

234 Thos Wells 

235 J E Strout 

236 E W Cambell 

237 James M Still 

238 J Stroiit 

239 J D Barns 

240 Wm Hughes 

241 W D Atwood 

242 J D Sands 

243 Thos Garvey 

244 C B Elkridge 

245 Jas Redpath 

246 E F Warren 

247 F A Alluzzez 

248 Josli Thaxter 

249 Franklin Haskill 

250 Morris Hartland 

251 Wm Yates 

252 Thomas Barton 

253 S W Pardy 

254 Stilman Andrews 

255 J B Purdy 

256 C M Williams 

257 Stephen Logue 

258 T Skinner 

259 T H While 

260 H S Blair • 

261 E W Gillis 

262 J C Bevel 

263 Frank Murdock 

264 H B Sissons 

265 Wm Randolph 

266 John Armstrong 

267 R Patton 

268 Anson Davison 

269 John Wise 



270 J J Keeny 

271 F Towles 

272 T J Hacker 

273 T J Ferrill 

274 J E Van Allen 

275 William Jourdan 

276 J Davison 

277 Thomas Eldridge 

278 P Lancaster 

279 E P Sparks 

280 J D Heald 

281 Adolph Row 

282 George Churchill 

283 John L Crane 

284 Lewis Stearnes 

285 C C Heyd 

286 H P Simpson 

287 G N Simpson 

288 A Davidson 

289 C H Lovejoy 

290 CWPearsell 

291 S Marshall 

292 John Ross 

293 S C Harrington 

294 S S Willis 

295 James Smith 

296 R Miller 

297 James Lovejoy 

298 Marcus Gwin 

299 Q J Pettibone 

300 L J Pickett 

301 Ransom Crocket 

302 L C Folles 

303 Elmore Allen 

304 James Watson 

305 H G Holbrook 

306 C H Ides 

307 T A Finley 

308 Jack Crockett 

309 J B Scott 

310 Jesse Whitson 

311 Philip Cook 

312 G S Scader 

313 Edward Winslow 

314 L Michell 

315 JRowly 

316 Moses Scott 

317 F D Dragg 

318 Josiah Miller 

319 E D Wright 

320 Enos Macelroy 



766 



KANSAS 


AFFAIRS 


• 


321 Levi Ford 


372 E K Wright 


322 John Day 


373 


William Evans 


323 Edward Emerson 


374 Samuel Everett 


324 Charles Jenkins 


375 


C A Adams 


325 T B Ackley 


376 John Sanders 


326 D E Maxson 


377 


Leroy SAvift 


327 L P Kennedy 


378 


James Broadfoot 


328 E P Stiles 


379 


T B Brown 


329 William B Hornshy 


380 


David Black 


330 James Clarke 


381 


Joseph Merchant 


331 FA Bayly 


382 E C Lewis 


332 Geiiis Coleman 


383 


Thomas Leverett 


333 Peter Butler 


384 H A Hancock 


334 C P Newcomb 


385 


Samuel Hood 


335 M H Spittle 


386 


Benjamin Twigget 


336 S Wiley 


387 


G P Lowrey 


337 A D Tood 


388 


J H Wilder 


338 Charles Foy 


389 


C A Pease 


339 Kichard Knight 


390 H Ward 


340 A Vanhorn 


391 


R Flanders 


341 S Tinneys 


392 


B N Conger 


342 C Woodward 


393 


C L Mandel 


343 F Fuller 


394 


M R Clough 


344 Benjamin Lawing 


395 


James Locke 


345 B W Miller 


396 Newman Allen 


346 H P Catline 


397 


Oscar Burroughs 


347 J J Hussey 


398 T J Cosselein 


348 C P Gordon 


399 


P L Tetter 


349 K Osborn 


400 


S Fry 


350 E A Coleman 


401 


Joel Graver 


351 F Savage 


402 


A Berry 


352 S N Hartwell 


403 


J L Speer 


353 John Speer 


404 


N S Stones 


354 P G Mansfield 


405 


Samuel Bryson 


355 F B Beaver 


406 


B F Read 


356 E L Long 


407 


John Sandy 


357 E D Lyman 


408 


M L Gavlord 


358 John Clary 


409 


S Green 


359 K J Marcavson 


410 


J M Langdon 


360 W Deerfield 


411 


William Ricken 


361 H Benjamin 


412 


G W Goss 


362 James Thomas 


413 


J F Morgan 


363 J C Barber 


414 


Columbus Hornsby 


364 E Bell 


415 


A Carpenter 


365 William Cleland 


416 


P W Lawthney 


366 Noah Cameron 


417 


Calvin G Hoit 


367 LFurguson 


418 


John M Graham 


368 Charles Campbell 


419 S J Conditt 


369 J M Gillis 


420 


A Gunther 


370 J E Coolcy 


421 


William Orr 


371 Joseph Savage 


422 


T Wells 



KANSAS 


AFFAIRS. 


423 J W Mathews 


434 William Wilder 


424 John McClelland 


435 Daniel Walley 


425 L Merchant 


436 A M Weatherbee 


426 H Wilber 


43T J W Pennoyer 


427 N E White 


438 A A Faxon 


428 W H Bush 


439 S Y Lum 


429 James F Legate 


440 W S Kimball 


430 A F Hopper 


441 Alfred Paine 


431 J Carter 


442 George Gilbert 


432 Henry Bronson 


443 Robert Gilbert 


433 J Y Wood 





767 



Certificate properly filled, and xigned as follows: 

A. D. SEABL, 



L. D. COLEMAN, 



Judges. 



W. L. Bridges, ) .„ , 
Geo. F. Earl, J ^'^'^^• 



No tally list. The certificate is as follows : 

We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths that for governor, Charles Robinson had 365 votes, 
and W. Y. Roberts 41 ; that for lieutenant governor, W. Y. Roberts 
176 votes, M. J. Parrott had 245 votes, and J. G. Crocker 2 votes ; 
that for secretary of State, P. C. Schuyler had 383 votes, and C. F. 
Holliday 43 ; that for auditor, G. A. Cutler had 380 votes ; that for 
treasurer, J. A. Wakefield had 385 votes, E. C. K. Garvey 36 ; that 
for attorney general, H. Miles Moore had 426 votes ; that for judge of 
the supreme court, S. N. Latta had 379 votes, M. F. Conway 371, 
Morris Hunt 383, G. W. Smith 62, J. A. Wakefield had 33, S. W. 
Johnson had 48 ; that for reporter of the supreme court, E. M' 
Thurston had 380 votes^ and S. B. Mackenzie 46 ; that for clerk of 
the supreme court, J. B. Floyd had 427 votes ; that for public printer, 
John Speer had 374 votes and R. G. Elliot 53 ; that for representa- 
ttve in Congress, M. W. Dolehay had 395 votes ; that for State sen- 
ator, Lyman Allen had 378 votes, B. W. Miller had 160, John Car- 
liss 168, S. N. Wood 210, William Hutchinson 213,- G. P. Lowry 
148, J. B. Abbott 7 ; J. E. Stewart 15, John Hutchinson 2, McFar- 
lan 1, Dr. Prentice 1, Knight 1 ; that for the house of reprosentfi- 
tives, John Hutchinson had 314 votes, S. N. Hartwell 322, J. B. 
Abbott 337, H. F. Saunders 132, James Blood 370, A. H. Mallory 
182, G. Jenkins 185, C. Hornsby 380, E. D. Ladd 51, Joel Grover 
77, Dr. Prentice 1, E. B. Purdom 160, W. J. R. Blackman 66, R. 
S. Bassett 48, J. B. Blanton 75, J. R. Kennedy 106, Josiah Miller 
88, James Legate, 71, James McGce 148, Robert McFarlan 54, J. E. 
Stewart 9, S. J. Livingston 44, scattering 44. 



768 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



And we do further certify, that the said electors were bona fide citizens 
of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, and 
actual residents of Kansas for thirty days immediately preceding the 
election. 



W. L. Bridges, 
Geo. F. Earl, 



Clerks. 



A. D. SEARL, 



L. D. COLEMAN, S 



Judges. 



Second District — East Douglas precinct. 
Poll-booh. 



1 G H Snyder 


IV John Spaulding 


2 P B Harris 


18 Levi Jenks 


3 Edward Jones 


19 George S Laplaw 


4 H C Muzzy 


20 C C Emery 


5 Henry Learned 


21 J F Jackson 


6 Alfred Pluke 


22 E B Knight 


7 J N Moore 


23 Francis Barker 


8 William Lyons 


24 William Hall 


9 Owen T Bassett 


25 A J Smith 


10 Owen Taylor 


26 Samuel Smith 


11 Alphonso Jones 


27 Joseph Oakly, jr. 


12 E W Smith 


28 Robert Hughes 


13 Nathan Hacket 


29 Joseph Oakly, sen. 


14 J H Shimous 


30 Edward Oakley 


15 Harris Hobb 


31 John Kidwell 


16 J H Lyons 





The printed certificate is properly filled, signed as follows : 

P. B. HARRIS, 
J. H. SHERMONS 

P. B. Harris, 

J. H. Shermons, 



Judges. 



Clerks. 



Second District — East Douglas precinct. 

Tally-list. 

Governor — Charles Robinson . - - 

Lieutenant Governor — William Y Roberts 
Secretary of State — P C Schuyler 
Auditor — G A Cutler - - - - 

Treasurer — J A Wakefield - - - , 

Attorney General — H Miles Moore 



28 

^8 
28 

28 
28 
31 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 769 

Supreme Judge: — S T Latta - - - - - 27 

'' M F Conway - - - - - 28 

" M Hunt - - - - - 29 

Keporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston - - - - 28 

Clerk Supreme Court — 8 B Floyd - - - ^ - 31 

Public Printer — John Spear - - - - - 28 

Eepresentative to Congress — M W Delahay - - - 31 

State Senator — P B Harris - - - - - 28 

" William Phillips - - . . _ 1 

State Representative — A Curtis - - - - - 28 

J M Triton - - - - 17 

S Walker ----- 6 

" G-H Snyder - _ _ _ 7 

" William Lyons - - - - 8 

" William Phillips - - - - 16 

" J H Shimmons - - - - 1 

" John Kidwell - - - - 3 

" John Lyons - - - - 1 

WY Roberts - . - _ 3 

" M J Parrot - - _ _ 3 

" CKHolliday - - - - 3 

* '' W R Griffith - - - - 3 

ECKGarvey - - - - 3 

" S William Johnson - - - 4 

GW Smith - - . - 4 

" SB McKenzie - - - - 3 

R G Elliott - - . . 3 

The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows : 

P. B. HARRIS, I J . 

J. H. SHIMMONS, S "'^'^^^*- 
P. B. Harris, } ^^^ . 
J. H. Shimmons, ^ 



Third District — Brownsville Precinct. 


Poll-hook. 




1 Daniel Turner 


14 T J 'Anderson 


2 Jno Baxter 


15 Samuel Hill 


3 David PHammond 


16 Wm H Simerville 


4 James M Hammond 


17 Wm F Johnson 


5 Marshal Burcli 


18 Lindsey T Cook 


6 Wm Armstrong 


19 F E Hoad 


7 J D Wood 


20 James Turner 


8 Wm H Turner 


21 Samuel Cavander 


9 Wm Dailey 


22 Robert P Turner 


10 John W Brown 


23 James Gilpatrick 


11 C H Drink water ' 


24 G S Holt 


12 S C Hariott 


25 John Kinney 


13 Jas Moran 


26 Wm Piggot 


H. Rep. 200 49* 





770 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

The certificate is properly filled^ signed as follows : 

DANIEL TURNER, ) 

W. F. JOHNSON, [judges. 

J. W. BROWN, ) 

W. a Johnson, \ ^, , 

T. K HoAD, J^^er^- 



TaUy-list. 

Governor — ^W Y Roberts ------ 

" Charles Robison _ _ _ _ _ 

Lieutenant Governor — H J Parrott _ _ _ _ 

" '' W Y Roberts - - _ . 

Secretary of State — C K HoUiday _ _ _ _ 

" "PC Schuyler _ _ _ _ 

Auditor— William R Griffith ----- 

" G A Cutler ------ 

Treasurer — J A Wakefield - - 

Attorney General — H Miles Moore _ _ _ _ 

Supreme Judge — George W Smith _ _ _ _ 

" S W Johnson ----- 

'« SNLatta ----- 

" M F Conway _ _ _ _ 

" MHunt - - 

Reporter Supreme Court — S P McKenzie _ _ _ 

'' " EM Thurston 

Clerk Supreme Court — S P Floyd - _ _ _ 

Public Printer — John Spear ----- 

" R G Elliott ----- 

Representative to Congress — Mark W Delehay - - - 

State Senator— T G Thornton ----- 

'' T L Crane - - - - - 

State Representative — M Dickey - - - 

" William A Simerwell _ _ - 

WR Frost - - - _ 

" W A Adams - - - . 

" MM Robertson - . - 

The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows: 

DANIEL TURNER, ) 

WM. F. JOHNSON, ) Judges. 

JNO. W. BROWN, ) 

W. F. Johnson, ) .,, , 
T. E. HoAD, \^'-<iriis. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 771 

Third District — Washington Precinct. 
Poll-hook. 

1 Eli Allen 16 W J Roberts 

2 S J Acklin n Hiram Shields 

3 M Thulkeld 18 W A Cardwell 

4 E Banning 19 W R Frost 

5 E Brewer 20 Jesse M Roberts 

6 James Molton 21 Ward Custard 
TWO Jones 22 H P Gelan 

8 William H Hammond 23 Peter Epperson 

9 N L Williams 24 Benjamin Moore 

10 Josiali Cox 25 Daniel K Lawrence 

11 Alexander Wells 26 G W Gilmore 

12 Caleb Antram 2Y Barnet Fogle 

13 William Reilly 28 S G Rcffle 

14 George S Ramsay 29 John Roorbacher 

15 Jacob Roorbacher 30 T V Rush 

The printed certificate is properly filled, signed as follows : 

WILLIAM RILEY, ) 

ELI ALLEN, ) Judges. 

CALEB ANTRAM, ) 



Geo. S. Ramsey, \ ^j . 
S. J. AcKLIN, S 



PoU-list. 

Governor — W Y Roberts - - - - - - 29 

^' Charles Robinson - - - - - 1 

Lieutenant Governor — M J Parrott - - - - 29 

" " William Y Roberts - - - 1 

Secretary of State— C K Holliday - - - - 29 

" " PC Schuyler -• - - - 1 

Auditor— W R Griffith - - - - - - 29 

G A Cutler ------ 1 

Treasurer — E C K Garvy - - - - - 29 

J A Wakefield - - - - - 1 

Attorney General — H Miles Moore - - - - 30 

Supreme Judge — G W Smith - - - - - 29 

" SW Johnson - - - - - 29 

« J A Wakefield - - - - - 27 

'' S N Latta - - - - - 3 

Supreme Judge — M F Conway - - - - - 1 

'' M Hunt - - - - - 1 

" SB McKenzie - - - - - 29 



772 KANSAS affai.es. 

Reporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston- - - - 1 

Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - - - - 30 

Public Printer— R G Elliott ' - - - - - 29 

" Jolin Spear - - - - - 1 

Representative to Congress — M W Deleliay - - - 30 

State Senator— T G Thornton - - - - - 29 

F L Crane - - - - - 1 

State Representative — M C Dickey - - - - 29 

" MM Robinson - - - - 29 

" W R Frost - - - - 29 

" AG Adams - - - - 1 

" W A Simmer well - - - - 1 

The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows : 

WILLIAM RILEY, ) 

ELI ALLEN, } Judges. 

CALEB ANTRAM, ) 



S. J. ACKLIN, I ^, , 

Geo. S. Ramsey, l^^^'^- 




Third 


District — Tccu mseli . 




Poll-hook. 


1 Samuel Updegraff 


19 James S Griffing 


2 B R Salor 


20 Charles Jordan 


3 A N Jordan 


21 H W Curtis 


4 John Morris 


22 George Osborne 


5 John J Lawrence 


23 Francis Grassmuck 


6 W H Moss 


24 Jeremiah Nicum 


*7 W Stevenson 


25 Huston Ingram 


8 William M Jordan 


26 Anderson Delap 


9 Dr Updegraff 


27 C W Mafiit 


10 M J Micheal 


28 Jesse Frank 


11 Joseph K Bartleson 


29 William Hook 


12 M A Spurrier 


30 Osborne Nailor 


13 John S Feelin 


31 Jehiel Taylor 


14 John A Chambers 


32 Orlando Moffit 


15 Conrad B Alders 


33 Charles Rohrbactres 


16 James C Morgan 


34 E R Moffit 


17 G C McCormick 


35 Samuel Spralls 


18 William Norton 





The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows : 

CHARLES JORDON, 



M. J. Mitchell, I .,-, . 
J. K. Bartleson, ^ ^'^'z^^- 



FRANCIS GRASSMUCK, V Judges. 
GEORGE OSBORNE, ) 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 773 



Tally -list. 

(governor — W Y Roberts - - - - - 34 

" Charles Robinson - - - - - 1 

Lieutenant Governor — M J Parrot - . - - 34 

" '' WY Roberts - - - - 1 

Secretary of State — E K Holliday - - - - 34 

" " PC Schuyler . _ . _ l 

Auditor— W R Griffith - - - - - - 34 

G H Cutler ------ 1 

Treasurer — E E K Garvev - - - - - 34 

" J A Wakefield - - - - - 8 

Attorney General — H Miles Moore - - - - 36 

" H Miles Moore - - - - 1 

Supreme Judge — George W Smith - - - - 34 

" S W Johnson - - - - - 34 

" S P Latta - - - - - 25 

'' J A Wakefield - - - - - 7 

'' S P Latta - - - - - 1 

'' M F Conwav - - - - - 1 

" M Hunt ' - - - - - 1 

Reporter Supreme Court — S B McKenzie - - - 34 

" '' EM Thurston - - - 1 

Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - - - - 35 

SB Floyd - - - - 1 

Public Printer— R G Elliot - - - - - 34 

" John Spear - - - - - 1 

Representative to Congress — M W Delehay - - - 35 

State Senator— T G Thornton - - - - - 30 

T L Crane - - - - - 1 

State Representative — M M Dickey - - - - 31 

MM Robinson - - - - 31 

" W R Frost - - - - 31 

'' AG Adams - - - - 1 

'' W A Simerwell - - - - 1 

WR Frost - - - - 1 

Certificate correct^ except that 35 votes inserted instead of 37 are 

set down for H. Miles Moore for attorney general ; 25 votes instead of 

26 for S. P. Latta, supreme judge; 35 instead of 36 for S. B. Floyd, 
clerk supreme court; 31 votes instead of 32 for W R Frost, State repre- 
sentative, and gives one vote to E. M. Thurston for Congress, instead 
of reporter of supreme court. Signed as follows : 

CHARLES JORDAN, ) 
FRANCIS GRASSMUCK, \ Judges. 

GEORGE OSBORNE, ) 
M, J. Mitchell, \ ni h 
M. A. Bartleman, X^'^^'*''^' 



774 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Fourth District — Prairie City Pre^'inct. 
PoU List. 



Charles Legg 
John I* Lchr 
Si his II Moore 
Jonathan Gr More 
Ed W More ^ 
Cornelius V Scott 
Wm S Ewart 

8 Jared Chapman 

9 John F Jarvins 

10 Levi Doty 

11 Thos F Doty 

12 S Cleveland 

13 C H Carpenter 

14 J W M Shore 

15 Cham]) ion May field 

16 Wm E Crum 

17 Geo Powers 
J P More 
A F Powell 
S V McMannis 
Constant Oiital 
C Gar don 
A B Wehster 

24 Wm Mewhinncy, sen. 

25 Archihald Harris 
2(') J E Carpenter 
27 Wm B Foster 

Wm r> llayden 
David lieudrix 
Geo Havens 
Elkanah Timmons 

32 G B Keyser 

33 Joliu G'MoLelland 

34 Henry li Wiggins 

35 Amos Hannah 

36 Thos Shirley 

3*7 Peter Baysinger 

38 Jacob Clark 

39 A B GiUiland 

40 J D Hope 

41 James S Scott 



18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 



28 
29 
30 
31 



51 

52 
53 
54 
55 
56 
57 



42 G W B Griffeth 

43 Wiley Jones 

44 Perry Fuller 

45 Samuel T Shore 

46 Erwin Fusman 
4*7 J C Hughes 

48 A G Spaulding 

49 A 1) Si)rague '' 

50 E 11 Baysinger 
Wm Graham 
Michael Blake 
John Graham 
John l^]dy 
Charles Clark 
J M liernard 
Wn^ A David 
Alvatus Williams 
Hiram McAllister 
John Wilson 
Sam'l Walker 
A J Miller 
A K Banks 
H J Stewart 
Wm Mewhinney, jr. 
John S Bronner 
E G Scott 
B C Westfall 
Wm B Harris 
Wm More 
Franklin Barnes 

72 F C Tomberliu 

73 T E Curtiss 

74 Thos McCowen 

75 Balpli May field 

76 J B Davis 

77 K B Young 

78 B T Keyser 

79 John Miller 

80 Wm Lucket 

81 Chas Kiser 



58 

59 

60 

61 

62 

63 

64 

65 

66 

67 

68 

69 

70 

71 



The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows 



Thos. McCowkn, 
Theron E. Curtis?, 



WILLIAM MOOUE, 
FOUNTAIN C. TOMBERLIN, 
FRANKLIN BARNEY, 

• Clerks. 



Judges. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 775 



Tally-list. 

Governor — Charles Robinson - - - - - 24 

W Y Roberts - - - - - - 50 

Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts - - - - 25 

M J Parrott - - - - 45 

Secretary of State — P C Scbuyler - - - - - 27 

C K Holliday - - - - 37 

Auditor— G A Cutler - - - - - - 27 

W R Griffith - - - - - - 45 

Treasurer — J A Wakefield - - - - - 27 

ECKGarvey - - - - - 38 

Attorney General— il M Moore - - - - - 72 

Supreme Judge — S N liatta - - - - - 27 

M F Conway - - - - - 27 

M Hunt - - - - - 27 

George W Smith - - - - 45 

S W Johnston - - - - - 45 

J A Wakefield - - - - - 45 

Reporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston - - - - 27 

SB McKenzie - - - - 45 

Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - - - - 70 

Public Printer — John Speer - - - - - 25 

R G Elliott - - - - - 45 

Representative to Congress — MWDelehay - - - 71 

State Senator — Perry Fuller - - - - - 53 

'' W Jones - - - - - - 28 

State Representative — Samuel Mcwhenny - - " ^/^ 

" Samuel T Shore - - - - 52 

'' EWE Griffith - - - - 27 

"■ John Lockhart - - - - 27 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

WILLIAM MOORE, ) 

FOUNTAIN C. TOMBERLIN, \ Judges. 
FRANKLIN BARNES, ) 

Thomas McCowan, \ ^,, , 

Theron E. Curtiss, ] ^''^^'^• 



Fifth District — Stanton Precinct. 

PoUrlist. 

1 Samuel Buchanon 6 E S Kinkaid 

2 Robert Reed 7 A H Standiford 

3 Parly P Bingham 8 John Standiford 

4 E S Kinkaid 9 William D Bryson 

5 John C Benning 10 J Davis 



776 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



11 James D Kinkaid 


28 William Stephenson 


12 Oliver R Nichols 


29 J F White 


13 J Nichols 


30 William Sandlin 


14 William H Standiford 


31 Thomas Wilborn 


15 S L Morse 


32 George T Lester 


16 Jessey W Wilson 


33 Jessey Lay 


17 William Whitehead 


34 Israel Christie 


18 B H Reed 


35 Isaac Woollard 


19 Samuel Whitehead 


36 W B Nichols 


20 Martin White 


37 Josiah Brundy 


21 James Saunders 


38 John H West 


22 John Kirkland 


39 J Nichols 


23 Greenherry Suel 


40 Aurelin Reed 


24 James Lester 


41 Jesse B Way 


25 Z M Herton 


42 John Lester 


26 Daniel Gray 


43 W H. Kinkaid 


27 William Lester 





Certificate properly filled, signed as follows : 

ISAAC WOLLARD, 



JOSIAH BUNDY, ) pj -, 

Israel Christie, S ^^ ^' 



WM. B. NICHOLS, \ Judges. 
JOHN H. WEST, ) 



Tally -list. 

We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of an election held in 
Staunton, on the 15th day of January, 1856, certify that — 

Charles Robinson received, for governor - - - 

W Y Roberts received, for lieutenant governor 
P C Schuyler received, for secretary of State 
J A Wakefield received, for treasurer _ _ - 

S N Latta received, for judge supreme court 
M F Conway received, for judge supreme court 
M Hunt received, for judge supreme court, (in ~ tally-list 
Moore,) ------- 

M Miles Moore received, for attorney general 

G A Cutler received, for auditor - - - - 

John Spear received, for State printer _ _ - 

S B Floyd received, for clerk supreme court 
E M Thurston received, for reporter supreme court 
Mark W Delehay received, for delegate to Congress 
H B Standiford received, for delegate to Congress 
Isaac Stockton received, fur senator _ _ _ 

W W UpdegraflP received, for senator . - - 

John Daily received, for senator - - - - , - 

David Reese received, for representative - - - 



31 


votes. 


31 


a 


31 


u 


31 


i( 


31 


ii 


31 


a 


H 


Miles 


31 


votes. 


31 


a 


31 


a 


31 


i( 


31 


a 


31 


a 


28 


a 


3 


ii 


27 


a 


36 


a 


27 


a 


27 


a 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



777 



J M Arthur received, for representative - 
D M Cannon received, for representative - 
Isaac Landers received, for representative 
J B Higgins received, for representative - 
H H Williams received, for representative 

liams,) ----- 
John Brown - - - . 

H B Staiiiford received, for representative 
Thomas Brown received, for representative, (Thomas Boald in tally 

list,) - - - - - - -25 votes 



- 27 votes. 

- 27 " 

- 25 " 

- 27 " 
(in tally-list W W Wil- 

- 25 votes. 

- none. 

- 41 votes. 



Signed as follows: 



josiah bundy, 

Israel Christie, 


> Clerks. 




Charles Robinson 


- 31 votes. 


W Y Roberts - 


- 31 ' 




P C Schuyler - 


- 31 ' 




J A Wakefield - 


- 31 ' 




S N Latta 


- 31 ' 


i 


M F Conway - 


- 31 ' 




M Hunt - 


- 31 ' 




H Miles Moore - 


- 31 ' 




G A Cutler 


- 31 ' 




John Spear 


- 31 ' 


I 


S B Floyd 


- 31 ' 




E M Thurston - 


- 31 ' 




Mark W Delehaj 


- 28 ' 




H B Standiford 


- 3 ' 





Tally-list complete. 



ISAAC WOOLLARD. 
WM. B. NICHOLS, 
JNO. H. WEST, 



Judges. 



Isaac D Stockton - 27 votes. 

WWUpdegrafF - 36 " 

John Daily - - 27 '' 

David Reese - - 27 '' 

J M Arthur - - 27 '' 

D W Cannon - - 27 " 
Thomas Booen, (Thomas Brown 

in certificate,) - 25 votes. 

Isaac Landers - - 25 " 

J B Higgans - - 27 '' 
W W Williams, (in certificate is 

H H Williams,) - 25 " 

John Brown, jr - none. 

H B Staniford - - 41 votes. 



Fifth District — Hampden Precinct. 
Poll-hook. 



1 Lewis Morse 

2 W W Higgins 

3 Andrew Ilornton 

4 Fletcher Wedding 

5 William Paine 

6 S Wheatley 

7 C Dunakey 

8 A Crooker 

9 J P Pepper 
10 W A Ella 



11 C Richards 

12 F Rhodes 

13 A J Warrington 

14 J Hays 

15 G Jordan 

16 Charles Morse . 

17 H Domreka 

18 W Blaisdale, jr 

19 W Blaisdale, sen 

20 H Herrin 



778 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

21 J A D Clark 24 William Oremsbee 

22 Perry Mills 25 Martin Runnells 

23 James Runnells 26 William B Farnsworth 

No certificate. 



Tally-list. 

Senator — John Dailey - - - - - ' oS 

Representative — Thomas Bowen - - - - - 26 

Certificate filled properly, signed as follows : 

W. A. ELA, ) 

WM. W. HIGGINS, > Judges. 

ANDERSON HARRINGTON, ) 
Jo. A. D. Clark, 



John P. Pepper, 



Clerks. 



Fifth District — Neosho Precinct. 
Poll-book. 

1 Hiram Hoover 8 Addison W Diggs 

2 Hiram Car 9 Nathaniel D Johnson 

3 William Barney 10 John H Bowen 

4 James Branne 11 Harden McMahon 

5 James A McGennis 12 Jesse N Williams 

6 Joseph Lebo 13 Thomas Bowen 
Y Andrew C Johnson 

Certificate properly filled, signed as follows : 

HIRAM HOOVER, 



Hard. McMahon, | ^^^^ 
Jesse Y. Williams, ) 



THOS. BOWEN, \ Judges. 
JOSIAH LEBO, ) 



Tally-list. 

Governor — Dr Charles Robinson - - - - ~ 

Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts - - - - 13 

Judge Supreme Court — S M Latta - - - - 13 

'' M Hunt - - - - - 13 

Treasurer — J H Wakefield - - - - "J? 

Auditor— G A Cutler - - - - - " J^ 

Representative to Congress— M W Delehay - . - ~ ]i 

Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - - - - ^^ 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



779 



State Printer — J Spear - - - 

Attorney General — H M Moore - 
Senator — Hiram Hoover - - - 

Representative to Congress — Thomas Bowen 

Certificate properly filled, signed as follows : 



13 
13 
12 
12 



Jesse V. Williajis, 
Hard. McMahon, 



Clerks. 



HIRAM HOOVER, 
THOS. BOWEN, 
JOSIAH LEBO, 



Judges. 



Fifth District — Pottawatomie Precinct. 
PoU-book. 



1 Davis Frankenberger 

2 Joseph James 

3 William Frankenber 

4 Manly Winkler 

5 Alexander Purdie 

6 H H Williams 
Y J T Grant 

8 J G Brown 

9 Joseph Morey 

10 Ephr lim Reynolds 

11 J T Barker 

12 James Sutton 

13 Lawrence Brady 

14 Pointdexter Manes 

15 Dewitt C Davenport 

16 M Whitney 

17 Charles E Dewey 

18 Elbrige G Blunt 

19 Benjamin Davis 

20 John Blunt 

No certificate. 



21 Wakeman Patridge 

22 B L Cockran 

23 James W. Gere 

24 John H Walker 

25 John H Rockers 

26 George Rising 

27 John Brown, jr. 

28 Frederick Brown 

29 Owen Brown 

30 Henry Thompson 

31 H M Rumbles 

32 David Sturgeon 

33 A C Austin 

34 David Baldwin 

35 S B Morse 

36 William Patridge 

37 William N Woods 

38 Solomon Blanden 

39 Samuel Mack 



Tally-list. 

Governor — Charles Robinson - 
Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts - 
Secretary of State — P C Schuyler 
Treasurer — J A Wakefield 
Judges Supreme Court — S N Latta 

" M F Conway - 



39 
39 
39 

38 
39 
39 



780 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Judge Supreme Court— M Hunt - - - "on 

Attorney General— H M Moore - - - " qq 

Auditor— G A Cutler ---""" on 

State Printer— John Spear " " " ' ' qq 

Clerk Supreme Court— S B Floyd - - - " qq 

Reporter Supreme Court— E M Thurston " " " S 

Representative to Congress— M W Delehay - - - 08 

Certificate properly filled, signed as follows : 

S. B. MOORE, 



J AS. T. GRANT, \ Judges. 
DAVID BALD^A"IX, ) 



H. H. WlLLIA^£S, I ^^^^^^j^ 

Ephraim Reynolds, ) 
PoTTAWATOiUEj January 15, 1856. 



Fifth District — Little Sugar 'precind. 
Poll-book. 

1 J D Stockton 20 Solomon Bennett 

2 B S Floid 21 James S Dunlap 

3 Z G Thompson 22 Henry M Gibbs 

4 Chas Waggoner " 23 P H Carter 

5 Charles Barnes' 24 Benjamin Burch • 

6 W J Turner 25 D W Cannon 

7 W B Perry 26 Wm Hobson 

8 Jno Fonts 2*7 Joshua Russell 

9 Leander Fonts 28 Pilas Willhite 

10 Green Caple 29 John Raun 

11 W L Wit 30 D N McQuity 

12 Anderson Belesure " 31 Enoch Eslep 

13 Salmon Mason 32 Jas Barracks 

14 Alexander Fonts 33 Phillip Capple 

15 Benjamin Hinshaw 34 Harris Vance 

16 Ebenezer Barnes 35 Green Warthy 

17 Jno Barrak 36 J A Eslep 

18 F H Graham 37 H Goodpaster 

19 J B Robertson 38 David Reese 
The certificate is properly filled, signed as follows : 

N. B. PERRY 



Wm. F. Win, | ^.^^.^^^ 



Governor — Charles Robinson 



JXO. BARRICK, [Judges. 

EBENEZER BARNES, ) 



Tally-list. 



- 33 



Lieutenant Governor — W Y Roberts - - - - 35 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 781 

Secretary of State — P C Schuyler - - - - 32 

Treasurer — J A Wakefield - - - - - 34 

Supreme Judc!:e — S ^l Latta - - - - - 34 

" ^ M F Conway - - - - - 34 

M Huut - - - - . - 34 

Attorney General — H Miles Moore - - - - 34 

Auditor— G A Cutler - - - - - - 34 

State Printer — John Spear - - - - - 33 

Clerk of Supreme Court — S B Floyd - - - - 36 

Pieporter Supreme Court — E M Thurston - - - 34 

Piepresentatiye to Congress — Mark W Delahay - - - 34 

State Senator — J Daily - - - - - - 34 

JWUpde^raff - - - - - 34 

'• * J S Stockton - - - - - 32 

State Representatiye — D Reese - - - - - 36 

D W Cannon - - - - 36 

" J Saunders - - - - 33 

" J Arthur - - - - - 36 

" J Brown, jr - - - - 34 

'' H M Williams - - - - 34 

" H B Stanford - - - - 34 

" J B Hig^ans - - - - 34 

" Thos Bowen - - - - 34 

Certificate correct, signed as follows : 

W. B. PERRY, ) 

JOHN BARRICK. } Judges. 

EBEXEZER BARXES, ) 

W. TuEXER, \ m I. 

Wm. L. Witt, ^^'^'*'^- 



Fifth District — Little Osage precinct . 
Foll-hool'. 



1 M H Daye 


11 Ira Sanders 


2 Thos Jones 


12 W M Wickham 


3 Imbers Riplej 


13 John Spears 


4 J W Xorris 


14 James B Pyle 


5 Jno Leeders 


15 G P Raum 


6 Etna Ecart 


16 R T Farlist 


7 John Delany 


17 D B Jones 


8 G W Sharp 


» 18 J W Duren 


9 P McKillips 


19 D C Forbes 


10 E A Osborne 




Certificate filled projDerlj, 


signed as follows : 




GREEX B. KAUM, ) 




M. H. DAVIS, } Judges, 




R. T. FORBES, ) 


DaXIEL B. JoNIS. } rn 7 

8. W. Duxx, r-^'"^- 





782 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Fifth District — Little Osage Precinct. 

Tally -list. 

Governor Char] es Robinson 19 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Eoberts 19 

Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 19 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 19 

Judge of supreme court S. N. Latta T 9 

M. F. Conway 19 

M. Hunt 19 

Attorney general H. M. Moore 19 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 19 

State printer John Shear 19 

Clerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd 19 

Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 19 

Rep. to Congress Mark W. Delahay 19 

For senator Isaac D. Stockter 18 

W. W. Updegraflf 19 

John Daily 19 

Representative David Reese 19 

David W. Cannon 16 

Isaac Sanders •. 18 

J. M. Arthur 19 

Jno. Brown, jr 19 

H. H. Williams 19 

H. B. Stamford 19 

Isaac B. Higgins 19 

Thos. Bowen 19 

The certificate is properly filled, and signed as follows: 

R. F. FORBES, ) 
M. H. DAVIS, ) Judges. 

GREEN B. RAUM, ) 

J. W. DURN, 



Daniel B. James, 



Clerks. 



Fifth District — Osage Precinct. 

Poll-hook. 

J. T. Black John Mickel 

Jas. Ward Middleton Hunsley 

A. F. Silars Levy Ward 

Calvin Hood Samuel Mickel 

George Morice Ashere Wyloff 

C. H. Teal Robert Rhodes 

F. A. Hamilton Heram Penney 

W. G. Crashaw William Mickel 

J. R. Miller William Morris. 
Alfred Ward 
No certificate. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 783 



Tally-list. 

We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of an election held at the 
house of F. A. Hamilton, in Osage precinct, fifth election district, 
Kansas Territory, do certify the following-named persons were duly 
elected : 

Governor Charles Eobinson . . .received. . . 19 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts do 19 

Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler do 19 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield do 19 

S. N. Latta do 19 

M. F. Conway do 19 

Supreme judge W . Hunt do 19 

Attorney general H. Miles More ..do 19 

Auditor Gr. A. Cutler do 19 

State printer John Spear do 19 

Clerk of supreme court S. P. Floyd do 19 

Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston do 19 

Rep. to Congress W. W. Delahay do 19 

State senator J. D. Stockton do 19 

W. W. Updegrafi" do 19 

John Daily do 19 

State representative David Reese do 19 

D. W. Canon do 19 

Isaac Landen do 19 

J. M. Arthur do 19 

H. H. Williams do 19 

Isaac B. Higgins do 19 

A. B. Stanford do 19 

Thos. Bowen do 19 

John Brown do 19 

JNO. MICKELS, ; 

F. A. HAMILTON, V Judges. 

SAML. NICHOL, ) 



A. G-. Wyckoff, I p^ J 
RoBMiT Rhodes, \^''^'''^^- 



Fifth District. — Osawatomie Precinct. 
Poll-hook. 

1 Noah Parker 6 H. Updegrafi' 

2 James Fuller 7 James Stolts 

3 Andrew Bruce 8 S. L. Adair 

4 James J. Holbrook 9 Charles Crunston 

5 B. Woodbury 10 Amos Finch 



784 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



11 Wm. Chestnut 

12 J. Sunboon 

13 James H. Houser 

14 C. F. Lake 

15 David H. Buncly 

16 George Thompson 

17 Isaac Miller 

18 Alba Sunboon _ 

19 Morgan Cronkite 

20 Barton Darrow 

21 Eichard Meudenhall 

22 J. P. Glenn 

23 Samuel Glenn 

24 M. D. Lane 

25 Andrew Updegraff 

26 H. Jackson 

27 James W. Glenn 

28 Silas Wheat 

29 Henry Alderman 

30 James Hughes 

31 G. W. Collus 

32 W. N. Caldwell 

33 William Saling 

34 J. S. Hoff 

35 John C. Nomun 

36 Thomas Roberts 

37 George Phillips 

38 Charles A. Foster 

39 John Richardson 

40 Samuel H. Houser 

41 Andrew B. Chambers 

42 Solomon Potter 

43 Frederick Troxweli 

44 Caleb Shevar 

45 Thomas Kelly 

46 W. F. Troxel 

47 Francis Brennan 

48 Samuel Jones 



50 William Quick 

51 Jeremiah Harrison 

52 Nathan McVay 

53 John Jones 

54 James Williams 

55 Thomas 0. Brine 

56 Hurnoss Forit 

57 D. C. Buker 

58 George" B. Ferris 

59 Thomas Hitchings 

60 N. J. Roscoe 

61 Andrew Doler 

62 Milan Fairchild 

63 David Mendenhall 

64 John Carr 

65 W. W. Updegraff 

66 C. H. Cruin 

67 S. M. Merrit 

68 C. W. Holcomb 

69 J. B. Higgins 

70 Wm. Childers 

71 Daniel Mendenhall 

72 W. M. Williams 

73 S. R. Lewis 

74 J. R. Everett 

75 Amos D. Alderman 

76 David R. McDaniel 

77 A. S. White 

78 George Bradbury 

79 James L. Childers 

80 Samuel Geer 

81 John Yelton 

82 William Yelton 

83 Silas Hustus 

84 Horace Norton 

85 0. A. McFarland 

86 John Sharkey 

87 John Polund. 



49 Patrick Devlin 
Certificate properly filled, and signed as follows : 

B. WOODBURY, 
WILLIAM CHESTNUT, 
DANIEL W. COLLIES, 
Attest : James J. Holbrook, I (jiq^^^ 
Charles Crunston, ) 



Judges. 



TaUy-list. 

€rovernor Charles Robinson,, 82 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 



80 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 785 

Secretary of State P. C. Scuyler 82 

Auditor G. S. Cutler 81 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 81 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 81 

Supreme judge Latta 81 

Conway 82 

Hunt 81 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 79 

Clerk supieme court S. B, Floyd 82 

Public printer John Speer 82 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 78 

State senator n...John Darly 77 

Isaac D . Stockton 80 

Wm. W. Updegraff 73 

S. L. Adair 9 

State representative. Thomas Boone 7t 

S. L. Adair 1 

O. C. Brown 1 

H. B. Stanaford 76 

John Brown, jr 76 

C. A. Foster 7 

J. B. Higgins 70 

H. H. Williams 82 

Isaac Landers 77 

D.W.Cannon 77 

J. M. Arthur 77 

David Reese 77 

The tally-list is not certified to. The judges applied the certificate 
of the poll-list to the tally-list. 



Sixth District — Mill Creek. 
Pdl-hook. 

1 Christopher Schwanke 10 Peter Plfifer 

2 Bernliart Hansjukob 11 Carl Marasch 

3 Franz Shmidt 12 Jacob Terrass 

4 Herman Miller 13 Peter Days 

6 Bernhaid Shuttle 14 Vert Ludwig Henrich 

6 John Shreve 15 Christian Rath 

7 John Sh liter . 16 John Simpke 

8 Carl Pratt 17 Joseph Engelhart 

9 Johan Philip Kleich 18 Johan Acheharts. 

Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

JACOB TERRASS, ^ 
PETER THOES, \ Judges, 
CARL MARASCH, ) 

Christian Rath, ) ^^ , 

V. LuD. H^NuicH, p^^'^- 
H. Rep. 2U0 50* 



786 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Tally-list. 

Governor Wm. Y, Ro"bcrts. 

Lieutenant governor M. J. Farrott 

Secretary of state C. K. Ilolliday... 

Auditor W. R. Griffith.... 

Treasurer E. C. K. Garvey. 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore.. 

Supreme judge Geo. W. Smith, 



18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

18 

S. W. Johnston 18 

S. M. Latter 18 

Reporter supreme court S. P. McKenzie 18 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 18 

Public printer R. G. Elliott 18 

Representative to Congress M. W. Delehay 18 

State senator John H. Nesbit 18 

State representative Andrevi^ 13. Marshall 18 

No tallies. 



Certificate correct, and signed 



Christian Rath, 

V. LUD. HliNRICII, 



follows : 

JACOB TERRASS, ) 
PETER THOES, \ Judges. 
CARL MARASCU, ) 



Clerks. 



Sixth District — Titus Precint. 




Poll-booJc. 




1 A. Smith 


18 Abrara Leonard 


2 J. M. Winchell 


19 


Lucian Fish 


3 Win. Lord 


20 


James R. Stewart 


4 W. N. Havens 


21 


James Ramsay 


5 M. H. Rose 


22 


Nicholas Schuyler 


6 Thomas Russell 


23 


George J. Drew 


7 Hiram Mills 


24 


L. D. Joy 


8 Chaa. W. Fish 


25 


A. W. Hubbard 


9 A. Polly 


26 


Absalom Hoover 


10 Henrv Smith 


27 


Joseph B. Griswold 


11 J. B. Titus 


28 


Wm.' Y. Drew 


12 D. Wright 


29 


Henry Todd 


13 Wm. W. Fish 


30 


David Hoover 


14 Wm. H. Foothman 


31 


Samuel A. Allison 


15 James Aikins 


32 


John Drew 


16 John Crawford 


33 


J. R. Crozier. 


17 E. M. Perrin 







Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

J. B. TITUS, 
JOHN DREW, 
WM. LORD, 
M. J. Polly, | 

CUAS. W. hjSE, ) 



Judges. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. TST 

Tally -list. 

Governor Charles Robinson 28 

W. Y. Uoberts 4 

Lieutenant governor M. J. Panott 4 

W. Y. lioberts 28 

Secretary of state P. C. Schiiyk-r 28 

C. K. llolliday 4 

Auditor Gr. A. Cutler 28 

W. R. Griffitli 4 

Treasurer J. A. Wakelield 28 

E. C. K. Garvey 4 

Attorney general II . Miles Moore 32 

Supreme judges S. N. Latta 32 

M. F. Conway 28 

George W. iSniith 4 

M. Hunt 28 

S. W. Johnson . 4 

Reporter supreme court ....E. M. Tliurston 28 

B. B. McKensie 4 

Olerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 32 

Pu])lic printer John Spcer 28 

R. G. Elliott 4 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Deleliay 32 

State senator Josiah K. Pillsbiiry 23 

Lucian Fish 33 

Nisbit . 2 

itatc representative- Horace W. Taber 23 

D. Soothman 1 

Henry Todd 25 

^ Nesbit 7 

Warren N. Havens 19 

Dow 10 

Thos. J. Addis 23 

Marshall 9 

W. H. Todkman 14 

H. B. Todd 9 

No tallies. Certificate not filled, but signed as follows : 

J. B. TITUS, ; 
JOHN DR1:]\V, [judges, 
WM. LORD, ) 

M. J. Polly, > .,, , 

0. W. Fisii, l^-f'^^l^' 



Sixth Dlstrict — Claries Creek Precinct. 

Poll-hook. 

1 Henry Mitchell 4 Jacob Swartwood 

2 J. W. Stewart 5 Joseph Berry 

3 Samuel Berry C Jesse Spencer 



us 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



7 S. F. Gordon 9 George M. Sweetzer 

8 Silus Klotz 10 Alexander Dean. 

Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

HENRY MITCHELL, } 

J. W. STEWART, [judges. 

SAMUEL BERKY, ) 

Jacob Swartwood, 
Joseph Berry, 



Clerks. 



Tally-list. 

Governor Charles RoLinson 9 

Lieutenant governor- W. Y. Roberts 9 

Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 9 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 9 

Supreme judges S. N. Latta 9 

M. F. Conwav 9 

M. Hunt ". 9 

Attorney general M. Miles Moore 9 

Auditor S. A. Cutler 9 

State printer John Speer 9 

Clerk of sn])rcme court S. B. Floyd 9 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 9 

Ro[)resentiitive to Congress Mark W. Delehay 9 

State re})resentative G. F. Gordon 10 

Tally-list made out and certificate correct. Signed as follows : 

HENRY MITCHELL, ) 
J. W. STEWART, [Judges. 
SAMUEL BERRY, ) 

Jacoe Swabtavood, ) ^n 7 
■ Joseph Bekky, \ 



Sixth District — Columbia, 



Poll-list. 



1 E. P. Wolf 

2 William Goodwill 

3 E. P. lladley 

4 G. 1). llum])hrey 

5 T. J. Addis, jr. 

6 John Fowler 

Y Samuel McVay 

8 Haiiy Fowler 

9 Mathevv McCormick 
lU Naihan McCormick 
11 William Fowler 



12 Thos. Addis, sr. 

13 Jasper S. Goodwill 

14 George Philli|)s 

15 Alexander Midlemis 

16 Alexander Milison 

17 Aaron Dow 

18 Abraham D. Stalev 

19 John J. Addis 

20 Elihu Nevvlin 

21 Sihis T.Howel 

22 James H. Pheanis 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



789 



23 Charles Johnson 28 Moses Packet 

24 Ira Had ley 29 Lemuel II. Johnson 

25 P. A. Pheanis 30 R. H. Abraham 

26 Joel Hay worth 31 Aaron Phelps 
2*7 Joseph Morr 

[Certificate defective; fails to state the number of votes, or to vouch 
&eir qualifications.] 



Tally-list. 

Grovernor Charles Robinson 31 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 31 

Secretary of state P. C. Sc)iuyler 31 

Treasurer J. A. Wakerield 31 

Supreme judges 8. N. Latty 31 

II. F. Conway 31 

M. Hunt 31 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 31 

Auditor C. A. Cutler 31 

State printer John Speer 31 

Clerk of supreme court S. B. Ployd 31 

Reporter of supreme court E. M. Tliurston 31 

Representative to Congress Mark Deleha 31 

State senator Lowry Fisli 31 

State representative Thomas J. Addis 23 

Dr. Tootman 31 

Henry Todd 31 

The tally is regularly made out and signed by the judges, but not 
certified. 



Eliiiu p. Hadley, 
William Fowler, 



G. D. HUMPHREY, 
THOS. J. ADD 18, 
JOHN FOWLER, 



Judges. 



Clerhs. 



Sixth District — Ashland. 



Poll-hooh. 



1 E. H. Howard 

2 C. M. Barclay 

3 N. B. White 

4 J. Rvan 

5 A. Willard 

Number of votes not certified. 
the number, signed as follows : 



Jim Hunt, 
N. B. White, 



I Clerics. 



6 C. A. Berry 
1 T. W. Ross 

8 J. Hunt 

9 M. D. Fisher 

10 William AUingham 

Printed certificate, without stating 



C. M. BARCLAY, 
THOS. W. R08S, 
M. D. FISHER, 



Judges. 



790 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Tally-list. 

Governor Charles Robinson 8 

W. Y. Roberts 1 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 8 

M. J. Parrott 1 

Secretary of state P. C. Sclinyler 8 

C. K. HoUiday 1 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 8 

W. R. Griffith 1 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 8 

E. C. K. Garvey 1 

Attorney o;cneral H. M. Moore 9 

Supreme judges S, N. Latta 9 

M. F. Conway 8 

M Hunt 8 

S. W. Johnston 1 

George W. Smith 1 

Reporter of supreme court E. M. Thurston 9 

S. B. McKenzie 1 

Clerk of supreme court J. B. Floyd 9 

Public printer J. kSpeer 8 

R. G. Elliott 1 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 9 

State senator J. H. Pillsbury 10 

^tate representative A. B, Marshall •.... 8 

Ko tallies, but the result as above. The certificate correctly filled 
and signed ay follows : 

C. M. BARCLAY, ) 
THOS. W. ROSS, \ Judges. 
M. D. FISHER, ) 

Jesse Hunt, ) ^-, , 

N. B. White, X^^^'''^^' 



Seventeenth District — Pawnee Precinct. 

Poll-list. 

1 Samuel Knapp 11 L. Lincoln 

2 Robert Kultz 12 Jacob Hill 

3 Reiijamin J. Green 13 Abraham Barry 
A Diianeir Furrow 14 John Shuemaker 
5 J. M. Meyers 15 J. 1'. Wiggins 

G H. W. Martin IG Plenry Dunham 

T Wm. Stiff n J. H. Loder 

8 John J. Miles 18 G-^orge Hill 

9 Samuel Barr 19 J. B. Dickerson 
10 S. B. White 20 J. M. Hulse 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 791 

The certificate is correctly filled, and sio^ned as follows : 

LRMUEL KNAPP, ) 
HENRY M. MARTIN, } Judges. 
WILLIAM F. STILL, ) 

J, M. Meyees, } r(i 7 

DiKANCE l^URROW, S 



Tally-list, 

Governor Charles RoLinson 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 20 

Secretary of state P. T. Schuyler 20 

Auditor" G. A. Cutler 20 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 20 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 20 

Supreme judge S. N. Latta 20 

M. F„ Conway 20 

M.. Hunt 20 

Reporter of supreme court E. M. Thurston 20 

Clerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd 20 

Public printer John Speer 20 

Representative to Cougress Mark Delahay 20 

State senator' S. B. McKenzie 12 

P. Newhart 8 

State representative Thomas W. Piatt 11 

Abraham Barry 17 

Wm. M. McClure 14 

J. D. Adams 20 

J. H. Green 4 

Augustin Wattles 4 

W. Whitesides 8 

The certificate is correct, except that Abraham Barry received 
seventeen votes instead of sixteen, and is signed as follows : 

SAMUEL KNAPP, ) 
HENKY W. MARTIN, } Judges. 
WILLIAM F. STILL, ) 

J. M. Meyers, ) ^, , 

D. Furrow, \ ^''^^'^^' 



Seventh District — Big Blue Precinct. 
Poll-list. 

1 M. L. Wisner 4 Isaac T. Goodenow 

2 Armory Hunting 5 J. Stewart 

3 William Hanna 6 T. Imersun 



792 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



7 John Piphe 

8 James H. Sayar 

9 C. E. Blood 

10 J. S. Hoffeckor 

11 L. B. McKensie 

12 William Hooq 

13 C. N. Low 

14 C. W. Beebe 

15 Truman 8hatluck 

16 J. E. Wood 

17 Barney Katigam 

18 Newell Trafton 

19 S. P. Allen 

20 Ambrose Todd 

21 Asaph Browning 

22 Chailes Barnes 

23 John Gill 

24 Josepli Legore 

25 F. 13. Smith 

26 Patrick Dnnn 

27 William Aghan 

28 William Campsteis 

29 John McDarmon 

30 David (lorman 

31 E M. ThnstoG 

32 John Supine 

33 L. P. Richards 

34 Ciiristian Gates 

35 Seth R. Childs 

36 John Waas 

37 George Tilton 

38 A. C. Dyer 

39 Lorenzo Westover 

40 Wm. Dyer 

41 S. D. Houston 

42 J. L. Supine 

43 L. B. Williams 



44 G. W. Jameson 

45 il. Whiteside 

46 John Merris 

47 Henrv Bishop 

48 A. H. H. Lamb 

49 P. Neyhart 

50 J. H. Brouse 

51 Malachi Glenn 

52 A. J. Allen 

53 M. B. Powers 

54 S. P. Powers 

55 G. C. Tyler 

56 Thomas Blacklie 

57 John Mail 

58 G. H. Morse 

59 C. H. Gibson 

60 Samuel Hemsley 

61 David Hays 

62 John Hadson 

63 A. D. Wood worth 

64 P. Chewdet 

65 Charles Holborn 

66 John Molntyre 

67 Wm. S. Arnold 

68 A. Williams 

69 Thos. W. Platte 

70 W. E. Goodenow 

71 M. A. Garrett 

72 R. Garrett 

73 Josiah Hight 

74 J. Denison 

75 Simeon Perry 

76 Edmund Hunting 

77 H. B. Nealey 

78 Joseph Hays 

79 H. Jackson 



The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

WILLIAM HANNA, ) 

J. STEWART, } Judges, 

ISAAC E. GOODNOWE, ) 



Simeon Perry, 
Thomas Imerson, 



Clerics, 



Tally-list. 

Governor Chaa. Robinson 61 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts..., 62 

Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 62 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 7 

Auditor G. S. Cutler 02 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield G2 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 03 

Supreme judge S. N. Latta 62 

M. F. Conway G3 

M. Hunt ! 60 

Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 63 

Clerk to supreme court S. B. Floyd.' 62 

Public printer J<din Speer 62 

Reporter to Congress Mark W. Delahay 42 

S. C. Ponroy 14 

R. Jones 

R. Smith 

State senator S. B. McKinzie 39 

P. Nevhart 33 

State reporter T. W.Phitt 36 

H. W. Whiteside 37 

Josiah D. Adams 49 

A. Barry 

Wm. M. McClure 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

WILLIAM HANNA, ) 

J. STEWART, V Judges. 

ISAAC F. GOODNOWE, ) 

SiMEOx Perry, ) ^, ^^.^ 

TnoMAS Imersox, ) 



Eighth District — Ohio City Precinct. 

Poll-lid. 

1 Wm. Sanders 9 Rees Furbray 

2 Henry Halenbury 10 Lewis Fiiibray 

3 Soren Jesen . 11 Manklin Reed 

4 Henry Brockenger 12 Josepli Brew 

5 I. D. Warren 13 J. D. Wells 

6 Samuel [jangdon 14 Am. Bell 

7 Henry Ashdown 15 Lowry Trombly 

8 Frederick Brockinger 16 Thos. Spruce 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

H. HOLLENBURY, ) 
JOHN D. WELLS, ) Judges. 
WM. SANDERS, ) 

S. Furbray, ) ^. , 

M. Bell, \ ^'■^'^''^^ 



Tally -list. 

Govern or Ch as . Robi n son 16 

Lieutenant governor Wm. Y. Roberts 16 



794 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Secretary of state P. C. Scnyler 16 

Auditor G. S. Cutler 16 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 16 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 16 

Supreme judge S. M. Latta 16 

M. F. Conway 16 

S. W.Johnson 16 

Reporter supreme court E. N. Thurston 16 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 16 

Public printer John Sj)eer 16 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 16 

State senator Jos. M. Cole 16 

State representative J. P. Wihon 16 

Rees Furbay 16 

This tally is fully stated, and the certificate is correctly filled and 
signed as follows : 

H. HOLLENBURY, ) 
JOHN D. WELLS, } Judges. 
WM. SANDERS, ) 



L. FUEBAY, 

A. M. Bell, 



Clerks. 



Eighth District — St. Mari/s Precinct. 

Poll-list. 

1 P. Trucky 

2 B. E. Dean 

3 H. Desbuhans 

4 A. Wurkel 

5 J. D. E. Ivis 

6 Charles Dean 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows: 

R. E. D. IVIS, 



7 


0. 


B. Dean 


8 


F. 


Schaflfer 


9 


A. 


Becker 


10 


W 


. Blusraerer 


11 


S. 


Hopkins 



Augustus Becker, ) ^; ^ 
F. ScHAFFER, \ ^''^'^^• 



0. B. DEAN, \ Judges. 

CHARLES DEAN, ) 



Tally-list. 

Governor W. Y. Roberts 11 

Lieutenant governor M. J. Parrott 11 

Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 11 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 11 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 11 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 11 

Supremejudge S. N. Latta 11 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



795 



M. F. Conway 1] 

S. W. Johnson 11 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 11 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 11 

Puhlic printer John Speer ,... 11 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 11 

State senator Joseph M. Cole 11 

State representative James P. Wilson 11 

Rees Furby 11 

Richard Murphy 8 

The tally is fully stated, and the certificate is correctly filled and 
signed as follows : 

R. E. D. IVIS, ) 

0. B. DEAN, } Jvdgcs. 

CHARLES DEAN. ) 

Augustus Becker, \ rn i 

F. SCIIAFFER, ] ^^'''''^'^ 



Eighth District — Kicltapoo City P^-ednct. 



Poll-list. 



1 D. Geigle 

2 J. M. Stephens 

3 A. J. Stephens 

4 E. Guyman 

5 J. 0. Conner 

6 Dan. Haley 

7 John Foster 

8 Jan)es Vanderpool 

9 H. Vanderpool 

10 E. Juepinen 

11 H. C. Castle 

12 J. A. Lawrence 

13 David Hutten 

14 Scott Atkinson 

15 E. S. AVelhite 

16 J. A. Crump 

17 A. R. Steele 

18 M. A. Russell 

19 John Healy 

20 J. M. Dennis 

21 T. Hackett 

22 John C. Ellis 

23 J. Ellis 

24 P. Eero-ler 

25 Wm. Kenneday 

26 R. C. Lawrence 



27 S. Jacohs 

28 M. P. Berry 

29 J. A. C. May 

30 R. A. Foster 

31 John Blown 

32 Harvey Vance 

33 M. J. Freeland 

34 F. H. Gregory 

35 A. C. P. Hayno 

36 M. C. Butler 

37 Wm. A. Hoon 

38 H. C. Brown 

39 R. D. Clark 

40 H. Heartman 

41 Chris. Locknamar 

42 S. D. Gregory 

43 James Armstrong 

44 Wm. C. Johnson 

45 W^m. Hathaway 

46 A. Brown 

47 J. D. Edwards 

48 A. C. Sumners 

49 ,Tohn W. Freeland 

50 M. Greenongh 

51 Henry H. Brown 

52 Joseph Brown 



796 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

53 Amos G. Ridgeway 60 F. R. Jones 

54 Win. Prico 61 Meigs Hunt 

55 S. Yining 62 John M. Lockman 

56 R. Gibson 63 John Isaacs 

57 J. A. Castle 64 S. Preston 

58 Will. Hobbs 65 John H. Gretel 

59 H. B. iStearns 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

DAVID (JEIGLE, 



R. C. Lawrence, ) ^, , 
Dan. Haley, ^ ^^^m. 



E. GERRYMAN, V Judges. 

JAS. VANDERPOOL, ) 



Taay-list. 

Q-overnor Cli arl es Robinson 14 

W. Y. Roberts 51 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 6 



M. J. Parrott 59 

Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 14 

C. R. Hoiliday 57 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 14 

William R. Griffith 51 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 14 

E. C. R. Garvey 51 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 65 

Supreme judge S. N. Latta 14 

G. W. Smith 51 

M. F. Conway 14 

S. W. Johnson 51 

M. Hunt 14 

J. N. Wakefield 51 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 14 

L. B. McKenzie 51 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 65 

Public printer John Spcer 14 

R. G. Elliott 51 

Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 65 

State senator D, E. Jones 65 

J. A. Hath way 

State representative dohn D. Jones 65 

E. R. Zimmerman 65 

J(din W^. Stephens 65 

William Crosby 65 

William T. Barret 66 

J. C. Ridgway 

L. Knott 



KANSAS AFPAIRS. 797 

The certificate is correctly filled and signed as follows, and the tally 
is fully stated : 

DAVID GETGLE, ) 

E. GF.RKYMAN, [judges. 

JAMES VANDEPiPOOL, ) 

R. C.Laweence, ?^,^^.,,^^^ 

Dan. Haley, ) 



Eighth District— /S'27'?;er LaJce Precinct. 

PoU-list. 

1 Joseph M. Cole 22 S. R. Massteller 

2 Andrew Lecompt 28 Samuel Cuinmings 

3 Louis Pappan 24 Josepli Well port 

4 David Milne 25 J. G. Tonisoji 

5 Louis Posaro 26 J. Aiitoine 

6 N. K. Vinegarder 27 Roben McNown 

7 Joseph Nickson 28 Stephen Foikhier 

8 Richard Murphy 29 E. Kennedy 

9 Samuel Reader 30 L. W. Smith 

10 Alexander Rodd 31 Albion Alcott 

11 Francis Jutikin 32 J. W. Hopkins 

12 A. S. Frambly _ 33 Charles II. Robson 

13 Jonathan Mitchell " 34 Joseph Ogee 

14 B. B. Damcwood 35 L. H. O^ee 

15 J. H. Damcwood 36 Thomas Lamar 

16 Charles Columbo 37 Paul Vieux 

17 Daniel Downie 39 J. P. Alcott 

18 Timothy Downie 39 F. H. Countryman 

19 J()se|)h Kojip 40 Harrison Wells 

20 Eleonora Blondels 41 John Logeer 
• 21 John Murphy 42 E. Stephens 

The certificate is correctly filled, and si£,mcd as follows : 

A. R. VINEGARDER, 



Lawrence Murphy, ) ^y^ , 
Samuel Reader, ^«er/c<9. 



J. P. NIXAN, V JudxieA 

DAVID MILNE, ) 



Tally -list. 

Governor W. Y. Roberts 41 

Charles Robinson 1 

Lieutenant governor .M. J. Parrott 41 

W. Y. Roberts 1 

Secretary of state C. K. Plolliday 41 

P. C. Schuyler 1 



798 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Auditor W. R. Griffith 41 

G-. A. Cutler 1 

Treasurer E. C. R. Garvey 

J. A. Wal^efield 42 

Attorne}^ general H. Miles Moore 42 

Supreme judge George W. Smith 41 

S. W. Johnson 41 

S. N. Latta 42 

M. F. Conwav 1 

M. Hunt .' 1 

Reporter Bupreme court S. M. McKenzie 41 

E. M. Thurston 1 

Clerk supreme clerk S. B. Floyd 42 

Public printer R. G. Elliott 

John Speer 42 

Representative to Congress M. W. Dclahay 42 

State senator Joseph M. Cole 42 

State representative ...,J. G. Thompson 14 

Richard Murphy 30 

James P. Wilson 30 

The certificate is correct, except that F. M. Couway is inserted in- 
stead of M. F. Conway. The tally-list is regularly made out, and 
signed as to Hows : 



Lawrence Murphy, ) ^y; j 
Samuel Reader, ^^(-(^r/cs. 



N. II. VINEGARDER, ) 

N. P. NIXON, [Juc^^es. 

DAVID MILNE, ) 



Eighth District — Wabaunsee Precincl. 
FoU-list. 

1 Hiram Keys 11 L. W. P)rown 

2 J. M. Burleigh 12 H. J. Fadder 

3 C. H. Lawin 13 J. Willey 

4 Ahram Stone 14 J. H. Pillsmy 

5 E. R. McCauley 15 D. B. Hiatt 

6 Barthol Place Ifi H. P. Leonard 

7 H. Bisbee ■ 17 H. W. Fabor 

8 J. C. Marsmen 18 Harvy Jones 

9 H. T. Brown 19 A. B.' Marshall 
10 I. M. Bushbey 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

E. R. McCURDY, 



H. J. Fadder, ) ^^^^ 

Joiu^ C. Marsman, ) 



J. M. BIS3EY, } Judges. 

DANIEL B. HIATT, ) 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 799 



Tally-list. 

Governor CI larl es Robinson 19 

Lieutenant j^overnor W. Y. Roberts 

Secretary oT state P. C. Schuyler 19 

Auditor G. S. Cutler 19 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 19 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 19 

Supreme judge S. A. Latta 19 

M.F.Conway 19 

M. Hunt 19 

ivcporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 17 

Clerk to supreme court .1. B.Floyd 19 

Public printer John Speer 19 

Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 18 

State senator J . H. ; Pillsbury 16 

J. H. Nesbitt 2 

State representative H. W. Tabour 15 

S. B. Martial 3 

The certificate is correct, except the tally for W. Y. Robert.s is not 
included, and is signed as follows : 

E. R. McCURDY, ) 

J. M. BI8BKY, \ Judges. 

DANIEL IIIATT, ) 

H. J. Fadder, \ ^.^j^^ 

John J. Marsman, ^ 



Ninth District — Whitfield Precinct. 
Poll-hook. 

1 Christopher Leonard 10 J. B. Chapman 

2 Vincent D. Cohee 11 J. F. Jenner 

3 Christopher C. Diggin 12 John Miller 

4 T. H. Jenner 13 Pleasant Curly 

5 J. W. Fonts 14 John K<db 

6 H. House 15 Stephen Papan 

7 John Cunningham 16 Geo. Brennon 

8 Henry Seal 17 Francis Jame 

9 Frederick Swige 18 Franklin Dearbeak 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

THOMAS JENNER, 



Hiram Howe, ? ^/^i,, 
J. W. FouTd, 5^^^*^- 



V. D. COHEK, \ Judges 

JOHN CUNNINGHAM, ) 



800 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Talhj-liHt. 

Governor Ch arles Robin son 6 

W. Y. Roberts 11 

Lieutenant governor .....M. J. Parrott 11 

W.Y.Roberts 6 

Secretary of state P. C. Scnvler 6 

C. K. Holliday 11 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 6 

W. R. Griffith 11 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 7 

E. C. R. Garev 9 

P. G. Scujler 1 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 17 

Supreme judge S. N. Latta 10 

G. W. Smith 11 

L. W. Johnson 11 

M. Hunt 6 

M. F. Conway 6 

J. A. Wakefield 6 

Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston G 

S. B. McKensie 11 

Clerk to supreme court S. B.Floyd , IT 

Public printer John Speer 6 

R. G. Elliott 11 

Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 17 

State senator Thomas Jenner 18 

State representative V. D.Cohee 18 

Hiram House 18 

Tallies complete. 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

THOMAS JKNNER, ) 
V. D. COHEE, ) Judges. 

JOHN CUNNINGHAM, ) 

Hiram Howe, \ r^i i. 

J. W. FOUTS, \ ^^^'*'^*' 



Ninth District — Slough Creek Frednct. 
Poll-book. 

1 Hugh McGepee 8 John Beech er 

2 Andrew Francis 9 James Powell 

3 JauK's C. Ward 10 James Noble 

4 RobiM-tWaid 11 Shobal J. Ellis 

5 Jacob R. Smith 12 Wni Owen 

6 Aaron Smith 13 John A. Peters 

7 Charles Rice 14 Alexander McDowall, sr. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 801 

TLe certificate is correctly filled, and sij2;ned as follows : 

JACOB R. SMITH, ) 
ROBERT WARD, } Judges. 
X A, PETERS, ) 

Andrew J. Francis, \ rn i. 

Jamks C. Ward, i ^*^^^*- 



^Tally-lisL 

^■GroverHOT .,,....... W. Y. Roljer'ts 14 

Ijieutetiant governor ,, ....,.M. J, Parrott 14 

^Secretary of state ...C. K. Holliday 14 

Auditor ....W.R. Griffith 14 

'Treasurer.. E. C. K Garvey 14 

Attorney genoaL , ..H. Miles Moore 14 

Supreme judge...... — ,.. G. W. Smith 14 

L. W. Johnston.. 14 

S. N. Latta 4 

J. A. Wa'kefieia 10 

Reporter to siapreme court,..,... S. B. McKenzie 14 

Olerk to su])rerae court L, B. Khiyd..... 14 

Public printer....,, ........R. G. Elliott 14 

Representative to Congress..,. M. W. Delahay. 14 

State senator Thoraas Jenner 13 

'State representative , Vincent D. Cohee 13 

Hiram House 12 

Tally-list complete. 

'Certificate correctly filled, and signed as follows: 

JACOB R SMITH, 



Andrew J. Francis, } ni -i. 
James C. Ward, \ "' ^^ ** 



ROBERT WARD, \ Judges, 
•J, A. PETERS, ) 



Ninth District — Grvisshopper Falls Precinct^ 

Poll-list. 

1 John Weaveif 10 Wm. Catt 

.2 G. S. Hillyer 11 Wra. A. Godwin 

3 Michael Hasley 12 Martin Vandenburgk 

4 L. Northink 'JKJ Jacob Fish«r 
■5 Ben Wiser 14 Henry Lewn 
€ S. H. Dunn. 15 Jacob Weber 

7 Wm. Grigsby 16 Alexander HughaDL 

8 John W. Clark 17 John Hughan 

9 T. H. Elliott 18 W. A. Cowan 
H, Rep, 200^—51* 



802 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

19 Sidney ScanTand 33 John Koberts 

20 Atkinson Martin 34 J. H. Cowan 

21 Saninel Johnson 35 Henry Bowles^ 

22 Perry Moss 36 James Frazier 

23 Daniel Runklea 37 Wm. Bowles 

24 Epraham Lowm^ru 38 John Roderick 

25 Abel Ott 39 Saml. L. Smith 
2B John WideraaB 40 Chalmers Scott 

27 France Amen 41 John H. MeCennj 

28 John Elliotfe 42 S. Y\\ Owen 

29 Isaac Codv 43 J. Sills 

30 John Short 44 Daniel A. Wilby 

31 P. J. Redvvick 45 Adam Wiser 

32 John Earnst 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

JOHN W. CLARK, ) 
T. H. ELLIOTT, [judges, 
JAMES FRAZER, > 

Atkinson Martin, 7 ^j . 
W, A. Cowan, 5^ ^^«^^^' 



Tally- list. 

Governor — .., .., Charles RoHnson, .....„., ,....., A^ 

W. Y. Roberts 1 

Lieutenant g;overnor W. Y. Roberts.., ,. 44 

Secretary of state ..P. C. Scuyler 45* 

Auditor G. A. Cutler „ 45 

Treasurer — J. A. Wakefield........... 45 

Attorney general.. ,...H. Miles Moore 43 

Supreme judge S. N. Latta 45 

M.F.Conway.. 45 

M. Hunt. 45 

Reporter of supreme court. .....E. M. Thurston 45 

Clerk of supreme court.... S.- B. Floyd 45 

Public printer. ....John Speer 45 

Representative to Congress M. W. Delalmy.. — 40 

State senator .....George S. Hillyer 43 

John W. Clark 1 

State representative , William Hicks. 45 

William B. Wade..... ,.. 45 

Tally-list complete. 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

JOHN W. CLARK, ^ 

T. H. ELLIOTT, \ Judges. 

JAMES FRAZER, > 

Atkinson Martin, \ rn i 

W. S. Cowan, ^ ^''^^'^^ 



KANSAS AliTAIRS. 



803 



KiNTH District — Pleasant Hill Precinct. 
Poll-list 



1 Ashery Kessler 


24 


David Ransier 


2 Jacob Brown 


25 


Samuel Brown 


3 Charles Biizbee 


26 


Joseph Nichols 


4 Leonard Buzbee 


27 


Henry Ransier 


5 Lewis Hoover 


28 


William Nichok 


6 Williatn Hicks 


29 


Hugh Nichols 


T Richard S. Bimke 


30 


W. B. Wade 


8 Natlian Adams 


31 


Byron Stewart 


9 Cr. B. Hall 


32 


Francis Jinks 


10 Lewis Romiathe 


33 


T. L. Pooler 


11 John Retniatlie 


34 


James Dempsey 


12 John Bucbee 


35 


Francis Claywell 


13 Wm. Carpenter 


36 


David Trip 


14 Nathan Cory 


37 


Jesse W. Attleberry 


15 Zebulon Buzbee 


38 


John Rippeton 


16 Henrv Hovener 


39 


Philip Kessler 


17 Nathan Criffitk 


40 


James Ransier 


18 Aaron Cook 


41 


Franklin Elijah 


19 John Brown 


42 


James Stephenson 


20 Wiiliara C. Walker 


43 


William Duck 


21 Jesse E<\ Collins 


' 44 


Matthew Robinson 


22 James Griffiths 


45 


William Tillason 


23 E. Bainter 







The certificate is properly filled, and signed as follows : 

G. B. HALL, 
LEWIS HOOVER, 
NATHAN ADAMS, 

Richard S. Bunker, ClerTc. 



Judges. 



Lieutenant governor 



TaUy-list, 

Governor...,, Charles Robinson 42 

W, Y. Roberts 2 

W. Y. Roberts 43 

M. J. Parrot 2 

Secretary of state .....P. C. Scuyler 43 

C. H. Holladay 2 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 43 

W. R. Griffith 2 

Treasurer .., J. A. Wakefield 43 

E. C. K. Garvey 2 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 45 

Supreme judge.. ,....S, N. Latta 43 



804 KANSAS AFFAIRS 

M. F. Conway 43 

M. Hunt 43 

G. W. Smith 2 

L. W. Johnson 2 

J. A. Wakefield 2 

Eeporter of supreme court 0.....E. M, Thurston 43 

S. B. McKenzie 2 

Clerk of supreme court S. B. Floyd 45 

Public printer J . Speer 43 

Jl. G. Elliott 2 

Kepresentative to Congress ...Mark W. Delahay. , 44 

State senator G. S. Hylier 45 

State representative Wm. Hicks 45 

Wm. B. Wade 44 

Tally-list complete. 

The certificate is correctly filled, except that R. G. Elliott received 
two votes which are omitted, and signed as follows : 

G. B. HALL, 



Richard S. Bunker, ) cierhs 
Nathan Cory, ) 



NATHAN ADAMS, V Judges, 
LEWIS HOOVER, S 



Ninth District — HardvUle Precinct, 
Poll-list. 

1 S. G. Hull 4 John W. Sperhack 

2 Joseph Hayne • 5 Calentine Newell 

3 John H. Newell , 6 James H. Rosa 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows r 

V. F. NEWELL, } 

JOHN W. SPERBACK, [ Judges, 
JOHN H. NEWELL, ) 
James H, Ross, Clerh. 



Tally-list. 

Governor , ..W^m. Y. Roberts G 

Lieutenant governor, Wm. J. Parrott 6 

Secretary of state C. H. Holli(hi>y (> 

Auditor W. R. Griffith 6 

Treasurer E. C. R. Garvey ., 6 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore , 6 

Supreme judge..,. Geo. W. Smith 6 

S. W. Johnson..^ 6 

S. N. Latta 6 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. S05 

Reporter supreme court S. B, McKensie 6 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 6 

Public printer R. G. Elliott 6 

Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 6 

State senator Thomas Jenner 6 

8tate representative Vincent D. Coliee 6 

Hiram Hanse 6 

Tally-list complete. 

The certificate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

P. F. NEWELL, ) 

JOHN H. SPERRBAK, V Judges. 
JOHN H. NEWELL, ) 
James H. Ross, Clerk. 



Ninth District — Helena Precinct. 
Poll-book. 

1 W. D. Barrett T H. N. Riley 

2 T. K. Phillips 8 Charles Wilson 

3 Wilson Alby 9 R. F. Sheuris 

4 D. C. Dysert 10 A. B. Anderson 

5 John Brown 11 Jacob Rees. 

6 A. D. Simmons 



Tally-Usf. 

Governor... C. Robinson.... 11 

Lieutenant governor W". Y. Roberts 11 

Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 11 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 11 

Judge of supreme court S. N. Latta '. 11 

M, T. Conway 11 

M. Hunt 11 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 11 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 11 

Public printer John Speer 11 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 11 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 11 

Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 11 

There is but one certificate for the poll-book and tally-list, whicli 
merely certifies the returns are correct. 



806 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Ninth DiSTnicr^CrooJced Creek Precinct. 
Poll-hook. 



1 Kicliard Hull 


6 Anthony Hass 


2 Siinjison Conuer 


7 Mathias Carrip:er 


3 Simeon Hill 


8 Henrv Hendenhall 


4 G. T. Donaldson 


9 John Waddle 


5 Alpha Simmons 


10 F. A. Croharger. 


tificate not fiUed. 


' 



Tally -list. 

Governor Charles Rohinson ,... 10 

Lieutenant governor : W. Y. Roberts 10 

Secretary of state P. C. Scuyler 10 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 10 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 10 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 10 

Supreme judge S. M. Latta 10 

M. F. Conway 10 

M. Hunt 10 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 10 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 10 

Public printer John Speer 10 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Dclahay 10 

State senator G. Hilliar , 10 

State representative William Plicks 10 

William B. Wade 10 

Tally-list complete. 

The certificate is correctly filled, anrl siofned as follows : 

SIMEON HULL, ) 



John Yocum, > ^. . 

Henry Hendenhall, \ ^i^^rics. 



G. J. DONALDSON, \ Judges. 
ALPHA SIMMONS, ) 



Tenth District — St. Joseph's Bottom. 
Poll-hook. 

1 Duvet Grover 7 Peter Gerarly 

2 Samuel Siler 8 Matthew Isles 

3 James M. Groom 9 Eugene Vagil 

4 Absalom Grooms > 10 James M. Gotten 

5 Richard Henly 11 John M. Curtis 

6 Adam Leven 12 Enoch Bartiett 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 



807 



13 Sam Shelton 


32 William Newman 


14 James Kendell 


.33 E. S. Dans 


15 James Curtis 


34 Florean Leber 


16 William Keaten 


35 Thomas Stewerd 


17 John T. Broicly 


36 D. Largler 


18 William 0. Duly 


37 S. V. Jamison 


19 Charles Richter 


38 George Bryan 


20 George Alexander 


39 Henderson Smalhvood 


21 Philip Kleppei 


40 B. Harding 


22 E.. S. Weaver 


41 Charles Stewart 


23 William High 


42 John Tretman 


24 J. D. Hyper 


43 Charles Acres 


25 J. F. Lambert 


44 James 0. Riley 


26 J. W. Frivett 


45 Asbery Eraser 


27 James Laveng 


46 Walter Smith 


28 Elihu Reno 


47 Lewis Bellman 


29 James Campbell 


48 A. A. Jameson 


30 John Rhodes 


49 W. A. Howard 


31 Tapley Ralph 


50 kelson Abbey. 



•Certificate correct. 



A. Labzelere, 
■S. V. Jameson, 



A. LARZELERE, ) 

HENDERSON SMALLWOOD, } Judge 
GEO. H. BRYAN, S 



Clerks. 



Tally UsL 

Crovernor Charles Robinson , .... 49 

W.Y.Roberts 1 

Lieutenant governor ,..W. Y. Roberts , 49 

Secretary of state... P. C. Schuyler 50 

Auditor , G. A. Cutler 49 

J. K. Goodin 1 

Treasurer .J. A. Wakefield 50 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 50 

Supreme court judges....... M. F. Conway 50 

M. Hunt 50 

S. N. Latta 50 

Reporter supreme court C. W. Thurston 50 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 50 

Public printer John Sf)eer 50 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 50 

State senator B. Harding 49 

J. M. Erwin 50 

State representative.... John Landis 50 

B. B. Martin '50 

A. A. Jamerson 49 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

B. Brock 56* 

S. R. Baldwin 50 

John Handy 50 

Tally-list complete. Certificate correct, except that the name of 
S. B. Floyd is put for E. M. Thurston as candidate fc-r reporter to 
supreme couit ; and E. M. Thwston for that of S. B. Floyd as candi- 
date for clerk of supreme court. Signed as follows :. 

A. LARZELERE, } 

HENDERSON SMALLWOOD, } Judofis. 
GEO. H. BRYAN. V 



A. LaRZELERE, } rn 1 

o ir T I Clerks. 

S, V. Jameson, i 



Tenth District — California.. 

Certificate, 

Kansas Territory, JammrylB, 1856. 

The eighteenth election district was held at the house of W. W. 
Moore^ for the following officers for Kansas Territory, namely : 

Governor W. Y. Roberts 31 

Lieutenant governor ....Charles Robinson 31 

Secretary of state. General Wakefield ,... 31 

Auditor .G. A. Cutler 31 

Congress M. W. Delehaj 31 

Attorney general H. M. Moore 31 

Judges Latta, Conway;, and Hunt ..... 31 

State printer John Speer 31 

Reporter supreme court E. Thouston 31 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 31 

Senators James M. Irvin , 31 

B. Hardin ;.... 31 

The legislators of this district Eli Williams 16 

J. W. Cornian 15 

We, the undersigned, judges of election, do certify that this is a 
true statement of the votes jJoHed at this district. 

U. H. BLUE, ) 

HIRAM BURGAR, } Judges, 
THOMAS NEWTON, > 

G. W. Chase, ) ^, , 

H. H. Lanhan, ^ ^^^'^''^' 



Tenth District — Jesse Padon's Precinct, 
Pdl-book, 

1 John Hackman 4 C. Husband 

2 P. Wise 5 David McCall 

3 Henry Smith 6 John Reeder 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 809 

7 (Teor2:e Winkles 20 Thomas J. Drnmmins 

8 Wm.'Purhel 21 Jacob In s^lehart 

9 E. W. Short 22 J. W. Welhart 

10 Isaac Hambj 23 Simon Bridges 

11 J. Padon 24 Jacob Spar 

12 Solomon- McCall 25 Rudolph Zimmerman 

13 John Poe 26 Henry Hurer 

14 John Schmith 2*7 Marcellus Lawins 

15 F. T. Robins 28 Amasa Owins 

16 Benjamin Winkles ' 29 John Roach 

17 Clifton Jentry 30 William Riley 

18 Thomas Strange 31 William Smith 

19 E. Painter 

Certificate correct, and signed as follows 



^ 



B. WI^^KLES, ) ^. , 
E. Painter, ^^^'"^• 



ISAAC T. HAMBY, ) 
JESSE PADON, \ Judges. 

SOLOMON McCALL, ) 



Tally-list. 

Governor Charles Robinson 27 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 27 

Secretary ot state...... P. C. Schuyler 27 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 27 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 27 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 27 

Supreme judges S. M. Latta 27 

M. F. Conway 27 

M. Hunt 27 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 27 

Clerk supreme court J. B. Floyd 27 

Public printer John Speer 27 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delahay 27 

State senator ...« J. Irvin 30 

B. Harden 27 

State representative William Purket 29 

Certificate correct. Tally-list has the name of S. M. Latta ; cer- 
tificate S. N., the name of the candidate. 

ISAAC L. HAMBY, ) 
SOLOMON McCALL, [ Judges. 
JESSE PADON, ) 

B. Winkles, ) ,,^g^^ 

E. Painter, ) 



810 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Tenth District — Iowa Point. 



Poll-booh. 



1 Wra. K. Wilson 

2 Samuel Wilson 

3 John MearivS 

4 Patrick McKee 

5 S. K. Thompson 

6 W. G. Wells 

7 Wilson Smith 

8 Aaron Lewis 

9 Samuel Earls 

10 Normaa Turner 

11 John S. Gramble 

12 Peter Goode 

13 Jacob Schmidt 

14 William Ellis 

15 M. W. Foster 

16 Robert Johnson 

17 Andrew Stevens 

18 S. K. Kirkman 



20 George Davis 

21 William Beattie 

22 Andrew Moore 

23 Thomas Rains 

24 John S. Bradly 

25 P. S. Wilmouth 

26 Harrison Baker 

27 R. H. Terry 

28 A. K. Went worth 

29 Henry Parker 

30 Edward H. Burbants 

31 W. McGuire 

32 John Ed son 

33 William McAfee 

34 D. S. Cliandler 

35 Matthew Young 

36 Patrick 0' Brian 

37 M. Raleigh 

38 Marion Jones 



19 Wilson Shoop 

Certificate correct in substance, though not in form, and signed as 
follows : 

his 1 

HENRY + PARKER, | 

mark \ Judges. 

M. YOUNG, 
JOHN EDSON, 
Wm. R. Wilson, ) ^. -, 
H. G. Wells, \ ^''^'^^^' 



Tally-list. 

Governor Charles Robinson 36 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 38 

Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 38 

Treasurer , J. A. Wakefield 38 

Judges supreme court S. N. Latta 38 

M. F. Ccmway 38 

M. Hunt 38 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 38 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 38 

State printer John Speer 38 

Clerk sui)rerae court 8. B. Floyd 38 

Reporter suy)reme court E. M. Thurston 38 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 38 

State senate B. Harding 37 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



811 



State representative. 



J. Irvin 38 

.— Purket 38 



Tally-list complete. 

Certificate correct attaclied to the poll-list. 



Tenth District — Palermo. 



Poll-hook. 



B. K. Martin 
Greorij^e Kincade 
William Wilmetb. 
Satniiel Anderson 
William Gaines 
James Morrisey 
Ezra Round , 

8 John D White 

9 J. J. Anderson 

10 William Chapman 

11 Joseph Crote 

12 Louis Tay 

13 W. Stelwell 

14 Nicolas Holms 



15 William Briten 

16 William Mikels 

17 T. M. Lemison 

18 William Lelbrgey 

19 Benj. Sprouse 

20 Nathan White 

21 J. T. Smith 

22 Mathew Elliott 

23 Samuel J. McAmey 

24 Gabriel Gerard 

25 Robert Myers 

26 John Hays 

27 L. S. Meeker 

28 John Jones. 



Certificate defective in not stating the number of votes ; otherwise 
good. Signed as follows : 

J. D. WHITE, ) 

J.J.ANDERSON, ) Judges. 
NATHAN WHITE, ) 

John Hays, \ rji^^j^^ 

Ezra Round, ) 



Tally -list. 

Governor Charles Robinson 28 

Lieutenant governor. W. Y. Roberts 28 

Secretary of state P. Schuyler 28 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 28 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 28 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 28 

Supreme judges S. N. Latta 28 

M. F. Conway 28 

M.Hunt 28 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 28 

Clerk supreme court ..S, B. Floyd 28 

Public j)rinter John Speer 28 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 28 

State senator Jas. M. Irvin 28 



812 



KANf^AS AVFAIRS. 



Stv^to roprosentatives 



r>. lliirvUni: "28 

. IV U. M;\rtin 28 

A. A. Jiunisou 28 

John LiUivlos 28 

Fv Bivvk 28 

8. K. IviUlwin 28 

John llrtulv 2S 



Tallies wmploto. Oortitioato oovroot, exoopt that it omits to state 
the votes re«.vivc<l l\v S. N. I.atta, M. F. Conway, and M. Hunt, tor 
jiulges of the supronxe court ; and ,lohn 7/(i«/</. in the tally-list, is 
called John Uamby in the certidcate. Siiiced t\i! follows: 

J. D.WIUTK. ) 

J.J. A N n K U8t ^ N . ^ Jndqe.^. 

NATHAN P. \VlUTi:,^ 



John Hays, ) .-,, , 
^ V. : Clerk's. 



Tkxth District — JJ'd/ JRiver. 



1 K. r. ■Ri.^havdsou 
2\V. M. n.olittle 

3 Henry Ulch 

4 James Lovine 

5 8yrus l>aUl\viu 

6 Isaac French 

T E F. Andrews 

8 J. A. Johnson 

9 A. J. Manier 

10 .rohii 8. Beeler 

11 Isaa^* Perkins 

12 S. K. Baldwin 

13 Robert H. McAlpin 

14 Alexander Loe 

15 G 1>. Spinning; 
H> James Gerwell 
IT Nathan Si>rini::;er 
IS Bolivar Beoler 



19 Joseph "Math ess 

20 Jjicoh Girwell 

21 Chester Seat 1 

22 J. Hohoy 

2o Frederick Pickerson 

24 James ^latliess 

25 Alfrtnl Stout 
2(> Ceorije Gooth 

27 J. Ar Kice 

28 Francis Purket 

29 J. 11. Jolly 

30 Thomas Fichew 

31 Wm. P. Beeler 

32 Gei\ AV. Smith 

33 James Glenn 

34 B. F. Lillev 

35 W. H. Baylis 
3t^ Elisha Boweii 



Certificate correct, and sii^ue^l as follows: 

ISAAC PERKINS, 



Isaac Perkins, K.^^^^ 
E. F. AxDRiiws. ) 



JOHN S. B Kb: LEU, "- Judges 
JOHN A. JOHNSON,^ 



KJkM$A»' AVFAIILH. 



TriUy (krajimtr,. 

The ta]ly-Ii«t Ih not rnfulc out. The cartWuttiUi tn filled a» follows : 

W'j, tlie J<i'lj.^<;H and clcrkn of <rhiCtion, h'T^hy cMrtti'y, upon our 
outJjK, that for \^<)\iiru(>r, VAiavXan iii^iiuHtm ha^l IJO vot<;« ; that for 
Jj'iit^jnant governor, W. Y, JV^hertH ha/1 TiO voUtH; and that for 
H'j:r<'Ajiry of xtate, P. C hv;huyler had 'iO vot<^ ; that for smdiU/r, 
(LA. Cutler had 'iCi voteH ; that for treasurer, J. A, Wakefield \nu\ 
'Ad voteH ; that for a^tt^^rney is/'ftt'sal, if, Mih;H Moore ha/J !>^> vot<;K ; 
that for judtre of the «ii|;renje <j>nri, H, N, Latta, M, T. Conway, M. 
Jlunt, had ^JO votfr« ; that for r<i[>orUir of the supreme court, K. M. 
'J'hurHton had 'M't votan ', that for elerk of the «unrer«e c/urt, H. 1$. 
Floyd ha^l liO voten ; that for puhlie i>nrtUir, John HiX'A'r ha/I iiO vot<;« ; 
that for reprenenUtlve in ('<)it!/r<:HH, Mark W, I><danay ha/1 IJO vot<;H ; 
tliai for Hfate m nator, ii. ila/ding had !iO votew ; J. M. iOrvine haxJ 
35 votex ; that for the hou«e of reprehenfativ«.'«, Wnj, I'ayljM Wl 3(5 
voUiH, &c., a« in the print<;d form. Signed ax followw: 

LSAAC PKKKINH, / 
J O J f N A . JOHN SON . [ JvA'itH. 
JOHN H. VjVAAAM, ) 
iHAAe Pkuk/.vh, > ^„ , 

\j. \' . A.S'iJJil.WK, 5 



Tkntii Dn-rmurt — Df/nxph/m. 



roUy-book, 



1 Alexander Vineyard 

2 r;. A. Cutler 

I^ ThotnaH H, Collias 

4 B. G. Cady 

5 Lyman Oak« 

JameH W, Collia8 

7 Lyman W. OakB 

8 G<'orge Wright 
(J pHt4;r Gary 

JO Theron Ha^^ker 

11 John I^andJH 

12 W. lJavi« 

VA Wm, J^aneaHter 

14 John Mcllee 

15 John McNernee 
IfJ D. W. Field 



17 Thoma« P>e«t 

18 Wm. P. Irwin 
Hi Wm. PoehgeH 

20 Qulnc^^y P«-ll 

21 Luther l>icker»^m 

22 Wm, Ht^jphenHon 
2;i Jjandon Tran>>on 

24 A. Dunn 

25 TaKt<;r TuaU'Tincm 
20 b. Jt, Wilwar 

27 Norn; an Alexander 

28 ThomaH O*ok 

21i Gf'orge Klee^holder 

30 William iiall 

31 John 11. Whitaker 

32 0. E. h>ock>j 



Certificate correct, Kigrie^l a» follows : 

T. J. COLLINS, i 

W.M. p. JRWiN, [jvArjt^. 

W31. A. LA.\CA>STEIi, ^ 
Thera.v Tcckbe, ? ^,; 7 



814 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Tally -list. 

Governor Charles Robinson 32 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 32 

Secretary of .state P. C. Schuyler •. 32 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 31 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 32 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 32 

Supreme judge M. F. Conway 31 

M.Hunt 32 

S. N. Latta 31 

Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 32 

Clerk to supreme court S. B. Floyd 32 

Public printer John Speer 32 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 32 

State senator James M. Irvine 30 

B. Harding 30 

State representative , John Lundis 28 

B. R. Martin 27 

B. Brock 28 

A. A. Jamieson 29 

Tally-list complete ; certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

T. J. COLLINS, ) 

WM. P. IRWIN, \ Judges, 

WM. A. LANCASTER, ) 

TiiERON Tucker, ) ^t ■, 

John McKee, ^ ^^^^^^*- 



Tenth District — Burr Oak. 

Poll-booh. 

1 Daniel Bowman 13 J. W. More 

2 Valentine Gunselman 14 Steven Piesson 

3 Jolin Meaky 15 Patrick Tiiidal 

4 B. H. Brock 16 Abs. Shults 

5 J. P. Harper 17 Thoinas Bell 

6 John Hack 18 Amos P. Young 
n Ch. Hack 19 Mathew Ward 

8 C. H. Rogers 20 J. M. Hartuian 

9 John Lovel 21 Henrv Gocke 

10 Sol. Calvin 22 John^Lieb 

11 Wra. B. Sharp 23 Godfrey Guramig 

12 Henry Wilson 24 Thomas McUllock 
Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

HENRY WILSON, } 

JOHN LOVEL, \ Judges. 

CHARLES H. ROGERS, > 

WiTLiAM B. Sharp, > rji^^i.^ 

Solomon Calvin, '^ " 



KANSAS AFFAIES. 



815 



Tally-list. 

Govern or Ch arl es Enbinson 24 

Lieutenant tjovernor W. Y. Roberts 24 

Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 24 

Auditor* Cr. A. Ontler 24 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 24 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 24 

Supreme judg,e S. N. Latta 24 

M. F. Conway 24 

M. Hunt 24 

Reporter to supreme court.- E. M. Thurston 24 

Clerk to su])rerae court S. B. Floyd 24 

Public printer John 8|)eer 24 

Representative to Congress MarkW. Delehay 24 

State senator James M. Irvin 24 

B. Harding 24 

State representative B. H. Brock 24 

B. R. Martin 24 

A. A. Jamerson 24 

S. R. Balwin 24 

J. Hamby 24 

John Landis 24 

Tally-list complete ; certificate correct, and si<rned as follows : 

HENRY WII SUN, ; 

JOHN LOVEL, V Jiidges. 

CHARLES H. ROGERS, ) 



Wm. B. Sharp, 
Solomon Calvin, 



Clerks. 



Eleventh District — Mount Pleasant Precinct, 





Poll-hooh. 




I Joseph Potter 


13 


John S. Quinett 


2 Hiram Qiiinett 


14 


J. M. Edings 


3 J. W. Evans 


15 


W. C. Quinett 


4 Geo. Harman 


16 


J. H. Campbell 


5 J. B. Laird 


17 


Wm. Pebier 


6 A. W. Prabler 


18 


Ben Pay 


7 John Harman 


19 


James McManama 


8 Thomas S. Henson 


20 


P. McNamama 


9 A. S. Speak 


21 


Archibald McNamama 


10 D. E. Jones 


22 


J. L, Jones 


11 A. J. C(.x 


23 


J. C. Red ge way 


12 B. F. Edwards 


24 


Henry Clime 



816 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

25 H. C. Jones 35 Wm. ^Martin 

26 Ct. Bkdset 36 John Miller 

27 W. H. Nichols 37 John Strain 

28 E. P. Zimmerman 38 Joel Martin 

29 J. Robinson 39 A. T. Musser 

30 H. R. Gale 40 James Hesman 

31 M. Wilkins 41 C. Senboiigh 

32 E. Skerilaugh 42 M. Greenboiigh 

33 J. W. Stephens 43 Wm. Martin 

34 T. M. Potter 44 M. Berry 

Certificate properly filled, and signed as follows : 

W. MARTIN. ^ 



John Stratx, ) ^^^^.^.^ 
J. T. Massek, ) 



T. M. PUTTER. \ Judges. 
JOHN MILLER, ^ 



TaUy-Ust. 

Governor Charles Robinson 42 

W. Y. Roberts 1 

Lieutenant governor TV. Y. Roberts 42 

M. J. Parrott 1 

Secretarv of state P. C. Schuvler 42 

C. K. Holiiday 1 

Auditor S. A. Cutler 42 

W. R. Griffith : 1 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 42 

E. C. K. Garvey 1 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 43 

Supreme judge S. N. Latta 42 

Geo. AV. Smith 1 

M. F.Conway 42 

S. W. Johnson 1 

M.Hunt 42 

J. A. Wake^eld 1 

Reporter supreme court.. E. M. Thurston 42 

S. B. McKenzie 1 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 43 

State printer John Speer 42 

R.G.Elliot 1 

Representative to Congress M. \V. Delahay 43 

State senator D. E. Jones 36 

J. F. Hathway •. 6 

State representative ...John D. Jones 27 

E. R. Zimmerman 43 

J. W. Stevens 3 

W. T. Barnett.." 42 



KAXSAS JLgWMSaA 



817 



Luther Knox 35 

J.C. Eidgewav 29 

Wm. Crosbev- 34 

Taily-list complete. 

Certificate properlr filled, and si^aei a5 rol.?'^? : 

W. MAETLS". ) 

F. M. POTTEE. ' Judges. 

JOBS MILLEE. ) 



PiM^book. 



19 -JoSmson Mr^rs 

20 J. K. Gt»bble 

21 Saai5-oii Gobble 

22 X. P. Stearnes 

23 E. E. Clark 

24 S. P. Smiia 

25 H. Atkins 

26 J. Aadtrrs*??! 

27 J. D. Caldwell 

28 W. Butler 

29 H. F^k 

oO A. C. Brows 

31 J. H. PerrT 

32 S. Knox 

-53 P. W,>>iwari 

34 Joha Smith 

35 A. C JoRes 



1 


David Halev 


2 


W. L 


. J-obiisoa 


O 


John 


Fulk. jr. 


4 


M. Kinkaid 


5 


A. K. 


Fnlk 


6 


Job a 


Hoa?e 


4 


M. L. 


Crittenies. 


s 


J. P. 


M.>-'Eev 


^ 


John 


F^lk- S-. 


10 


Am<® C. S&vs<^ 


11 


T. L. 


Crane 


12 


Cbarl 


€« Bicharde^?B 


13 


Job a 


P. Woodward 


14 


ChaH 


^ C. JohesvE 


15 


J. M. 


Vano? 


16 


Spartan Bjlx 


17 


J. K. 


LawrxBce 


IS 


T. E. 


Martin 



I. 



ertiBcgte correctly SJfed. and signed as follows : 

JOHN HOUSE, 

DAVID HELEY, )• Judges, 

WILLIAM L JOHXSOX, ) 



^crB<w, 



ersor 



H, E^p. 300- 



diaries Bobiason... ...... ..,»,»»« 

W. Y. Eoberts 33 

W. Y. P».:berts 3 

M. J. Parrott 23 

, P. a iSc-Qvl^ 32 



-o- 



818 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

C. K. Holliday 32 

Auditor G. A. Cutler 3 

W. R. Griffith 32 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield ;5 

E. C. E. Garvey 32 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 35 

Supreme judge ^- N. Latta 3 

^ G.W.Smith 32 

M. F. Conway 3 

>S. W. Johnson.. 32 

M. Hunt 3 

J.A.Wakefield.... 32 

Reporter to jtupreme court. ..........E. M. Thurston 3 

S. B. McKenzie... 32 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 35 

Public printer John Speer 3 

R. G. Elliott 32 

Representative to Congress M. W. Delahay 35 

State senator D. E. Jones 30 

J. F. Hathaway . 5 

State representatives..., John D. Jones 2T 

E. K. Zimmerman 35 

John W. Stephens 35 

Wm. Crosby 35 

Wm. T. Barnet 25 

A. C. Ridgeway.. 1 

Tallies complete. 

The certifiate is correctly filled, and signed as follows : 

JOHN HOUSE, ) 
DAVID HELEY, \ Judges, 
W. L. JOHNSON, ) 



John Fulk, ) ^^^^^ 

Chas. Richardson, ) 



Twelfth District — WyandoU, 
Poll-book, 

1 John H, Davis 11 George Spybuck 

2 Jacob Heck 12 Russia Choplog 

3 John Lewis 13 Isaac P. Driver 

4 William Jonsin 14 George Whitewing 

5 John Batuist 15 Jacob Whitewing 

6 John Solomon 16 Aaron Ellar 

7 James Armstrong 17 Jacob Ulrick 

8 Smith Nicholas 18 William Ruffe 

9 Samuel Bigringer 19 John Brumback 

10 UaXh. Mudeater 20 Stephen F.' Henderson 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 819 



29 Robert Eobertaille 


30 


Matthew Splitlog 


31 


Isaac Zane 


32 


Jacob Byers 


33 


Abalard Guthrie 


34 


R. M. Ainsworth 


35 


Ethan Bigarms 



21 CD. Honderson 

22 Isaac B. Hoover 

23 Ebenezer Zane 

24 Benjamin Ulrich 

25 Henry S. Messinhimer 

26 David Longneker 

27 Daniel Holsinger 

28 Squire Grayeyes 



Tally-list. 

Governor A. H. Reeder 1 

Charles Robinson 1 

W. Y. Roberts 1 

Lieutenant governor W. Y. Roberts 34 

Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 35 

Auditor! G. A. Cutler 35 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 35 

Attorney general H, Miles Moore 35 

Supreme judge S. N. Latta '. 35 

M. F. Conway 35 

M. Hunt 35 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 35 

Clerk supreme court J. B. Floyd 35 

Public printer John Spcer 35 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 1 

State senator J. H. Dennis 35 

J. C. Green 35 

Jacob Ulrich 33 

State representative Jacob Byer ". 34 

M. Mudeater 35 

B. P. Brown 35 

James Todd 35 

J. K. Edsill 35 

R. M. Ainsworth 32 

William Penuock 35 

Isaac Cody 35 

F. G. Byrd 35 

Tally-list complete. 

Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

ABEl.ARD GUTHRIE, > 
MATTHIAS SPLITLOGS, } Judges. 
JOHN LEWIS, ) 

Daniel Holsinger, ) ^j , 
John Brumback, ) * " . 



820 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Sixteenth District — Leavenicorth , 
PoU-book. 



1 J. K. Elsard 

2 Wm. H. Hipsley 

3 G. Gosling 

4 H. M. Hook 

5 Wm. Morgan 

6 B. Jennings 

7 F. Silkman 

8 John C. Gormais 

9 A. S'tewart 

10 J. H. Doyle 

11 S. J. Anthony 

12 K. B. Eoberts 

13 George Eussell 

14 G. M. Fisher 

15 A. F. Kile 

16 N. tSage 

17 J: D. R0S3 

18 G. W. Gordran 

19 W. Wakefield 

20 C. F. Cumer 

21 W. Cornman 

22 C. Bennett 

23 S. P. Patte 

24 F. Quentet 

25 W. Asher 

26 H. C. Fields 

27 J. S. Wheatly 

28 C. Zidus 

29 H. M. Moore 

30 C. H. Pearce 

31 Paul Rohr 

32 T. C. McKee 

33 Noah ISaverton 

34 A. C. Gates 

35 W. T. Marvin 

36 T. Luce 

37 Jolm T. Luce 

38 B. Luce 

39 Charles P. Wigginw 

40 Dr. S. Norten 

41 M. Norten 

42 C. Harris 

43 A. Fisher 

44 N. McCracken 

45 J. Howell 

46 W. H. Rhods 



47 W. Wallace 

48 J. T. Wallace 

49 J. E. Wallace 

50 John Fisher 

51 A. Deetz 

52 A. M. Lattis 

53 J. W. Shnmner 

54 W. Biren 

55 Ludwig Wax 

56 Edward Cook 

57 Thomas Smith 

58 John G. Gosen 

59 John Lener 

60 John Hiigner 

61 N. Miller 

62 Martin Smith 

63 John Stineburgh 

64 Henry Straw 

65 George Leister 

66 George Odel 

67 John New 

68 Futts 

69 T. T. Sclocum 

70 L. Echelberry 

71 W. Jones 

72 P. Flanery 

73 T. C. Shoemaker 

74 M. McGrew 

75 T. Flanerv 

76 W. L. Diesser 

77 James Sillv 

78 J. E. Grant 

79 J. W. Barber 

80 D. W. Lane 

81 William Perie 

82 Jerry Kain 

83 Wni. R. Rntler 

84 G. H. Wilson 

85 R, A. Allen 

86 John Heany 

87 George Keller 

88 L. B. Snow 

89 F. E. Burd 

90 Sampson Miller 

91 S. Edwards 

92 John Fossett 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



821 



93 Samuel Vareles 

94 Henry Wells 

95 Amos Graff 

96 John Gliitspur 

97 Lewis Gillspeer 

98 Gustus Subnler 

99 Henry Bleillj 

100 Merrit E. Merry 

101 Joseph Valmen 

102 Patric Welsh 

103 Howel Glutsen 

104 John Gary 

105 Emanuel Latwortli 

106 Andrew Smith 

107 Joseph Alchimer 

108 Philip Krag 

109 Lewis Shults 

110 George A. Hancock 

111 E. W. Haskell 

112 Sebastian Gill 

113 Henrv Fruell 

114 S. W". Woods 

115 John Rafferty 

116 J. J. Maccommon 

117 John Liss 

118 John Billing 

119 Charles Tanbrunt 

120 Isaac C. Lester 

121 Patric Lyons 

122 James Neville 

123 John Hamilton 

124 S. Hash rook 

125 James Measan 

126 Thomas Gilman 

127 Jonathan K. Davis 



128 Michael Shay 

129 James Shay 

130 D. M. Griffith 

131 F. T. Dancessen 

132 Samuel G. Green 

133 Linekin 

134 B. F. Bly 

135 J. A. Vanduewel 

136 A. F. Palmer 

137 F. C. Stephens 

138 Jacob Hughes 

139 H. C. Lee 

140 John Robinson 

141 W. F. Ellaghan 

142 William Gibby . 

143 Augustus Meacham 

144 William Crogan 

145 Eugene Carty 

146 George Lenhart 

147 John G. Grant 

148 John Frankhend 

149 Frederick Welsh 

150 John Collins 

151 W. Alexander 

152 James Dawson' 

153 W. Pierce 

154 Andrevv^ McClean 

155 James Sky 

156 Andrew Hogan 

157 John Dawson 

158 James King 

159 Peter McDill 

160 Patrick Woods 

161 Thomas Bishop 

162 T. J. Campbell 



The certificate omits to state the number of votes. Signed as follows : 

H. M. HOOK, 
T. J. CAMPBELL, 

G. Gosling, ) ^. , 

Thomas Bishop, ) 



Judges. 



Tally-list. 

Governor Charles Robinson 94 

Lieuteniint governor W. Y. Roberts 94 

M. J. Parrott 7 

Secretary of state P. C. Schuyler 94 

C. K. Holliday 7 

Auditor..... S. A. Cutler 94 

W. R. Griffith 7 



822 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield O'i 

E. C. K. Garvey 7 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 101 

Supreme court judges L. N. Latta 101 

M. F. Conway 94 

M. Hunt 94 

Geo. W. Smith T 

S. W, Johnson 7 

Reporters supreme court E. M. Thurston 94 

S. R. McKenzie 7 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 101 

Public printer John Speer 94 

R. S. Elliott 7 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 100 

State senator D. Dodge 162 

Wm. Pcnnock 162 

H. M.Hook 162 

State representative T. A. Maynard 162 

Adam Fisher 162 

J. K. Edsaul 162 

S.Sharks 162 

Isaac Cody 161 

R. P. Brown 162 

George Gosling 1 62 

L. P. Patte 162 

T. J. Canfield. 162 

Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

H. M. HOOK, ) J , 

T. J. CAMPBELL, \ '^'^^9^- 

G. Gosling, ) ^; -, 

Thos. Bisuop, J^^^^/^- 



Sixteenth District — Easton. 





PoU-hook. 


1 David Dodge 


15 Martin Clark 


2 Edward Beckner 


16 David Brown 


3 Thomas Tritt 


17 Harrison D. Patteson 


4 H. J. Adams 


18 Adam Brown 


5 Thomas Shi ply 


19 L. D. Bedgood 


6 G. R. Hunts 


20 K. L. Jessee 


V Levi White 


21 Henry Ogle 


8 J. C. Green 


22 Embry Curtny 


9 G A. Taylor 


23 Zachariab S[)arks 


10 R. P. Brown 


24 Mathew Rolston 


11 Samuel Horton 


25 Josiah Dark 


12 John Trett 


26 Jesse Piles 


13 James Renfuth 


27 Wm. R. 'Tubbs 


14 Wm. Peacock 


28 Samuel Dark 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



823 



29 Amaziah Sparks 

30 John A. Lawyer 

31 Joseph Hicks 

32 B. F. Hicks 

33 Thomas Pearson 

34 Moses Sparks 

35 Stephen Sparks, jr. 

36 George Swain 

37 Wm. Pen nock 

38 S. G. Robeson 

39 C. C. Linville 

40 D. L, McMichael 

41 Wm. McDonald 

42 John Poe 

43 James Comstock 

44 C. W. Lucas 

45 J. H. Bird 

46 Columbus C. Crane 

47 Thomas A. Minard. 

48 Joseph T. Wright 

49 John Wright 

50 Francis Browning 

51 Stephen Sparks 

52 Wm. Rose 



53 Clark Tritt 

54 R. B. Pennock 

55 Wra„ Butt 

56 Cliester Feney 

57 P. Dowland 

58 Philip Becker 

59 Joseph Pennock 

60 Andrew Nixon 

61 Wra. Sparks 
€2 John Sparks 

63 Patrick R. Orr 

64 Wm. Hayes 

65 Wm. Martin 

66 Robert Whitehead 

67 Joseph Elliott 

68 Terry Crutch field 

69 Atchison Campbell 

70 Charles S. Foster 

71 Henry C. Suttoa 

72 D. D. Bolt 

73 Jap. H. York 

74 Samuel Bixley 

75 Robert Knight 

76 Wm. M. Bohart 



The blanks in the certificate ar« not filled. Signed as follows: 

FRANCIS BROWNING, i 
JOSEPH T. WRIGHT, } Judges. 
JOHN WRIGHT, ) 

Joseph H. Bird, 

T, W, Lucas, 



Clee-ks. 



Poll-list to supply u vacancy. 



1 Thos. A. Minard 

2 Martin Klein 

3 Simeon Hull 

4 J. B. Taylor 

5 Daniel Shipley 

6 Wra. Rose 

7 Moses Hicks 

8 John Chadwick 

9 Jas. H. Yorke 

10 J. W. Comstock 

11 Daniel Nickson 

12 Chester Jerry 

13 C. C. Lenville 

The certificate to the number of 
further certify that Patrick R, Orr 



14 F. W. Hcndrick 

15 W. R. Tubbs 

16 Joseph Hicks 

17 W. M. Bathurst 

18 Levi White 

19 D. S. McMichael 

20 John Trett 

21 Henrv Sutton 

22 H. D". Patterson ' 

23 John Strain 

24 P. R. Orr 

25 Wm, Sparks 

votes is correct. The judges 
received the whole twenty- five 



824 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

votes for representative, in the place of R. P. Brown, deceased 

Signed as follows : 

JOHN W. HENDRICK, ) 
WELLAR J. R. TUBES, [ Judges. 
D. S. McMICKLE, } 



Joseph Hicks, >^^^^j^ 

C. C. LlNYIL, \ 



Tally-U&t. 



Governor , ,,.,.,.... ...Charles Robinson ..>,... 66 

W. Y. Roberts.... G 

Lieutenant governor , .W. Y. Roberts 6G 

Parrot T 

Secretary of state. P. C. Schuyler . 66 

C. K. Holliday T 

Auditor, „.. .......G. A. Cutler — 66 

W. R. Griffith T 

Treasurer... , .J. A. Wakefield 65 

E. C. K. Garvey & 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore...... *73 

Supreme judge ....S. M. Latta 7S 

G. W. Smith. T 

M. F. Conway 66 

S. W. Johnston T 

H. Hunt 66 

Reporter to supreme court E. M. Thurston 66 

S. B. McKenzie T 

Clerk to supreme court S. B. Floyd "73 

Public printer John Speer 66 

R. G. Elliott T 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 73 

State senator. J. C. Green 6T 

Pennock 1 

H. J. Adams 6T 

J. H. Dennis. 60 

David Dodge 14 

State representative....... , Wm. Pennock.. 72 

David Dodge.. 2 

J. K. Edsaul 73 

Stephen Sparks 73 

J. Berger 59 

Dr. Patte 72 

R.P.Brown. 73 

S. J. Campbell... 73 

T. H. Misnard 74 

G. Gosling 6 

Mathew Madeator 57 

A. Fisher 14 

Isaac Cody .*. 14 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 825 

Blank certificate not filled. Signed as follows: 

FRANCIS BROWNING, 



Joseph H. Bird, ) ... , 
C. W . Lucas, ) 



JOSEPH T. WRIGHT, \ Judges. 
JOHN WRIGHT, S 



Seventeenth District — Mission Precinct. 

Poll-hook. 

1 John Owen 7 Jolm H. Osborne 

2 Henry Wilson 8 John Lockhart 

3 Calvin A. Conatzer 9 William Tipton 

4 Samuel M. Conatzer 10 Richard N. Pearson 

5 Lewis Dcmgherty 11 William F. Harvey. 
■ 6 George L. Osborne 

Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

GEO. L. OSBORNE, ) 

SAMUEL M. CONATZER, \ Judges. 
LEWIS DOUGHERTY, ) 

John H. Osborne, \ p-, n 

John Lockhart, S 



Tally-list. 

Governor Charles Robinson 10 

Lieutenant governor M. J. Parrott 9 

W. G. Roberts 1 

Secretary of state P. C.Schuyler 10 

Auditor S. A. Cutler 10 

Treasurer J. A. Wakefield 10 

Attorney general H. Miles Moore 10 

Supreme judge S. N. Latta 10 

Morris Hunt 10 

M. F. Conway 10 

Reporter supreme court E. M. Thurston 10 

Clerk of supreme court Scott Anthony 9 

Public printer John Speer 10 

Representative to Congress Mark W. Delehay 10 

State senator Wiley Jones 2 

Perry Fuller 9 

State representative Samuel Mewhenney 10 

John Lockhart 11 

S. W. E. Griffith 1 

Clerk supreme court S. B. Floyd 1 

Certificate correct, and signed as follows : 

GEO. L. OSBORNE, ) 
SAM'L M. CONATZER, \ Judges. 
LEWIS DOUGHERTY, ) 
John H. Osborne, ) ^^^^^ 
John Lockhart, ) 



826 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



BLANK FORMS. 



Form of oath. 

We, _ 

do swear that we will perform our duties as judges of the election, to 
be held at the house of , in the election district of 

the Territory of Kansas, to the best of our ability and judgment ; that 
we will keep a true, correct, and faithful record or list of all persons 
who shall vote at said election ; that we will poll no ticket from any 
person who has not been an actual resident of the said Territory for 
thirty days next preceding said election, and whom we shall not honestly 
believe to be a qualified voter, according to the provisions of the con- 
stitution formed at Topeka, and signed the 12th day of November, 
1855 ; and that we will truly count and record the votes received, 
and make a true and faithful return thereof to the chairman of the 
executive committee of Kansas Territory. 

Sworn and subscribed, January 15, 1855, previous to opening the 
polls, before us, 

• > Judges. 

> Clerks. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



627 



Poll-booh of dedors ivJio voted at an election held on the 15A day of Janu- 
ary, A. D. 1856, at precinct, in District No. , in Kansa,s, 
for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, 
attorney general, three supreme judges, re^jorter of the supreme court, 
clerk of the supreme court, public printer, representative to Congress, 
and senators and rejyresentaiives to the general assembly of the State 
of Kansas. 



No. 



Names of voters 



No. 



Names of votera. 



We, the undersigned, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that the whole number of votes cast at an election 
held at precinct, in Kansas, on the 15th day of January, 

A. D. 1856, for State oflicers, representative to Congress, and mem- 
bers of the general assembly, to be in number ; and we further 
certify tliat the said voters were bona-fide citizens of the United States, 
of the age of twenty-one years and upwards, and actual residents of 
Kansas for thirty days immediately preceding said election. 

> Judges. 



Clerks. 



828 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Tallylist of votes cast at an election held on the 15th day of January, A. 
D. 1856, at precinct, in District No. , in Kansas, 

for the election of State ql/icers, a representative in Congress, and 
members of the general assembly of the State of Kansas. 



We, the undersigaed, judges and clerks of election, hereby certify 
upon our oaths, that for governor, had votes ; that 

for lieutenant-governor, had votes; that for secre- 

tary of State, had votes; that for auditor, 

had votes ; that for treasurer, had votes ; 



had 
had 



votes ; that for 
votes ; that for 
had votes ; that for clerk 

had votes ; that for public 

votes ; that for representative in Con- 
votes ; that for State senator_, 



that for attorney-general, 
judge of the supreme court, 
reporter of supreme court, 
of the supreme court, 
printer, had 

gress, had 

had votes. 

And we do further certify, that the said electors were hona-fide 
citizens of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years and up- 
wards, and actual residents of Kansas for thirty days immediately 
preceding said election. 

[judges. 

> Clerks. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 829 



EMIGRANT AID SOCIETY AND EMIGRATION IN MAItCH, 1855. -CAUSES OF 
EXCITEMENT IN MISSOURI.— SECRET S0CI1:T1KS. 



Daniel Mace called and sworn. 
To Mr. Oliver: 

Immediately after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act, I, toge- 
ther with a number of others, who were members of Congress and 
fienators, believing that the tendency of that act would be to make 
Kansas a slave State, in order to prevent it, formed an association 
here in Washington, called, if I recollect aright, " The Kansas Aid 
Society." 1 do not remember all who became members of that society, 
but quite a number of members who were opposed to slavery in Kan- 
sas, of the lower House, and also of the Senate, became members of 
it, and subscribed various sums of money. I think I subscribed either 
$50 or -flOO; I am not now ])rcpared to say wliich. 

We i8su(?d a circular to the j)eople of the country, of the northern 
States particularly, in wliich we set forth what we believed were the 
dangers of making Kansas a slave State, and urged that steps be 
taken to induce persons from the north, who were opposed to slavery, 
to go there and prevent its introduction, if possible. We sent a great 
many circulars to various parts of the United States, Avith that object, 
and also communications of various kinds. 1 do not now remember 
what they weie. The object was to have persons induced to go to 
Kansas who would make that their home, and who would, at all 
elections, vote against the institution of slavery. 

I think Mr. Goodrich, of Massachusetts, was the president of the 
society. I am not certain about the vice-presidents; probably Mr. 
Fenton, of New York, and myself, were vice-presidentH. The names 
of the president and vice-presidents were attached to our circulars, 
which we sent throughout tlie country. 

My recollection is, that generally, those members of the House and 
Senate who were opposed to the Kansas-Nebraska act became mem- 
bers of this society, and contributed to it. 

The leading ])rimary object of the association was to prevent the 
introduction of slavery into Kansas, as I stated during the short ses- 
sion of Congress, in answer to a question propounded to me by your- 
self, I believe. We believed that, unless vigorous steps of that kind 
were taken, Kansas would become a slave State. I do not remember 
the caption of tlie subscription paper. I think no other object was 
mentioned or sf)ecified, except the prevention of slavery in Kansas. 
I think that was the sole object of the movement. 

I do not recollect whether Mr. Speaker Banks was a member of that 
society or not, or whether Senator Seward was or not. Mr. Good- 
rich kept the books. My impression is, that a majority of those who 
voted against the bill were members of that ori^-anization. 1 do not 



830 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

remember tlie total amount of money raised by means of that organi- 
ziation. We bad a room here, and employed a secretary, and conse- 
quently bad expenses to pay. I do not know tbe amount raised. I 
think there were persons, members of that association, who were not 
members of either house of Cong-ress. Mr. Latham Avas appointed 
treasurer, but declined; and my impression is, that Mr. Blair became 
the treasurer; but I may be mistaken about that. 

DAN-L MACE. 
Washington City, July 1, 1850. 



Charles Eobinson sworn. 

To Mr. Keeder : 

On the morning of the 30th of March, 1855, I was at Topeka, but 
arrived here in Lawrence shortly after dinner, and remained here the 
rest of the day. Between here and Tecumseh I met with a crowd of 
persons, strangers to me — perhaps 200 or so. I first came into the 
Territory in July, 1854. I did not come here permanently until 
about the first of September. On the day of election, when I reached 
here, I found a large encampment, and quite a crowd around the 
polbs. I went into the camp. I do not know as I was previously ac- 
quainted with any of the party in the camp. They made no secret 
about coming from Missouri, but claimed they had a right to control 
this Territory, and that northern men had no right here. At the 
polls, Mr. Willis was along for the ])urposc of voting, having rei'rained 
up to that time ; and he was assailed by a crowd who got about him and 
called him a damned abolitionist, and negro thief, &c,, and cried out 
to hang him. After some excitement and apparent danger of violence, 
Mr. Willis got away. There was nothing else during the balloting, 
but the crowd in the evening threatened destruction to us, and it was 
considered necessary to have a guard here of a liundred men. Tliese 
men liad arms in tlieir camps, shot-guns and common rifles ; and side- 
arms, mostly bowie-knives and revolvers. Many had heavy hickory 
sticks. Quite a number left tlie day of election ; some remained until 
the next morning. There was but one party came from the east that 
spring under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society, and arrived in 
Kansas City about a week before the election. There were between IGO 
and 170, including women andchiklren. I returned to the Territory 
with that party. They came here and settled, so far as I know. They 
settled principally at Topeka, though some went to difierent parts of 
the Territory. They met the committee of their own number at this 
place on the day of election, tliey having been sent out to select a 
place. A few of that party went home, some in a few days, some in 
a few weeks, who were dissatisfied with the Territory. The principal 
part of the party are here now. Some came out here to look at the 
country, and intended to return ; but none of them voted, to my know- 
ledge. I do not think one-fourth of the party who determined to stop 
in the Territory voted here. I do not know of anybody who did vote, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 831 

but I know many who said tliey would not vote until tliey knew posi- 
tively where they were to locate. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

1 counted up this mornini;^, with tlie assistance of my wife, the num- 
ber of the women and children Avho came out, and we made out over 
fifty. We came out with them. I should tliink there were as many 
as twenty-five women. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

I did not hear anything said, in the disturbance with Mr. Willis, 
about his interfering with a negro woman. He was there for the 
purpose of voting when he was assailed. I was in the encampment, 
and heard them say they had a right to control the Territory, but did 
not understand them to say they had a right to vote because these 
eastern men came here to vote. 

April 26, 1856. C. EOBINSON. 

Mr. Oliver objects to any evidence as to what the witness heard 
others say as to their objects in visiting this Territory, and insists 
that persons who did vote are competent witnesses, and should be 
subpoenaed. 



Charles Robinson recalled. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I arrived at Kansas City about a week before the election of the 30th 
of March, 1855, and arrived here the day of the election, having made 
a tour of the southern portion of the Territory. Since I testified be- 
fore, I have seen the list of passengers who came out at that time, and 
the women and children amounted to 66 — 32 I think were women, 
and 34 were children. I left Boston, I think, about the 13th of 
March. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

That was the only company under the auspices of the Emigrant 
Aid Company, that had come out that spring up to that time. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I first heard of the election at St. Louis, hut think I did not then 
hear the exact day of the election. I heard it from Dr. Leib, whom I 
met at St. Louis. We could not hear before I left Boston when the 
election was to be. I was then in Boston nearly a week in the office 
of the Emigrant Aid Society. They had no intelligence in relation to 
the time of election before I left. 

C. ROBINSON. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 1, 1856. 



Samusl C. Smith called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I arrived in the Territory on the evening of the 29th of March, 



832 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

1855, and settled over on the Wakarusa, some two miles south of 
the Bine Mound, and from seven to nine miles from Lawrence, and 
liave resided there ever since. I was one of a party under the ar- 
rangement of the Emigrant Aid Society. The only arrangement I 
made of them was to purchase a ticket at the ofiice of the company 
from Boston to Kansas City. I purchased the ticket in connexion 
with some half a dozen others from Cambridge, Massachusetts. We 
got tickets somewhat less than we otherwise could, and an agent 
came out with us. Beside this, we had no advantage, except associ- 
ating with a larger number who were coming out, which was more 
pleasant than coming alone. No questions were asked, or promises 
required, in regard to my political opinions, or as to the place where 
I would settle in the Territory. Our jjarty was the first party that 
came out that spring under their arrangements. There was no party 
under the auspices of that company that reached here before we did 
that spring. We left Boston on Tuesday, the 13th of March, 1855. 
There were somewhere between one hundred and fifty and two hun- 
dred men, women, and children, in our party. There were a number 
of families with us, and I should think there were over fifty women 
and children, but I cannot state exactly. All of the party, I have 
no doubt at all, were persons who came to the Territory for purposes 
of settlement. There are a great many who have settled about this 
place — some at Topeka, and some in other parts of the Territory. A 
few of them returned before coming into the Territory at all, coming 
no farther than Kansas City. A few returned after stopping one 
night in the Territory, and before the election, I know of two who 
returned on the Sunday succeeding the election. I first heard the 
election was to take place in the latter part of March, on the Monday 
morning of our arrival in St. Louis. There was no earlier intelli- 
gence of the matter in our party, that I know of. I was acquainted 
with some of the officers of the Emigrant Aid Society. I did not 
hear of their having any knowledge of the time of the election before 
I left. I have been engaged in farming, and that is what I term my 
occupation here. 

SAMUEL G. SMITH, 
Lawrence, K. T., May 1, 1856. 



Benjamin Slater called and sworn, 

I reside in St. Louis, Missouri, and my business is that of commis- 
sion and forwarding. I have been engaged in that business for some 
four years. I have resided in this city, off and on, since 1837. I was 
acting as agent for the New England Emigrant Aid Society in March, 
1855 ; my office being in the same building as Mr. F. A. Hunt. My 
arrangement with that company was nothing more than to engage 
the passage of all persons who came out under their care, from this 
place to Kansas City, at a price not to exceed $10 each. So far as I 
know, the society did not pay for the expenses of the passengers, but 
each one paid for himself. All tlie society did, so far as I understood. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 833 

was to get tickets through from Boston to St. Louis for twenty-five 
per cent, less than ordinary rates. Each passenger paid his own fare 
at the reduced rate. I do not know that the Emigrant Aid Society 
received any benefit at all from the reduced rates. 

There were but two parties that went out under the care of that 
society in the month of March, 1855. One party was under the care 
of Dr. Charles Robinson, consisting of one hundred and fifty-nine 
passengers, leaving St. Louis on the steamer Sonora, March 26, 1855. 
The other party was under the care of John Farwell, consisting of 
one hundred and forty passengers, leaving St. Louis on the steamer 
Kate Sweaney, March 26, 1855. I learned afterwards of Captain 
Chouteau, of the Kate Sweaney, that he was some two weeks getting 
up to Kansas City. In each party there were quite a number of 
women and children. In Dr. Robinson's party there were something 
like thirty or forty children, but I do not remember the number of 
women in his party. I know that Robinson's party had a great 
many trunks, &c., and a large quantity of baggage was paid for as 
extra baggage, after allowing one hundred pounds of baggage to each 
passenger. The extra baggage was paid for at prescribed rates, each 
passenger paying for his own baggage. 

There were other emigrants from eastern, northern, and southern 
States, going up the river that spring. I was not applied to by any 
of these emigrants during March, 1855, to make similar arrangements 
to that made with regard to the aid emigrants. 

The baggage of the aid emigrants was marked with a printed card, 
so as to designate it, thus: "Kansas party baggage — care of B. 
Slater, St. Louis." I saw no cards on the baggage with the name 
of Eli Thayer on them, and think I should have seon them if they 
had been on any of the baggage. The object of the mark I have 
mentioned was to facilitate and secure the transportation of the bag- 
gage. Many of the trunks left on the way were identified by this 
mark, and afterwards forwarded to me here. 

The river was uncommonly low that season, and for that reason 
many of the boats could not run, and those that did run could not 
take much freight. Many of the boats ran aground, and scarcely a 
boat went up without running aground before she reached her desti- 
nation. The winter had been an open one, and emigration set in 
earlier than usual. Some mill machinery for several mills was sent 
to me that spring, and forwarded by me to Kansas Territory. There 
was also a large amount of furniture consigned to me that spring for 
forwarding. The furniture was mostly in boxes — some old and some 
new boxes, and, as far as I could see, were such as would be likely to 
be sent out here by movers. 

The other emigrants I have spoken of wore not connected at all 
with the Emigrant Aid Society, but travelled on their own acc»ount ; 
sometimes in companies, and sometimes in scattered small parties. 
They would come here sometimes by boat, and sometimes by railroad • 
and the runners of the Missouri river boats would go after them, and 
make arrangements lor them. I made no arrangements myselt for any 
parties in March, but the two I have named, though I did subse- 
quently. 

H. Rep. 200 53* 



834 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I never wrote a letter to E. W. Brown, the editor of the Herald of 
Freedom, Lawrence, Kansas Territory, in which I stated there were 
from six hundred to eight hundred eastern emigrants on their way up 
the river, and would be up in time for the election, and three hundred 
of them would be at Lawrence at the election of the 30th of March, 
1855. I never wrote him any letter of the kind. I may have writ- 
ten a letter to Brown, stating the number of some particular party 
then on their way out. 

My connextion with the Emigrant Aid Society was purely of a 
business character. I never received any salary from them, but re- 
ceived from them merely the regular commission, as I did from others. 
I was not their agent in any other sense than that of a commission 
merchant. I rendered them only the same services that I did to other 
parties for whom I transacted commission business. 

B. SLATER. 

St. Louis, Missouri, June 12, 1856. 



F. A. Hunt called and sworn. 

My occupation is that of a forwarding and commission merchant, 
I have been engaged in business in St. Louis for nearly five years 
past. I have heard the testimony of Mr. Benjamin Slater, just taken. 
During the month of March, 1855, Mr. Slater held a desk in our 
jffice, and, I think, in the following April he became a partner in our 
firm, then called F. A. Hunt & Co. Mr. Slater was the passenger 
agent of the Emigrant Aid Society during March, 1855, and after- 
wards F. A. Hunt & Co. became their agents. 

I recollect the party of Dr. Robinson, and also that of John Far- 
well, which left here for Kansas City that March. There were no 
other aid emigrant parties that went up that month. 

The preceding winter had been a very open one, and the river was 
then unusually low for the season of the year. There was other emigra- 
tion from different States during the month of March; much, I think, 
from Ohio. They came generally in small detached parties. They 
made their own bargains, and got up to Kansas City as cheaply as 
they could. The regular fare from here to Kansas City was, at that 
time, $12. They generally had to pay the regular fare, unless they 
came in large parties. 

Subsequently to March, 1855, other parties of aid emigrants came 
out here, and we made arrangements for them. The arrangement 
made by the society was to obtain passage for the emigrants to this 
place at a reduction of 25 per cent., and we generally obtained tick- 
ets for passengers up from here to Kansas City at |2 less than the 
usual rate. The emigrants received the full benefit of the reduction 
in both cases; in all instances paying their own expenses at the re- 
duced rates. I know of no instance when the Emigrant Aid Society 
ever paid a dollar of the travelling expenses of emigrants. 

While I acted as agent for the Aid Society there was frequently 
shipped to me furniture and other property of a similar character. 
It was consigned and forwarded as usual in all cases of forwarding, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 835 

being addressed to the individual to whom it was sent in Kansas, in 
our care at this place. On this we collected the customary commis- 
sions regulated by the chamber of commerce of this city, and that 
was the only compensation we received for our services. They shipped 
several steam-engines, some mill machinery, &c., to us, as also house- 
hold furniture, which was sent to individuals in the Territory in our 
care. 

I first learned from the St. Louis papers of the fixing of the day of 
election in March, 1855. I received no information in relation to 
that matter from the Emigrant Aid Society, or any person connected 
with that society. The coming of these parties of emigrants had 
nothing to do with the election, so far as I know. I never knew of 
the Aid Society sending any persons out here merely to vote. From 
all I could learn from the soci' ty, and from the conversation of the 
emigrants, their sole object in going to Kansas was merely to seek 
homes and to better their condition. I know that some of these emi- 
grants returned ; and the only reason they gave to me for doing so 
was, that the country was new, and they had not means enough to 
support themselves until they could make a living there. 

F. A. HUNT. 

St. Louis, Mo., June 12, 1856. 



W. H. CnicK called and sworn. 

To Mr. King: 

1 reside at Kansas City, Missouri. My business is that of commis- 
sion merchant. The first steamboat that came up the river in 1855 
was, I think, on March 6th, and most of the emigrants were from the 
east. During that month, before the 30fch of March, there were as 
many as 500 emigrants camg. There were very few women and very 
few children among them. Most of them came without any apparent 
implements of husbandry, but with carpet-sacks and trunks. The 
most of the sacks and trunks were marked "Kansas party baggage," 
and consigned to "B. Slater, St. Louis," I always understood him 
to be the commission merchant to whom the Emigrant Aid Society 
of Boston made their consignments. Gen. Pomeroy generally attended 
to their business at Kansas City. He was the agent of tiie society. 
He told me, if his clerk came to my place to make arrangements to 
store baggage, it would be the same as if he did it himself. 

In the spring of the year there is a great deal of business done in 
Kansas City, in the way of furnishing implements of husbandry to 
the country west of there. These emigrants made but few purchases 
of agricultural implements. I do not know that they made any ; and, 
as far as I know, they went into the Territory without supplying 
themselves with any. 

I heard several of them say that they knew of the day of election 
in the east, a month before we did out here. If I recollect right, the 
proclamation came out somewhere between the lOtli and 15th of March, 
and this was the first notice the people of the Territory had. 



836 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I could not state how many of this class of emigrants went back 
after the election, as I kept no record of it. Common talk Avas, that 
as many went hack as came out, hut I do not know this ; hut I know 
a great portion of them went hack, and there was a greater rush 
going hack immediately subsequent to the election than any time 
after it. I don't know that the trips going down in April were as 
good as coming up in March, hut there was a greater rusn of people, 
whom I took to he emigrants, down in April than at any subsequent 
time in the spring. 

The steamer Lucas got aground somewhere near Boonville m the 
month of March, and some of the passengers came up in hacks. They 
said they were anxious to pet into the Territory before the election. 
I could not say if any of these men returned or not, as they were all 
strangers. They said they left part of their company on tlie boat, 
because they could not get hacks. I understood they were under the 
auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society, hut I don't know it from them. 
The Lucas did not get up to Kansas City until after the election. I 
think some of those who came up in the Lucas went back from that 
city without going into the Territory. 

Something like a hundred of eastern emigrants, vvho were taken to 
be under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society, wintered at Kan- 
sas City. A great portion of these went over into Kansas immediately 
before the eh ction. They went over as transient men, as most of 
them were back in a few days after the election. I heard some of 
them say they were going over to the election. I did not hear them 
gay they were going to vote. 

Some of these emigrants who came up, in March left their carpet- 
sacks and trunks at Kansas City, and went into the Territory, and re- 
turned and took their baggage and went down the river. After Whit- 
field's election in November, 1854, several hundreds of eastern emi- 
grants returned down the river. 

The agents of the Emigrant Aid Company paid a part of the bills 
for storing, &c., and I understood from some of the emigrants that 
their passage had been engaged from St. Louis. The most of these 
emigrants who came up in March desired to make arrangements with 
me to take luffalo-robes, and retuin them in a few weeks and receive 
back half-prices; which I declined to do, but sold some to them. 
To Mr. Siierman : 

I don't know whether or not the eastern people who wintered in 
Kansas City paid their own way. I don't know of anybody paying 
anything for tliem, and the provisions they bought of me they paid 
me for. I know that a great many settlers on both sides wintered in 
the States, for the want of facilities in the Territory, as I understood 
it. That winter was a remarkably open one. I think the river broke 
up the last of February, or first of March, that spring. I know that 
gaw-mills have been sent out marked the same as the baggage — some 
that spring, and some have been coming ever since. There is a record 
of the number of boats that came Tip that spring ; I have it in my of- 
fice at Kansas City, and without it cannot state the number. 

. W. H. CHICK. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 837 

Milton J. Payne called and sworn. 
To Mr. Whitfield : 

I reside in Kansas City, Missouri, and resided there previously to 
the 2d of March^ 1855, and left then and went to New Mexico, and 
did not get back till the 22d of April. Navigation of the Missouri 
was not opened when I loft, I do not remember of seeing any persona 
returning from Kansas after I returned. 

The Emigrant Aid Com])any kept an agent in Kansas City — Sam- 
uel C. Pomeroy ; he seemed to be the general agent of the Boston 
Emigrant Aid Society. I have seen a great deal of machinery there 
sent to Pomeroy, as agent of this society. I was informed by Mr. 
Jenkins that he had sold the American Hotel to Mr. Pomeroy for the 
Emigrant Aid Society ; and by Mr. Hoad, a tenant of the liotel under 
Pomeroy, that he was negotiating with Pomeroy for the purchase of 
it ; and was afterwards informed by Mr. Ehlridge that he was the 
purchaser of the hotel from Mr. Pomeroy. Common report was that 
the Emigrant Aid Society had this liotel there to afford facilities to 
emigrants to this Territory, and that their object was to make this a 
free State ; and it was a common rumor that Reeder delayed fixing 
the day of election in order to allow the society time to send out these 
emigrants to vote, and the Missourians determined, if that was done, 
to come over and vote to counteract it. 

Tlie time for the election was not known, to my knowledge, when 
I left for New Mexico. The Missourians got excited, and said they 
would take part in the election if, as they expected, there should be 
extraneous interference by the Aid Societies with the affairs of this 
Territory. It was the general rumor that they intended to make this 
a free State, and then interfere in the affair of slavery in Missouri. 

I did not notice the baggage particularly that came to Kansas City, 
except in some few instances. I have seen placards on the hats of the 
emigrants, designating the aid company to which they belonged from 
northern and eastern States. Many of these emigrants had Sharpe's 
rifles. I refer to last summer, after the election, as I do not remem- 
ber to have seen any arms on them till then. I noticed Sharpe's rifles 
and gome side-arms. They generally stopped at the American Hotel, 
to a man, I believe. I am speaking now of emigration after I got 
back from New Mexico. The time that it was rumored that Mr. Pom- 
eroy came in possession of the American Hotel was in September or 
October, 1854. I do not remember that these aid emigrants com- 
menced coming before that time (September, 1854). 

To Mr. Howard : 

I never heard a free-State man in the Territory or elsewhere say 
that their object, was to interfere with the institutions of Missouri, but 
only to make Kansas a free State. I have heard an eastern man, a res- 
ident of the Territory, say that if he should meet a slave who wanted 
to escape, he would lend him his horse to ride to tlie nortli star. I 
tliink this man's name was Burriss, or Burrouglis, and lie lived, I 
think, on the Wakarusa, or near Lawrence. He said this in the store 
of Northup & Chick in Kansas City, in January or February, 1855, 
when I myself, Mr. Chick, Mr. Threlkeld, and others were present. 



SSS KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I do not know Mr. Burroughs' s first name ; I cannot give his full name, 
only as Burroughs or Burriss. He lived, as he said at the time, near 
Lawrence, or on the Wakarusa, as far as I can recollect. He said he 
came from Iowa. When we speak of eastern men, we mean all from 
free States. I do not know that that man was ever in Iowa or in 
Kansas Territory, only from his own statements. I never saw hira 
except at Kansas city, where I have seen him two or three times. 
He came to use such an expression, by being got into a discussion 
about slavery. He told us then he was from Iowa, but not when he 
came from Iowa, or into the Territory, and I think at that particular 
time he said he resided in the Territory ; on Wakarusa, or near Law- 
rence. 

It was the fear of Missourians generally, so far as I know, that there 
would be interference with the institutions of Missouri, if Kansas be- 
came a free State ; and this fear, so far as I know, was confined to 
Missouri. I account for the rumor getting into circulation in one 
way — in consequence of E. W. Brown, editor of the Herald of Free- 
dom, writing a letter to Wm. Walker, the provisional governor ot 
this Territory, that one of his objects in coming here was to make this 
a free State. I suppose the basis of the rumor was, that similar re- 
sults were expected to flow from Kansas being a free State, as flowed 
to Kentucky in consequence of being bordered by free States ; not that 
the people of Kansas really intended to interfere directly with the in- 
stitutions of Missouri. I lieard Missouri people say, that in case the 
day of election was postponed by Governor Reeder, to give these emi- 
grant societies time to send emigrants here to control the election, 
they would take steps to counteract it ; and many declared their pur- 
pose to take claims for the purpose of making their votes legitimate. 
I do not think I ever heard one say he had come over here and voted. 
The excitement was all over when I returned. These Missourians 
thought it would be illegal for the eastern people to come out h -re 
merely to vote, and then return ; but if the eastern people did that, 
they would have a right to do the same ; my reasoning being, that 
two wrongs made a right. I understood that the manner of coun- 
teracting the Emigrant Aid Society was to get up similar societies, 
and assist poor and young men to come here and take claims for the 
purpose of settling and making Kansas a slave State. 

As well as I remember, the conversation I have referred to, with 
Mr. Burriss, took place in January or February, 1855 — perhaps De- 
cember, 1854 — certainly before I went to New Mexico. 

M. J. PAYNE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



Henry M. Blossom called and sworn. 

To Mr. King: 

I was clerk on the Polar Star on the Missouri river, during the 
spring of 1855. We brought up all classes of emigrants before the 
30th of March, 1855; and one or two parties who represented them- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 839 

selves as coining out under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society 
of Boston. Some of them had emigrant aid tickets, or tickets which 
they said they purchased of the Emigrant Aid Society's agent in Bos- 
ton; others were in a manner consigned to Mr. Slater, their agent in 
St. Louis, and he made arrangements for them to come up. We never 
had as many as a hundred in any one of those parties. We brought 
up more than a hundred in the month of March, from the eastern 
States. They had generally carpet-sacks, occasionally trunks, and 
occasionally boxes with movables. But they had no farming im- 
plements or any stock that I saw. 

We brought up our party and landed them at Kansas City a few 
days before the election, and they talked very freely about voting. 
There was one gentleman in that party who expressed his regrets to 
me that a great many eastern emigrants would be delayed till after 
the election. I did not have much conversation with any of them. 
When we had any very considerable number together, they were very 
free to say that they would make Kansas a free State, if it could be 
done ; that there would be a very large eastern emigration, and they 
had no doubt, that Kansas would be a free State. That was the cur- 
rent talk among them; but there was nothing very definite about it. 

There was a great deal of going back from the Territory in the 
month of April. We brought up one party of 12 men who expected 
to get to the Territory sooner than they did, but we did not land them 
at Kansas City until after the 30th of March, and we took them 
down with us when we came back on that trip. It was a notorious 
fact, that there was a great deal of returning emigration from the 
Territory in the month of April, of all classes, but mostly eastern 
emigrants, as most of the emigration that spring during the month 
of March was eastern emigrants. We brought up one party of east- 
ern emigrants with their families in the month of March, the only 
party of that kind we brought up; but they were independent of the 
Aid Society. Those under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society 
on our boat had comparatively few women and children with them. 
Many with whom I talked said they had left their families in the east, 
and had come out here to see how they liked the country ; if they 
liked it, they would have their families out here, but they did not 
like to run the risk of bringing their families out with them then. 
Those returning in the month of April were comparatively the same 
kind of emigration as those we took up. We took comparatively 
very few eastern emigrants on our boat, and we took back as many as 
we brought up. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

The emigration that spring was not as generally armed as the emi- 
gration the fall before. In the spring, about every third man had a 
rifle. I do not recollect, in any conversation I had with the eastern 
emigrants, that they said they came out here, but would not live in 
Kansas if it was not a free State. We took up comparatively few 
emigrants from the east on our boat, as we would not make the de- 
duction from the price of their passage that their agent in St. Louis 
required, which was two dollars and fifty cents for each person ; of 



840 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

which 50 cents a head went to the agent. That aiTan«Jeuient could 
only be made with inferior boats, where they had interior tare; and, 
no doubt, that was the cause of their great complaint about their bad 
treatment on the Missouri river. 

To Mr. King: 

The agents in St. Louis, either F. A. Hunt or B. Slater, generally 
paid the tare of the eastern emigrants up the river. The eastern 
aid emigrants were in a manner consigned to these agents in St. 
Louis. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

Q. When one man acting as the agent for others pays the fare 
and travelling expenses of a company of persons, each person, how- 
ever, contributing his share of those expenses, and only adopting the 
mode of having a common paymaster, to cheapen their fare and ex- 
penses, does that in yoiu" opinion constitute a consignment? 

A. When the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society send out upon 
their tickets to a recognised commission merchant and agent in St. 
LouIg a company of men with their baggage, it would in my opinion 
seem to partake somewhat of the nature of a consignment, and the par- 
lance of steamboat men in such cases was, that ''a consignment of 
Yankees have arrived." In answer to the question put to me, I have 
to say that 1 do not conr ]er the case an assignment. 

We made two trips nv. xhe month of March that spring before the 
30th of March. 

H. M. BLOSSOM. 

Stkamboat Polar Star, 3nssou7-'{ river, June 10, 1S56. 



Nathan Apams called and sworn. 
By Gov. King: 

I was a resident of the Staie of Massachusetts. Came to the Territory 
in October, 1854, from Prorincetown. in that Stnte. As a means of 
getting to the Territory, I wrote a letter to the agent of the Emigrant 
Aid Society in Boston, inquiring the advantage it would be to me to 
go to Kansas under their auspices, or going on my own responsibility. 
I heard that my passage would cost me some eight or ten dollars less 
by going under that company. I had a letter from the agent, but it 
is in possession oX' my wife, who is now in Xew Bedford, Massachu- 
setts. I had also a printed circular that came with the letter, and 
all the infcrmatiou 1 had about that society was contained in the let- 
ter and circular. 

Q. Will you state if. in ;iny arrangement sought to be made with 
the Emigrant Aid Company to get to Kansas under their auspices, a 
pledge was ni^t exacted from you, when you got to Kansas, to give 
your votes and use all your intluence to make Kansas a frte State: 
and that they declined to aid any man here who would not give that 
pledge : and if you did not decline to come under their auspices, solely 
npon that ground? 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 841 

[Before the witness was allowed to answer the foregoing e^ucstlon, 
Mr. Sherman propounded the following qnestion: 

Q. Had you any oounnunioation from, or did you attenij^t to make 
any arrangement, with the Emigrant Aid Society, exeept hy the letter 
and circular referred to? 

A. I received no other conimuuicat;on from th.em. except the letter 
and circular above referred to. 

Q. i)// Gov. King. — Are you willing, and will yon state to the 
committee that you will write to your wife at Kew Bedford, Massa- 
'usctts. immediately, to forward the letter in her possession, above 
-poken ot\ to the committee at Washington? 

A. I will do so immediately, if so requested by the committee. 
, The witness is requested by the committee to have the letter for- 
warded, with the assurance that it would be received in evidence. 

The committee exclude parol evidence of the contents of these 
papers, and ovcrrnle the question put by Gov. King.] 

JViincsf resumes. — I did not come out under the auspices ot" the 
Kmiiirant Aid Societv. 

NATHAN ADAMS. 

LE.\VE^" WORTH City, K. T., Jfa^/ol, 1856. 

[See letter of T. W. Webb.] 



Joiix E. Ingat.ls called and sworn. 

By Mr. King: 

I am a native of ]\Iassachusotts, and came to ^Missouri in Noverab-r? 
1854. While in Massachusetts I resided *2^ miles from Boston, and 
was somewhat acquainted there. I conversed with ]\Ir. Webb, the 
agent of the Emigrant Aid Society, concerning the advantages I should 
have in coming out here under their auspices, and what they would 
expect from me as an emigrant. I was often in the office of the society. 
The object in helping the emigrants to come here was to have them 
vote their ticket — the free-State ticket. They would make some ar- 
rangement by which they could get liere cheaper than by themselves, 
and would help them all they needed after they got here. Tlie un- 
derstanding was, that they would help none but those who would vote 
their ticket. I did not come under their auspices, but came along 
with a company that did come under their auspices. After we got 
on the ^Missouri they wanted me to join them, but I would not do so. 
1 did not intend, when I started, to come any larther than St, Louis. 
1 knew s:me of the company who came out here. All those wlio re- 
mained were free-State men; but when they got on the river, and 
were asked to join the society, those who had money went back, as 
they had become disgusted with the society. Some of them got as 
:'ar as Kansas City, and then turned back; and some got into the Ter- 
ritory. I do not think 25 of the party who came along then remained 
here, and I believe there would be hardly one lei't if they had money 
to get back. There were some from ]\lassacliusetts who would not 
join the society, and who never intended to take any part in the 
.^jociety, and who went oii' by themselves up the Fort Riley "way, and 



842 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I have never heard of their going back. Those who had no money 
to get back went to Lawrence. 

Q. Will you state that, among those emigrants who came out from 
Massachusetts at or about the time you did, and who have been una- 
ble to return, and who came under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid 
Society whether or not, under their agreement with the Emigrant 
Aid Society, they are not under their control, and by their destitution 
made subservient to their will, in their political movements in the 
Territory? 

A. I do not know further than these persons have told me. 

[Mr. Sherman here objects to the declarations of persons as to their 
condition of destitution or otherwise, and as to their connexion with 
or subserviency to any persons whatever. After discussion, the ob- 
jection was overruled.] 

Witness continued. — There was a man from Lawrence who wanted to 
work for me, and said he would come and work for me if he could 
get his property in Lawrence clear of this society. He afterwards 
wrote to me, and said he could not come without losing all he had 
in Lawrence — his lots and house. I do not know any further about 
the subservency of these emigrants to the society, and their being 
obliged by their destitution to remain here, and act as they desired 
them to do, than what I have here told, as being learned from this 
man from Lawrence. 

A number of emigrants from Massachusetts, who came here clear 
of the Aid Society, and who avovv^ed that they came here to get homes 
for themselves, and not for political purposes, I understand have re- 
mained in the Territory. I know nothing of the treatment of these 
men in the Territory, only so far as I have heard them say. I have 
been kindly treated myself. I know of no one being treated unkindly 
who minds his own business. 

I have been at Lawrence. I have had conversation with Mr. Cole- 
man, a leading free-State man there. This was during the time the 
difficulties took place there last fall, and while forces were camped on 
the Wakarusa. Mr. Coleman was talking with me in the public 
streets, and there were some fifty or more men about us, armed with 
Sharpe's rifles. He said, if the forces came there to burn down the 
town, they would be resisted. He asked if the governor had called 
these forces, and I told him it was so understood here. A strong 
spirit of resistance was evinced by the people, and they said, if these 
forces came there, they could stop them. I asked them how many 
men they had. They said there would be, if they called them, 1,600. 
They asked how many on the other side. I told them that there 
were five or six hundred there at the time, and there were more on 
the way ; and there were rumors that there would be 2,000. They 
wanted to know if the government troops had been called out, and I 
told them such was the rumor in Missouri. They said, if they were 
called out, they should not resist them. They said they intended to 
form a free State constitution, and apply to be admitted as a State ; 
and if they did not succeed in that, they intended to set up independ- 
ently for themselves. All of them were speakins: against the laws ; 
did not like the laws, and would not live under them. All this con- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 843 

versation took place while I was in Lawrence, during the war last 
fall. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I did not hear them say at that time, or at any time, that they 
would directly resist the laws. Some few said they would not obey 
the laws ; hut I did not consider them of any account, even then. I 
heard none of the leaders say so. 

To Mr. King: 

I saw some emigrants who came out under the auspices of the 
Emigrant Aid Society last spring or summer. I saw one of them 
during the latter part of July, and he said they gave him |50 and a 
Sharpe's rifle to come out there. This was a man that came from 
Salem, Massachusetts. I saw some of the company as they were 
scattered along, passing through this town. I saw the man I have 
referred to in the Territory. I asked him if the Aid Society were 
sending men here now. He said they were, and were doing better by 
tliem than they ever had done before ; were giving them $50 aud a 
Sharpe's rifle. I saw some of these persons have Sharpe's rifle. 

To Mr, Sherman : 

All the benefit the Emigrant Aid Society would agree to give men 
when they started was to save expenses, as they could get their fare 
cheaper by coming along in companies. Each man paid for his own 
ticket in coming out here. In my opinion, they did not save anything 
on their tickets. It cost them |oO for their tickets from Boston to 
Kansas City. I could have come for the same amount by myself. I 
cannot, therefore, say that they derived any benefit from the society, 
and that is the reason why so many became disgusted with them. I 
think I could have come as cheap, or even cheaper than they did, if I 
had taken a different route from what they did when these emigrants 
came to the Territory. They went some to one place and some to an- 
other. A great many who came out when I did, in November, 1854, 
went back again ; some because they did not like the country, some 
because they did not like the society, some because there were no 
places for them to live during the winter. I understood from mem- 
bers of the company that the advantage they derived from the society 
was to have a house provided for them in Lawrence, and means loan- 
ed them to get them a house. Mr. Webb, the agent of the society in 
Boston, told me the company were going on to build in Lawrence, 
and wanted all the mechanics the}'' could get at $3 per day. They 
found when they got here that they could get but $1 50 per day, and 
many were dissatisfied at that. Some complained that they had no 
houses to live in — no settlers for them. It was stated before we left 
Boston that they had an hotel, which would be done by the time the 
party reached Lawrence, and that we could get board for not over 
$2 50 per week ; it was found to be $1 25 per day, and that dissatisfied 
a great many. And for these reasons they left and went back, 

I should think the greater portion of the men who came out then 
were mechanics, who came out for the purpose of getting work and 
bettering their condition. 

f- 



844 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

The Mr. Coleman I speak of came out from Massachusetts at the 
same time I did, and was one of the emigrant company coming out at 
that time. I do not know what paper they signed coming up the 
river, hut I understood that made them all memhers. I do not think 
that paper was shown to me, and I do not know what was in it. 
Coleman told me that he lived three miles above Lawrence. I saw 
him in this city about six weeks ago ; he said he was working on 
his liirm. Farming and teaming was his business last year, He 
hauled freight and passengers from Kansas City to Lawrence. The 
last time I saw him he was driving his team. 

To Mr. King : 

When the society loaned persons money to get their houses or farms, 
they took mortgages on the property; so the agent told me before I 
left Boston. He said there was no danger of their ifxiling to preserve 
their property, as they would have plenty to do. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I left Boston on the lYth of October, 1854. The objects of the so- 
ciety were stated in the pamphlet they published and distributed. I 
talked with the agent in Boston Oibout the society, and I understood 
that the primary object of the society was to make Kansas a free State. 
He said nothing about any further objects after Kansas was made a 
free State. 

To Mr. King : 

In our conversations he said they could command money and men 
to make Kansas a free State. Nothing was said about their further 
operations after they got Kansas a free State. They said nothing 
about what effect they would accomplish by making Kansas a free 
State, as regards making other portions of the country free. They 
said that they had five millions of capital, and that they were acting 
under an act of the legislature. 

JOHN E. INGALLS. 

Westport, Mo., June 6, 1856. 



J. EiDDLESBARGER Called and sworn. 

I reside at Kansas City, Missouri, and am in the commission busi- 
ness. In the month of March, 1855, there arrived at Kansas City 
about five hundred emigrants, who I understood came from the east. 
Most of them were young men, and had carpet-bags, trunks, and guns 
and pistols, and but few ladies. Generally speaking, when the boats 
arrived General Pomeroy would go down to the boats and meet the 
emigrants, and what baggage they could not take care of they usual- 
ly put in my charge. I did General Poraeroy's business. I under- 
stood him to be the president of the Aid Society. We frequently re- 
ceived goods, household I'urniture, bedding, &c., which were marked 
to Qeaeral Pomeroy, but would turn out to belong to other persons, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 845 

who would get them. I had no particular conversation with theso 
men. I had a conversation with two gentlemen who came out iu 
March. They brought a lot of cigars, and had them stored with me. 
They came in the second boat that spring. I cannot say that they 
belonged to the Aid Society, but my understanding was that all that 
came that spring, of the character of the emigration that arrived in 
March, were under the auspices of the Aid Society, and that these 
two young men were of that character. They asked me to dispose of 
their cigars, and of two guns and a pistol, as they wanted to go out 
into the Territory, and would he gone ten days or two weeks. They 
lelt Kansas City to go into the Territory two or three days before th.e 
election in March. They returned after the election, sold their cigars, 
and went back east. They said nothing to me about what they had 
done there. I have heard them stats that they knew of the election 
of the 30th of March in Pennsylvania, and got here before I knew it 
in Kansas City. A few emigrants who left their trunks and carpet- 
sacks with me when they came to Kansas City and went into the Ter- 
ritory never took them again until they got ready to return dovv-^n the 
river, cursing the Emigrant Aid Society and everybody else, and com- 
plaining that Slater and others had charged them two or three timew 
as much for their passage and transportation as they had agreed to 
pay. 

Some of our citizens, and I among the number, thought there wei^ 
as many returning just after the election, and through the month of 
April, down the river, as had come up, of the same character of men, 
in the month of March. The American Hotel at Kansas City was 
purchased by General Pomeroy for the Aid Company. I heard some 
of the emigrants that came up on the Lucas, which had been aground 
below, and arrived after the election, say that the captain of the Lu- 
cas had agreed to deliver them at Kansas City at a certain time, 
which would have been in time for them to have gone to the election. 
I heard them say nothing about the election. There were a great 
many of them who came to Kansas City before and after the election, 
who never went any further, but returned. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

To some extent it is common for the people, not only from the 
north, but from the south, to be disappointed and then return. The 
emigration from the north is generally by way of the river, wHilo 
those coming from the south generally come by land from a southerly 
direction; and therefore I know more of the returning emigration 
from the north than the south. The emigration from Iowa and Illi- 
nois generally comes by land also. The emigration from the scuith 
by the river has been large this spring, and much larger than before. 
A great many southerners have gone out into the Territory this 
spring, and I don't know of any that have returned. The southern 
emigration has generally been in companies, well armed. All the 
companies, let them come from where they will, north or south, gene- 
rally come with arms. They look more like going to war than to cul- 
tivate the soil. In March, 1855, the emigration was generally vvdth- 
out furniture, saw-mills, &c. The river was low, and freight was 



846 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

high. Through the summer following, and fall, saw-mills, furniture, 
and agricultural implements came along ; hut the class of men who 
came with them were different from those who came in March. They 
had their families, and looked like men going to work. 

I never was in the Territory to vote, and never wanted to go. The 
day of the March election a boat left Kansas City for Wyandot, and 
ahout ten or a dozen got on board, and I understood went to vote, but 
whether they did or not I don't know. I understood that these emi- 
grants, by coming in companies, got their fare cheaper; and I under- 
stood from that, that if they could not pay their fare, G-en. Pomeroy 
would pay it for them. In this I may be mistaken. Gen. Pomeroy 
did assume to pay the freight and passage bills of some of them. Our 
accounts against Gen. Pomeroy for freights of all descriptions, and 
for passage-money of emigrants, and for property bought by him, and 
drafts drawn by him on us, amounted to from seven to ten thousand 
dollars per year, which lie paid by drafts on the Emigrant Aid Socie- 
ty of Boston, as we called on him and needed it. 

To Gov. King : 

The emigration in the spring, summer, and fall of 1855 was chiefly 
from the northern States. I knew of but little from southern States. 
The northern emigrants had been coming up the river since the fall 
of 1854, in companies, and armed with implements of war, such as I 
have spoken of; and I have known no southern emigrants coming up 
the river so equipped until this sjjring. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 1856. 



J. B. Evans called and sworn. 

I reside at Weston, Platte county, Missouri. I came up the river 
previous to the election of the 30th of March, twice that spring. At 
one time there was a lar!.':e lot of emigrants got off at Kansas City — 
said to be a hundred and fifty of them. There was a large lot of 
baggage, mostly trunks ; some carpet-sacks. They were mostly men ; 
I did not see but a few women among them. Their destination was 
Lawrence. I was on the boat with them but one day, and had but 
little conversation with them. Some few days after the 30th of 
March, I went down the river on the "New Lucy." A company of 
men got on at Kansas City, of about ninety. I did not hear theiji say 
what part of the Territor}^ they were from. They said at different 
times that they had been in the Territory, and had voted ; and my 
understanding from them was that they were emigrant aid men. 
They said they came out here, were in the Territory a few days, and 
voted, and they were returning home. They were western men ; but 
I did not learn particularly what State they were from. They said 
nothing about their purpose in coming out here. I did not notice any 
one that^I -would suppose to be a leader among them. 

JAMES B. EVANS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 847 

Milton J. Payne called and -sworn. 

To Mr. Whitlield : 

I reside in Kansas City, Missouri, and resided there previously ta 
the 2d of March, 1855. I left then, and Avent to New Mexico, and 
did not get hack till the 22d of April. Navigation of the Missouri 
was not open when I left. I do not remember of seeing any pei:sons 
returning from Kansas. After I returned the Emigrant Aid Com- 
pany kept an agent in Kansas City, Samuel C. Pomeroy ; he seemed 
to be tlie general agent of the Boston Emigrant Aid Bocicty. I have 
seen a great deal of machinery there, sent to Pomeroy as agent of 
this society. I was informed by Mr. Jenkins that he had sold the 
American Hotel to Mr. Pomeroy for the Boston Emigrant Aid Society, 
and by Mr. Hoad, a tenant of tlie hotel under Pomeroy, that he was 
negotiating with Pomeroy for the purchase of it, and afterwards in- 
formed by Mr. Eldridge that he was the purchaser of the liotel from 
Mr. Pomeroy. Common report was that the Emigrant Aid Society 
had this hotel there to afford facility to emigrants to this Territory, 
and that their object was to make this a free State ; and it was a com- 
mon rumor that Reeder delayed fixing the day of election in order to 
allow the society time to send out their emigrants to vote ; and the 
Missourians determined, if tliat was done, to come over and vote to 
counter'ict it. The time for the election was not known to my know- 
ledge when I left for New Mexico. The Missourians got excited, and 
said they would take a part in the election if, as they expected, there 
should be extraneous interference by the aid societies with the affairs 
of this Territory. It was the general rumor that they intended to 
make this a free State, and then interfere in the affairs of slavery 
in Missouri. I did not notice the baggage particularly that came to 
Kansas City, except in some few instances. I have seen placards on 
the hats of the emigrants, designating the aid company to which they 
belong, from northern and eastern States. Many of these emigrants 
had Sliarpe's rifles— 7I refer to last summer, after the election, as I do 
not remember to have seen any arms in there till then. I noticed 
Sharpe's rifles, and some side-arms. They generally stopped at the 
American liotel, to a man, I believe. I am speaking now of emigra- 
tion after I got back from New Mexico. The time that it was rumored 
that Mr. Pomeroy came in possession of the American Hotel was Sep- 
tember or October, 1854. I do not remember that these aid emigrants 
commenced arriving before that time — September, 1854. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I never heard a free-State man in the Territory, or elsewhere, say 

that their object was to interfere with the institutions of Missouri, 

but only to make Kansas a free State. I liave heard an eastern man, 

resident of tlie Territory, say that if he should meet a slave who 

wanted to escape, he would lend him his horse to ride to the north 

;Stai. I think this man's name was Burriss, or Burroughs, and he 

[lived, I think, on the Wakarusa, or near Lawrence. He said this in 

jthe store of Northrup & Chick, in Kansas City, in January or Febru- 

tary, 1855, whea I myself, Mr. Chick, Mr. Threlkeld, and ethers, 



848 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

were present. I do not know Mr. Burrouglis's first name.^ I cannot 
eive his full name, only as Burroughs or Burriss. He lived, as he 
said at the time, near Lawrence, or on the Wakarusa, as iar as I can 
recollect He said that he came from Iowa. When we speak of 
eastern men, we mean all from free States. I do not know that that 
man was ever in Iowa, or in Kansas Territory, except from his own 
statements. I never saw him, except at Kansas City, where I have 
seen him two or three times. He ca,ne to use such an expression by 
heing got into a discussion ahout slavery. He told lis then he was 
froni'lowa ; but not when he came from Iowa, or into the Territory ; 
and I think at that particular time he said he resided in the Territory, 
on the Wakarusa, or near Lawrence. It was the fear of Missourians 
o-enerally, so far as I know, that there would he interference with the 
nistitutions of Missouri, if Kansas became a free State ; and this fear, 
so far as I know, was confined to Missouri. I account lor the rumor 
gettino- into circulation in one way— in consequence of G. W. Brown, 
the editor of the Herald of Freedom, writing a letter to William 
Walker, the provisional governor of this Territory, that one ol his 
objects in coming here was to make this a free State. I suppose the 
basis of the rumor was, that similar results were expected to flow frona 
Kansas being a free State, as flowed to Kentucky m consequence of 
bcino- hordered by free States ; not that the people of Kansas realiy 
intended to interfere directly with the institutions of Missouri. 1 
heard Missouri people say that, in case the day of election were post- 
poned by Governor Reeder to give these emigrant societies time to 
send emigrants here to control the election, they would take steps to 
counteract it ; and many declared their purpose to take claims for the 
purpose of making their votes legitimate. I do not think I ever 
heard one say he had ceme over here and voted. The excitement was 
all over when I returned. These Missourians thought it would be 
illeo-al for the eastern people to come out here merely to vote, and 
then return. But if the eastern people did that, they would have a 
right to do the same ; my reasoning being that two wrongs naade a 
right. I understood that the manner of counteracting the Emigrant 
Aid Society was to get up similar societies, and assist po^or and young 
men to come here and take claims, for the purpose of settling and 
making Kansas a slave State. As well as I can remember, the con- 
versati'on I have referred to with Mr. Burriss took place in January 
or February, 1855— perhaps December, 1854; certainly before I went 
to New Mexico. ^ ^ ^^^^^_ 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Ifay 21, 1856. 



Alexander Gilham called and sworn. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

I reside in Kansas City, Missouri, and am engaged in mercantile 
business I was at home the latter part of Marcl'i, 1855, just before 
the elections were to come off in the Territory, on the 30th of March. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 849 

There Tvere a great many emigrants arriving at our town about that 

time, mostly eastern people. I think I can generaLy tell eastern 

from western people when I see them. I had a good deal of talk with 

these emigrants, as I sold goods to them. They said they were going 

to the Territory. I think there were but few families with them. I 

sold them a good many buffalo robes and blankets, and in several 

instances I sold companies of ten or fifteen buffalo robes, and I was 

, asked several times what I would give for them on their return. My 

t answer generally was, that I would give what they were worth. They 

Isaid they were going to the Territory, and I suppose they meant upon 

',their return from the Territory. 

In two or three instances I was told that they were going to the 
lection, and that after election was over they were going to return 
ome. In several instances I would sell for the companies to some 
ne who seemed to be the leader ; and it was with these leaders that 
I had conversation about their coming out here to vote. 
' I saw a good many of the same ])ersons on their return; some were 
gone ten days, I suppose, and some longer. A good many of them 
sold back to me the blankets and robes they had bought of me, and 
told me they were going home. I did not ask them where their 
homes were, but I heard them say they were going to Massachusetts 
and some of the other northern and eastern States. I do not think 
they had much baggage, a carpet-sack and blanket or buffalo robe 
was about all they had. I noticed no marks on their baggage that I 
recollect of. I do not think their baggage looked like that of emi- 
grants who intended to remain here. 

I do not recollect of selling them anything except robes, blankets, 
and provisions. I think after the election they went back as fast as 
they came before the election. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

It was but seldom that I saw any women in these companies. I 
have seen as many as a hundred in a company going out afoot, with 
nothing but carpet-sacks and buffalo robes or blankets, and averaging 
in age from fifty down, and having neither women nor children with 
them. Some of them were armed, and some not. Those who were 
armed iiad mostly guns ; I think nothing more than that. They ap- 
peared to be anxious to get off immediately after lea-^ing the boat; 
and some expressed an anxiety to reach the place of election before 
the day of election. 

I could only guess as to the amount of that kind of emigration that 
spring. Nearly every boat brought up a com])any, from twenty to 
vme hundred They would almost always go out into the Territory on 
foot, sometimes with a hired wagon or two to take their baggage. I 
saw a good many companies going out that way. Those I heard 
speak, who were members of these companies, and appeared to be 
leaders, said they were coming to Kansas to vote. I do not think I 
had any conversation with any who returned alter the election in ref- 
erence to their voting here. I think as many returned as went there. 

The emigration that passed up in the spring of 1855 had but few 
families that I saw, and generally no other baggage than a hand 
H. Rep. 200 54* 



850 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

sack, a buffalo robe, or a blanket. I do not recollect of seeing anj 
trunks at all. There was a general opinion in tlie State of Missouri 
that the northern and eastern emigration was coming here merely to 
vote and make Kansas a free State ; and I heard men of Missouri say 
of the election, they, (the north,) had commenced it and have been 
beaten at their own game. I heard of the northern men coming here 
for that purpose both before and after the election. These rumors 
and the consequent apprehensions created excitement in Missouri, in 
regard to these elections, and I understood that Missourians went over 
to counteract this movement of tlie north and east. I never went 
myself, but I heard those who spoke of going over there to vote say 
it was for this purpose. 

One or two boats got up after the 30th of March with the same kind 
of emigration as before, but they were detained on the river. I think 
the most of them went back ; some without leaving town. Ten days 
after the election this kind of emigration ceased. The river was quite 
low that spring, and it was difficult for boats to get up the river with 
freight. I think the river was lower that whole year than I had ever 
seen it in any one year before. 

To Mr. Whitfield: 

The most of these people stopped at the American Hotel in Kansas 
City, when they landed. I do not know, but from rumor, wlio were 
the owners of the American Hotel. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I think the people of Kansas City would not want the hotel torn 
down; but tliere are others in the county who would like to have it 
torn down, because it was reported that it belonged to the Emigrant 
Aid Company. 

To Mr. Whitfield: 

So far as I ever heard any man express his opinion, it was that that 
hotel belonged to the Emigrant Aid Society, and it was more gen- 
erally reported as being so than denied. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I never heard that contradicted, except by the present keepers, who 
claimed to own it themselves; and, in consequence of that assertion, I 
think the people of Kansas City forbore to injure the property. 

To Mr. Whitfield: 

I think Mr. Eldridge and his brothers who keep the American 
Hotel in Kansas City, also keep the new hotel in Lawrence. 

General Pomeroy has been in our town a good deal, aud it was 
understood that he acted as agent of the Emigrant Aid Society. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I do not recollect how many boats came up before the election th^ 
spring. We had a boat almost daily — sometimes two or three boats — 
but sometimes only once in two days. 1 think the first boat came up 



|i 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 851 

on the 20tli of March — the Sonora ; but there were no emigrants on 
her ; nor on the Arabia, which was the next boat. 

The most of those who went out to look up claims and squat, usu- 
ally bought buffalo robes, or blankets, or provisions, to take with 
them. I. think the settlers who first came here from a long distance, 
came at first without their families, and looked up claims and then 
located them, and then went back and brought their iumilies. I knew 
some instances of this class myself. There has been more or less 
[coming and going ever since the Territory was open for settlement. 

To Mr. Whitfield: 

I never had any proposition, except from the persons I have named, 

to sell robes before the election, and bring them on their ret um aiter 

rards. What we term bona-fide squatters have never made any such 

)ropositions. I never had persons come to me to buy robes for com- 

)anies before this time, though we had sold robes to mercantile agents 

of companies by wholesale. 

ALEXANDER GILHAM. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



I William T. Donaldson called and sworn. 

\ To Mr. Scott: 

I I reside in Westport, Missouri, and came here in March, 1850, and 

have resided here since 1851. I was engaged in the livery-stable 

I business in the spring of 1855, and was in that business in March, 

j 1855. There were a good many eastern emigrants arrived here just 

i^ before the election in the Territory of the 30th of March, 1855 ; and 
I took a great many passengers of them up in my hack, which I wa3 
running all the time. They were principally all the passengers I 
had. I do not know that I can say that they told me anything about 
coming under the influence of the Emigrant Aid Society. There 
were a good many from Pennsylvania, and a good many from New 
York and Boston. Some of them told me they came here to vote, 
and intended to vote. I recollect of one hack load who spoke of 
voting ; and they seemed to have an idea that the Pro-slavery party 
would take the polls, and prevent them from voting ; and the excla- 
mation they used was this: "We came here to vote, and we will 
vote." I think on the 25th of March I sent three carriages with pas- 
ingers up to the Territory, about twenty in all ; and in a few days 
ifter the election I brought a portion of the same men back. After 
the election I had full loads back, and I would rather at that time 
take my hack to Lawrence to get a load, than to depend upon getting 
load from this place to Lawrence. Some of the men whom I 
)rought back told me they voted. Tliere was a young man I always 
balled "Scotch," because he always called me "Scotch" from the 
first time I saw him, and I suppose I have taken him up and back 
twenty times. He always came to me with the parties to make bar- 
gains for my hack. He was in the Territory a month ago. I gene- 



852 KANSAS AtTATRS. 

riilly took thoso oastorn oTuiiirants to Lawromw though T took somp 
to Osawatomio. I think tlio piit\ripal poitit^n ot" those 1 took out 
bot'oro tho eUH'tion oaiuo haok attorwards. Soiuo ot" tlioso oniii;raut5» 
hiul trunks, and sonio had ourpet-sacks. 1 think tho most ol' tliom 
had trunks. 1 liad to tnko a \vai2:on along' to tjikc tho trunks, as my 
hacks woro lull of jnissengors uithout any haggago. 1 do not know 
as thoy stated to me \Yhere they lived when at lu>me. T generally in 
quirtxl what States they were tVoni, and they told uu^ without hesita- 
tion. 1 never asked them mueh ahout their reastuis t\n' eoniiughaek. 
but I have heard them eurse the Emigrant Aid Soeiety tor deeeiving 
tliem in getting them out here. 

They were not all young men. They seemed to be from twenty- 
five to forty-five years o\' age, the u\ost I took out there. \'ery fe\^' 
of them had tamilies. I have taken families out in the Territor) , 
but in this iustanee I do not think tliere were anv families along. 

WILLIAM T. DOXALDSON. 

WEssrroivT, MiSi?ovKi, Jitnel, 1850. 



Charlie E. Kiiaunkv called and sworn. 

To Mr. King: 

I reside in West port, Missouri, and have resided here for nearly 
four years. 1 was in Boston the 21st of February > 1855, and for 
f!<->me days previous. I was purchasing goods there for this market, 
and in the course of conversation with merchants there. Kansas* 
atVairs were introduced. I was inquired ot' by some when tlie elec^ 
tiou would take ]dace, and told them 1 presumed, from tlie intorma- 
tion I had when 1 let^, that it would take place in April or May. 
8<mie of them informed me it would take }dace earlier than that ; on 
or about the r>Oth of March, T think, some of them said. I returned, 
ax\d was in St. Louis about the 5th of ^Mareh. I started for hon\c 
about the Tth, and reached this place about the 1 2th oi' March. On 
my arrival no one in the neighborhood, so far as 1 know, was aware 
of the time of the election. 

I understood that they were creating an excitement in T»oston for 
the purpose of sending out emigrants under the auspices of the Emi- 
grant Aid Society to make Kansas a free Statt?. I saw numbers of 
these emigrants on steamboats and railroads as I came along. I had 
but little conversation with them, except on the boat up the ^Missouri 
river. I understood on that boat that one hundred and tifty emi- 
grants, who were behind, were anxious to come up on the boat ; and 
they otVered double passage to be brought np in time for the election. 
This was my second trip np the river, as I had wme up from St. 
Louis without arranging my business, and had gone back to arrange 
that, after stopping at home a week or so. I heard nothing in St. 
liouis from these emigrants. The boat I came up on was crowded 
■witli emigrants, some of whom said they were Aid Society emi- 
grants. We left St. Louis before the 30th of IMarch. and " 
I^exington we heard accounts of the i-esults of the election in some 
the districts. The boat made a slow trip. I heard no complaints 



KAJSBAn AFPAIEH. 85S 

their not being at the election, l)ecau«e when ther were at fit, Lotub 
they knew they were not in time to be at the eviction. B'>rfie of them 
on tfje boat ^aid ther hiul en^leavored to get here in time for the 
ection. 

My pla^e f>f re*!idence, We«tj>ort. Mi^-^ouri. i>j within a } le 

of the TerritorJAil line, and is a gr*^^t thoroughfare of erni;.' *.> 

the Territ/^ry. My impression, and I am fK/Kiti\'e of it, i», tn^s. 

thing a« Kendinjr Mii»»ourian« into the Territr^ry to vot^ wa- , ,. 

reamed of until those organizations were formed in the east for the 

■tnr\)<<*^.<t 0*' r>' '''^Hng the Territory with f>eopleof d'" anions on 

he K'j'o/:/: .: -lav^rry from those moving int-o the 'J My im- 

jref-riott «till further i«, that were it not for the exlraoroinary effort* 

tf the \Xif)\A<i in the aaLaXani .States to send an emigration at tfiat par- 

icular f^erio'l, and previous t/^ the election, WmafAinanx would luarc 

aken n'» particular intere)?t in the struggle, beyond those who were 

tctually intending to settle in the Territory. There was a srenerally 

hreditfA rumor among the MiKsourians, tluat the ^ ^rct of 

those Emigrant Aid Societies was to surround .' j free 

Statfrs, and eventually affect tlKr institution of slavery in Mi^ourL 

I had conversation with several of the aid emigrant* and free-fitate 

men : and the general tenor was, tltat they intended to firgt make 

Kansas a free State, and the result they ex rom that would be 

to make Missouri, Arkansas, and Texxis : - ; and some even 

';nt so far as to say that would be done in iiitben or twenty years. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

Some of the emigrants who came up on the boat I did were armed. 
I saw two S^iarpe's rifles : others had the usual rifles, and some had 
pistols. They ma^le no show of them at^ all, but came up as other 
emigrants did. Tliere were six or eight women along. This I say in 
reference to the second trip. The river wa« lower that sj^ring than 
usual at tl»at season. 

To Mr. King : 

After I reachefl Westport a good number of these emigrant*-, prob- 
ably a majority of those I saw on the boat, passed through our town 
towards the Territory, and were mostly on foot, with carpet-sacki 
v " in their hands, and with gtios of various description*; 

To Mr. Oliver : 

There is a great deal of outfitting of implements of husbandry in 
his place for the Territory, and more done at that season than at anj 
other season of the year. I was in business here myself. I think no 
*'^ . .-made by these eastern emigrants in this town, 
[O V^nght an axe, b^it r;"''t more tlian tr;%tt At thai 

'•-- i .*:..:•: i.'-;,'. --i- Ci^vfi''.: '" *. iliMiouri, " r oulj 

x>inT« n-.-ar t:.'r 1 •.- .-:.:,■ r;-' -vut.j o: -a« river, ar.. - . . ->v>ari, 

wnere such articles were kept for enigrants, 

Croes-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I think it was a merchant with whom I wa« dealing in Boi^ton, w^ 



S54 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

told me atoiit the dav of election. This merchant was the only per- 
son with whom I had a conversation upon the time of election, and 
the only one I heard in Boston s}>eak of it. When I reached St. 
Louis there was a difference of opinion as to the" day of election ; some 
fixing on one day, and some on another. On my first trip up. we ran 
asrronnd, hut succeeiled in getting up to Kansas City on tlie boat. 
When I started from St. Louis, I came part of th«j way hy railroad. 
and the rest of the way by boat. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I do not remember noticing the trunks and car[>et-sacks of these 
emigrauts, and si^w no inscriptions on them that I recvdlect. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I could not state }K»sitively that any of these emigrants became 
actual settlers of the Territory, though I have no doubt some of them 
have. I saw one of the gentlemen I got acquainted with on his way 
back with his son. I do not think he came out under the auspices o 
the Aid Societv ; at Icj^t he told me so. 

CHARLES E. KEARNEY. 

Westpokt, MiSi?ouRi, June 2. lSot>. 



E. W. Donaldson called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I reside at present in Wostport. Missouri. On the 30th of March. 
1855. I was travelling passengers from this point to ditferent parts ot 
the country. I commenced about the 15th of March, and up to the 
30th of March I carried about 150 to 175 men, Ivsides women and 
children — altogether perhaps 200. The emigrants I tiK^k to Law- 
rence, some to Lecompton, some to Tojx^ka. and some to Leavenworth 
GitT. Some of them told me they came out under the auspices of the 
Emigrant Aid Society. A good many I askeil myself, and some told 
me voluntarily. They said they came out to vote to make Kansas a 
free State. During the last week of March I got detained with one 
load of piv>seugers, who urged me to hurry and g^t through. This 
was the second or third day before the election. I never hearvl many 
of them say anything about returning. Some few said they did not 
like the Kx^ks of the country between here and liawrence. and that 
they would go back home alter the election. During the month of 
April I brought kick nearly the same numWr that I had carrieil out 
before. Three of them I knew positively, and knew by sight, I think, 
8ome ten or a dozen more, but did not know them by name. Know 
nothing said by them, that I recollect of, as to what they supposed 
would be the effect of their movement upon Mis.'^ouri. The majority 
of those I carrieil into the Territory had satchels, some of them had 
trunks, and some had no baggage of anv kind. 

E. W. DONALDSON. 
' Wkstport. Mo.. June 2, lSo6. 



KAXSAS AFFAIRS. S55 

E. 0. McCariy called and sworu. 

To Gov. King : 

I was a resident ofJackson county, Missouri, about five years prior 

coniini::: to the Territory, and came to the Territory in March last. 

lie causes of the excitement in the county where I resided was in 

onsequence of the formation of emigrant aid and other societies, for 

he purpose of sending emigrants here to make Kansas Territory a 

ree State, and the indammatory publications in the New York Ti'ib- 

\ne and other papers. This was shortly after the passage of tlie Ivan- 

as-Nebraska bill. I do not think there would have been any excite- 

iient at all, if tiw^tate men had emigrated here in the usual way, 

,s had always been the case in the settlement of western Territories. 

t was my feeling, and the feeling of the community in which I re- 

lided, that free-State men might come and intermix among us in the 

'X^ritory in a friendly and social manner, and advocate the policy of 

making it a free State; and if, in organizing the Territory into a 

State, they should have the majority, we were prepared to submit to 

it in peace and quietness. I do not believe there would have been 

any extraordinary excitement, luid it not been for the etlorts made, as 

was universally believed by us, of organized bodies in the free States 

for the express purpose of coming here to make this a free State. We 

understood and believed, from the declarations of men of their party 

who came liere, and what we saw in the newspapers, that the ultimate 

design was to atfect the institutions of Missouri and make it a free 

State. I heard free-State men say that was their design. I do not 

know whether or not they were Emigrant Aid men, but I formed the 

opinion that they were, from conversations that I had witli them. On 

one occasion I invited some five Emigrant Aid men to my house. I 

told them I wanted them to see how Missourians lived, and, as there 

would be a A*ery great intercourse between the citizens of ^Missouri and 

those of Kansas Territory, we ought to live on terms of friendship, 

and cultivate a feeling of good neighborship. They said that they 

were pledged, before they left home, to vote to make Kansas a free 

State : that tliey would not have been assisted by the Aid Society, had 

:iey not made that pledge. Much more was said, but I have given 

;ie substance of what was said. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

There was no particular excitement in Missouri before the Kansas- 
Nebraska bill passed. There was [no] desire expressed by our people 
ibout the Missouri compromise until after the bill was introduced and 
the question brought up in Congress ; after that, there was a desire 
hat the hill would pass ; that is, if the North would yield the restric- 
ion against slavery, we would take it. If the subject had not been 
introduced into Congress at all, there would not have been any excite- 
:nent at all, as far as I know. The people of Missouri, no doubt, de- 
;ired the restriction removed ; but they did not suppose a majority in 

ongress would do it, and felt no great interest about it. 

Immediately after the passage of the bill, large numbers of Missou- 



S56 KAXSAS AITAIES. 

• 

riaus went over to the Territory to make bouses and better their con- 
dition. I was at the Willow Spring election in October, lS->.5, bat 
did not Tote, I was at none of the prerions elections in the Territth- 
ry, I know of none of mr ne'_ " ^ ^.o went, I know that in th^H 
fikll of 1S54 s-VTVT SH>^ieTies ^ . -ri. the T*nrT^>*e stid d-^siiTT^ ^V^| 

wh^oh wss Kansas a <l;tvi ^ 

enc^s 01 s - ia the eastern a:. : ._ . ^ .;.? :. : .... 

Kansas; a tree State. Thesie ssocieties were pretty nnnierous. W 
thought we had the right to fight the devil with fiite. They we: 
formed thrv^iigh many of the counties in Miss^ouri. but I cannot give . 
definite idea of their number. 

To Gov. King : 

The obvct was to induce emigration into Kansas to become bona 
fi ' - -:r objects and purposes had nothing in them of av 

»:■. 

E. C. McCAKTY. 

LEAVE>rsrosTH CiTT. K. T.. Ma% ol. iS-56. 



Ohasi^ C. SPAUMxe called and sworn. 
To Mr. Soott: 

At the time of the election of the SOth v>f Mareh. 1S55. in the Tt: 
ritory, I resided in Westix»rt. Missouri. I had conversations almc ^ 
daily with emigrant;? j^assicg ' — j^ this city, and they told mc- 
tiiey came out lor the expr^'ss " - t making Kanssis a free State. 

S^ ..", ~" T TSTAs reniT- ' _ .u 

tl of Massac^^^ - > 

igranrs on their way iiiio t'le iorriiory. in a conversation with them, 
tiiey told me they had come here for the purpose- of making Kansas a 
free State. I asked them to locate, and they said they w^are goin^ to 
L. I toM • " ocupied.' ^ ' ' 

n - xxi. T thst: - 

wisht^'i ;o get to I-avi : 

tioE. That was the > - ^ . ~ -. 
There were from ten to ntteen in that ivarty. They had one ox- 
wagv»n along headed, but they were mostly travelling on toot. Th«e 
were no w*»men and chiKiren along. They wei^ all young men. I 
fs ' .euts of husbandry. - .e carpet-bags s ~ - - 
^. -- I was engaged at : in publishing . >- 
paj>er in mis city, aiul I nsevl every means in my power to ascertciia 
every featurv* I cv^uld aKnit the emigration into the Texritory that 
spring. The princi^vil osastern emigration landed that year ai Kan- 
sas City: and the ^ ^ - " m came withnc:^ .: " " " :- 

bag. and let^ iiar - ^rriv^l, t^^r tl :: 

to I-awrence auvi :.> 

Pawnee. One of . , :. 

that Goveruv>r Rexxier pAid his lare out herx\ in _ ."sas 

City to the Territory, they uni verily passed thr-.;.^.- <-.-- ^-..oe: a 
good many of them during the night, I used to converse every day 



wit*: r*rrf fr ^es? cf them vho came aU>nir. T cannot sar that the 
ai; - *$ the oleoTH>n appr.Na: : Yory many came 

*1:;._. . _. , ,. .;,iy, I knv>\r v>f trc-e-Siii:. .... .. trhv) arrived aiui 

s^wi:vi tor month* in Kansas Citr, and at the time for election ther 

went «p into the T; " ^ They viid mH tell nn^ they went np to 

rote A irn^t ^v tho»sse with whom 1 eonver^xl st?»Tevl that 

. :: to Kaiisss was to make it a fTx?e St^ate. 

- . hy emigrant aid SiXnoties, east, to e\mie 

* here: others s»:d they wei^ not. The trxv-^tato pers^ms who 

■ t nt to the Territory lrv>m Kansas City came hack a'Ver the election. 

^nne were men in business there. I vlo not know that they roted in 

ry. It was :,^ <>tv r ^ ^ " this easiorn 

. s*Vr the , back, v oar}x^t-;v.p>, 

. the river, i did not ^v any great nwmlvrs of 

-, .-.,;.. I suppose I have had a hnndrtsl say to me that 

:y had bten doo^ived, as r^gardevl the Territory, by the emigrant 
...1 s-vkties in Xew Yv^rk. The emigration kept up all the spring 
and sr.nimer: h»3t I oann.^i say whether there was or n-:»t any falling 
o:' n ; hut I should think that the ev . just 

pr .1 was greater than at any other tir.i g that 

spring. 

To Mr, Oliver: 

Xearlv everv one ot these t^^istern eniiirranTS would have a gun. 

CllARLES C. SPALDIXa. 
WssTPOKT. Mo., Jmmeb, 1S56. 



Jam£^ Whitlock called and sworn. 
To Mr. King; 

I m.^vAi into the Territory of Kansas in Ckioher, lS-34, and settled 
three milcts south of Lawrence, on the Wakarus*, wher^ I have re- 
sided sinvv. I was invited hy the citizens of Lawrence to a public 
meeting, some time in the TVeeraher or January following. The 
meeting was auende^l hy : as of Lawrence, K>th free-Stateand 

prv>~slaveTv. r.-o! xras intev , :r indignation against the move- 

ments of : _ -ant Aid S.viety. From the best knowlovige I had, 

and from :.. ^. ...ral rumor in that portion of the country, ther>? was 
great excitement in reterence to people's claims and politics; driving 
men forcibly off their claims, or trying to do so. It was rumored iltat 
ti»ey came there ^.rst, s«-i ssi 1 r^:iit the locality of Lawrence was the 
only bear.' mid. and they were bound to have 

ii ; and t:. - . _ ^ ,,,: /i p-osses&ion of the town site when 

it had been lirst settled hy some other j>e9n<aons. Such was the gene- 
rally crevlited rumor : that they had taken possession of thrc-e or four 
of the claims of ivr^ms. Ftx^m the fact that there wciv such rumors, 
ari.i :' .. ther^ was quite an ex. ' r. 

Thv . : time did province such ;v . .- 

vie < :„;.;.<. : .'ailed an indignation meeting. The meeting 

"^~as V .:::c "hvr^. . .. . .. _it>i, and there were three or four hundred per- 



858 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

gons present, I should think, who carried out their intention by pass- 
ing resohitions expressing their feelings. They were published in the 
free-State papers. 

[Mr. Sherman objects to the above testimony as being entirely ir- 
relevant and incompetent.] 

Doctor Robinson was generally considered the agent of the Emi- 
grant Aid Society, and regulated the movements of the society. The 
people there called Doctor Eobinson everything but an honest man ; 
said right to his face that he was a murderer and midnight assassin, 
and they could prove it. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

Doctor Robinson was at the meeting, and made a speech there, and 
they rode him down with a rush. He took the position in his speech 
that he did not intend to do anything harsh there ; that he did not 
want to wrong any one ; that he wanted to build up a large town 
there ; that he had had a good deal of money placed at his disposal 
by the people of the north ; that he wanted to build up some semi- 
nary buildings there, and do all he could for the good of the place 
there. 

[To what the people said of Doctor Robinson, and to what he said 
of his own purposes, Mr. Sherman objects as being irrelevant and in- 
competent, and wholly unimportant.] 

To Mr. Howard : 

Common rumor did say that the Emigrant Aid Society of Massa- 
chusetts did own the town of Lawrence. After that, or about that 
time, there was a town company of Lawrence got up. My under- 
standing at the time of the indignation meeting was, that there were 
but two parties in the town — the Emigrant Aid Society, and the hete- 
rogeneous mass of the people who had come there from all parts of 
the country. In the November before I had my claim jumped, and I 
first heard, from the man who jumped it, of a town company there, 
then called "New Boston," instead of Lawrence. I do not know who 
were the stockholders in that company. I heard Mr. Miller, who was 
the editor of the "Free State," published there, who said he was a 
member of the Emigrant Aid Association, say that the company had 
elected him a member against his own will, and he would not take 
part in signing the resolutions, until he could resign, and then he 
would sign any resolutions they could draw up, no matter how strong 
they were against the Lawrence Association. Mr. Miller said the 
Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society, or the Lawrence Association, 
were to have a meeting that night, and he would withdraw from the 
society, and did so, and then signed the resolutions. I did not un- 
derstand that there was any town association there at that time. And 
my understanding was, that the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society 
were to have a meeting there that night. Mr. Spear, who was a mem- 
ber of the association, said he would sign the resolutions. It was my 
understanding, and I know it was the understanding of the people 
there, generally, that the Massachusetts Aid Society were to have the 
meeting there that night. Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Wade, an<I another Mr. 
Baldwin, had claims which this association tried to take away from 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 859 

them, thougli tliey were there first. I have no knowledge of any 
title of the town, except from rumor of the people there. I never 
heard of the association having any claim to the land there in town, 
except an arbitrary claim. I never heard of any Wyandot float 
until some eight or nine months afterwards, and do not know whether 

.the dispute about the title to the land has ever been settled or not. I 
never heard that General Whitfield was a stockholder in the town 

lassociation of Lawrence. 

JAMES WHITLOCK. 
Westport, Missouri, June T, 1856. 



Leasder Ker called and sworn. 
To Grovernor Kinsr : 

I 

' I came to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, in the fall of 1842, 
as chaplain to the post, and have resided there ever since. 

I was not acquainted with Governor Eeeder until he arrived in the 
Territory, at Fort Leavenworth, in 1854. He removed there about 
two weeks, when he made a tour out into the Territory to district the 
Territory. A general rumor prevailed — 

Q. — Will you state that the fact of Governor Eeeder, upon his arri- 
val in the Territory, and long continued neglect to take any steps by 
which an organization of the Territory, by the election of delegates 
to the legislative assembly, by which laws might be given to the 
people, and they be relieved from the state of anarchy in which they 
were then placed, was not the first and primary cause which gave rise 
to the excitement which first existed in the Territory. 

Witness. — There were great complaints of the delay in calling the 
elections, and it produced great excitement among the people in the 
Territory. 

I have been very intimately acquainted with the people of the 
border counties of Missouri adjacent to my residence. There was no 
political excitement in the border counties of Missouri. I know, until 
the movements of the aid societies of the northern and eastern States 
were made public and apparent, a general opinion prevailed that 
the purpose of these societies was to abolitionize Kansas, and, as a 
consequence, to overawe Missouri. They believed these things, 
because they had heard them stated, and seen them in the papers, 
and heard them from people coming up the river. These rumors 
created the excitement in Missouri, and, but for these moving causes, 
I do not believe that the excitement would have prevailed in the 
border counties of Missouri. I never heard Missourians condemn or 
deny the right of free-State men to come here and to exercise all their 
rights, had they come in the usual manner of emigrants. Had 
the Territory been settled by a majority of free-State men in the ordi- 
nary way, from my knowledge of the Missourians, they would have 
acquiesced in it. 

To Mr.* Sherman : 

I made a speech at Platte City just prior to the Marcli election. I 



860 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

was invited by tlie citizens to give my views on slavery. I accepted 
the invitation, and addressed those citizens. The speech was con- 
fined to the subject of slavery, and was not political in its character. 
I did not advise tlie citizens to come over here and vote. After I left, 
I understood other speeches were made ; but of their character I do 
not know, except from hearsay. In the beginning of my speech I 
disclaimed taking any part in any of the political controversies of the 
day. I made my speech early in the day, on Monday, and left, and 
gave no such advice. And after I left, I understood a meeting of 
Platte City Association was called, and other speeches made as I above 
stated. At the end of my speech, there being great excitement in 
the country, 1 advised them to be moderate, quiet, and cautious, and 
to use no violence unless it was necessary — not to be the aggressors, 
and that, if driven to it, to defend their rights. 

^LEANDER KER, 

Cltaplain U. S. A. 
Leavenwoeth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



William H. Summers called and sworn. 

I live in Parkville, Missouri. I never heard any citizen of Missouri 
state that he would come over to Kansas Territory to vote, until they 
were satisfied that the Eastern Emigrant Aid Societies had determined 
to colonize Kansas with anti-slavery men, to make it a free State. I 
well remember that all through the winter of 1854 and 1855, and on 
up to the election of the 30th of March, 1855, the prevailing rumor 
was, that the Territory was to be flooded with emigrants from the 
northern States to vote, at the election of 30th of March, free-soil 
principles and free-State men ;< and that Governor Reeder was delay- 
ing the organization of the Territory till navigation opened, so that 
these emigrants might reach the Territory in time to vote at the 30th 
of March election. This rumor was general, and was as generally 
credited by all that I ever heard speak of it, and they were a great 
many — I might say hundreds. 

The people of Missouri were alarmed at the unusual movement in 
the northern States to fix the institutions of Kansas Territory, and 
were detormined, if possible, to defeat the objects of the disturbing 
expedient bv all reasonable means. I am satisfied, beyond doubt, but 
for the causes 1 have already spoken of, the Missourians would never 
have thought of interfering wnth Kans;'S affairs, but would have left 
the people actually residing in the Territory to control their own 
affairs, elections and all, without any kind of interference on the 
part of Missourians. I, and the people of Missouri generally, within 
the scope of my acquaintance, which is quite extensive, took the 
ground that we had the right, on principles of self-defence, to meet 
an unusual and extraordinary eftort by one of a similar character ; 
hence, as I well know, the action of the people of Missouri in regard 
to the election in the Territory of Kansas, on the 30th of March, 1855. 

WM. H. SUMMERS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 861 



Isaac M. Kidge called and sworn. 

To Governor King : 

I reside in Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri. In tlie month 
of March, 1855, towards the last of it, there was considerable ex- 
citenient about the ensuing election in Kansas Territory. I saw a 
party of a dozen or a dozen and a half of men in a store. They were 
young men, and their business was that of purcliasing ])istols, bowie- 
knives, and blankets. One of them informed me that they were Penn- 
sylvanians, with the exception of a few New Yorkers. He informed 
me that there were fifty or upwards in their company that arrived there 
that morning, or the night before. The cause of my talking to him 
at the time was that he was making some bragadocia remarks. He 
said he was going to Kansas Territory to play Missouri game ; that 
he was going to the polls to vote, and that if he met a patrol of Mis- 
sourians there, or men to resist his voting, he would put a pistol- 
ball through them, or knife them. Some others of the company 
bought knives. Most of them bought blankets ; hut none others 
bought pistols, that I recollect of. Some of them tried to make an 
arrangement with the merchant to take the blankets back again at 
the expiration of two weeks, at half price, as about wliich time they 
expected to return from the Territory to go back home; but tlie mer- 
chant refused to make such an arrangement. I saw several young 
men, some two weeks afterwards, on their return from the Territory, 
who were said to be of the party, but I recognised only the young 
man with whom I had conversed in the store. The cause which 
called forth tlie conversation between hira and myself was his angry 
manner in speaking of Missourians. I, having always been a mode- 
rate man on this question, felt that the young man had been misin- 
formed with reference to the true character of the majority of Mis- 
sourians. He moderated in his tone considerably from the cool man- 
ner in which I talked to him. When he returned to Kansas City I 
met him the second time ; T asked him if he had been to Kansas 
Territory and voted, and laughed at him as I asked him the question, 
and if he met any resistance there. He remarked that he had voted, 
-and damned the Territory ; said he was satisfied Avith Kansas, and 
was going back home ; and that was the last I saw of him. 

A lew (lays alter the party just rel'erred to arrived at Kansas City 
another party arrived, of at least over a hundred men ; but not until 
after the clay of election in the Territory. They were represented as 
coming from Pennsylvania, New York, and probably some from Ohio. 
I heard some of them cursing the captain of the " Lucas" for run- 
ning the boat on the sand-bar, and preventing them from getting up 
into the Tei-ritory before the day of election. Some of those men did 
not go much over the lino in Kansas Territory, but returned within 
three days and went down the river on their way home. The number 
of them that returned I cannot state, but I counted as many as fifty 
walking along with their carpet-sacks down to the river. 



g62 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I am confident tliat some citizens of Kansas City did go oyer into 
the Territory at the election of March 30. Probably a majority of 
the citizens of Kansas City and neighborhood were in favor ot the 
Missonrians voting, as a matter of retaliation, m Kansas Icrritory. 
There was liowever, a division of sentiment on that subject, many 
contending that those who wentthere to vote should reside there, and 
I know as a matter of lact, tliat probably one-third subsequently 
moved into and are now residents of the Territory. Some oi those I 
referred to as having gone from Kansas City belong on what is ca led 
the " Military Reserve," on which they had claims, but they worked 
in Kansas Citv and lived on their claims. The Reserve I speak ol is 
south of Kansas river, in the Territory. ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3[ay 28, 1856. 



William H. Miller called and sworn. 

I am now residing in Parkville, Missouri. About the 1th day of 
April 1855, 1 went down the Missouri river, on my way toot. Louis, 
on the steamboat Sam Cloon. When we arrived at Kansas City there 
was a large number of men came on board the boat, some forty or 
fifty I learned from them that they had been into Kansas Territory, 
having gone into the Territory in the latter pai't of March of the 
same ?ear, under the auspices of the Eastern Emigrant Aid Society ; 
that lecturers went through their country, and represented to them 
that by going to Kansas Territory they would greatly better their 
condition ; that they could get three or four dollars per day for labor, 
and plenty of it to do. One of the travelling lecturers of the Emi- 
grant Aid Society was then on board the boat, and was receiving as a 
salary $100 per month, as I was informed by them in his presence, 
and he not denying it. He was one of the lecturers who had made 
these reT)rcsentations to these men, and induced them to come out 
here They said they had gone to Kansas Territory, to the vicinity 
of Lawrence, and found tha't the representations made to them were 
entirely false, and thev were now returning to their eastern homes in 
an almost destitute condition, and money was loaned to some of them 
to enable them to reach their homes. They said that the>^ were at 
the elections on tlie 30th of March, 1855, in Kansas Territory 
They told this lecturer, whose name was Lincoln, that they beiievea 
all the Emi^-rant Aid Society wanted with them was to come out iiere 
and vote The lecturer tohl them that he expected to live out here in 
the Territory. They replied, that perhaps he could live tliere on 
$1 200 a year— $100 per month— the amount he was then receiving 
from the Aid Society, and his travelling expenses paid. 

On arriving at Booneville, we lay at that place in company with 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 863 

another boat — tlie El Paso — bound for St. Louis. This boat also had 
on board some twenty or thirty eastern men returnino; to their homes 
from Kansas Territory. A few miles from Booneville the El Paso 
sank, and all the passengers got on board the Sam Cloon. 

These eastern men made in my presence and hearing about the 
same representations as those above stated in this testimony, cursing 
and abusing this Mr. Lincoln, the travelling lecturer, for deceiving 
them. These men said they had been to Kansas Territory, and were 
now returning home to the east, and that they were at the election of 
the 30th of March, 1855 ; and from what they told me, I think there 
is no doubt but that they voted at the said election. 

They said they believed that all the Emigrant Aid Society had in 
view in trying to induce them to come out here was to make Kansas 
a free State. They told this Mr. Lincoln that this was the object that 
he and his masters — the Aid Society men — had in view. The most 
of these persons were young men, and had no families with them. 
I understood that the reasons the Missourians came over into the 
Territory to vote was, that they believed Governor Reeder was holding 
back the elections until the Emigrant Aid Societies of the east could 
pour in their forces. 

The common rumor was that great numbers of eastern men, sent 
out by these societies, were on the way to Kansas, and were expected 
to reach the Territory in time to vote, the 30th March, 1855 ; and it 
was believed generally that Governor Reeder was holding back the 
election until they could reach here ; and I heard many Missourians 
speak of this rumor, and they gave credit to it. 

The first thing that excited and alarmed the Missourians was the 
incorporation by the Massachusetts legislature of a company with a 
capital of five millions, as was understood, for the purpose of colon- 
izing Kansas Territory with abolitionists ; and whatever acts the Mis- 
sourians subsequently did were in self-defence, and done with a view 
of counteracting the influence of these movements in the east. 

WM. H. MILLER. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856, 



J. T. Reed called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

Prior to, and on the 30th of March, 1855, I was residing in Platte 
county, Missouri, at Camden point. Tliere were rumors of free-State 
voters being sent out here to vote in the Territory at the election of 
the 30th of March. I heard these rumors in Platte and Clay counties, 
where I had been. I saw some men who said they were paid to 
come here for that purpose. This was about the first of March. I 
overtook some men between Liberty and Smithland, Clay county, 
Missouri — some forty in the company. They were travelling 
with ox-teams. One of them said thev had been hired to come 



864 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

here and vote. They had some six wagons along. I saw but one 
woman in the party, and think there was no other woman along. 
They appeared to be all Englishmen, and the one I talked with told 
me the party were all Englishmen. I do not think there was a 
horse in the party, and the men were generally walking along by the 
wagons. I could not see what the \vagons were loaded with. I was 
travelling by myself in a buggy. I told one of them, as he appeared 
to be tired of walking, that he could have a seat in my buggy, which 
he accepted. I expected they were Free-soilers, and, in order to find 
out whether they were or not, I pretended to be a Free-soiler myself. 
He then told me he had been hired, as were the most of the company, 
in St. Louis, to come here to Kansas and vote the Free-soil ticket. He 
spoke of their party having a ca})tain, and that he had gone ahead to 
pick out some weak point where their votes could be used to advan- 
tage. I told them they might have some difficulty ; that some of the 
Missouri ruffians might knock them over if they did not vote right, 
and they had better be cautious. He said then, that if there was 
much danger he did not know as he would vote. He said he was 
paid to vote, and if he was not allowed to vote right, he sliould not 
vote at all. 1 was satisfied they were all Englishmen from their 
appearance. He said they were landed at New Orleans, and were 
aliout to starve out there, and came on to St. Louis, expecting to do 
better; and when they got there, they found it was no better than at 
New Orleans for employment. 

They Avere then hired to come up here and vote, and were put on 
board a boat. The ice prevented them from coming all the way in 
the boat, and they had ox-teams brought for them. I did not learn 
from them what point they expected to cross the river ; but when I 
saw them, they were on the road to Weston. I have forgotten the 
name of the captain, which they told me. They did not tell me who 
employed them to come up and vote the free-State ticket. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard: 

The man who talked with me did not give his name. He did not 
say how much they were paid to come here ; and I never saw them 
after that day, and I do not know that they ever came to the Territory. 

J. T. FvEAD. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 29, 1856. 



Gr. B. Redmon called and sworn. 
To Grovernor King : 

I live in this county, in the Territory. I came here in December, 
1854. I moved from Jackson county, Missouri, to the Territory. It 
was an open winter, and I was going back and forward pretty much 
all the time. In the spring, just before the March election, two or 
three days, I met a great many emigrants. Th^y appeared to be 
eastern men. I conversed with a great many of them, and they in- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 865 

quired of me lor various points — Lawrence^ Topeka, Big Springs, 
Willow Springs, Douglas, and other places. I asked them if they 
were going to the election, and they would say yes. I asked them if 
they were going to vote the Free-soil ticket, and they said yes. Some 
of them told me that a good many were coming on from the east. I 
asked them how many. They said the estimate was from five to ten 
thousand. I camped one night with six or seven Pennsylvanians. 
They told me they were from Eeeder's district ; and I had heard a 
rumor that Eeeder had sent out a lot of men, and I asked them if it 
was so. They told me that they heard at home that Ileeder had sent 
out one hundred men. After the election, in my moving, I saw about 
the same emigration going hack. I asked them if the five or ten 
thousand men that they spoke of had come on. They said their boats 
had grounded down the river. The)'" said they meant to make a 
general rally, and beat us if they could ; and if they failed in that, 
they would make another general rally when they came to select 
members to frame a State constitution. 

a. B. REDMON. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



Thomas E. Bottom called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I resided at St. Joseph, Buchanan county, Missouri, on the 30th 
of March, 1855. I had settled in St. Joseph in December, 1854. 
I attended the election on the 30th of March, 1855, at Mr. Bogart's, 
in the Burr Oak precinct of the 14th district of Kansas Territory. I 
think I was acquainted Avith the objects and motives which influenced 
Missourians from St. Joseph to go over to that election. My own 
object was not for the purpose of voting, as I did not believe I had a 
right to vote, differing from G-eneral Stringfellow and Judge Wm. P. 
Napton as to the legality of Missourians voting in the Territory, but 
for the purpose, if any violence was used to prevent pro-slavery men, 
who were legally entitled to vote, from voting, to meet that violence 
with violence, if necessary. I understood before I went over that, in 
all probability, a company sent by the Emigrant Aid Society would land 
near that precinct for the purpose of voting, and that they were sent 
just for the pur])ose of carrying that election, and not to become actual 
residents ; there was a general rumor to that effect. It was said that 
a certain boat — I forget the name now — had such a party on, and was 
then on her way up the river. I believe that a large majority did 
not consider that they had a right to vote, or went there for the pur- 
pose of voting, though some of them so considered. I do not recol- 
lect of any attorney, except General Stringfellow, being there, who 
insisted that Missourians had a right to vote in the Territory. I 
think I heard some of the Missourians who went over say they went 
over to vote, and that they had a right to vote ; but I do not recollect 
H. Rep. 200 55* 



866 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of more than two or three, and I do not think that 1 can name them. 
Many based their belief that they had a right to vote, upon General 
lStrins;i'ello\v"s authority. I went armed that day, but not with them in 
sii^ht", but did not see any person armed there openly. I saw no one 
shot there that day. I never heard of it when 1 got on the ground; 
three gentlemen were pointed out to me, standing in the corner of 
the fence, as the free State candidates ; and shortly afterwards I was 
informed that they had determined to withdraw, and I saw one of 
them, Mr. Larzalere, leave for his home almost immediately after- 
wards — say ten minutes. I saw no excitement, heard no threats, and 
taw notliiug up to the time of withdrawal to induence them, for State 
candidates, to withdraw, unless the presence oi' thti crowd, which was 
pretty large, did so. 

Cross-examined br Mr. Howard: 

As well a? I recollect, Governor Keeder issued a proclamation just 
before the election, in which he stated his views as to who should 
vote. One party among the Missourians there, who contended that 
they had a right to vote in the Territory, contended that, under the 
organic law, no particular time of residence in the Territory was 
ipecitied to quality persons to vote, but that all residents of the Ter- 
ritory on the day of election had a right to vote, and if they were 
over there on the day of election, they were actual residents and en- 
titled to vote ; that is, actual presence made actual residence. They 
contended further, that the word "■actual" was surplusage, and that 
if it had been left out, the meaning would have been the same — that 
all residents were actual residents. The other party, myself and a 
vast majority of others, thought that the framers oi' the act meant, 
by the term "actual residents," ''bona jide residents." The latter 
opinion, so far as I know and believe, was generally entertained by 
the Missourians who went over to the elections. The general rumor, 
about eastern emigrants coming to the election in the Territory, was 
common talk for several months before the election. The particular 
rumor, about the boat-load coming up to the precinct opposite St. 
Joseph's, was atioat a few days before the election. I did not hear 
of any newly arrived emigrants there on the day of election, and I 
•uppose I should have heard of it if there had been any then. I am 
of opinion, even yet, that there >vas some truth in these rumors about 
the boat-load coming up, for I understood, from rumor, that a boat- 
load of passengers, which had been detained on a sand-bar, did land 
somewhere near Doniphan the day after the election I went into 
the interior of the country. They did Hot get to the particular pre- 
cinct where I was. What I have stated to be the object of the Mis- 
sourians in going over, I learned from actual conversation Avith them. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I Ciime up on the steamboat Australia from St. Louis in the mouth 
of December. 1854, or the latter part of November, 1854, with a party 
of emigrants sent out to Kansas by the Emigrant Aid Society of Bos- 
ton. Massachusetts. One of the men showed me a constitution af the 



KANSAS AI'TAIRS. 867 

society. T talked with them on the snhject of Kansas; they stated 
tliat they were .sent out here to settle in Kansas. I told them I had 
no doiiht, myself, that they weie sent out here to make Kansas a 
free Htate, and most of them denied that they were sent out here 
especially for that purpose, but at the same time they considered 
themselves under ohli}:;ations to that society, after acceptinj^ their 
funds, to A'^ote to make Kansas a free State. All said they would vote 
to make Kansas a free State, and thought they were at liberty to vote 
just as they i)leased. They considered themselves under obligations 
to vote to make Kansas a free State. I saw tlie constitution, which 
showed the object of the society was to afford facilities to free-soil emi- 
grants to Kansas. I do not recollect that they stated what would 
be the effect upon the State of Mis.^ouri of Kansas being a free State. 
I had most conversation with an intelligent young man named Taft, 
agent of that society, ;iiid who seemed to be the leader, about the 
morality of slavery; and he thou'.'.lit it was a sin, a sum of all vil- 
lanies, and should be abolished everywhere. I think in the crowd 
there must have been 150 men, women, and children, and they got 
off at Kansaa city. 

To Mr. Howard: 

I inquired about what they paid to go through, and they told me 
what they paid from some point in New York to Kansas city, and it 
was a sum less than I paid, myself, over the same route. There was 
another man along, named Russell, but he said he did not agree with 
the rest, that he was under obligations to vote in any particular way. 
I understood that some of them had their j)assages paid out here, but 
I cannot tell exactly what that impression was derived from, or the 
names of any persons who conveyed that impression to my mind, 
except that Kussell told me he had availed himself of the facilities 
afforded by the society, as he had a large family, and I understood 
that he had used the funds of the society. 

THOS. E. BOTTOM. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 24, 1856. 



I 



F. M. Mahin called and Bworn. 
To Mr. Oliver: 



I reside now at Palermo, Doniphan county, in this Territory. In 
the month of March, 1855, I was one of the clerks of the steamboat 
New Lucy, running between St. Louis and St. Joseph. We left St. 
Louis on our first trip that season on the 16th day of March, 1855. 
There were a great many emJgrants, as they called themselves, in St. 
Louis before we started, vraiting for the boats to go up the river. One 
boat left before our boat did, crowded with them, so much so that 



868 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

they refused to take any more. Our boat was the next one that left, 
I think, and we were crowded, having over 300 passengers — so much 
so that we had to refuse to take any more. I do not think that in all 
our lot of passengers there were half a dozen families with women and 
children on the boat. Their trunks were all marked alike: "Kansas 
Company, Lawrence, K. T." All were from eastern States — Connec- 
ticut and Massachusetts mostly. This I learned from themselves. 
They asked me particularly about the time we would get to Kansas 
City, and were very anxious to get there by the last of the month. I 
did not know anything about any election coming off at that time. I 
recollect particularly that one gentleman, the head man of the com- 
pany, took me one side and asked me to be candid with him and tell 
him if I thought we would beat another boat lying by the side of us, 
up. They wanted to get in the first and fastest boat up. I advised 
him to come on the New Lucy, and he did with his company — about 
80, I think. On their way, a good many told me their object in 
coming was to vote. After we started, I learned there was an elec- 
tion to come off about the last of the month. Others were anxious to 
get here in time to vote. It was too early in the year for ordinary 
emigration; the river was low and the weather was cold. Nearly all 
of our passengers were of that character. I do not think that there 
were ten trunks on the boat, except those marked "Kansas Compa- 
ny." I think all had arms — six-shooters, some two or three of them. 
I do not know that I saw guns. They were shooting so much from 
the hurricane deck at geese in the river, as we came along, that we 
had to put a stop to it. I am almost confident that Captain Eli 
Thayer came up on our boat on that trip. I believe, since it is men- 
tioned, that the name of "Eli Thayer, agent," was on the trunks, and 
that may be what gave me the impression that he came up tliat time. 
I will not be positive that he did come up that time. They had no 
other luggage except trunks. I do not think there wore any but light 
boxes, such as we allow in the cabin. It was an unusual season of the 
year for any emigration. We were about five clays coming up the 
river to Kansas City. We laid up a week at Weston. The great 
body of these people got off at Kansas City, about tlie 21st of March. 
We laid up at Weston on account of low water, and while we were 
lying there I went to Palermo, in this Territory, where my father- 
in-law had laid off a town, and the election came ofi" while I was 
there, at a house near Mr. Bryant's. I was at the election to see what 
was going on, but I did not vote. I saw others vote, and some votes 
challenged. I did not see any of our passengers there. 

About three or four days after the election, some eighty or ninety 
came on our boat at Kansas City. A great many — I do not know 
but all — were of tl^e same party who came up with us. They said 
they had been out to Lawrence, and had voted. We run them a little 
about going away so soon, and asked them if they had got tired so 
soon. Their answer was that the Emigrant Aid Society had not stood 
up to what they had ])romised tliem, but had misrepresented to them. 
They had the same baggage, marked "Kansas company," as they 
had coming up. I do not recollect that the name of "Eli Thayer" 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 869 

was on tlie baggage. They generally told me they had voted, and 
were going back to where they had come from, as they were satisfied. 
I had a good deal of talk with them. The destination of most of 
those who went up on the boat before us was Kansas City. I did not 
notice their baggage. We could generally tell where a man came 
from fifty yards off, by his general appearance. I think the boat that 
went up before us was the '■'■ Sonora ;" and I do not think I ever saw 
a boat so much crowded as that was. We all thought she could not 
get up, but she did. The F. X. Aubrey left the same day we did, 
or the day before or after. Every boat that came up the river was 
crowded ; something that we did not expect. We generally noticed 
the boats that went out; what their passengers were, &c. The pas- 
sengers on the "Sonora" were generally eastern men. She lay at the 
levee, some one or two boats from us. I do not think I went on the 
"Sonora." I do not believe there were half a dozen ladies on our 
boat that trip. After we had made some three or four trips that 
season, our passenger receipts down the river were better than going 
up. I think some eighty or ninety of our passengers who got on at 
Kansas City were generally the same men that we had brought up. All 
boats down generally had a good many passengers. A majority of 
them I took to be eastern people, going from Kansas. This was the 
case for three or four trips after the election, as I observed myself, 
and understood from others at Kansas City. On our trip down, there 
was a good deal of grumbling about our charging them so much for 
going down, when they had come up with us ; but I do not know as 
they said anything about scarcity of funds. They were very much 
put out with the Emigrant Aid Company for misrepresenting matter 
to them. One little fellow swore that if he ever laid his eyes upon 
the man who had induced him to come out, he would put a "blue 
pill" in him, sure. I do not recollect of ever hearing any of these 
men say they had been furnished with the means of coming here by 
the Emigrant Aid Company, or any other company. I heard them 
say there would be thousands come out, and that the Emigrant Aid 
Society had a capital of $5,000,000. I do not remember that they 
said they had themselves come out under the auspices of the Emigrant 
Aid Society. Of the kind of emigration that came up to Kansas City 
prior to the election, I should think there were from one hundred 
to one hundred and fifty on each trip for eight or ten trips down, on 
a rough estimate. That was along in April, and to the midddle of 
May ; and then the passengers began to drop off. 

Our up trips began to fall off in this kind of passengers in May or 
June, and then came up again in the fall. I observed the character 
of immigration on the boats up the river in the months of March, 
April, and May, and they were generally eastern and northern men. 
After that, another class of emigration in families began to come up. 
These emigrants were generally for Kansas Territory. There was 
scarcely any females the first two or three trips ; generally men, with 
their hand-sacks and trunks, and most of them with revolvers. All 
the companies appeared to have leaders, who made the bargains for 
the passengers — so many men for such a price apiece. I noticed the 



870 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

passengers on other boats, and when we met a boat as we ^vere going 
up and down, these passengers would crowd the hurricane deck and 
fire off tlieir revolvers some two or three times as a salute. In March 
the river was so low that I do not think we had forty tons of freight 
on our first trip, and those who took freight could not get uj) without 
putting some of it out upon the bank. The Missouri river was unu- 
sually low for that season of the year. I do not remember ever to 
have seen it lower at any time of the year. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman: 

I was not on board of the New Lucy on the day of election, but I 
believe she made a pleasure trip to the fort, or to this place, or to 
Delaware City. I know she was not chartered to bring persons to the 
election, for I did not receive any money for it. She came down and 
went up the same day. Palermo is about 12 or 13 miles from St. Jo- 
seph;, and I went OTit there to my father-in-law's the day of the elec- 
tion. The election was going on while I was there. I saw a couple 
of gentlemen there from St. Joseph that I was acquainted with, but 
they did not vote. There were not many there. Of the 80 or 90 men 
who came on our boat at Kansas City on our down trip, I heard none 
say anything about Missourians having come to Lawrence to vote, 
and made no complaint except against the Emigrant Aid Society^ that 
they had misrepresented things to them, and had not come up to their 
contract with them. They did not specify what things had been mis- 
represented to them, or what the contracts were. They only said that 
the Emigrant Aid Society had misrepresented things to them, but I 
do not recollect of their stating what those things were. I do not 
remember the name of the leader of the party wlio came up on our 
boat, or of any other persons coming with them. We always brought 
the leaders free. I do not remember the names of any of those who 
returned on our boat. I do not think I could name any persons com- 
ing up or returning with us, without referring to the passenger re- 
gisters of that season. On our return trip we passed Kansas City 
somewhere about the first part of April, along from the 4th or 6th of 
the month. I think the Sonora was the first boat that started up that 
spring, and we or the Aubrey was the next. I think the James H. 
Lucas left a couple of days after we did. I do not remember whether 
Dr. Eobinson was on our boat the first trip up or not. 

By Mr. Sherman: 

I do not know where the old passenger registers of the New Lucy 
are now. They are not generally kept, and no care taken of them ; 
sometimes thrown overboard or destroyed in some other way. They 
are bound books, with printed heads and columns, and are used 
merely as memoranda, and after being filled uji are of no more use. 

F. M. MAHAN. 

Leavenworth, K. T., Maij 17, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 871 



Benjamin Slater called and sworn. 

I reside in St. Louis, Missouri, and my business is that of commis- 
sion and forwading. I have been engaged in that business for some 
four years. I have resided in this city, off and on, since 1837. I.'.was 
acting as agent for the New England Emigrant Aid Society in March, 
1855, my office being in the same building as Mr. F. A. Hunt. My 
arrangement with that company was nothing more than to engage the 
passage of all persons who came out under their care from this place 
to Kansas city, at a price not to exceed ten dollars each. So far as I 
knew, the society did not pay for the expenses of the passengers, but 
each one paid for himself. All the society did, so far as I understood, 
was to get tickets through from Boston to St. Louis for twenty-five 
per cent, less than ordinary rates; each passenger paid his own fare 
at the reduced rates. I do not know that the Emigrant Aid Society 
received any benefit at all from the reduced rates. There were but 
two parties that went out under the care of that society in the month 
of March, 1855. One party was under the care of Dr. Charles Rob- 
inson, consisting of one hundred and fifty-nine passengers, leaving 
St. Louis on the steamer Sonora, March 19, 1855. The other party 
was under the care of John Farwell, consisting of one hundred and 
forty passengers, leaving St. Louis on the steamer Kate Sweeney, 
March 26, 1855. I learned afterwards of Captain Chouteau, of the 
Kate Sweeney, that he was some two weeks getting up to Kansas city. 
In each party there were quite a number of women and children. In 
Dr. Robinson's party there were something like thirty or forty chil- 
dren, but I do not remember the number of women in his party. I 
know that Robinson's party had a great many trunks, &c., and a 
large quantity of baggage was paid for as extra baggage, after allow- 
ing one hundred pounds of baggage to each passenger. The extra 
baggage was paid for at prescribed rates^ each passenger paying for 
his own baggage. 

There were other emigrants from eastern, northern, and southern 
States, going up the river that spring. I was not applied to by any 
of those emigrants during March, 1855, to make similar arrangements 
to that made with regard to tlie aid emigrants. 

The baggage of the aid emigrants was marked with a printed card 
so as to designate it, thus: "Kansas party baggage, care of B. Slater, 
St. Louis." I saw no cards on the baggage with the name of Eli 
Thayer on them. I think I should have seen them if they had been 
on any of the baggage. The object of the mark I have mentioned 
was to facilitate and secure the transportation of the baggage. Many 
of the trunks left on the way w^ere identified by this mark, and after- 
wards forwarded to me here. 

The river was uncommonly low that season, and for that reason 
many of the boats could not run, and those that did run could not 
take much freight. Many of the boats ran aground, and scarcely a 
boat went up without running aground before she reached her desti- 
nation. The winter had been an open one, and emigration set in 
earlier than usual. Some mill machinery for several mills was sent 



872 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

to me that spring, and forwarded by me to Kansas Territory. There 
was also a large amount of furniture consigned to me that spring for 
forwarding. The furniture was mostly in boxes, some old and some 
new boxes, and, as far as I could see, was such as would be likely to 
be sent out here by movers. 

The other emigrants I have spoken of were not connected at all 
with the emigrant aid societies, but travelled on their own account, 
sometimes in companies and sometimes in scattered small parties. 
They would come here sometimes by boat and sometimes by railroad, 
and the runners of the Missouri river boats would go after them and 
make arrangements for them. I made no arrangements myself for 
any parties in March but the two I have named, though I did subse- 
quently. 

I never wrote a letter to E. W. Brown, the editor of the Herald of 
rreedom_, Lawrence, Kansas Territory, in which I stated that there 
were from 600 to 800 eastern emigrants on their way up the river, 
and would be up in time for the election, and 300 of them would be 
at Lawrence at the election of the 30th of March, 1855. I never 
wrote him any letter of the kind. I may have written a letter to 
Brown, stating the number of some particular party then on their 
way out. My connexion with the Emigrant Aid Society was purely 
of a business character. I never received any salary from them, but 
received from them merely the regular commission as I did from 
others. I was not their agent in any other sense than that of a com- 
mission merchant, and rendered them only the same services that I 
did to other parties for whom I transacted commission business. 

B. SLATER. 

St. Louis, Missouri, June 12, 1856. 



F, A. Hunt called and sworn. 

My occupation is that of a forwarding and commission merchant.. 
I have been engaged in business in St. Louis for nearly five years past. 
I have heard the testimony of Mr. Benjamin Slater, just taken. 
During the month of March, 1855, Mr. Slater had a desk in our office, 
and I think in the following April he became a .partner in our firm, 
then called F. A. Hunt & Co. Mr. Slater was the passenger agent 
of the Emigrant Aid Society during March, 1855, and afterwards 
F. A. Hunt & Co. became their agents. I recollect the party of Dr. 
Eobinson, and also that of John Farwell, which left here for Kansas- 
City during that March. There were no other aid emigrant parties 
that went up that month. The preceding winter had been a very 
open one, and the river was then unusually low for the season of the 
year. There was other emigration from different States during the 
month of March, much I think from Ohio. They came generally in 
small detached parties. They made their own bargains, and got up 
to Kansas City as cheaply as they could. The regular fare from here 
to Kansas City was at that time $12. They generally had to pay the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 873 

regular fare, unless they came in large parties. Subsequently to 
March, 1855, other parties of aid emigrants came out here, and we 
made arrangements for them. The arrangements made by the society 
■was to obtain passage for the emigrants to this place at a reduction of 
twenty-five per cent., and we generally obtained tickets for passen- 
gers up from here to Kansas city at |2 less than the usual rates. 
The emigrants received the full benefit of this reduction in both cases, 
in all instances paying their own expenses at the reduced rates. I 
know of no instance where the Emigrant Aid Society ever paid a dol- 
lar of the travelling expenses of emigrants. 

While I acted as agent for the aid society there was frequently ship- 
ped to me furniture and other property of a similar character. It was 
consigned and forwarded as usual in all cases of forwarding, being ad- 
dressed to the individuals to whom it was sent in Kansas, injour care 
at this place. On this we collected the customary commissions, regu- 
lated by the chamber of commerce of this city, and that was the only 
compensation we received for our services. They shipped several steam 
engines, some mill machinery, &c., to us, as also household furniture, 
which was sent to individuals in the Territory in our care. 

I first learned from the St. Louis papers of the fixing of the day of 
election in March, 1855. I received no information in relation to that 
matter from the Emigrant Aid Society or any persons connected with 
that society. The coming of those parties of emigrants had nothing 
to do with the election, so far as I know. I never knew of the aid 
society ever sending any persons out here merely to vote. From all 
I could learn from the society and from the conversation of the emi- 
grants, their sole object in going to Kansas was merely to seek homes 
and to better their condition. I know that some of these emigrants ' 
returned, and the only reason they gave to me for doing so was that 
the country was new, and they had not means enough to support 
themselves until they could make a living there. 

F. A. HUNT. 

St. Louis, Missouri, June 12, 1856. 



Amos A. Lawrence called and sworn. 

The first charter for an Emigrant Aid Company was granted by 
the legislature of Massachusetts in April, 1854. No action was ever 
had under it, on account of supposed defects. This is the charter re- 
ferred to in the majority report of the United States Senate commit- 
tee, of which Mr. Douglas was chairman. The first legal organiza- 
tion of the company was under articles of association dated July 24, 
1854. Lender these the subscriptions of stock were made, and action 
had, until the spring of 1855, when a new charter was obtained, as 
follows : 



^874 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

"new england emigrant aid company, 
•'charter. 

" AN ACT lo incorporate the New England Emigrant Aid Company. 

*^ Be it enacted hy the senate and liouse of representatives in general 
'Court assemhled, and by the authority of the same, as follows : Ell 
Thayer, Amos A. Lawrence, John M. S. Williams, and Thomas H. 
Webl), their associates, successors, and assigns, are hereby made a 
cor])oration by the name of the New England Emigrant Aid Com- 
pany, for the purposes of directing emigration westward, and aiding 
in providing accommodations for the emigrants after arriving at their 
places of destination ; and for these purposes they have all the powers 
and privileges, and are subject to all the duties, restrictions and lia- 
bilities, set forth in the forty-fourth chapter of the Revised Statutes. 

"Sec. 2. The capital stock of said corporation shall not exceed one 
million of dollars. Said capital stock may be invested in real and 
personal estate, provided the said corporation shall not hold real 
estate in this commonwealth to an amount exceeding twenty thousand 
dollars. 

''Sec. 3. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. 

'^^ Approved by the governor, February 21, 1855." 

The money paid in for subscriptions of stock, about $95,000, and 
the donations, about $4,000, was received by me, as treasurer, and has 
been disbursed by me, under the direction of the executive committee. 
No part of it has been expended for sending out emigrants, nor for 
any purpose except those made known to the public, viz : the estab- 
lishment of saw mills^ taverns, a printing press, for exploring the 
Territory, Sec. No money has been spent for fire arms. The stock of 
the company has not been an object of speculation, though many per- 
sons think it will be profitable. Some prefer to give money without 
taking stock. The pecuniary advantage derived by the emigrants has 
"been a reduction of fare of about fifteen per cent. The other advan- 
tages will be inferred from the character of the expenditures of the 
company. The number avIio have gone out is about 1 ,300, and those 
who have joined the parties about as many more.^ Until recently there 
has been no association in New England for sending out emigrants. 
I never have known any person sent out by any society or by indi- 
viduals to vote. This company never has exacted any pledge from 
those going out; all connexion with the company ceases on their ar- 
rival in the Territory. The subscribers to the stock are about 800, 
and they belong to various political parties. The company never has 
had any connexion M'ith any political party, either directly or indi- 
rectly, though its agents have sometimes spoken in political meetings; 
this has been against the wishes of some of the officers. No direc- 
tions have been given to the agents of the company in the Territory 
to resist the territorial laws or otherwise ; no question was asked of 
the agents as to their politics when they were ai:)pbinted, nor since. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 875 

I have never heard that any one of them favored a resistanee to the 
laws of the United States under any circumstances. 

I have read tlie address to the people of the United States, dated 
Boston, June 17, 1856, before it was printed, and there is nothing in 
it but what is true. As a brief mode of stating the objects and pur- 
poses of the company, I refer to it, and make it a part of my deposi- 
tion . It is as follows : » 

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. 

The executive committee of the Neio England Emigrant Aid Company 
respectfully ash your attention to the following facts : 

In consequence of the errors and misrepresentations in regard to 
the Emigrant Aid Company of Massachusetts, contained in a report 
made to the Senate of the United States by the chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Territories, March 12, 1856; and the repetition of the mis- 
statements and ajiparent adoption of the' conclusions of the report by 
members of both Houses of Congress, in their published speeches; the 
undersigned have been led to prepare a plain statement of the facts of 
the case, to expose the grave mistakes of the report and of those who 
have adopted its erroneous views, and to place before the country a 
true account of the designs and objects of this association. 

As most of the objections which have been urged in various quarters 
against this company are collected and embodied in the report, our 
purpose will be best attained by an examination of that document. 
We proceed therefore to notice some of its more prominent errors and 
misstatements. 

I. There is no sucli '-mammoth moneyed corporation" '-with a 
capital of five millions of dollars," '"to control the institutions of 
Kansas," as the report supposes. There never has been such an one. 
The act quoted by the report was passed by the legislature of Massa- 
chusetts in 1854, but no complete organization ever took place under 
it, and it was soon abandoned. The jS^ew England Emigrant Aid 
Company, which is the only incorporated society in Massachusetts 
connected with the emigration to Kansas, was chartered in 1855. Its 
capital is limited by its charter to one million of dollars, but in point 
of fact the capital of the company, actually paid in. has never exceeded 
one hundred thousand dollars. 

II. The act of incor])oration doe ■ not, as tlie report suggests, make 
the State of Massachusetts a party to the proceedings of this company. 
The design of a charter of incorporation, as is well known, is to 
enable an association of individuals to act together more conveniently 
and safely in the transaction of its business. A State granting a 
charter does not render itself responsible for the acts of the company 
thereby created : and the State of Massachusetts, although doubtless 
approving of its objects, is no more accountable for the transactions 
of this company than for those of the numerous companies chartered 
by its legislature for religious, educational, mining, nuinufacturing, 
or other purposes. 

III. The report attributes to the company the origin of all the 



876 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

troubles in Kansas, by its " nnanthorized and improper schemes of 
foreign interference witli the internal adairs and domestic concerns 
of the Territory," and its "attempt to viohite or circnmvent the 
principk's and ])rovisions of the act of Congress for the organization 
of Kansas and Nebraska." 

Tiie fact is directly the reverse of what is here stated ; and a regard 
for truth and justice slioukl have led to a careful inquiry into the 
facts before these assertions were made. This Com])any has never 
"interlered with the internal atfairs of tlie Territory." It has never 
attempted to ''violate or circumvent" any act of Congress. It has 
never, as a company, opposed the Kansas-Nebraska act. 

The company was formed to aid in the permanent settlement of the 
Territory of Kansas by a free and intelligent ])opulation. In the 
prosecution of this juirpose, it had reason to expect the approval and 
co-operation of Congress. It anticipated that, in accordance with the 
true intent of the Kansas-Nebraska act, all citizens of the United 
States who should go to settle in Kansas would receive the protection 
of the government. 

The Territory of Kansas cannot properly be spoken off as in any 
sense 'Mbreign" to Massachusetts. Like the other Territories of the 
United States, it is the common property of all the States. It belongs 
to Massachusetts and Vermont as well as to IMissouri or Iowa. The 
citizens of every State have an equal right to go there or to aid others to 
go, either individually or by means of associated capital. By the Kan- 
Bas-Nebraska act, the people of these Territories were left, "perfectly 
free to Ibrm and regulate their domestic institutions in their own way." 
Whatever may be the individual opinions of the members of this 
association as to the constitutionality, justice, or expediency of this 
act, the company has accepted it as the law of the land until it should 
be re,)ealed, and has never violated or evaded it. All its action, on 
the contrary, has been perfectly consistent with the principles and 
provisions of the law. 

Upon the removal by Congress of all restriction upon the future 
instituti<ins of Kansas, and the granting to actual settlers the right 
to determine their character, that Territory was regarded by all parties, 
both at the south and north, as thrown open to free competition for 
settlement, by emigrants from all parts of the country. This fact has 
been recognized by leading men in the southern States as well as at 
the north, and warm a]ipeals have been made to the ])atriotism and 
moral sentiment, as well as to the interest and the political prejudices 
of all sections of the Union. These appeals hnd a ready response 
from the people. Public meetings of citizens have been held in many 
of the States, and societies formed, to aid in the settlement of the 
Territory, and to assist in the work of founding a new State. 

The report asserts that this company was the first association formed 
to "control the institutions" of the new Territory; and assumes that 
the southern societies exist only as a " natural consequence" of its 
operations. But we have abundant evidence that, before the organiza- 
tion of this company, associations were formed and 'in active operation 
in Missouri, to "interfere with the internal affairs" of the Territory 
in a manner neither legal nor justifiable. Indeed, the existence of a 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 877 

wide s))rc';i(l desiro and iittont.ion, on the ])art of the soutliorn Stales, 
to use all ])ratical)le means to control the institutions of Kansas, has 
been so oj)enly and repeatedly avowed, that it needs no j)rooi". Tlie 
whole chavfjje therefore aj:!;ain8t this coni])any, thai; it has been the 
occasion of the diHicnlties in Kansas, on the fjjrouiid oC its assnmed 
priority of action, is totally destitute of foundation. 

This company lias enij)loyed associated (capital, and ()rf2;ani/.e(l under 
a charter, for the coriveniencc of its business. But the use of associ- 
ated capital is a common principle of all societies, and has never, so 
i'ar as we know, l)ccn objected to, except in the case of this company; 
and the organization under a charter, so far from implying:; any design 
to "violate or cii'cumvent " the law, is direct evidence of a contiaiy 
intent. It is, in fact, from the "im])r(^per and uruiuthorized" acts 
ol' uneliartercd and illegal societies, that tlie greatest danger to the 
institutions of Kansas has arisen. 

Although the associations formed iit the north have, no d(Uibt, dif- 
ferent objects and difVei'ent methods of action. I'rom those of the southern 
States, the I'ights of all of them are equal under the act, so long as 
their ])ro('eedings are conformable to the laws. The citizens of the 
southern States have not, in general, shown the same disposition with 
those of the north to emigrate to Kansas, or to aid others to go there 
for j)ermanent settlement; but they have fully recognized their right 
to do this, and declare their intention to exercise it. That they have 
failed to act more eftlciently for this object is not, ])erha[)s, owing so 
much to the want of a desire to extend their peculiar institutions 
into the Territory as to other causes. 

While the objects and action of this company are severely comdemucd 
by the report, we find in it no censure of the "unauthorized and 
impro]ier interference" of southern societies in the affairs of the Ter- 
ritory. Indeed the language of the report would lead to the inference 
that tli(> Kansas-Nebraska act was es})ecially designed foi- the benefit 
of thos(> individuiils and s(K;ielies who seek to render tlie institutions 
of Kansas congenial to those of Missouri. Their action is spoken of 
as simply ^^ defensive," while that of the Massachusetts company is 
characterized as '^^ ff(7_(7>"(;s«n"e; " those therefore, it would seem, who 
favor the establisliment of free institutions in Kansas arc guilty of 
acts of aggression ; while those who aim to ])lant slavery tliere are 
acting only on the defensive, and are not liable to the charge of 
endeavoring to "violate or circumvent' the Kansas-Nebraska act. 

But whatever may be the views of the report in regard to the design 
and effect of the Kansas-Nebraska act, the ])eo]de of the United States 
will never sanction the doctrine that it was intended for the special 
benefit of Misst»uri. Tliat Slate, although lying in immediate prox- 
imity to the Territory of Kansas, can liave no other rights there than 
those which belong equally to every State of the Union. If the con- 
struction of the act suggested by the report is to be maintained, it 
becomes indeed "a question of fearful imi)ort" how far such legisla- 
tion is "compatible with the rights and liberties of tlie peo])le." 
I Since all the vai'ious Emigrant Aid Societies of the country have 
I equal rights in tlu:' Territory of Kansas, no exception can be taken 
I to the action of any one of them, so long as it confines itself to legiti- 



878 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

mate objects, and employs only just and lawful means to accomplish 
its ends. 

The objects of the New England Emigrant Aid Company are just 
and lawful. The means which it employs are legal and proper. The 
disturbances in Kansas are attributed by the report to the " unusual 
and extraordinary means" used "to stimulate an unnatural and false 
system of emigration," "with a view of controlling the elections in 
Kansas." A simjile statement of the facts is a sufficient refutation of 
this error. 

It was early perceived by the originators of this company, that a 
portion of the immense emigration which, every year, seeks the west 
from the northern and eastern States, might be directed towards 
Kansas. Information was eagerly sought for in regard to its character 
and resources, and its adaptation to the wants of settlers. The company 
obtained and supplied the needed information, facilitated the passage 
of those who wished to go, by aiding them to unite into parties that 
they might make the journey more conveniently and cheaply, and 
invested capital in the Territory in such enterprises as would be most 
useful to the newly arrived settlers. These are the only " unusual 
and extraordinary means" which it has employed. 

It is well known that one of the chief difficulties which the settlers 
in a new country have to contend with is the want of capital for the 
support of those undertakings to which the means of individuals are 
inadequate. It has been one of the first objects of the company to 
supply this want b}^ the erection of hotels, mills, and machinery ; by 
favoring the establishment of schools and churches; and by doing all 
in its power to surround the settlers, even on their first arrival, with 
the comforts of civilized and cultivated life. It was at the same time 
the belief of some of the originators of the company, that such invest- 
ments of capital, while in the highest degree useful to the emigrants, 
would also in the end prove profitable to the company itself, as the 
population should increase, and the value of permanent property in 
tlie Territory be thereby enhanced. It must be apparent, therefore, 
that the whole plan of the company's operations is based on the idea 
of a permanent settlement of the Territory. Its investments are made 
in property which has a permanent local value, but which would be 
worthless unless surrounded by an active and energetic population. 
It could be no part of its plan therefore to send persons to Kansas 
for a temporary residence there. 

Neither has it offered inducements to any persons to emigrate, by 
paying for their passage to the Territory. It has, in fact, never paid 
the passage of an emigrant. It has believed that its funds could be 
more usefully applied to permanent investments in Kansas. The class 
of persons in New England who would be induced to go by such means 
is small, and still smaller, it is to be hopod, is the number of those 
who could be "hired" to go to Kansas, to remain there only tempo- 
rarily for the base and dishonest purpose of interfering with the 
elections in the Territory. Tlie charge that this company has sent 
emigrants the long journey of fifteen hundred miles for the mere pur- 
pose of voting at elections, is therefore not only unjust but absurd. 

Tiiose who have gone to Kansas under the auspices of this company 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 879" 

had the means to pay for the journey, and the ability and the will to 
work for the support of themselves and their families there. They 
have gone of their own accord and at their own expense. The energy, 
perseverance, and honorable ambition which led them to forsake the 
comforts of civilized life, and seek a home in a distant and unsettled 
region, and which have enabled them to acquire the means for so doing, 
are precisely the qualities which render them the most valuable and 
desirable class of settlers for a new country. A few who went out 
without a sufficient acquaintance with the difficulties and hardships 
incident to a pioneer life, became discouraged and wished to return. 
But the number of these is small^ comj)ared with those who remain as 
permanent residents in the Territory. 

This company makes no conditions with the emigrants. All persons, 
whether coming from the north or the south, who wish to go to Kansas, 
and are able to pay for the passage, are at liberty to join its parties. 
Its hope and desire are that all who go should be and remain bona fide 
settlers. It asks no questions as to their political opinions. It exacts 
no pledge or promise, either express or implied, as to their conduct or 
Yote. Such a pledge would be equally dishonorable to those who gave 
and to those who received it. They are free and independent citizens 
on the soil of Kansas as they have been on that of Massachusetts or 
New Hampshire. 

While entirely disclaiming, on the part of this company, any im- 
proper interference with the internal affairs of the Territory of Kansas^ 
or any design to control the political or social conduct of its citizens, we 
have always hoped and expected that the emigrants who go out under 
its auspices would favor the establishment of free institutions there. 

It is for their interest to make Kansas a free State. The character 
of the men is, in itself, a sufficient guaranty that they will do so. 
They are men of industry and enterprise, who believe in hard work 
and are accustomed to it. Such men cannot fail to carry with them, 
wherever they go, a love for the institutions which recognize the dig- 
nity of labor, and allow to every man the just reward of his toil. But 
the very independence of character which these institutions have fos- 
tered would lead them to repel the slightest attempt on the part of 
this company to exercise any control over their conduct. 

We have sufficiently shown the method of proceeding of the com- 
pany which we represent. Societies early formed in other sections of 
the Union adopted different methods. Some of these associations have 
hired men to go to Kansas, have supplied them with arms, and pro- 
posed to support them in the Territory, for the avowed purpose of con- 
trolling the elections by force and fraud, and by intimidation of the 
peaceable bona fide settlers. The disturbances in Kansas have been the 
''natural consequence" of these illegal acts, and it is both unjust and 
illogical to attribute them to the influence of a company whose object 
is to aid in the peaceable and permanent settlement of the Territory 
by legitimate means, rather than to the action of societies, the direct 
tendency of whose proceedings is to produce hostile collision and 
bloodshed. 

IV. Another error of the report is the statement that this company 



880 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

has invested its cai)ital in " cannon and rilles, in poAvder and lead, and 
in all the implements of war." 

The assertion is utterly untrue. The company has never invested a 
dollar in cannon or rifles, in powder or lead, or in any of the imple- 
ments of tear. It was established solely for ])eaceahlc and legal objects, 
and it has been no part of its plan to engage in any of the pursuits 
of war. The first emigrants who Avent to Kansas under its auspices 
Avere mostly unarmed,"or i)rovided only with such weapons as were 
intended for the ordinary })urposes of pioneer life. They had no in- 
tention or expectation of being obliged to use them in any other way. 
They relied on the faith of tlie government that actual settlers should 
he protected in tlieir rightful occupation of the soil. 

Subsequent events have shown tluit this reliance was unfounded. 
The Territory has been invaded at various times by armed men from 
the neighboring States, in defiance of law, and the inhabitants have 
been obliged to resort to such means of self defence as they could ob- 
tain lor protection at the ballot-box, for the safety of tlieir homes 
and families, and for the preservation of their towns and villages 
from destruction. So far as the facts have come to our knowledge, 
they have always used these means judiciously and well, never inter- 
fering with the rights of others, but ready and determined to maintain 
their own. 

Their ].ationce and forbearance under every species of provocation 
and insult, while they still hoped for a ])eaceful redress of their griev- 
ances by law ; their wisdom and ])rudence under circumstances of 
unexampled trial and difficulty ; and their brave and determined con- 
duct on occasions when forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, and it 
had become necessary to repel violence by force, have commanded our 
respect and admiration. So long as they were exposed only to the 
attacks of lawless bands, acting without even the pretence of authority 
of tl\e government, they have boon able to defend themselves. But 
the intolerable wrongs and grievances which they now suffer, under 
color of law, call loudly upon the government and the country for 
redress. The inhabitants of Kansas demand only justice, and protec- 
tion for their rights as citizens and freemen. They have never designed 
to resist the execution of the laws of Congress, but in their brave and 
uncompromising resistance to lawdess invasion and violence they 
stand on the broad principles of the inalienable right of self-defence, 
and the liberties guarantied to every citizen by the Constitution of the 
United States. 

We believe that a full recognition of the principle that actual set- 
tlers should control the institutions of the Territory, and an accept- 
ance by Congress of the constitution and form of government which 
they have chosen, would be a full and complete remedy for all the 
evils under which they now labor. 

V, The statements of the report in regard to the supposed violence 
and hostility of northern and eastern emigrants in passing through 
IMissouri are also erroneous. Although our communication with the 
citizens of Missouri, as well as those of Kansas, is freijuent and direct, 
we have never known of an instance of the violence referred to. The 
Missouri river is one of the common highways of the nation, and its 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 881 

■waters arc as froo to the citizens of all the States as those of tlie har- 
bors of our eastern coast. That the emigrants ])assin<; np that river to 
Kansas have exi)resse(l scntimtMits on ])()litieal and social (juestions 
(iiirerini>; from tliose entertained by many of the citizens of Missouri is 
perlia])s true. Their right to entertain or express such sentiments 
cannot certainly be doubted. lUit we are sure that they have never 
committed any acts of violence or hostility or interfered with the do- 
mestic institutions of that State. The inconveniences and ani\(\yances, 
however, to Avhich en)i2;rants from the east are sonu'tinu's subjected in 
their passasjje throni!;h Missouri, and the risk to life and ]>roperty often 
encountered, have turned the attention of parties to other routes to 
Kansas, which will probably soon be completed by the extension of 
the lines of railroad now in process of construction throuf2;h the State 
of Iowa. By the o])enin<^ of these routes, the citizens of Missi^uri will 
probably be reliev^ed in a fji:reat de,!:!;ree of their "apprehensions" of 
" danger" from the })eaceable emigrants to Kansas. 

VI. The views expressed in the report respecting this company are 
not those which are entertained by the citizens of Kansas. Every 
mail from the Territory brings us assurances of this lact. The inhab- 
itants of that region do not attribute to us any design to control their 
political action, but they r(\gard our investment of capital there as of 
great advantage to the settlers, and we have been constantly urged to 
make new investments to a greater extent than our resources have 
heretofore allowed. 

The interest, however, v/hich recents have awakened in all portions 
of the country in the welfare of Kansas has had the effect to increase 
the resourf'os of the company, and it intends to continue to make such 
investments to the full extent of its means. The emigi'ati<ni to Kansas 
from all parts of the c<uintry still continues, stimulated, no d()ul)t, by 
the action of emigrant aid societies both at the south, and at the 
north. Experience has shown tbat the proceedings even of some of 
those whose views on the subject of the settlement of Kansas are an- 
tagonistic to our own, have essentially aided in the success of this 
company. It has been f )uud that a large number of the emigrants to 
Kansas, from the southern as well as from the northern States, so soon 
as they have become permanent settlers, have recognized and desired 
to participate in the benedt of its operations. 

The number of emigrants who have gone to Kansas under ihe direct 
auspices of this company is not large, comi)ared with the great num- 
bers from the northern and western States who have Ix^en encouraged 
to go tliere by the knowledge of its transactions. Tiie actual capital 
employed by the comj)any is much less than it is represented by the 
report, amounting, indeed, to but a small part of the sura allowed by 
its charfeei-. But it has suited the designs of those who oppose it to 
make exaggerated statements of the character of its operations and to 
misre[)resent its purposes. It has done what it o^)uld, in a peaceable, 
legal, and constitutional way to aid in the settlement of Kansas b}^ a 
population of freemen. It will continue to exert all its influence to 
the accomplishment of that great end, without regard to misrepresen- 
tation and abuse from whatever quarter they may come. 

The number of the stockholders of this association now amounts t& 
H. Kep. 200 5G* 



882 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

nearly one tlioiisand, and is steadily increasing. Among its members 
are persons eminent for intelligence, moral character, and high social 
position and influence, men of every class and profession in life, and 
the representatives of every political party. No one, in a commimity 
where they are known, would venture to attribute to them any unjust 
or improper designs. But since, from a misapprehension of their mo- 
tives, a coTumittee of tlie Senate of the United States has been led into 
grave errors in respect to them ; and as such errors have been widely 
circulated, and, if not corrected, may injuriously afl'ect the interests of 
Kansas, we have thought it expedient to make this })ublic denial of all 
the charges against the comjiany. But while explaining the purposes 
of this association, we would also express our cordial sympathy with 
the efl'orts of those organizations, of later date, whose methods of 
action may differ from our own, but whose object is, by all just and 
honorable means, to aid the emigration of freemen to Kansas, and to 
enable the settlers already there to maintain their rights on its soil. 

WM. B. SrOONEK, 
J. M. S. WIIJJAIkiS, 
ELI THAYER, 
S. CABOT, Jr., 
K. P. WATERS, 
L. B. RUSSELL, 
C. J. HIGdlNSOK, 
EDWARD E. HALE. 
Execuiive Committee of the N. E. Emigrant Aid Co. 

Boston, Jiine 17, 1856. 

The officers of the corporation chosen at the annual meeting, May 
27, 185(), are as follows : 

President — Joun Carter Brown, of Providence, R. T. 

Vice Fresidents. — Eli Thayer, of Worcester, Mass. ; J. M. S. WiL- 
uiAaAis, of Cambridge, Mass. 

Treasurer. — Amos A. Lawrence, of Boston. 

Assistant Treasurer. — Anson J. Stone, of Boston. 

Secretary. — Tuomas H. Webb, of Boston. 

Directors. — Wm. B. Spooner, S. Cabot, jr., M. D., John Lowell, 
Le Baron Russell, I\I. 1)., Cliarles J. PLgginson, Samuel Gr. HoAve, 
M. D., George B. Upton, Patrick T. Jackson, all of Boston; Wm. 



Wm. Willis, Portland, ]\Iaine ; Ichabod Goodwin, Portsmouth, N. H.; 
Thomas M. Edwards, Keene, N. H.; Albert Day, Hartford, Con- 
necticut; John Bertram, Salem; George llowland, jr., New Bedford; 
Francis Wayland, D. D., Providence, R. 1.; Edward Everett Hale, 
Worcester; Seth Padelford, Providence, R. I.; Samuel Boyd Tobey, 
M. D., Providence, R. I.; Prof. Benjamin Silliman, New Haven, Ct.; 
Horace Bushnell,D. D., Hartford, Ct. ; Moses H. Grinnell, New York; 
William Cullen Bryant, New York ; Henry H. Ellit)tt, New York ; 
Edwin D. Morgan, New York; Henry C. Bowen, New York: Horace 
B. Claflin, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Edward W. Fiske, Brooklyn, N. Y.; 
and J. L. Bailey, Philadelphia, Pa. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 883 

Exooitivc Committee. — Messrs. Wra. B. Spooner, J. ]\T. S. Williaiiis, 
Eli Thayor, 8. Cabot, jr., M. D., K. P. Waters, Lc Baron Kussell, 
M. D., Charles J. Hig^nnson, and E. E. Hale. 
Attest : 

THOMAS H. WEBB, Secretary. 

AMOS A. LAWRENCE. 
New York City, Jane 20, 1850. 



Eli TiiAYim called and sworn. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I reside in Worcester, Massachusetts. I have heen connected with 
the Emigrant Aid Society, as vice-president, since its organization. 
In April, 1854, a law Avas ])assed by the legislature oi" Massacliusetts 
to incorporate the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company, and that 
is the law referred to Ly Hon. S. A. Douglas, in his report to the 
Senate of the United States, No organization was perfected or stock 
issued under that law. The reason was that some provisions of the 
law were ohjectionahle to capitalists. The objection to the law was, 
that the stock subsci-i1)ed for was to be ])ayable in ten years, in annual 
instalments, and capitalists rei'nsed to assume res])onsibilities to ex- 
tend over so long a period. 

Subsequently, in July, 1854, certain articles of association were 
f)rmed, called "Articles of agreement and association of the Emi- 
grant Aid Society." These articles were ])erfected on the 24th day of 
July, 1854, Under these articles, Amos A. Lawrence, of Boston, J. 
M. S. Williams, of Cambridge, and myself, were the trustees ; Mr. 
Ijawrence was also treasurer, and Thomas H. Webb, of Boston, was 
secretary. Under these articles of association, a company'' was formed, 
and arrangements were made for the same purposes as under the law 
subse(iuently passed. Objections were made to these articles of asso- 
ciation on account of individual liability, and an application was made 
to the Massachusetts legislature for a charter in January, 1855, which 
was granted. That charter is embodied in the testimony of Mr. 
Amos A. Lawrence before this committee. An organization was 
effected under this charter. The ibllowing are the officers of this as- 
sociation or company : 

OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION. 

Prefiident. — John Carter Brown, of Providence, P. I. 

Vice Fresidenfs. — Eli Tiiayer, oi' Worcester, IMass. ; J. M. S. Wil- 
liams, of Cambridge, Mass. 

Treasurer. — Amos A. Lawrexce, of Boston. 

Secretary. — Thomas H. Webb, of ]5oston. 

Directors. — William W Spooner, Samuel Cabot, jr., M D, John 
Lowell, Le Baron Russell, M D, Charles J Higginson, Samuel Gr 
Howe, M D, George B Upton, Patrick T Jackson, all of Boston ; 
William J llotch. New Bedford ; J P Williston, Northampton ; Wil- 
liam Dudley Pickman, Salem; R P Waters, Beverly ; R A Chap- 



884 KANSAP AFFAIRS. 

man, Springfield; Cliarles ]I r)ii;-elow, Lawrence; Nathan Dnrfee, 
Fall River ; William Willis, Portland, Maine; Icliabod (Joodwin, 
Portsniontli, N IT ; Thomas M Edwards, Keene, NH; Albert Day, 
PIart1()r<l, Ct ; John Bertram, Salem ; Georj^e Rowland, jr, New Bed- 
ford ; Francis Wayland, D D, Providence, RI; Ed^vard Everett 
Hale, Worcester; Setli Padelford, Providence, RT; Samuel Boyd 
Tobey, Providence, \l I ; Benjamin Silliman, New Haven, Ct ; Horace 
Bushnell, D D, Hartiord, Ct"; Moses H Grinnell, New York; Wil- 
liam Cnllen Bryant, New York ; Henry H Elliott, New York ; Wil- 
liam M Evarts, New York ; Edwin 1) Morgan, New York ; William 
Curtis Noyes, New York ; Henry C Bowen, New York ; Horace B 
Clatlin, Brooklyn, New York ; Edward A^ Fiske, Brooklyn, New York ; 
Rollin Sandfbrd, P)r(H)klyn, New York ; and J L Baily, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. 

Kvc'cKfrvc CW»;/^;//'ce.— Messrs. J M S Williams, Eli Tliaver, S Ca- 
bot, jr, M I), R P Waters, Le Baron Russell, M D, Charles J Hig- 
ginson, AVilliam B Spooner, and E E Idale. 

I am familiar with the ])ur])0ses and history of this company. We 
sent, first, men to ex])l()re the Territory of Kansas, that being the 
first Territt)ry o])ened for settlement, to ascertain the character and 
resources of that Territory. This and other information we published 
and furnished gratuitously to all who applied lor it. We then opened 
an office in Boston, when apj^lication could be made by those who 
wished to emigrate to Kansas. The secretary kept a book in which 
the names of these a])plicants were recorded. When a party of suffi- 
cient number was foi'med, the day was fixed for their departure, tick- 
ets were purchased by tlie company, at a reduced price, of various lines 
of transportation, and were furnished to the emigrants at cost. A 
conductor was furnished by the company for each party. His duty 
was to provide for their safe, expeditious, and economical conveyance 
to Kansas. Wo established local agents in the Territory, whose duty 
it was to receive these colonists, and to inform them of the best loca- 
tions open to settlement. The company, in no instance, i)aid the 
passage of any emigrant. It made no conditions about the political 
opinion of the emigrants ; no questions were asked of them, and per- 
sons from every State, and of every political opinion, would have en- 
joyed, and did enjoy, the s.%me facilities. It was not doubted that the 
great body of emigrants were in favor of making Kansas a fre*^ State. 
The company furnished these emigrants with no articles of ]K^rsonal 
property, and never, directly or indirectly, furnished them with any 
arms or munitions of war of any kind, and never invented a dollar for 
any such purpose. The purposes of this company, as. given in a cir- 
cular, dated Boston, June 11, 185G, and addressed " to the people of 
the T_^nited States," are correctly stated. 

There is and has been no obligation imposed upon emigrants, or 
pledges asked or required of them, for the facilities they receive from 
this company. The moment they arrive at the place named in their 
ticket all connexion between them and the society ceases. The com- 
pany bought a hotel at Kansas City. This hotel was open to the emi- 
grants and the public generally, each one paying his own fare. The 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 885 

company never kei>t tlie hotel, hnt leased it to some one, whosi; name 
I do not now reeolleet, and also to Mr. Eldridge, and iinally sold it 
to Mr. Eldrid<^e. It was a^-reed witli the i)roprietors of this hotel 
that i)arties of emigrants coming under our charge should he aceom- 
niodated as before. The company never received any benefit fi-om 
this hotel, except the ordinary rent from leasing it. The company 
built a hotel in Lawrence, at an expense of about $20,000. At that 
time there was no hotel wortliy of the name in the Territory, tliere 
being but little ca[)ital in the Territory at the time, as is usual among 
all ])ioneors in a new country. This liotel the company leased to Mr. 
Kldridge, who furnished it, and it was destroyed on the Slst of May 
last. 

We also erected, and prepared to erect, mills in the ^I'erritoi-y at 
different [)laces, some eight oi- ten of them. The company, 1 think, 
had one other luiihling in Lawrence, but 1 do not now recollect what 
jt is. Some temporary sheds were also erected by the com]»any for 
the accommodation of emigrants there until tiiey could erect biiihiings 
of their own. These were the only buildings that the En?igrant Aid 
Society ever were interested in. Tl)e total expc^nditures of the com- 
pany, for all purposes, sincc^ its organization have been less than 
,^100,000. The comi)any had no intei'est whatever in the I'esidence 
occupied by Dr. (Jharles Robinson. 

The company laid out no towns, and had no interest in laying out 
any. The towns were laid out by the settlers themselves, in some 
cases, the setthirs making some ari'angements to give the com])any 
certain lots to induce us to make i\ivestments tliere, and thus aid in 
buihling uj) the place. This was the case with the town association 
of Lawrence. The town association would have given similar advan- 
tiiiges to any person or company of men who would have made im- 
provements. Other offers were made to us to induce similar invest- 
ments in other settlements, some of which we Avcre not able to accept 
for lack of means. It was by means of these investments that the 
company expected to be reimbursed for what tliey expended. No 
other investments were n\ade by Ibis society in the Tei'ritoi'y exce})t 
those I have stated. 

I have frequently expressed my individual opinion in regard to tlic 
emigration to Kansas, and have differed with my ;vssociates upon some 
points. They nvc not res|)onsible, nor is the company responsible, for 
M'hat 1 have thus said. My name Avas not ])ut, to my knowledge, ujion 
any baggage belonging to these emigrants in any case. 

In my o]>inion, the stock of the company will ])rove a profitable in- 
vestment, if the company shall receive that protection from law enjoyed 
by other business organi^^ations, as our interests and the interests of 
the settlers are mutual, never conflicting. 

Our investments in the Territory of Kansas have been for t!ie beneht 
of settlers of all political ])arties, and from all [xirlioiis of the States, 
without T)reference or ])artiality. 

ELI THAYER. 

New York City, June 2G, 1850. 



886 KANSAS AFFAIR?. 



Anson J. Stone called and sworn. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I reside in Boston^ Massachusetts. I am assistant treasurer of the 
Emigrant Aid Society. A record is ke})t by that society of the names 
of those emigrants who are sent out under its auspices. The party of 
emigrants under Dr. Robinson, who went out in the spring of 1855, 
left Boston March 13, 1855. I have a list of those who composed 
that party, copied from the original register in the office of the com- 
l)any by myself. The list is contained in a memorandum book, and 
is attached to this deposition. The book also contains the names of 
those who went out in company with John T. Farwell, leaving Boston 
March 20, 1855. 

The number of persons who have been sent out by the Emigrant Aid 
Society I should judge to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 1^300, 
but I cannot state, without looking over the books, what proportion 
were women and children, but there were many going out in families. 
When Robinson's party left we had no information at all of the day 
of election. I do not tliink any party went out at all in reference to 
the day of election. 

The emigrant aid society never paid the expenses of any emigrant. 
I am certain of this, because I have carefully examined all the books 
and papers of the society. They have expended no money for fire 
arms or ammunition. They have been extremely careful in regard to 
that matter, and avoided it in any way. The money of the society has 
been expended in saw and grist mills, the hotel in Lawrence, and in 
otlier buildings; and in no case has money been expended with any 
reference to the political opinion of settlers ; but all could enjoy the 
facilities of the investments of the society. The company did not 
issue tickets of their own, but purchased tickets of the various lines of 
transportation, and sold them to the emigrants for cost. A conductor 
was sent along with each party, but the company in no case paid his 
fare, but he was furnished with a free ticket by the various lines of 
travel. The transportation companions made the same deduction on 
the tickets they sold to us at a reduced rate, as they did to all other 
companies, picnic parties, convention's, &g. 

This is the mode in which business has heen ordinarily done between 
the company and the emigrants. When ah emigrant comes into the 
office and asks about Kansas, for information," &c., we give him a 
pamphlet containing all the information we have been able to gather. 
It did not contain any special price of his fare to tlie Territory ; and 
when he asked what that would be, we would state what the railroads 
would furnish tickets for. They would naturally come to our office to 
inquire this, because it is the office of the Kansas Emigrant Company. 
This pamphlet of information is prepared and furnished, not to per- 
suade persons to emigrate, but to avoid the trouble of answering all 
the questions persons would probably ask us, by giving them the in- 
formation they desire in a convenient form. W"e never urge them to 
go. Some, after reading our books, would conclude to go, while others 
would not. We could not tell how many did not go, but there were 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



887 



many who got these pamphlets did not go. As soon as enough con- 
cluded to go, to form a party, a conductor was sent along with the 
party. Their baggage was marked to facilitate and secure its trans- 
portation. The connexion between the company and the emigrant 
ceased when the ticket was sold_, and there was no understanding, 
agreement, or promise on either side. No man ever went under the 
auspices of this society, for the mere purpose of voting and then return- 
ing, so far as I know. 

ANSON J. STONE. 
New York City, June 27, 1856. 



First spring 2)arty , March 13, 1855, Dr Robinson conductimj agent. 



No. 


Names. 


No. 


Names. 


1 


Loring Farnsworth, varnisher and 


37 


J. M. Fogg, Lowell. 




polisher, Somerville, Mass. (See 


38 


O. Rawson, Lawrence. 




No. 80, wliich was siib>t,ituted.) 


39 


S. A. Wynn, designer, Millville, 


2,3, 4, 


William Easterbrook, bricklayer, 




Mass. 


and 5 


wife, mother, and 2 children, 


40 


J. Wynn, engineer, Millville. 




Cambridgeport, Mass. 


41 


A Wynn, weaver, Millville. 


6 


Camuel C. Smith, Cambridgeport, 


42 


J. McNannie, weaver, Millville. 




Mass. 


43 


Rev. W. C. High, Northampton. 


7 


George W. Fitz, Cambridgeport, 


44 


C. Liscom, Montpelier, Vermont. • 




Mass. 


45 


Amos Trotl, Portsmouth, N. H. 


8 


J. M. Lincoln, Cambridgeport, 


46 


C. Bragg, carver, Lawrence, Mass. 




Mass. 


47 


C. A. Adams, farmer, Bedford. 


9 


S. Perry, carpenter, Dighton, 


48, 49 


W. Hutchinson and wife. West 




Mass. 




Randolph, Vermont. 


10 


A. Lord, Augusta, Maine. 


50 


Iram Higgins, carpenter. Fair- 


11 


Jacob Bragg, spinner, Lawrence. 




haven. 


14, LS, 


Joseph H. Chase, Newburyport, 


51 


George W. Hathaway, farmer, 


16, 17, 


Mass. 




Fairhaven. 


18, 181 




52 


Alexander Bliss, spar maker, New 




(See Nos. 176, 177, 178, 173, 180, 




Bedford. 




and 1801 ) 


53 


William H. Gookin, Portsmouth. 


19, 20, 


Nathaniel H. Gray, varnisher, fee," 


54 


Win. P. Henderson, Portsmouth. 


21, 21 i 


wife, daughter, and granddaugh- 


55 


Not sold. 




ter, 10 years, and boy 3 years 


56, 56| 


Mrs. Chase. 




old, Boston. 


57, 58, 


T. Fessenden, wife and children, 


22 


Converse S. Graves, varnisher, 


59, 60 


Leominster. 




Boston, 


61 


B. G. Livingston, Fitchburg, 


23, 24, 


Ebenczer Ilersey, shoem.aker, wife. 




Mass. 


25, 25 1 


and 6 children, 10 years, 7 years. 


62 


Mrs. Frederick Kimball, Fitcli- 




3 years, 2 years, and 1 year, 




burg, Mass. 




Way land, Mass. 


63 


Mrs. Samuel Kimball, Fitchburg, 


26 


James G Bolles, broker, Boston. 




Mass 


27 


L. M. Herrcndeen, cooper. Palmer, 


64 


Kate E. Kellogg, teacher, Bel- 




Mass. 




chertown. 


28 


F. Davis, Boston. 


65 


J. E. Rice, Roxburv, Mass. 


29 


H. M. Severance, Cambridgeport, 


66 


S. BuUard, Saxonville. 




Mass. 


67 


R. Seavy, carpenter, Lawrence, 


30 


H. Wilson, Springvale, Maine. 




Mass. 


31 


B. Gatchill, Springvale, Maine. 


68 


S. Whitaker, machinist, Law- 


32 


J. W. Brooks, Springvale, Maine. 




rence, Mass. 


33 


G. F. Brown, carpenter, Paw- 


69 


George Rhymes, machinist, Law- 




tucket. 




rence, Mass. 


34 


J. Brown, farmer, Pawtucket. 


70 


G. Currier, stone cutter, Lawrence. 


35 


J. C. Disney, Boston. 


71 


Abiel Morrison, painter, Law- 


36 


A. Doane, Eastham, Maine. 




rence. /- 



888 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

FIRST SPRINa PAETY— Continued. 




72 
73 

74 
75 

76 

77 
78 
79 
80 

81 
82 
83 

84 

85 
86 

87 

88 
89 

90 

91 
92 
93 
94 

95 
96 

97, 98, 

99 

100 

101 

102 

103 

104 

105 

106 

107 

108 

109 

110 

111 

112 
113 
114 

115,115i 



Flenry Hammond, Lawrence. ! 116 

J. W. Luce, watchmaker, Law- 
rence, j 117 

J. iVI. Emerson, car])enter, Boston. 

William Clcaland, larnier, Na- , 118, 119, 
tick, Mass. il9i 

A. C. Wriirht, shoemaker, Natick. 120 

C. L. Wilbur, engineer, Boston. 

Mrs. C. L. Wilbur, Boston. 

F. Bolles, Littleton. | 

L. Farnsworth, varnisher, &c., 141 

Nashua 

J. Locklcy, Leominster. | 142 

.1. L. Locklcv, Lcouiiuster. 

F. A Abbott, manufacturer, Low- ! 143 
ell. 

Daniel Downes, teamster. Cam- j 144 

bridireport, Mass. 
J. C French, Brunswick, Maine. 145 

G. B. French, Brunswick, Maine. 

C. Hathaway, Montpelier Ver- 146 

mont. (See 102.) 
(eee 84 ) \ 147, 148 

E. Emerson, varnisher and pol- 
isher, Boston. 149 
H Evans, shoemaker, Lynn, 

Mass. I 150 

J. Evans, Lynn, Mass. 
Caroline Evans, Lynn, Mass. i 151 

Betsy Evans, Lynn Mass. 
G. G. Kimball, manufacturer, 152, 153, 

Lawrence, Mass. 153j 

H. Y. F. Fisher, Lawrence, Mass. 154 

Daniel Merrill, Saco, Maine. 
John Pike, carpenter, wife and 155 

2 children, Biddeford, Maine. 
Granville Libbey, Saco, Maine. j 156 
Wm. Kutter, Leominster, Mass. 
Charles Hathaway, Montpelier, | 157 

Vermont. (See 87.) 158 

David Ambrose, carpenter. Law- 159 

rence, Mass. 
Joshua Abbott, farmer, Dexter, '\ 160 

Maine. i 161 

Samuel Smith, shoemaker, Dor- i i62, 163 

Chester. { 

Samuel Hall, carpenter, stone- II 164 

ham. 
Moses Hubbard, machinist, South ' 1C5 

Berwick, Maine. ! 

Paul R. Hubbard, carpenter, | 166 

South Berwick, Maine. j 

Hanson Moore, shoemaker. South 167 

Berwick, Maine. I 168 

William Sawyer, storekeeper, 

Saco, Maine, | 169 

lloswell Phillips, machinist, Saco, ! 

Maine. ',\ 170 

Luther Dame, Porthmouth, Me. i| 
W. B. Waite, Portsmouth, Me. !| 171 
W. A. Adams, carpenter, Milton ;j 172 

railway. i 

Jesse Stone and son, Wm. Henry jl 173 

Stone, Medford, Mass. I 



William Hutchinson, West Ran- 
dolph. 

Joseph C. Miller, tinman, Provi- 
dence, R. L 

Leonard Litchfield, Leominster, 
Mass. 

Frederick J. Locke, farmer, West 
Cambridge, Mass. 

121 to 140 sent to W. W. Rice, 
Worcester. See after No. 182. 

Joseph Keller, cabinet maker, Ba- 
den, Germany. 

Herman Vogel, cabinet maker, 
Saxony. 

William Marshall, mason. Fitch- 
burg, Mass. 

George Dean, tanner, West Taun- 
ton, Mass. 

George Abel Crane, farmer. West 
Taunton, Mass. 

Francis B. Swift, printer, Bruns- 
wick, Maine. 

William B. Marshall, farmer, and 
wife, East Weare, N. PL 

Andrew B. Marshall, teacher. 
East Weare, N. H. 

L. H. Pilisbury, carpenter, Lon- 
dondery. 

Chas. F. Tolman, jr., shoemaker, 
Gloucester. 

E. A. Landon, cutler, wife, and 
boy S years, Plymouth Conn. 

Albert Irish, manufacturer, Bid- 
deford, Maine. 

Josiah Reed, tin plater, Portland, 
Maine 

Sarah Ann Fick, 2 children under 
5, New York. 

William B. Lewis, caulker, N. Y. 

Sanmel Lewis, hairdresser, N. Y. 

Nathan E. Rcdiand, mason, Bux- 
ton, Maine. 

Andrew H. Field, Portland, Me. 

Thomas Bickerton, Portland, Me. 

J. W. Plague, farmer, and wife, 
Plymouth, Conn. 

H. J. Kloppenburg, farmer, Low- 
ell, Mass. 

H. P. Waters, jeweller, Provi- 
dence. 

A. S. Waters, jeweller. Provi- 
dence, R. L 

(Not used.) 

J. G. Bunker, cabinet maker, 
Providence, R. 1. 

H. PL Wentworth, machinist, 
Providence, R. I. 

William Brown, farmer. Provi- 
dence, R. L 

E. D. Ingraliam, Coventry, R. L 

p. Ingraliam,* farmer, Coventry, 
R 1. 

J. A. Brown, carpenter, Green- 
wich, R. L 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 
FIRST SPRING PARTY— Continued. 



889 



No. 



174 

174 1 

175 
176, 177, 

178, 179, 



Names. 



G. A. Gorton, carpenter, East 
Greenwich, R. I. 

J. W. Blinker, 12 years, Provi- 
dence, R. I. 
(Not used.) 

Josepli H. Chase, farmer, wife, 
son Henry, Ehza, Le Roy S. 



No. 

180, 1801 
181 
182 



Names. 



Brown, and Hannah Chase, and 

3 under .'i, Newhiiryport, Mass. 
Horace W. Tabor, stone cutter, 

Holhmd, Vl. 
Luther Bixby, farmer, Moretown, 

Vermont. 



-Raines omitled in numerical order, added to thcjirst party from Worcester, Mass. 



No. 


Names. 


No. 


Names. 


134 
135 
136 


No. 121 to 133, both mclusive, re- 
tained unused. 
E Trask. 
G. L. Crosby. 
Mary B. Stone, 


137 
138 
139 

140 


Abram Stone. 

E. Jones. 

Abner C. Haskell, North Brook- 

tield, Mass. 
Chas. A. Haskell, N. Brookfield. 



I hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true copy of the original list of the first spring 
party for Kansas under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which 
left Boston on March 13, 1855. 

THOMAS H. WEBB, 
Secretary J\lw England Emigrant .flid Compaiiy. 
Boston, June 26, 1856. 



Second party, March 20, 1855, John T. Fariuell conducting agent. 



No. 


Names. 


No. 


Names. 


1 


Edward Turner, Olneyville, R. I. 


16 


Albert Fuller, carpenter, Fav7- 


2 


George Abbott, Providence, R. I. 




tucket, R. I. 


3 


Daniel W. Palmer, machinist and 


18 


Robinson Bentley, Providence, R. I. 




gunsmitii. South Andover. 


19 


John McCabe, Providence, R. I. 


4, 5, 51 


Jolm A. Parkin, farmer, son 15 


20 


Edward A. Walton, farmer, Sa- 




years, and daughter. 




lem, Mass. 


6, 7, 8, 9 


William H. Hovey, farmer, and 


21 


Thomas Hodgedon, Soutli Ber- 




wife, Francis W. H., and Mrs 




wick, Maine, (transferred to 3d 




Hornc and daughter 3 years 




party.) 




old, Cambridgeport. 


22 


Henry S. Dole, operative, Lowell, 


10 


George Walker, currier. Paw- 




Mass. 




tucket, R. 1. 


23 


Joseph Brown, carpenter, and son 


11 


Carlos Cooley, teacher, Worcester, 




Andrew F., 3i years, Lowell, 




Mass 




Mass. 


12, 13 


Edward Chappcll, farmer, and 


24 


Susan W. Brown, Lowell, Mass. 




wife, Blackstone, Mass. 


25 


Levi E. Brown, farmer, Lowell, 


14 


George Fricker, laborer. Black- 




Mass. 




stone, Mass. 


26 


Jonathan, Brown, farmer, Wil- 


15, 15i 


Benjamin Davis, farmer, son Jas., 




mot, N. H. 




12 years, Pawtucket, R. I. 


27 


Israel H. Brown, faimer, Wil- 


17 


David Douglas, farmer, Pawtuck- 




mot, N. H. 




et, R. I. 


28 


Erastus Wright, farmer, Westford, 
Mass. 



890 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

SECOND PARTY— Continued. 



No. 


Names. 


No. 


Names. 


23 


Erastiis E. Wright, farmer, West- 


77 


William Mitchell, shoemaker, 




ibrtl, RIass. 




Bridgewater, Mass. 


30 


Natlian llackett, manufacturer, 


78 


Thomas Darling, farmer, Middle- 




Lowell, Mass. 




boro' Mass. 


31 


Lavinia Hackett, Lowell, Mass. 


79 


Alpheus Wright, farmer, West- 


32 


Plipbe A. Thurston, Lowell, Mass. 




ford, Mass. 


33, 34 


Albert Whitcomb and wife, Keene, 


80 


Cliarles 11. Young, Lowell, Mass. 




N. H. 


81, 82 


Thomas Paget and Isabella, his 


35, 36 


Charles Miller, shoemaker, and 




wife, Lowell. 




wife, Walpole, N. H. 


83 


Josiaii C. Goodrich, farmer, Mt. 


37 


Isaac Mattoon, blacksmith, Wal- 




Vernon, N. H. 




pole, N. H. 


84 


Isaac C. Trott, shipmaster, Batli, 


38 


Thomas E. Pierce, carpenter. 




Maine. 




^ Walpole, N. PI. 


85 


Walter C. Trott, sailor, Bath, Me. 


39 


Edwin Guild, teacher, Walpole, 


86 


Charles S. Beath, carpenter, Bath, 




N. H. 




Maine. 


40 


Benjamin E. Chase, Salem, Mass. 


87, 88 


Leverett Haskell, farmer, and 


41 


Nathaniel M. Thomas, mason, 




wife, Claremont, N. II. 




Way land, Mass. 


89, 90 


H. K. Rawson, carpenter, and 


42, 43 


Chas. W. Srnitii, carpenter, and 




wife, Worcester. 




wife, Lowell. 


91 


Ellen, 10 years, Wallace, 7 years, 


44,45,46 


Plenry Atherton, farmer, and wife 




also Charles, 4 years, and Geo. 




and 2 cliildren, Ellen M., 12 




H. Rawson, 2 years. 




years, and Henry F., 6 years. 


92 


Jolm Haskell, operative, Worces- 


47 


Isaac P. Choate, teacher, Naples, 




ter, Mass. 




Maine. 


93 


Jas. S. Haskell, operative, Wor- 


48 


Wm. F. Pray, So. Berwick, Me. 




cester, Mass. 


49 


Edward Woodman, Lawrence, 


94 


John N. Wilson, farmer, Worces- 




Mass. 




ter, Mass. 


50 


Henry Bayes, Lawrence, Mass. 


95 


Waller Wilson, farmer, Worces- 


51 


John H. Blaisdell, carpenter, 




ter, Mass. 




Soutiiampton, N. H. 


96 


L. H. Basnom, boot and shoe 


52 


J. N. Pierce, trader, New Bedford, 




dealer. 




Mass. 




97 to 106 sent to Worcester, re- 


53 


Monroe Preston, Manchester, 




turned unsold 




N. n. 


107 


Bernard Lee, operative, Lowell, 


64 


Marcelius Preston, Lowell. 




Mass. 


55 


William rt. Morse, Topsham, Me. 


108 


Patrick Lee, operative, Lowell, 


56, 57, 


Mrs. J. 11. NichoUs, husband. 




Mass. 


58, 59, 


John Kino-, (servant,) George 


109 


Jas. Leo, operative, Lowell, Mnss. 


60,61, 


15. N., one-half, Jos. G. Green, 


(110, 111 


Aaron E. Piatt, farmer, and wife. 


62, 63, 


wife, 2 sons, 11 years and 8 




Rindge, N. H. 


64, 65, 


years, James Sargent, farmer. 


112, 113 


D. HaiTar, farmer, and wife, 


651 


Dumnerstown, Vt., Wallace 




Rindge, N. H. 




Sargent, Mrs. Whitney, (wid- 


114, 115 


Benjamin 3towe, farmer, and wife. 




ow,) Miss Sarah Jones, (intend- 




and son 9 mos., Rindge, N. H. 




ed bride,) Keene, N. H. 


116 


Warren Stowe, farmer, Rindge, 


66 


Joseph Thomas Damon, farmer, 




\ N. H. 




Cociiiluate. 


117 


(Jeo. W. Nichols, lumber dealer. 


67 


Samuel Colby, farmer, Spring- 




Boston. 




field, N. H. 


118 


Shad E. Sumner, clerk, Boston. 


68 


Clirist. C. Colby, farmer, Sprino-- 


119 


Robert W Carr, lawyer, Mechan- 




field, N. H. 




ics' Falls, Maine. 


69 


John 13. Colby, farmer, Spring- 


120 


S. C. Rowe, painter, Boston. 




field, N. H. 


121, 122, 


E. W. H. Thomas, farmer, wife. 


70 


Nathan Jolinson, farmer, Graf- 


123, 124 


son Edward, 16 years, 2 girls, 




ton, N. H. 




11 and 13, and infant, Bidde- 


71 


Alonzo Jolmson, farmer, Grafton 




ford Maine. 


72, 73, 


Geo. W. Pearce, tin plate worker, 


125 


Samuel M. Prescott, blacksmith. 


74, 741 


wife, 1 boy 13, 2 girls 10 and 14 




Soutiiampton, N. H. 




years, and 2 boys 3 and 1 years. 


126 


Benj. Smith,* carpenter, South- 


75, 76, 


Peter Barton, house joiner, wife. 




boro', Mass. 


761 


girl 4 years, and boy 3 years. 


126| 


Eibridge G. Smitii, Southboro', 




and infant girl, Croyden, N. H. 




Mass. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

SECOND PARTY— Continued. 



891 



No. 

127 

128 

129 
130 
131 

132 

133 

134 

13ih 

135 



Names. 



James R. Goodwin, painter, Bos- 
ton. 
Ernest Iliilljuwer, operative, Ded- 

liam, Mass. 
Clinrles, son of do. 
Ciiristina Halbawer, 
Adolpliu Tansler, operative, Ded- 

liiini, Mass. 
John N. Sliavv, farmer, Grafton, 
N. H. 
I Charles Runja, operative, Ded- 
! liani, Mass. 

I Wife, JVJin' ie Runja, Dedhani, 
; Mass. 

j Louisa Runja, 11 years, CJiristina 
j Runja, 4 years, Dedham, Mass. 
I John Janes, farmer, Foxboro', 
I Mass. 



No. 



13G 

137 

138 
139 

140 

141 

142 

143 

144 



Namas. 



Otis Potter, jeweller, Providence, 
R. I. 

Ezra A. Potter, painter. Provi- 
dence, R 1. 

Geo. A. Potter, Providence, R. I. 

E. W. Rurrouglis, carpenter, 
Providence, R. I. 

G. P. Richaidsun, grocer, Provi- 
dence, R. I. 

James Farnum, carpenter, Salem, 
Mass. 

Lorenzo D. Full, carpenter, An- 
dover, Mass. 

Willard Low. farmer, Fitchburg', 
Mass. 

Elisha F. Mayo, farmer, Orleans, 
Mass. 



I hereby certifv that tlie foregoing is a true cof)y of the original list of the second spring' 
partv for Kansas, under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which 
left Boston on Marcii 20, 1855. 

THOMAS n. WEBB, 
Sea-etary JVl-iO England Emigranl Aid Company. 
Boston, June 2G, 185G. 



Third purty, March 27, 1855, I)r. Hunting conducting agent. 



No. 


Names. 


No. 


Names, 


1,2 


Corneilus Holcomb and wife. 


20 


William Dewitt, Claremont, N. H. 




Nortiiampton, Mass. 




2] and 22 not taken. 


3 


L. Dwight Colinan, Northampton, 


23 


Addison Wardwell, farmer, Penob- 




Mass. 




scot, Maine. 


4 


Leonard Dunn, Northampton, 


24 


Mary Wardwell, Penobscot, Me. 




Mass. 


25 


Charles R. Smith, tin plater. East 


5, G, Gi 


Benjamin C. Booram, carpenter. 




Cambridge. 




John B. and James B., 10 years, 


2G 


John VV. Shcpard, clerk, Nasima, 




Taunton, Mass. 




N. H. 


7 


Ebcnczer Farriu^ton, farmer, Fran- 
cistown, N. H. 


27 


Alonzo Gray, carpenter, Newport, 






R. I. 


8, 9, 9| 


Asher R. Pcckham, carpenter, 1 


28 


G. W. Lee, Cumberland, R. I. 




girl 9 years, 2 boys 7 and 5 years, 


29 


Mrs. H. II. Lee, Cumberland, 




Taunton, Mass. 




R.I. 


10 


Stepiien II. 'J'hnrlow, carpenter. 


30 


Allen B. Lee, Cumberland, R. I. 




Nevvljuryport, Mass. 


31, 311 


John G. Ricker, farmer, and John 


11. 12 


James Wiuslow and wife, New 
Bedford, Mass. 




O'Donnell, Boston. 




32, 33 


E. S. BufTum, shoemaker, and 


13, 14 


R. M. Tabor, sailmalvcr, and wife, 




wife, Salem. 




New Bedford, Mass. 


34, 35 


Frederick Hubon, carpenter, and 


15, 15| 


T. J. Wrifflit, farmer, and daugh- 




wife, Salem. 




ter 8 years, Claremont, N. H. 


36 


John Melcher, tailor, Salem. 


16 


Daniel K(!yse, fanner. 


37 


Augustus Miles, engineer. Concord, 


17 


Miss E. Wallingford, teacher. 




Mass. 


18 


J. Swett, carpenter. 


38 


Charles L. Sawin, Littleton, Mass. 


19 


William Earle, Claremont, N. II. 


39 


Franklin Kendall, farmer, Boston. 



892 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

THIRD PARTY— Continued. 



No. 


Names. 


No. 


Names. 


40 


Samuel Fisher, farmer, Greenfield, 


58 


Jacob Rnwe, farmer, Lyme, N. H. 




N. H. 


59 


George Rovve, Lyme, N. H. 


41 


George M. Morse, exoressmiin. 


GO 


W. Y. Gross, carpenter, Duxbury, 




Providence, R. 1. 




Mass 


42 


Timothy Eaton, siioe manufacturer. 


Gl, G2, 


Plenry Leis, printer, and wife, and 




West Cambridiro. 


G3 '■ 


sons, Wm. and George, Provi- 


43 


Charles Eaton, Peterboro', N. H. ! 




dence. 


44.1 


Charles R.Eaton, Peterboro', .\.1I, 


64, G5 


Joseph Redfield, wife, and 2 chil- 


45 


David Scott, carpenter, Provi- 




dren, under 4 years, Hartford, 




dence, R. I. 




Conn. 


4G 


Russell D. Anninirion, Providence, 


G6 


G. W. M. Hibbard, blacksmith, 




R. [ 




Lisbon, N. 11. 


47, 48 


Orin Rogers, trader, and wife. 


67 


Rev. William M. Cone, Paw- 




Hartford, Conn. 




tucket, R. 1. 


49 


E. C. Parson, i'arnicr, Hartford, 




G8, G9, and 70 not sold. 




Conn. 


71 


Sandfbrd Jones, Oxford, Mass. 


50, 51 


Joini T. Dow, tailor, and wife, and 


72 


Patrick Welch, Uxbridge, Mass. 




child 3 vears, Hartford, Conn. 


73 


Henry C. Welib, Sutton, Mass. 


52, 53 


Daniel Rid, tailor, and wife, also 


74 


George W. Webb Sutton, Mass. 




child 3 years, Hartford. 


75 


J. S. Hurt, Sutton, Masi. 


54 


Joseph Hicks, shoemaker, Plais- 




76 to 87, inclusive, not used. 




tow,N. H. 


88 


J. N. Mathes, painter, Lawrence. 


55 


George Buffum, car])cuter, Salem, 


89 


Edward Seagrave, minister. 




Mass. 


89 1 


David W. fc'eagrave, 14 years, 


56 


.Toseph Kehew, Salem, Mass. 




Providence. 


57 


1 William E. Goodnow, printer, Nor- 


90 


Francis Lewis, machinist. West 


- 


way, Maine. 




Cambridge, Mass. 



I hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true copy of the original list of the third spring 
party for Kansas, under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, which 
left Boston on March 27, 1855. 

THOMAS H. WEBB, 
Secretary J^Tew England Emisrunt Jl'ul Company. 
Boston, June 26, 1856. 



Names of males in party of aid emigrants under C. Eobinson^ 

March, 1855. 



47 

83 

103 

104 

114 

11 

24 

32 

33 

34 

46 

52 

66 



Names. 



C. A. Adams 

F. A. Abbott 
David Amborse 
Joshua Abbott 
VV. A. Adams 
Jacob Bragg 
James G. Bolles 
J. W. Brooks 

G. F. Brown 
J. Brown 
C. Bragg 
Alexander Bliss 
S. Bullard 




^ Names. 



F. Bolles 

Thomas Bickerton. . 

J. (♦. Bunker 

William Brown. . . . 

J. .\. Brown 

J. W. Btniker 

Luther ]5ixby 

G. Currier 

William Clealand. . 
George Abel Crane 

Joseph II. Chase.. 

G. L. Crosby 



=3?H 



973 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 893 

Names of jiarhj of aid emigrants under C. Iiohinson — Continued. 



Names. 



F. Davis 

Jr C. Disney 

A. Doane 

Daniel Downes 

Lnther Dame 

Geoi-o;e Dean 

William Easterbrooli. . 

.1 . W. Emerson 

E. Emerson 

H. Evans , 

J. Evans 

Georire W. Fitz 

A. Ford 

.T. M. Foffrr 

T. Fessenden 

^ L. Farnswortli 

J. C. French 

G. B. French , 

Henry F. Fisher , 

Andrew H. Field 

Nath H. Gray 

Converse L. Graves . . , 

B, Gatciiil! , 

William H. Gooking . , 

G. A. Gorton , 

Eben. Hersey 

L. M. ricrrenden .. . . , 
Rev. C. W. High 

> W. Plutchinson 



Iram Hifi'ffins 

George VV. ]Ialha\vay. 
William P. Henderson. 
Henry Hammond 



Charles Hathaway. 



Samuel Hall 

Moses Hubbard . . . , 
Paul R. Hubbard... 

J. W. Haijue , 

Abnor C. Haskell . , 
Charles A. Haskell. 

Albert Irish 

E. D. Ingrahatn . . . 
P. Ingraham 

E. Jones 



Cr. G. Gimball . . . . 

Joseph Keller 

H. J. Klop|)enbnrg. 

J. W. Lincoln 

C. Liscom 



1010 
9'J3 



1030 
'996 



1019 



1015 



1008 



989 
943 



980 

998 



1026 

1021 

1011 

981 



867 
983 



862 

1003 

994 



1004 



61 

67 

73 

81 

82 

100 

118 

120 

152 

157 

ICiS 

42 

71 

' 96 

109 

117 

143 

147 

149 

9 

97 

111 

150 

38 

65 

69 

101 

155 

l.'i9 

6 

29 

105 

110 

115 

146 

137 

45 

151 

181 

134 

142 

30 

39 

40 

41 

68 

76 

77 

113 

165 

166 

169 



Names. 



B. G. Livingston . . . . 
R. Leavy . , ........ 

J. W. Luce 

J. Lockley 

J. L. Lockley 

Granville Libbey 

Leonard Litchfield . . . 
Frederick J. Locke. . . 

E. A. Landon 

William B. Lewis.... 

Sanmel Lewis 

J. McNamee 

Abiel Morrison 

Daniel Merrill 

Hanson Moore 

.Joseph C. Miller 

William Marshall 

William B. Marshall. 
Andrew B. Marshall.. 

S. Perry 

John Pike 

Roswell Phillips 

L. H. Pillsbury 

C>. llawson 

J. C. Rice 

George Rhymes 

William Rntter 

Josiah Pieod 

Nathan E. Redland . . 
Samuel C Smith . . . . 

H. M. Severance 

Samuel Smith 

William Sawyer 

Jesse Stone 

Francis B. Swift 

Abram Stone 

Amos Trott 

Charles F. Tollman, jr 
Horace W. Taber . , . . 

E. Trask 

Herman Vogel 

PL Wilson 

S A. Wynn 

J. Wynn 

A. Wynn 

L. Whitticr 

A. C. Wright 

C. L. Wilbur 

W. B. Waite 

H. P. Waters 

A. S. Waters 

H. H. Wentworth 



•^.^ 



902 
1032 
1007 



999 
909 
810 



931 



985 



10.33 

992 

1025 



1000 



891 



1014 



Total of males in the party 126 

Total of tlioso who voted 37 



894 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

John Scott called and sworn. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I was present at tlie election of March 30, 1855, in Burr Oak pre- 
cinct in the 14th district, in this Territory. I saw many Missourians 
there. There liad heen a good deal of talk ahout the settlement of 
Kansas, and the interference of eastern people in the settlement of 
that Territory, since the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska hill. It 
was but a short time after the passage of that act that we learned 
through the papers about the forming of a society in the east for the 
purpose of promoting the settlement of Kansas Territory, with the 
view of making it a free State. Missouri, being a slave State, and be- 
lieving that an effort of that kind, if successful, would injure her citi- 
zens in the enjoyment of their slave property, were indignant, and 
became determined to use all means in their power to counteract the 
efforts of eastern people upon that subject. 

They were excited upon that subject, and have been so ever since. 
This rumor and excitement extended all over the State, and more par- 
ticularly in the borders. The general rumor was that this eastern 
society was for no other purpose than making Kansas a free State. 
One great reason why we believed tliat was the only object of the so- 
ciety was, that we heard of and saw no efforts to settle Nebraska 
or the other Territories with free State men. The people of the south 
have always thought they have always been interfered with by the 
north, and the people of Missouri considered this the most open and 
bold movement the northern and eastern societies ever made. I am 
perfectly satisfied, and I have heard hundreds of Missourians lament 
that such a course had been pursued by the north, and gave it as their 
opinion that there would have been no excitement upon the subject of 
slavery, except for the extraordinary movement made by the north 
and east for the purpose of making Kansas a free State. Most of the 
slaves of the State of Missouri are in the western border counties, or 
the hemp growing portion of Missouri. The people of Missouri were 
a good deal excited just before the March election, because it had been 
so long postponed, and it was generally supposed that it was post- 
poned in order to allow time for eastern emigrants to arrive here^ that 
they might control the elections. Everybody that I heard speak of 
it expressed that belief, both in and out of the Territory. Tlie same 
rumors were in tlie Territory as in Missouri. Immediately preceding 
that election, and even before the opening of navigation, we had ru- 
mors that hundreds of eastern people were in St. Louis, waiting for 
the navigation of the river to be opened, that they might get up to 
the Territory in time for the election, and the truth of "these rumors 
was established by the accounts steamboat officers afterwards brought 
up of the emigrants they had landed at different places in and near 
the Territory, who had no families and very little property, except 
little oil cloth carpet sacks. For some two or three .weeks before the 
election the rumor was prevalent that a good many eastern people 
were being sent liere to be at the elections, and then were going back. 
There was a general expression of opinion that the people of Missouri 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 895 

should turn out and come to the Territory, and prevent this illegal 
voting by force, if" necessary. We regarded this as invasion of the 
northern people of a Territory which was contiguous to Missouri, for 
the purpose of controlling the institutions of the Territory, and the 
defeat of the objects of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, 

I do not recollect as I ever heard any Missourians advocate the 
policy of Missourians going over to that election and voting, in the 
absence of this eastern emigration about the time of the election, ex- 
cept, perhaps. General Stringfellow, who advocated the doctrine that 
the Missourians had the right to go there any time to vote, and, per- 
haps, urged them to come for that purpose. It was determined by 
the Missourians that if tiie eastern emigrants were allowed to vote, 
we would vote also, or we would destroy the poll books and break up 
the elections ; and the determination is, that eastern people sliall not 
be allowed to interfere and control the domestic institutions of Kan- 
sas, if the Union is dissolved in preventing it, though we are willing 
that all honest, well-meaning settlers shall . come and be admitted to 
all the equality of the other citizens. 

I went to the Burr Oak precinct with a company of other Missou- 
rians, with no arms myself, and I saw one gun in the party, and a 
few pistols and side arms. The determination of the i)eoi)le of Mis- 
souri was to interfere with no one except this boat load of eastern emi- 
grants which was expected at that precinct, and if they arrived we 
determined, if strong enough, to march them back, to the tune of the 
Eogue's March, to the river, and make them get on the boat they got 
off. If we were not strong enough and they were allowed to vote, we 
were determined to vote too. I heard no conversation from any Mis- 
sourian to interrupt or interfere in the slightest degree with any resi- 
dent voter of the Territory. I have never heard any Missourians, 
except General B. F. Stringfellow, announce or advocate the doctrine 
that Missourians ought to come over into the Territory and vote and 
interfere in the elections in any manner, except only during the 
existence of these rumors in regard to these eastern emigrants, and 
then only to prevent them from controlling the election improperly, 
as we conceived it would be. I did not see the slightest effort made 
on the 30th of March to interfere with the voters of the district, and 
there was no disturbance in regard to the election. There was one 
little fight growing out of Avhiskey, and one Avho had been fighting 
met with a young man from Missouri, and they got into a quarrel, 
and the man drew a pistol on the young man or boy, and the boy 
knocked him down with a stick, but the pistol was not discharged at 
all. That was the end of the fight. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I do not think tlie Missourians would ever have got excited about 
Kansas, but for the rumors concerning eastern emigrants. The extra- 
ordinary efforts made by the eastern people, except these emigrant aid 
societies, that I have heard of, isthe newspaper reportsof men, rifles, and 
means being sent out here, as they say, to defend themselves, but, as 
we think, to control the elections here. If the Missouri compromise 
had not been repealed by the Kansas-Nebraska act, I think Kansas 



806 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Territory would have been made a slave State, as most of the promi- 
nent men of Missouri considered that compromise repealed since 1850, 
and I have no doubt that the feeling in regard to Kansas then would 
have been the same as now. The avowed object of making a free 
State by ])ersons living remote from tlie Territory, and having no in- 
terest in it, and thp raising of money and means for that purpose, is 
the obnoxious feature of these emigrant aid societies, though there is 
notliing illegal in that ; but it is an extraordinary interference in a 
remote region of the country. I think it is a new thing for free States 
to get up societies to make free States out of Territories. 

The first extraordinary effort that the Missourians made to meet 
the action of these emigrant aid societies, was in the fall of 1854, or 
the early part of the winter, to form societies in Kansas and Missouri, 
in Avhich each member pledged himself to use all honorable and legal 
means to make Kansas a slave State. I cannot speak of but three 
counties, but I have heard that, in three counties tliere, societies ex- 
isted. In our county I knew one society existed ; it was a secret 
society. I do not know that these societies are now in operation ; I 
attended one up to the 30th March^ 1855, and then stoppecl attending 
them, and do not know about them since. 

I think, perhaps, through the influence of the members of these 
societies persons were induced to come over here to the election, but I 
do not think any who did come were members of this society. The 
objects attempted to be affected by this society, was to hunt up and 
induce pro-slavery men to come to this Territory and become actual 
settlers. I never heard of any fund ; I deemed the society worthy, 
imder the circumstances of the existing of the aid societies in the east. 
For Missourians to have done it at any time I should have considered 
a w(irthy object for the purpose of building up a bulwark around their 
domestic institutions as a matter of defence of their slave property, 
but not for any political purpose. I consider it an unworthy object 
for persons who derive no pecuniary benefit from it, to undertake to 
make Kansas a free State, and thus injure Missouri. 

But since the 30th of March, 1855, I think that society has been 
superseded by another society, which has a fund for the purpose, of 
sending pro-slavery emigration to this Territory, and is regularly or- 
ganized for that purpose. The fund is used in aiding emigrants, by 
loaning them money to get into the Territory, in providing claims, 
and entering the land. It is a self-defensive organization, intended 
to have a bearing upon the political\institutions of the Territory, as 
far as slavery is concerned. 

So far as I know anything of the society, the means of the society 
is not to build up mills and hotels, but to aid individual settlers in 
their claims, and to do with tlie funds of the society for them what 
they individualy would do with their own money for themselves. I 
think these conversations have been formed pretty extensively over 
Missouri, and I think persons have been selected in Missouri to go to 
other southern States and build up similar societies there, but to what 
extent that has been done I do not know. I think i\\e first steamboat 
that arrived at St. Joseph's in 1855 was on the 28th of February, and 
I think her name was the Polar Star. Boats arrived at St. Joseph's 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 897 

from St. Louis in February, 1854, and February, 1855, if I mistake 
not, and that was considered an unusual thing. Every boat that ar- 
rived brought information by its officers of this emigration from the 
east, one stating that so many came up on his boat, and another, that 
his had been chartered entirely for eastern emigrants, &c., while the 
papers of St. Louis contained accounts of the numbers arriving there ; 
and we also heard news by the telegraph, to the same effect, previous 
to the election. 

I do not think any eastern emigrants arrived at St. Joseph's that 
spring before the election, and they came but in very small .numbers 
at any time. I do not recollect the names of the steamboat officers 
who brought this news. This new society I have named was formed 
in the first part of last winter, and we sent lecturers to the southern 
States, but I never learned whether they succeeded in their errand or 
not. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I do not know whether the charter by the Massachusetts legislature 
of an Emigrant Aid Society, with a capital of five millions of dollars 
to send out free State emigrants here, was legal or not, as I do not 
know the constitution of Massachusetts; but, admitting it to be legal 
and authorized by the constitution of Massachusetts, I think it is an 
unwarranted interference on the part of one State of this confederacy 
in the afiairs of a Territory, and that such an interference is not war- 
ranted by the Constitution of the United States ; that it is bad faith 
to the other States of the Union, and tends to a dissolution of the 
Union. 

I do not think I would have suggested to any one in Missouri the 
forming of societies in Missouri but for these eastern societies, and 
they were formed but as a means of self-defence and to countei-act the 
efiect of those eastern societies, and I think it is the general expres- 
sion, and I know it is the ardent hope of every man in Missouri 
that I have heard express himself, that if the north would cease ope- 
rating by these societies, Missouri wouldjfalso^ cease to use those she 
has established. 

All that Missourians asked was that the principles of the Kansas- 
Nebraska act should be carried out, and the actual settlers of the Ter- 
ritory allowed to manage their own domestic institutions for them- 
selves. 

To Mr. Howard: 

I do not know that the State of Massachusetts ever passed the char- 
ter I have referred to, but such is the rumor. 

JOHN SCOTT. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



Matthew E. Walker called and sworn. 
To Mr. Anderson : 

I now reside in Wyandott City, in Kansas Territory, at the mouth 
of the Kansas river, about thirty miles from Leavenworth City, and 
H. Eep. 200 57* 



898 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

four miles from Kansas City, in Missouri. I have resided there for 
ahont fourteen years. 

Some time in tlie month of June or July of 1854, Mr. Jenkins, pro- 
])rietor of the Union hotel, nmv the American hotel, refjuested me to 
favor a friend of his ^vith the loan of a horse to go to Leavenworth. 
I requested Mr. Jenkins to give his friend a letter of introduction to 
me, and he could he accommodated with a horse. Some two days 
afterwards, a gentleman presented himself to me as Dr. Cliarles Rob- 
inson, of Boston, JMassachusetts, with a letter of introduction from 
Ml'. Walker. He staid a few moments and got the horse; he was 
gone two days, and returned; he staid some time with me on his re- 
turn, in private conversation. He wanted to know if a com})any 
could get a situation there for a manuiacturing establishment; he said 
he wanted to get the Pplacc for that purpose, and asked what the title 
would be if he concluded to purchase ; he said that the company could 
command as much as a capital of $5,000,000, and that this would form 
the nucleus of the future operations of the company ; that their object 
was to make Kansas a free State, and ameliorate the condition of the 
negro. "After forming a free State, with free suffrage, by amalga- 
mation of the Indians with the negroes," he said, "amalgamation 
with the whites would be an easy matter," 

He said their object was to make Kansas a free State, and there 
would then be three free States surrounding Missouri, and that Mis- 
souri would be com])elled to emanci])ate her slaves. It was common 
rumor prior to the oOth of March, 1855, tliat Doctor Oliaides Robin- 
son was connected with the Emigrant Aid Society of Massachusetts 
as one of their principals. 

In the private conversation before alluded to, Mr. Robinson wished 
to purchase a "town site" as a nucleus for the operations of his com- 
]nTny, in the Wyantlott country, and Lawrence was shortly afterwards 
laid out. 

Just preceding the election of the 30th of March, large numbers of 
men from the free States landed at Kansas City, Missouri^ and went 
into Kansas Territory ; some of them went to Lawrence and some of 
them to other points. Sometimes there would be fifty and sometimes 
one hundred of them on a boat, and sometimes even more than tliat. 
The boats were then arriving almost every day^ and I recollect that 
four arrived on one day having great numbers of emigrants on board. 

I saw and noticed the baggage of these men. They mostly had black 
carpet sacks or hand satchels. I §aw very few women amongst them. 
They appeared to be young and unmarried men generally. I had 
frequent conversations with these men. Some of them told me they 
came out under the auspices of the Emigrant Aid Society, and some 
of them to secure homes for themselves and their friends. These men 
came into the Territory just before the election of the 30th of ]\[arch, 
1855, and I saw many of them returning shortly after the election 
and going off on the boats. 

The conmion rumor at that time in the mouths of everybody, so far 
as I henrd any ex})ression, both in the Territory and in the border 
counties of j\Iissouri was, that the object of those emigrants sent out 
here was to make Kansas a free State. It was also common rumor, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 899 

and was generally believed, that tlio ohject of those who 8ent out this 
emigration wa« not only to make Kansas a free State, hut also to ope- 
rate upon the institution of slavery in the State of Missouri. Tliese 
emigrants were generally armed with sliot guns, rifles, Colt's pistols, 
and bowie knives. 

It was common rumor also, tliat (rovcrnor Ileoder was delaying the 
election of the territorial legislature until the spring emigration from 
the east and nortli could arrive and l»o ])resent to ])artici])ate in the 
election of tlic 30th of March, 1855. This rumor was generally be- 
lieved. I did not know anybody in tlie Territory or oti the border of 
Missouri wlio did not give entire credence to tlie ruirior. The people 
of Missouri and the old settlers of tlie Territory were alarmed and 
very greatly excited at the unu.sual movements at the north and east, 
which th(!y considered would engender civil war. It was the general 
feeling in Missouri to resist tliese encroachments of the north by all 
reasonable and legal means. It is the general impression, and it is 
my belief, that had it not been for the movements of the Emigrant 
Aid Societies of the east, the })eo])le of Missouri would never have in- 
terfered with the elections in Kansas Territoiy. The i)eo])le of Mis- 
souri acted upon the principle of self-defence, and to counteract the 
unusual and extraordinary movements which were being maile at the 
north. 

MATTHEW It. WALKER. 

LkavexNwoiitii City, K. T., May 22, 1850. 



Camp NiilAii LecompTON, June 0, 1856. 

Gentlemen : Having seen a copy of the testimony given by Mathew 
R. Walker, and being (lei)rive(l of the power to a])j)ear before you in 
person, 1 desire; to su])niit the following statement of facts toucliing 
the testimony of Mr. Walker : 

I left Massachusetts for Kansas in June, 1854, for the purpose of 
obtaining information relative to the same, j)artly on my own account, 
])artly on account of a business firm in the ])lace of my i-esidence, and 
])art]y on account of a gentleman, a manufacturer in Boston. At that 
time no Emigrant Aid Society, with which 1 have since been con- 
nected, was in existence, and, consequently, I cotild not act as agent 
of such society. My first connexion with an emigrant aid society, 
as official agent, was some time in Septeinbcr, 1854, and I never had 
any connexion with any com])any with a capital of $5,000,000. 

The statement of Mr. Walker about amalgamation is without the 
least foundaticm in truth. I am not a friend of amalgamation of the 
African and anglo-Saxon or Indian races, and never have been ; and 
the fiict that negro slavery is the principal cause of this amalgamation 
in the United States, is to me a very strong argument against the 
institution. 

The statement about surrounding Missouri with free States is, to 
the best of my recollection, also a fabrication. I was not acting for 
any company at all, except a business firm, and never said to Mr. 



900 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Walker that I was acting for a company whose object was to make 
Kansas a free State. 

Prior to the 30th of Marcli, 1855, but one comjiany arrived in the 
Territory, in that year, under the auspices of the New England Emi- 
grant Aid Society, and that contained about one hundred men and 
about seventy women and children, most of whom now reside in 
Kansas. I came up the Missouri river with that company and found 
a large number of Missourians coming to Kansas, as they said, to 
vote. 

It was estimated that ihc baggage of the party with whicli I came 
weighed twenty tons, and I know of no person in the party who had 
no baggage except a "carjiet sack." 

Before I left Massachusetts, in June, 1854, and months before the 
Emigrant Aid Society of which I am agent was organized, I saw 
published accounts of meetings held in western Missouri for the avowed 
purpose of settling the Territory with pro-slavery men and keeping 
free State men out. On my way to the Territory, at that time, I 
heard Mr. Stringfellow swear that Kansas should and would be a 
slave State, and no abolitionist should be allowed to live in the Terri- 
tory. He also said that if he had the power ho would hang every 
abolitionist in the country, and every man north of Mason and Dixon's 
line was an abolitionist. 

On my first arrival in Kansas, in 1854, it was generally understood 
that secret societies were in existence in Missouri for the purpose of 
making Kansas a slave State, and of driving free State men from the 
Territory, by every means in their power. I saw and conversed with 
persons who said they belonged to such a society, and had no reason 
to doubt their veracity. This was several weeks before any northern 
party of settlers had arrived in the Territory, as the first party from 
the northern States arrived in the month of August, 1854. 

C. KOBINSON. 
To the Kansas Investigating Committee. 



ss. 



Territory op Kansas, 
Lmvrence City, 

This is to certify that on the 6th day of June, A. D. 1856, at my 
office, near Lecompton, in the Territory of Kansas, personally ap- 
peared before me, Cliarles Robinsjon, physician,^ who made oath that 
the facts set forth in the above conlmuni cation, and to which he affixed 
his signature in my presence, are true, according to the best of his 
knowledge and belief. 

Sworn to and subscribed befure me, a commissioner properly com- 
missioned for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the day and 
year above written. As witness my hand and private seal, my official 
seal having been destroyed by a mob which entered my office on the 
21st ultimo, under the directiiui of the United States marshal, I. B. 
Donaldson, and S. P. Jones, " sheriff of Douglas county." 

'-*'"-' A commissioner of tJie commomoealth of Pemhsi/lvania. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 901 



William P. RiciiardsoxN testified. 

Examined by Mr. Sherman : 

Question. Are you a member of any .secret political society, having 
for one of its objects the extension of slavery into any territory of the 
United States ? 

Ansiver. I decline answering that question. 

Question. Does such a society exist? 

Ansiver. I decline answering that question. 

Quesllon. Did such a society directly or indirectly aid in any of the 
elections in Kansas, either by furnisliing money, by inducing voters 
to come from tlic States into tlie Territory, or otherwise? 

Answer. I decline answering that question. 

Question. Would your answer to these questions, by the rules or 
obligations of such a society, impose upon you any penalty or danger 
of violence, or would it tend to criminate you? 

Answer. It would subject me to no })ains or penalties. I think it 
would be im])ro])er in me to answer these questions, but not that there 
is anytliing dishonorable about it, I do not tliink the committee have 
any right to ask me any such questions, and, tlierefore, I respectfully 
decline answering them. 

Question. How many members of the legislative assembly of the 
Territory of Kansas belong to this organi/.ation ? 

Ansiver. I decline to answer that (juestion. 

Question. Has there been any regulation given by that secret so- 
ciety, or lodge, relative to testimony to be taken or given before this 
committee ? 

Answer. I decline answering that question, upon the ground that 
the committee have no right to ask me sucli (questions. 

WM. P. PtICHARDSON. 

Leavenworth, K. T., 3Ia?j 15, 1850. 



Wm. p. Richardson. 

Question. Has there been any regulation given by that secret so- 
ciety, or lodge, relative to testimony to be taken or given before this 
committee? 

The witness wishes to state that when that question was propounded 
to him by Mr. Sherman he did not fully understand it, and now 
wishes to give the fallowing answer : 

I know of no such thing. 

WM. P. RICHARDSON. 

Leavenwoiitu City, K. T., Blcnj 10, 185G. 



902 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



J. C. Prince testifies. 

I know til at there was a secret society in Missouri. I knew it in 
the Ml of 1854; but I do not know whether it exists now or not. I 
tliink of the i>arty who went to Fort Scott in November, 1854, to vote, 
some ten or fifteen were members of this society, perliaps all, for aught 
I know. The society is a pro-slavery society^ and the object is to get 
none but pro-slavery men into office ; and, I suppose, it had reference 
to making Kansas a slave State. They had signs and pass-words, or 
something similar, by which we would know each other to be members 
of that society. The members of this society take an oath when they 
join the society, administered by one of the officers of the society. The 
subject of the oath is to keep secret the proceedings of the society, and 
make Kansas a slave State, the best way they can. I do not person- 
ally know John C. Davidson. I have understood he was a member of 
the society; but I do not know, of my own knowledge, that he was. 
I do not know that this society exists in the Territory. I understand 
that there is a society in the Territory called Kansas League, but I do 
not know that there is any pro-slavery society in the Territory. I do 
not know that this pro-slavery society exists in any State but Missouri; 
and I do not recollect that I have ever heard. I have understood that 
the society existed pretty generally in Missouri, though I think it has 
pretty much died away now. I suppose this society was concerned in 
getting persons from Missouri to come up here into the Territory to 
vote. I do not know that they ever raised any money, or paid any 
expenses for that purpose, or ever sent out any communications for 
the purpose of getting up voters here. They discussed in the lodges 
the question of sending voters here to make Kansas a slave State. I 
do not know, of my own knowledge, of how many belonged to the so- 
ciety in Missouri, but I have heard the number, though I do not now 
recollect it, though it was a very large number. I should not like to 
tell all I know about this society, because I think it would result to my 
injury; and that is one reason, though not the only one, why I dis- 
like to answer in relation to the matter. One other reason is, that the 
members of the society take oaths to keep secrets those matters. I 
do not know anything, ot my own knowledge, about the society called 
the Kansas League. I know notliing of it of my own knowledge. 

\ JOHN C. PRINCE. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. ' 



Jordan Davidson recalled. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder: 

I was not here at the election of the 29th of November, 1854, or the 
1st of October, 1855. There is a secret society in the State of Missouri, 
for the purpose of introducing slavery into Kansas. Territory. The 
proper name of the society, as recognized by its own members, is 
"Social Band,"' " Friend's Society," and by some the " Blue Lodge," 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 903 

and " The Sons of the South." I do not know as I can tell what 
name it is called in its own constitution and organized proceedings. 
I have been in a meeting or two. I have never been in any meeting 
in the Territory. I have seen some individuals in the Territory I be- 
lieved were acquainted with it; but I have never been in any lodge 
here, I suppose the society was formed some time in the latter part of 
1854. I never had a copy of the constitution of that society, or of the 
forms and obligations, and do not know that there is any. I think 
written minutes are kept of the proceedings of the lodges. This so- 
ciety existed at the time of the invasion of the 30th of March, 1855. 
I will give you one sentence in the work of the order. We are ordered 
to be governed by law. I would say there is no compulsion beyond 
the law. " We are to extend slavery lawfully into Kansas. We are 
to do no act contrary to law for that pur})ose." That is the sentiment. 
We have signs and pass-words by which we know each other. The 
order compelled no man to come into this Territory and vote. The 
other object, besides extending slavery into Kansas Territory, was to 
have a union of the friends of the south. The object of the society 
was to extend slavery into Kansas Territory as well as elsewhere. I 
am told the society exists in other States ; but I do not know. I was 
told by a gentleman that he belonged to it in Virginia; but I have 
learned from no member of the order, except the gentleman from Vir- 
ginia, that it existed in any other State. 

I was first in a lodge of the order some time in the latter part of 
February, 1854, at Pleasant Hill, Cass County, Missouri. 

Question. Was the organization of the society used as a means of 
notii'ying and concentrating the body of men who came over from 
Missouri to vote at the election of the 30th March, 1855 ? 

Ansicer. The greatest weight it had was in this way, for protection 
when we did get here; that when we got into a scrape we should not 
fall foul of each other. The friends of tlie society were friends to 
slavery in the south, and to extend it here if we could do it by 
lawful means. 

Examination continued : 

Some of the wisest of our party, I suppose, did not fully believe 
that voting here was lawful, but they contended that it was right, as 
there were a good many others coming here to vote ; I considered it 
right myself, and came here of my own accord. Of my own know- 
ledge I know of no one of the other side of politics who came to vote, 
though there might have been five hundred, for aught I know. I 
knew none of them. The signs and pass-words were not made known 
to the body of men who came here to vote ; they were not known to 
one fourth of the party. If there were friends to the society they 
could tie a piece of ribbon in their coats, and we would know whom 
to protect. 

The organization of the society was used as some means of organ- 
izing and collecting the body of men who came over here to vote ; 
they were to be used to find out all the friends of the party we could. 
There were expresses sent and received by the lodges to obtain infor- 
mation in relation to Kansas emigration and election. There were 



904 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

no committees appointed to attend to that matter in my presence, l)ut 
I heard that it was done. There were committees appointed, I think, 
to receive and send expresses and learn what was going on. At that 
period the hedges were used for the purpose of notifying persons to 
come together to attend that election. 

I do not know that these societies had any funds collected, or any 
treasury for any purpose. I did not learn that they had or had not. 
I am not acquainted with any lodge except the one at Pleasant Hill. 
I do not think there were any officers there but a recorder to keep in 
a book the names of the members. I do not know that the society 
kept agents on the boats on the Missouri river for the purpose of 
noting the northern and eastern emigrants that came on. The 
members of the society were sworn on their initiation. The penalty 
for violating the rules and secrets of the order was all the honor a 
man had. A man, by violating the secrets and rules of the order, 
was liable to stand in society beneath the dignity of a gentleman, but 
to no personal injury, except as they might take a notion to inflict it. 
There was nothing said in the oath or forms of the society about 
intlieting personal harm upon delinquent members. I think I have 
heard from my fellow-members who founded the society, but I do not 
recollect what it was. I first heard of the society from Mr. Wade, in 
Westport. I never asked him any questions about where it com- 
menced ; I probably heard something about it last year, but I forget 
now about it. I think I heard it originated in Missouri. I never 
heard of its originating in AVashington city. The first lodge I ever 
heard of was in Westport. A gentleman came to me at Pleasant Hill, 
who I supposed was the general agent of the society. He asked me 
some questions privately, and I answered them. He asked me if I 
would become a member of the society, and told me I would not be 
obliged to continue in it after I was initiated. I was too busy to go 
to meetings in day times, and too tired at night to attend much, and 
perhaps do not understand much about it ; but so far as I do under- 
stand, I see nothing in it contrary to law. The gentleman I speak of 
was from Cass county, and was named' Mr. Palmer — I do not know 
his first name. He initiated me. I did not see him with any parties 
over here on the 30th of March. I was never in any lodge except at 
Pleasant Hill. I do not think I recollect the oath precisely, but I do 
the substance of it. The substance of it is, that X shall not transcend 
the bounds of law, but to promote by all lawful means the extension 
of slavery. I never heard any of the leaders of the invasion of the 
30th of March say it was illegal to come over here and vote. I heard 
an investigation of that matter in the lodge. One of the members 
asked how they could come here and vote lawfully, if they were 
objected to as not citizens of the Territory. The answer was to 
s({ueeze it in somehow, and if we could not get to vote, there was no 
violence to be used. I do not think the society has existed long, 
though I do not know how long. The amount of the conversation 
with Mr. Palmer was concerning my willingness to assist in the 
ext«nsion of slavery into Kansas by legal means, apd I told him a 
was willing. We had no talk about the election at that time. There 
were residents of this Territory in the encampments at the time of the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 905 

election. I do not know how many. I do not know of more tlian 
about five or six, though I may have seen more. I do not think that 
any wrong done here was done hy the society, except by members 
voting (if that be wrong) as! others did. 

JORDAN DAVIDSON. 
Lawrence, K. T., Aj^ril 29, 1856. 



[Mr. Oliver objects and enters his protest against the introduction 
of any testimony in regard to the existence of any open or secret or- 
ganization in Missouri or other States or Territories which may have 
had for its object the settling the institutions of Kansas Territory. 
The questions submitted to the investigations of the committee being 
" in regard to the troubles in Kansas generally, and particularly in 
regard to any fraud or force attempted or practiced in reference to any 
of the elections wliich have taken place in said Territory, either under 
the law organizing said Territory or any pretended law, which may 
be alleged to have taken effect therein since;" and also to fully inves- 
tigate and take j^roof of all violent and tumultous proceedings in said 
Territory at any time since the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act, 
whether engaged in by residents, (Sec, &c. The resolutions limiting 
the committee to inquiries as to frauds, force, or attempted force, in 
regard to any elections and tumultuous proceedings, &c., and not as 
to the existence of societies in neighboring States or even in the Ter- 
ritory of Kansas, but as to the facts in regard to the specifications in 
the resolutions.] 

Patrick Laughlin called and sworn. 

By Governor King : 

I came to Kansas Territory, from Kentucky, in May, 1855, and set- 
tled at Doniphan in June. When I first went there I was a pro-sla- 
very man. I heard a great deal of complaint by free-soilers of the 
laws being violated and people coming over from Missouri to the elec- 
tion ; sympathized very strongly with them, and endeavored as far as 
I could to vindicate their cause. I became notorious in the neighbor- 
hood for vindicating their cause, and I avowed myself a free-soiler 
about the middle of August, 1855. We had a district meeting of our 
party at the house of A. Larzelere. This meeting was for the purpose 
of sending delegates to a free State convention, to be held at Big 
Springs the 5th of September following. I acted as secretary of that 
meeting, and elected as a delegate to go to that convention. I was 
solicited the day following the meeting by several of the delegates to 
go ahead of them several days, for the purpose of having some print- 
ing done, and seeing what state the party was in, in other portions of 
the Territory. On the 27th of August I started from Doniphan for 
Lawrence, where I was to remain until the rest of the delegates came 
up. I stopped at Oceana, a place about ten miles from Atchison and 
fifteen from Doniphan. 1 went into the store of Messrs, Crosty; I 
had been told before getting there that these men were Yankees and 



906 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

abolitionists. I went into his house and made known to him my busi- 
ness ; he then made me acquainted with a secret military organization, 
by which he said the free State i)arty was strengthened and enabled 
to carry out their designs more effectually.- After initiating me into 
this organization, he gave me two books sealed up, also a letter of in- 
trodiiction to man at Grasshopper, all whose name I do not remember. 
I went there to deliver the letter and books to the gentleman, whose 
name I now believe to be Whitney, who v/as to gather a company to- 
gether, and in the presence of this company I was to open |^the seal 
around these books. The company was gathered the next morning, 
about fourteen in number, and I broke the seal and administered ac- 
cording to the directions of Mr. Crosty. I not having time to remain 
among them, left them to elect their own officers, and organize their 
company. I also had a letter of introduction to Gr. W. Brown, of the 
"Herald of Freedom," from Mr. Crosty. I went on to Lawrence, 
and delivered the letter to Mr. Brown ; I told him that I was a mem- 
ber of the secret order. I then was shown a good number of Sharp's 
rifles by Mr. Brown, who told me they were sent out by the Emigrant 
Aid Company. I remained in Lawrence until the 5th of September, 
when the convention before spoken of met ; I went to this convention 
and, together wath Mr. Collins, of Doniphan, was put by our delega- 
tion on the committee on platform, and several otner committees. I 
was also made a member of the executive committee, and was appoint- 
ed it in company with two Atkins, to act as a kind of governing com- 
mittee, for the north side of Kansas river. It was the duty of this 
governing committee to see that all mails belonging to free State men 
of Kansas were to be carried through with safety, and in order to do 
this it was necessary to appoint mail carrier and other facilities. It 
was also their duty to appoint men in the district of the county to be 
designated by them, whose duty it would be to arbitrate all difficul- 
ties arising between the people. It was also the duty of this sub- 
committee to have speakers appointed to go through the Territory to 
canvass it for a free State. They were also to attend to the election 
returns and see that they were forwarded to the executive committee 
of Lawrence ; a committee of the same kind was appointed for the 
south side of Kansas river. After the convention was over I returned 
to Lawrence, and got four more books of the same kind I got 
of Crosty, there being two packages of each, fhese books con- 
tained the constitution and ritual of the grand encampment of 
the. Kansas Legion. I received them from Gr. W. Brown, editor of 
the '■^ Herald of Freedom," with instructions that I was not to break 
the seals until I had organized two subordinate encampments, when I 
was to break the seals, and deliver one package to the colonel of each 
encampment. I was to organize one at Doniphan, and one in the 
Territory north of Doniphan, at any place I might think to be a suit- 
able point, I organized the one at Doniphan the day that I returned, 
and delivered as directed. I then went out into the Territory to 
organize another, but after being out about six miles I returned back 
to Doniphan, where I broke open the seal and read the CQUstitution and 
ritual for the first time.- I did not organize any in the county after- 
wards. At the meeting at which I was appointed delegate to the Big 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 907 

Spring convention the arguments of Dr. G. A. Cutler, C. W. Steward, 
A. Larzelere, B. Harding, and others, were to urge the necessity of a 
secret society, something on the order of the Know-nothings, by which 
they could unite tlieir force and labor more effectually against the pro- 
slavery party. This idea was received with acclamation by all of them 
except myself. I being an Irishman myself by birth, was opposed to 
the measure, as it was too much like Know-nothingism, and told them 
if they pressed it they would find me their most inveterate enemy. 
They said they had better do without it ; that they were too feeble to 
have any disturbance in their ranks. We had several speeches from 
those I have named, together with S. Collins, John Free, and B. Gr. 
Cady. They told us we must do all we could to keep slavery out of 
Kansas, and sooner than permit slavery in Kansas, or even submit to 
the repeal of the Missouri compromise, they ought to go for a disunion, 
and to take up arms against the authorities, and, in order to effect 
this purpose, they would shed the last drop of their blood, as they 
ought to do. Those speeches were received with applause. When 
Mr. Brown showed me the rifles at Lawrence he told me that they 
would continue to send arms, men, andjueans to make Kansas a free 
State by force, if necessary. He told me that these arms and muni- 
tions of war were sent as dry goods to the agents of the Emigrant Aid 
Society, who received them and gave them out to the people, and gave 
as a reason why they were thus secretly sent was that they might not 
be detected by the United States^ officers. He told me that the agent 
(I am now confident that he said Kobinson^ who was recognized at 
that time as the agent of the Emigrant Aid Society) had been on after 
arms, and had to remain two weeks over his time, in order to avoid 
being detected in getting them here. Brown furthermore told me that 
going on after those arms was very delicate business ; that it would 
not do to send everybody. Robinson being a very shrewd man, had 
all he could do to keep from being caught. Brown's instructions to 
me was, that when we got thirty men in each regiment we must send 
a delegate to Boston, but that he must first go to Lawrence, where he 
would get letters of introduction to the people in Boston, who would 
furnish him with as many arms as we had men in the neighborhood 
to bear them, and that we would get them gratis. AVhen in Law- 
rence I was invited by a friend to go up into a private room to see the 
kind of goods they received from the east. 1 saw a box whicJi they 
were opening, and a part of the cover torn off had " C. Eobinson" 
on it, I saw in the box blue jackets and white pants, a drum and 
drumsticks. I inferred they were military uniforms, but no one told 
me so. They nailed the box up again with the goods as they came. 
I saw a large house building ; it had port-holes in the top of it. I 
was told by G. W. Brown, Lowrie, Hutchinson, and Emery that the 
bui\^ing was for the purposes of fortification. Brown told me it was 
buiU by the Emigrant Aid Society. They expected they would be 
attacked in their town, as they were freemen, and would exercise the 
rights of freemen in the liberty of speech and the liberty of the press, 
and that many of their speeches and publications were in violation of 
he laws of the Territory, and they thereby expected to come in col- 
lision with the authorities of the Territory. When I was first intro- 



908 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

diiced to Brown at Lawrence, about five or ten months after, and 
whilst in the room with Brown, Governor Keeder came, and I was 
introduced as a delegate to the Big Spring convention. Governor 
Reeder asked me some questions about the Territory and some people 
in Donii)han. After he asked mo tliose questions he and Brown got 
up and went into ani^ther room, and stood about twenty or twenty-five 
feet from me. The door being open full width, I saw them, and over- 
heard part of their conversation. I heard my name in this conversa- 
tion mentioned. I heard the name "encampment'' mentioned, and 
the words '"northern, eastern portion of the Territory," and the name 
of Dr. Cutler. Wlien they got through a preaclier came in. He Avas 
introduced to me as late of Boston. Plis name I do not remember. 
After passing the com})liments of the morning, they sat down and 
began to talk*about the prospects of the coming fall election, about 
what aid they could have. They said the pro-slavery party was tho- 
roughly organized and united to a man, and that they ought to be as 
well organized and united. They tlien spoke of a preacher who had 
gone to Boston for aid, such as money, men, and means to insure their 
success. They spoke of this preacher as a man of great influence with 
the men of the right stripe in Boston to get those things. The execu- 
tive committee had no connexion with the Big Spring convention. 
Some of its members were there after the platform was adopted. 
Governor Eeeder came and told me that the executive committee 
wanted me before tliem immediately. I Avent, and lie introduced me 
to the committee. Tliere was a sentinel at the door for the purpose 
of keeping guard. When he saw Governor Reeder and myself going 
to the committee room he immediately gave way, without asking any 
questions. We went in, and Governor Reeder introduced me to the 
chairman, C. Robinson, and turned around and walked out. I saw a 
man there by the name of McCullom, I think. He oifered a reso- 
lution, " Iiesohrd, That every reliable free State man in the Territory 
be furnished with a rifle and sabre and a brace of pistols gratis,, and 
that he be required to take an oath to come when called upon, and 
muster into service under his superior officer, and that he go to the 
rescue of any person or property brought forcibly under the jurisdic- 
tion of the ])resent laws of the Territory. ' ' This motion, when offered, 
was received with applause, and seconded by several. The chairman 
remained quiet, as though lost in deep thought, by about two or three 
minutes, when he spoke up and requested the gentleman to withdraw 
his motion, and they would act upon it in a more private manner. 
All remained silent for a while, when one man spoke up and said /' I, 
think the resolution with provisions already made." The chairman 
answered that he tliought not, but for reasons he cared not to give 
lie wished the gentleman to withdraw his resolution, that tliey might 
act upon it more privately. The gentleman then withdrew his reso- 
lution. 

The expenses of carrying out all arrangements under this executive 
committee was to be paid by it, and they were to draw their means 
from the eastern States. 

The two sub-committees that were appointed eacli side of the 
Kansas river, were to gather all the information they could which 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 909 

would serve to weaken tlie pro-slavery iiarty. 1 beiuji; appointed a 
member of one of these sul)-committees, and livini^ iiirthcr north, I 
exerted myself in f2;atherin2; information in tlie north more than any 
of the others did, and did all tliat was done in the north of Doniphan 
and the vicinity around it. Tlie information that tliey <>'ave mo was 
very strong against the pro-slavery ])arty. 

Question. In exercising as snl) -committee man imder the executive 
committee, did you, in collecting information of charges which in their 
character were to weaken the prosjjects of tlie ])ro-slavery party, 
secure information from different free State men which were intended, 
though admitted not to 1)0 true, to be spread before tlie public in order 
to prejudice tlio ])ul)lic mind ; if so, st;ite what sucli iiirormution and 
circumstances were? 

Ansiucr, I was engaged by the executive committee in procuring 
statements to be spread before the public for the purpose of injuring 
the pro-slavery ])arty. I went from house to house in the nortliern 
part of tlie Territoiy taking the statements of the free State men, 
among whom was Messrs. (Iroornes, J>rown, Jamison, and several 
others of the St. Joseph's bottom, C. W. Steward, Richardson, and 
Hummer, out of tlie Territory; Richard Reck, Dr. Cr. A. Cutter, and 
others, of Doniphan ; all of whom generally admitted to me that they 
were exaggerating their statements in order to weaken the pro-slavery 
party. They would see two or tliree men, some, perhaps, who had 
only canes in their hands, without any visible sign of other arms. 
From tlie (act that they saw them on the day of election coming from 
towards Missouri, they would state to me that they saw large numbers 
of armed men ; some of them told me that they saw com])anies of from 
five to six and from eight to ten men, who would have shot guns, 
some of them ; they would then state that they were armed with 
guns. If they saw a very large number, they always gave the num- 
ber as covertly as they could ; but wlien a small number, they would 
say a number, or a large number, as a general thing. I never chided 
them for making these statements, but they generally said that 
although the statements might be construed to mean differently from 
what the true facts were, they would be easy. It was not a jjart of 
my duty or instructions, as a member of the committee, to collect 
either false or exaggei'ated statements of facts. My instructions were 
to gather all the inibrmation in regard to the elections; and I do not 
know that any portion of the statements I collected have ever been 
published; and I do not think they have. 

[Objection was made by Mr. Sherman to the foregoing question and 
answer, but was subseciuently withdrawn, on the ground that tlie tes- 
timony was not of sufHcieiit importance or materiality to waste time 
about it. Mr. Howard dissenting.] 

To Mr. Sherman: 

I came from Ireland to Kentucky ; I have been in this country about 
ten years. I now reside in Atchison. I am not a man of family. 
The memorandum of my testimony, from which I have been ex- 
amined, is in my own handwriting. I furnished it of my own 
accord, and not at the request of any one. When I procured the 



910 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

statements of "free State men," it was tlie last of September or first 
of October. I reduced them to writing, except Dr. Cutlers ; and I am 
not certain whether that is or not. I went to them to solicit their 
statements, except in and about Doniphan. I reduced them to Avrit- 
ing as they told them to me. They were not sworn, as I understood. 
I know that these statements were got to give information as to the 
contest betAveen Keeder and Whitfield for delegate, and also to injure 
the pro-slavery cause. I do not know they were not published. I 
gave them to Marcus J. Parrott, of Leavenworth, who was, like my- 
self, one of the members of the sub-committee, and also a member of 
the executive committee. I do not know what he did with them. 
The remarks I spoke of were not made by all those whose names I 
have mentioned. I cannot state which made the remark, and which 
did not. It was the duty to make arrangements to have the mail 
agents appointed. They Avere afraid to have their letters go through 
the United States offices. They said that their letters Avere missing, 
and tliat tliey could not get them through the post office. They com- 
plained that letters generally were stopped ; and, at last, that their 
official documents would be opened and re-opened; and, therefore, 
they proposed to establish a mail. BroAvn did not complain that the 
goods Avere stopped on tlie Avay, but of mails he did complain. 

It Avas immediately after I returned from the convention at Big 
Springs that I turned back and Avould not organize a regiment back of 
Doni})han. After that I took the statements I have referred to. I 
did not communicate my intention not to organize any more regiments 
to any one until some time in October, Avhen I left the free State party 
and have since acted with the pro-slavery party. I was present at the 
siege of LaAvrcnce Avhen the free State hotel Avas destroyed, and Avould 
liaA^e been present at the first if I had been able. I have held no 
office in the Territory except under the executive committee of the 
free State party. 

To Governor King : 

I am the individual who had the difiiculty with Samuel Collins, at 
Doniphan, about the first of November last, which resulted in his 
death. I know that that difficulty grew out of the fact that I made 
such disclosures to the public as I have referred to in m .- testimony. 

PAT LAUQHLIN. 

Leavenworth City, Iv. T., May 28, 1856. 



Andreav J. Francis called and SAvorn, 

To Mr. Scott : 

I reside near OsaAvkee, Jefferson county, Kansas Territory. I have 
resided there since May, 1855. I moved from Knox county, Missouri, 
into the Territory, and from Belmont county, Ohio,, to Missouri. I 
lived in Missouri from August,, 1854, to April, 1855. , When I came 
into the Territory I cannot say that I belonged to either party ; I took 
the position that slavery was just and legal, but, as a matter of expe- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 911 

(liency, I would prefer to liave Kansas a free State, provided there 
were no negroes allowed to live in the Territory. If they were to be 
here, I preferred that they should he under masters. There was no 
organized party of my opinion, when I first came into the Territory, 
in the section of the country where I settled. I assisted in organizing 
a party some four or five months afterwards, called the "free white 
State party," the leading ])rinciple of which was "slavery before free 
negroes." In some cases our free white State party acted with the 
free State party of the Territory, in some cases not ; most generally, 
however, they acted with that party. When we were satisfied there 
was not abolitionists on the free State ticket, we voted that ticket^ 
otherwise we had a ticket of our own. I know of a recent military 
organization in the Territory for the purpose of making Kansas a free 
State. It is well known that Governor Reeder had an election for a 
seat in Congress, last fall, separate from the election of General Whit- 
field. Reeder's election was held, I think, on the 9th of October, and 
I was the bearer of the returns to Lawrence, being the clerk of that 
election. The election was conducted in rather a loose manner ; I be- 
lieve I was the only sober man in the house, except Mr. Adams, a 
judge of election. The election was held at Pleasant Hill, about a 
mile from Osawkee. The votes were taken in through a window. 
Mr. Adams received the votes and put them in a ballot box, calling 
the names, some of wliich were put down and some not, as the votes 
were given in so fast. I ke])t both lists myself, the other clerk lying 
down (as I considered) drunk and partially asleep. Mr. Hicks, one 
of the judges, was not much affected by liquor ; Mr. Hoover, the 
other judge, was not very sober. There Avere a great many blank 
tickets put in the box, and twelve or fourteen more tickets in the box 
than we had on the list. We counted out tickets enough to corres- 
pond with the number of names, and tlie rest were not counted. I 
made the returns to Lawrence according to instructions. 

I started from my home to Lawrence_, I think, on the morning of 
the 11th of October. The first gentleman I spoke to when I got to 
Lawrence was Governor lieeder, as I was afterwards told, though I 
did not know him at the time, but took him to be the landlord. I 
ordered him to put my horse away when I rode up. He made arrange- 
ments to have my horse put away^ and invited me in the house. I 
went in and sat down and entered into conversation with him, still 
thinking he was the landlord. He asked me the news in regard to 
the election. I told him, but do not recollect my exact reply. I asked 
him what had become of Reeder, and made the remark that Reeder 
could have got a great many more votes if he had canvassed the Ter- 
ritory and proved himself to be such a man as he was represented to 
be, while, for my own part, I did not think he was a gentleman or any 
part of a nice man. He asked me why; I told him I had written 
some four or five letters to Reeder, upon different subjects, seeking in- 
formation, and could get no answer to them, and I thought if he had 
been a gentleman, or anything like it, he would have answered them. 
He then said, "Doctor Francis, it is necessary for me to undeceive 
you, my name is Reeder." I merely dropped my head, being embar- 
rassed, and got up and shook hands with him. He stated that he had 



912 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

never receiveil but one of any letters, aiul that so recently that he had 
not had time to answer it. About this time we went in to dinner. 
After dinner Governor Eeeder and myself took a walk about the city, 
conversing priucij)ally upon politics. He said he was opposed to the 
formation of a State constitution, and went on to give his reasons for 
his opi)osition. I returned the poll books that evening to Doctor Ro- 
binson "s office. 

Otlers were made to me by various persons to introduce nie to a 
secret political organization. The only name I ever received as a 
member of the lodge was '• Kansas Regulators." The next morning 
I was conversing with Grovernor Reeder, James H. Lane, E. P. Lowry, 
and several others, one by the name ot Chapman and one by the name 
of Ilornsby, but these latter gentlemen had merel}^ come up to us as 
we were standing on the corner of the street talking. I had noticed 
black ribbons tied in the shirt bosoms of several gentlemen. I noticed 
one also tied to Governor Reeder' s shirt bosom. I made the inquiry 
as to Avhat those black ribbons meant. Colonel Lane asked me to go 
with him, and he would show me something that Avould ]dease me 
better tlian what I had seen the night before. The night betove I had 
attended a masonic lodge. Colonel Lane was in the lodge while 1 was 
there. I made some reply to Lane as though assenting to go with 
him, saying, I would have to see something that would please me ex- 
traordinarily well if it pleased me better than what I had seen the 
night before. I went with Colonel Lane to the law office of John 
Hutchison, as I alter wards found out. Governor Reeder did not go 
into the room where I was initiated. Doctor Robinson was standing 
just before the door, with a lady, I think. Colonel Lane asked him 
to leave the lady and go into the office with us. Robinson rather ob- 
jected at first, but finally came in with us, and said he would explain 
the nature of the organization he was about to initiate me into. The 
substance of the explanation was. that Kansas was a beautiful country 
and well adapted to freedom, and the best Territory in the world for 
the friends of freedom to o]>erate on, more especially for those who 
were engaged in the free Avhite State cause. After proceeding in that 
strain for a while, he asked me if If was willing to pledge my word 
and honor that I would keep secret what I saw there, and;wlio I saw 
there, provided he would pledg^ his word and honor that there was 
nothing that would interfere Avith my duties as a citizen, or that Avas 
disloyal in any respect. I replied that I Avas Avillihg. He thou gave 
me some otlier instructions that I do not now recollect, of about the 
same import as the first. Colonel Lane then took me in hand, and 
told me he Avould administer the grand obligation, which was done by 
my repeating after him as follows: 

^'l, of my OAvn free Avill and accord,' in the presence of Almighty 
God and these Avitnesses, do solemnly swear that I Avill always forever 
conceal, and ncA'er reveal any of the secretsf of this organization to 
any person in the knoAvn Avorld, except it be to a member'of the order, 
or Avithin the body of a just and legal council. I further make 
promise and sAvear that I Avill not Avrite, print, stain, or indite them 
on anything: moveable or immoveable, Avhereby the 'least figure or 
character may become intelligible to myself or any other person. I 
furthermore promise and swear that I Avill at all times, and under all 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 913 

circumstanccH, liold luysciH" in roadincsH to obey, even to deatli, tlie 
orders of )ny Hii])erior ofliecrs. J fiirtlieriiiori! proini.se Jiiid Kvvear ilijxt 
I will at all times, and luidcr all cijcuniKtanecs, use my influence to 
make Kansas a iree white State. I I'mtiiermore promise and swear, 
that all things else being e(jiial, 1 will employ a free State man in 
l)reference to a Missourian or a pro-slavery man. 1 furthermore 
promise and swear, that all l)usiness that I may ti'ansaet, so far as in 
my power, shall he ti'ansacted with free State men. I furthermore 
promise and swear that 1 will at all times and under all circum- 
stances, hold myself in readiness to take up arms in defence of i'rce 
State princijdes, even though it should subvert the government. I 
furthermore ])romise and swear that I will at all times and under all 
circumstances wear uj)on my person the regalia of my office and the 
insignia of the ord(3r. I furthermore promise and swear that I will 
at all times and under all circumstances hear U|)on my ])erson a wea])on 
of death. 1 furthermoi-e ])romise and swear that 1 will at all times 
and under all circumstanc^es k(M![) in my house at least one gun, with 
a full su[)ply of ammunition. 1. furthermore promise and swear that 
I will at all times and under all circumstances, when I see the sign of 
distress given, rush to the assistance of the ])erson giving it, even where 
there is a greater proljahility of saving his life than of losing my own. 
Ifurthermore pi-omise and swear that i will, to the utmost of my power, 
oppose the laws of the so-called Kansas legislature. I furthermore 
promise and swear that when I hear the words of danger given I will 
repair to the'' place where the danger is. I furtliermore^j)romise and 
swear that if any part of my obligations is at this time omitted, I 
will consider the same as binding when legally informed of it. 1 
furthermore ])romis(; and swear, that at the first convenient oj)por- 
tunity 1 will commit this obligation to memory. To all of this I sol- 
emnly swear, without ef[uivocation or self-evasion, binding myself 
under the penalty of being declared a perjurer before Heaven, and a 
traitor to my country." 

I then remarked to Colonel Lane that that was a very serious obli- 
gation. Jle i'ej)lied it was, and also stated that it was necessary for 
me to become acquainted with the signs and j)asswords. Tlio sign of 
recognition is given by placing the right thumb under the chin and 
the forefinger of the right hand by the side of the nose, gently scratch- 
ing or rubbing it two or three times. The answer to it was given by 
2)lacing the thumb and forefinger of the left hand on the lower lip, 
as if ruby)ing it. The grip was given by locking the two first fingers 
of the right hand over each other. The words accom])anying the 
grip are these — the one giving you the grip would ask, "are you in 
favor of Kansas'!?becoming a free State ?" The answer was " I am, if 
Missouri is willing." The means by which persons procured admis- 
sion into the council was by going to the dooi", and ra])))ing some three 
times (jn the door. TliG sentinel would then jiresent himself; the per- 
son applying would say "'Kansas," accenting the last syllable. The 
person would then advance to the center of the room and salute the 
Colonel by placing his right hand just above his foreli<^ad. The re- 
galia was this : the private members wore a black ribbon tied upon 
their shirt bosoms, the colonel wore a red sash, the lieutenant colonel 
H. Rep. 200 58* 



914 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

a green sash, the major a blue sash, the adjutant a black sash, the 
captains white sashes, the lieutenants yellow sashes, the orderly ser- 
geant a very broad black ribbon upon his shirt bosom. Colonel Lane 
then remarked to me, that I had been made acquainted with the prin- 
ciples of the institution, and that it was the determination of the 
free State i)arty not to submit to the laws of the legislature, nor to 
any oppression that might come from Missouri or any other quarter. 
I remarked to the colonel, that I was sworn to support those laws in 
taking my oath as a lawyer, and that I considered that that oath was 
administered by a higher power than Jie exercised, and hence I should 
not keep the obligations he had given to me, and that under no cir- 
cumstances would I consent to do anything to subvert the institutions 
of the country, or place myself in opposition to the laws, and he 
might depend upon it I would expose it the first convenient oppor- 
tunity. I also told him I could not consistently keep both obligations 
that had been imposed ujion me. That I was also a member and 
minister of a religious denomination, and that it Avould not be con- 
sistent with mj Christian duties to keep the obligations he had im- 
posed upon me ; that I should most certainly^ when the subject came 
up, expose it. He stated then to me that if that was my determina- 
tion, and I did express myself so publicly, I would hardly get away 
from the city with my life. I replied to him that I should express 
myself so under all circumstances, both in public and in private ; 
that I was opposed to the thing, and was also bitterly opposed to the 
formation of a constitution. Upon tliat we went into a long argu- 
ment with regard to the propriety of forming a constitution, and the 
subject of the organization was then dismissed. I returned home 
that day. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

There were several persons present that I did not know at the time, 
one of whom I have found out since. Colonel Lane, Dr. Robinson, 
John Hutchinson were present that I know now, having found out 
John Hutchinson since I was initiated. I should think I saw two- 
thirds of the men I saw in Lawrence with black ribbons in their shirt 
bosoms, and with blue, white, green sashes, &c. 

To Mr. Scott: ^ 

Governor Reedor wore the black ribbon, the , badge of the order. 
Mr. Lowry had no such badge. The Rev. Mr, Hutchinson had the 
badge on, as did Mr. Hornsby, Mr, Ferrill, G, W. Brown, the editor 
of the '^Herald of Freedom," and a great many others. Major Smith 
wore the badge and the blue sash. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

The sashes are worn around the waist, just under the rest, so that 
the ends can be seen. 

To Mr. Scott: 

Colonel Lane wore the red «5ash, and I think some one else, but 1 
am not certain who it was. I do not recollect of seeing anybody with 
a green sash.' Dr. Robinson had a beautiful sash on, looking like a 
blue and red one joined together, trimmed with gold lace. I was told 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 916 

it denoted some higher office than colonel, but I did not learn what it 
was. 

I discovered a number of these black badges at the time of the late 
session of our circuit court in the county of Jefferson. I revealed this 
organization to the grand jury of our county. I did not know that 
there were any members of the order on the grand jury at the time I 
gave in my testimony before them. I did not notice that any of them 
had badges at that time. There were men on that grand jury I had 
heard avow themselves free State men. 

John Hutchinson was called before the grand jury at the same term 
of the court that I was. 

By Mr. King: 

Ques. When John Hutchinson came down stairs, after having been 
up before the grand jury, what did lie say to you in reference to the 
disclosures which you had made about this secret organization, and 
what he said in reference to your making disclosures before the grand 
jury, and what declarations he made in reference to his making dis- 
closures before the grand jury in relation to this secret organization ? 

[The committee considered this question as fully competent and 
pertinent.] 

Ans. I had been employed to defend a person there before the 
court, charged with a criminal offence, and the night before the trial 
came on Mr. John Hutchinson arrived there to assist, as he said, in 
defending this person. Upon his arrival in town the next morning, 
the trial immediately took place. After the trial was over he was 
called up by the clerk and sworn, and then went up stairs with the 
deputy marshal. In a short time he came down to attend, as he told 
me, to another case, and went up stairs. The next time he came down 
he took me by the collar and asked me to Avalk out of doors with him , 

Now, said he, I am in a great hurry, but I wish to know whether 
you have made, or intend to make, any disclosures before the grand 
jury in regard to this secret organization. I told him tliat it was pos- 
sible I had told them some things, and probable I should tell them 
some more. He said they had had him up there, and that they had 
got nothings and should not have anything, from him; that a free- 
soiler could not get justice there, and that he would not answer any 
of their questions. He then walked off from me some fifteen steps, 
probably, and turned to me and said that I must be careful, and not 
let them get any secrets from me, if I did everything was ruined. 
He then left, and I have never seen liim since. 

To Mr. Scott: 

In regard to the laws which were to be j'csisted, I understood from 
Dr. Robinson and Colonel Lane that they were the laws of the late 
territorial legislature. Nothing was said, in relation to the organic 
law; it was not mentioned. Colonel Lane said^ ''We will not submit 
to any laws passed by that legislature, and we are making prepara- 
tions to place in the hands of every free State man a Sharpe's rifle 
and a brace of Colt's revolvers, and if need be we will resist even the 
United States troops if they attempt to enforce those laws." Pie also 
stated, at the sa,me time, that an attack had been anticipated on the 



916 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

town of Lawrence the day before, and that he saw five iiundred men 
there at their business in the streets armed; that lie had seen men on 
the eve of battle, and seen men placed in every situation of danger, 
but had never seen as cool and determined a set of men as those he 
had seen the day before. I objected to the practice of shedding blood. 
He remarked to me that he was opposed to such things himself. He 
said that in Ohio, where I had come from, and Indiana, where he 
came from, it was a disgrace for men to carry arms at all, but here the 
time had come when they were forced to carry arms, and that if the 
Missourians did attack them, blood would undoubtedly be shed. That 
the little children about Lawrence had caught the same spirit. That 
his little son (about seven or eight years old) was wanting to know 
when he could have a revolver and bowio knife to carry with him. 
Dr. Kobinson and Colonel Lane told me they expected to form lodges 
or councils in every county in the Territory. They proclaimed me a 
"Kansas regulator," and that was all the name I learned for a mem- 
ber of the organization, and gave me authority to institute lodges, 
and conferred upon me a sort of brevet rank of captain. This was at 
the time I was initiated. During the first Lawrence war they sent 
me a commission as captain, which I never used. I have that com- 
mission at home. A short time since, in March last, there was a 
paper with some fifty names attached to it and presented to me. The 
paper had a preamble, and some sixty names were attached to it. It 
was presented to me to sign by a gentleman of the name of Bainter. 
The object was to get me to enrol myself as a member of a military 
company of this order. I refused to sign it, and left it in his hands, 
and do not now know where it is. He told me at the time it was to 
be sent to Lawrence. I did not know all the names on that paper, 
but all that I knew were citizens of Jefferson county. Among them 
vrere William Hicks, Eph. Bainter, Lewis Hoover, Nathan Adams, 
Jacob Brown, Samuel Brown, John Cunningham, Sidney Stuart, and 
many others I do not now recollect, but whom I know live in the 
county. The names were in different handwritings. I did not know 
the handwriting of any of them but Mr. Hoover. His name appeared 
to be in his handwriting. The paper was drawn up in the shape of 
preamble and resolutions, as follows : 

Whereas, bands of armcd\nen have come into the Territory for the 
express purpose of taking life and destroying property, and whereas 
there is no law by which we can be jirotected therefrom — 

Bewlved, That we will organize a military company for the purpose 
of defending ourselves and our property. 

That is about the sum and substance of the preamble and resolutions. 
Mr. Bainter said " Doc. if you don't wign it I will start it off to-morrov/ 
or next day to Lawrence, and we shall get our arms. Before I send 
it I shall put your name down, whetlier you are willing or not, so that 
you can draw your arms."' I asked him then what arms were 
to be drawn, and he replied a Sharp's rifle and a brace of revolvers. I 
made the remark that I should likfe very much to have them. I did 
not tell him to not put my name do^Vn. He did not inform me whom 
he was to get these arms from. Col. Lane had told me, when I was 
in Lawrence, that several thousand Sharp's rifles were coming on from 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 917 

the east. Mr. Bainter said that there were several thousand Sharp's 
rifles at Lawrence. I made no inquiry who were to furnish these 
Sharp's rifles in the east. Nothing was said about the Emigrant Aid 
Society, or of Henry Ward Beecher in connexion with these Sharp's 
rifles. I did not notice any black ribbon about the person of Mr. 
Bainter at the time he had this paper. 

Before I was initiated Gov. Rcedersaid there were two organizations 
in Lawrence, and he belonged to one of them. Further than that I do 
not know as he said anything. One organization that Gov. Reeder 
spoke of was the Kansas Regulators, and the other the Kansas Legion, 
which Pat. Laughlin exposed. I did not learn from Mr. Reeder which 
organization he belonged to, but I learned from him that he belonged 
to one of them, and I saw a black ribbon in his shirt bosom and could 
very readily judge which he belonged to. I understood the arms were 
to be given gratis to those who became members of this military 
organization. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I cannot tell the date of the origin of this military association, but 
it Avas some time before I had anything to do with it. 

To Mr. Scott : 

The signal of distress or danger: if a person was coming to a col- 
lection of people, or if he met another person he would inquire, ''Is 

Doctor Star present, if so he is wanted at /' naming some 

place. It was the duty of the members of the order to repair to that 
place. Politics I never heard discussed in a Masonic lodge. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

My commission as captain was signed by " Geo. S. Hillyer, by 
order of the committee of safety." 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I came from Belmont county, Ohio. I have lived in Pease town- 
ship, Smith township, and Richland township, in that county. I was 
born in Belmont county, and practiced medicine there a part of the 
time, and part of the time worked at the printing business in the 
" Gazette" office. "When I was about fifteen years of age, I received 
a license in the Methodist church, and after I became old enough to 
reflect and judge lor myself, I left that church and joined the Christian 
church, and received a license to preach in tliat church. I have not 
been engaged in the business of preaching for some months. I have 
practiced medicine now for about five years. I practiced medicine in 
Scotland county, Missouri. I never made law a regular study. When 
I was a boy I was going to school in St. Clairsville ; I was constantly 
using Governor Shannon's books^ and in that way got a preliminary 
knowledge*of law. I liave known Governor Shannon ever since I can 
recollect ; was born in the same town where he lived, and lived close 
by him. I have not seen him since I have been in the Territory. 
I was admitted to the practice of law in our county by Judge Le- 
compte, in April last. I had been admitted to the court of common 
pleas in our county before this time, but not to the circuit court. 
I was admitted to the court of common pleas a very short time pre- 



918 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

vious to my initiation in this secret society, i do not know of 
any persons in Missouri from the counties of Scotland and Knox, 
coming over into the Territory to vote. I knoAv of no secret polit- 
ical society in Missouri. I came into the Territory in May, 1855, 
and settled near Osawkee, where I now live. My political opinions 
were generally known. My neighbors were divided in opinion, and I 
do not know of their relative strength. I do not know anything 
about any organization for the purpose of introducing slavery into 
Kansas. With the exception of the " Kansas Legion," I know of no 
secret political organization prior to October, 1855. I cannot say of 
whom I got my first knowledge of the Kansas Regulators. My atten- 
tion was called prominently to it the next morning after I reached 
Lawrence by Colonel Lane. I do not recollect of Colonel Lane ever 
telling me of his supporting the Kansas-Nebraska bill, though I know 
it. Colonel Lane and Dr. Robinson, as I know of, did not tell me the 
cause of their forming this organization. It was a common thing to 
hear persons speak about Missourians coming over here to vote. Our 
election of the 9th of October was held under the authority of the Big- 
Springs convention. I took part in that election, because I had been 
told by men that I thought reliable tliat Governor Shannon had said 
that election would be regarded as lawful. Subsequently I found that 
statement was not correct, and therefore I dissolved my connexion 
with the party. I would not have acted in that election but for the 
representations made to me in relation to Governor Shannon. I should 
have gone to the election of the first of October at Osawkee, and voted 
then, but for sickness in my family. I had carefully read tlie pro- 
ceedings of the Big Springs convention before the election. When I 
acted as clerk I did not credit the allegations made in the resolutions 
of that convention, as to armed invasions of Missourians, &c., but 
regarded that as the usual statements of partisans, a little too highly 
colored. I cannot say that I took any position with regard to the 
armed invasion, &c., either one way or the other. I have never re- 
garded that there had been sufficient illegal voting at the polls to con- 
trol either branch of the legislature. I acted at that election because 
I regarded it a legal one up^^n the representation made to me as to 
Governor Shannon's view of ^t. A great many others took the same 
view in regard to that election that I did, but others did not. I acted 
upon the idea that a majority of the members of the legislature had 
been legally chosen. 

My opinion has always been this since I came into the Territory, 
that if the legislature v/ere legally elected by the settlers of Kansas 
Territory, they had the right to make the laws ; if they were not legally 
elected the people had better submit to tliem, as a matter of policy, 
until they could elect a legislature legally, ui)on the principle that 
honest men need no laAv, and rogues and disunionists needed it to the 
utmost extremity. Some of my neighbors took a different view of the 
matter, and some advocated open resistance to the laws, while my 
course was dictated by policy and expediency. Those who did not 
submit to the laws, took ground against the laws mostly on the ground 
of illegal election of the members of the legislature by foreign votes. 
I heard Colonel Lane and Dr. Robinson say they were opposed to sub- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 919 

mitting to tlie laws. I was Avilling to submit to the laws and they 
were not. 

I never heard the obligation I have given repeated before or since it 
was administered to me, except when I repeated it before the grand 
jury of our county, and never saw it written. I have a very reten- 
tive memory, and can sit down and listen to a sermon and repeat it 
afterward word for word. I have frequently conned the obligation 
over in my own mind. 

At the time I took this obligation. I formed the determination to 
disclose it, as I thought it my duty as a citizen and a law-abiding man 
to do so. That design was formed during the time the obligation 
was being administered to me. 1 told Colonel Lane my design after 
I had taken the obligation. Colonel Lane gave me authority to insti- 
tute other councils, and proclaimed me a Kansas Regulator, I think 
he told me that both before and after I had told him I would make 
the disclosure. I have never attended a council since. I do not know 
of my own knowledge that any council ever existed except the one in 
which I was initiated. The black ribbon which I have mentioned 
was generally worn in the button hole, or tied to tlie button of the 
shirt bosom, in order, as Colonel Lane said, to let the Missourians 
and the pro-slavery men know it concealed a weapon of death. 
Colonel Lane told me that he had anticipated an attack upon Law- 
rence prior to that time, but he did not tell me from where, thougli 
he probably gave me the impression that it was from Missourians. I 
did not understand Colonel Lane as intending anything but a defen- 
sive movement on his part. The first object, as I understood it, was 
not to submit to the laws of the so-called Kansas legislature, and then 
to defend themselves against some anticipated attack. I know that 
among some of the people of the Territory there was a deep, strong, 
determined hostility to the laws passed by the so-called Kansas legis- 
lature, but I cannot tell how many had that feeling ; and among the 
number of complaints were, by some, that this legislature had been 
imposed upon them by Missourians ; others, that the laws were so 
severe ; and last fall it was also a matter of (Complaint with some, that 
no portion of the officers, from the constable up, were to be elected by 
the people. Th^ people were led to suppose that no officers were to 
be elected for the space of six years. 

Question. Were not these complaints general among the people of 
the Territory, and did they not relate to the conduct of the people of 
Missouri in improperly interfering with their domestic institutions by 
controlling their elections, and, through a legislature selected in 
whole or in part by them, controlling all tlieir local offices and pre- 
scribing laws for their government ; and did not all these societies of 
which you sjjeak grow out of their alleged unlawful interference by 
the citizens of Missouri ? 

Ansicer. I cannot say that these complaints were general among 
the people of the Territory, because some were complaining and some 
were not ; some were for submitting to the laws and some were not. 
Some complaints were made in relation to the improper interference 
of Missourians, and some of a hundred other things, just according 
tD the intelligence of the people. I cannot tell which was the pre- 



920 iLansas affairs. 

vailing complaint. Complaints were universal among the free State 
men, some having four or five complaints. I heard complaints hut 
from one pro-slavery man, for whom due allowance should he made. 
He said the laws were very poor things, hut he was for suhmitting to 
them, and for that should receive credit. I cannot say that these so- 
cieties grew out of the alleged unlaAvful interference hy the citizens 
of Missouri. They did not tell me from what cause they sprang. 

Question. Would there have heen any difficulty in this Territory 
if no man hut a lawful resident voter had voted at any of the elec- 
tions of the Territory ? 

Ansiver. I was not here to know whether there was unlawful vot- 
ing or not, and therefore I cannot say whether there would have heen 
or not any difficulty if there had heen no unlawful voting. 

I do not recollect that Colonel Lane, in any of his conversations, 
mentioned anything ahout his course on the Kansas-Nehraska hill, 
though he might have done it casually and I not notice it. 

I think it was during the last of March or the first of April last, 
that I saw John Hutchinson in Jefferson county, hut I have not seen 
nor heard of him since. He left Osawkee in very much of a hurry, 
but I do not know whether he left the Territory or not. I do not 
know that he has heen in attendance upon the court at Lecompton 
this spring, hut I have not heard that he was ; he may have heen, but 
I have not heard of it. Mr. Bainter handed me the paper I have 
spoken of. I saw no badge or mark of the society ahout him ; justice 
to him demands that I should say he was not the captain of that com- 
pany, I did not say that company was connected with the society of 
which I have spoken ; I merely made the suppositiou that it was. I 
have no knowledge that such was the case. I do not know that that 
company had any design other than that contained in its preamble 
and resolution. I do not know that companies of armed men, with 
cannon, have come over from Missouri ; I have never seen them, and 
cannot testify about things I have never seen here. It is about thirty 
miles to Kickapoo City frojn where I live. The first disclosure I ever 
made about this society was in private conversation with Judge Tebbs, 
judge of the probate court "^of Jefierson county; I cannot say that 
that was a disclosure, for I merely gave him the kno-roledge of the ex- 
istence of such a society, and of its leading principles. That was a 
few days after I joined the society, but I cannot say exactly at what 
time it was. The next disclosures I made of it was before the grand 
jury of Jefferson county, during the last of March or the first of April 
last. That was a voluntary disclosure. I had been summoned before 
the grand jury to testify with regard to other things, and they asked 
me with regard to that, and had no hesitancy in testifying about it. 
I think I had been admitted at the time I gave that evidence. I was 
not at the siege of Lawvence, and never was engaged in any wars to 
put down the laws of the country. The first subpoena I ever saw or 
heard read from this committee was last Friday or Saturday, through 
Dr. Tebbs, to appear here to-day, I had received a verbal message to 
appear at Leavenworth, and would have gone, but that my family were 
sick. I came here Avith Dr. Tebbs. I have understood that he was a. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. . 921 

member of the legislature. It was to his brother that I made the dis- 
closure about this secret society. 

To Mr. King: 

With regard to resistance and non-resistance to the laws, I heard 
men say in the room where I was initiated, though I did not know 
their names, that no ofiicer acting under the authority of the laws of 
the so-called legislature should ever serve a writ upon them, and, 
from the tenor of the obligation that I took^ I was led to suppose that 
one of the prime objects of the society was to resist those laws. I 
supposed that the military organization Avas to shoot down law-abid- 
ing men if they should attempt to enforce the laws. That was my 
supposition from the time I was initiated, and has always been my 
supposition. And an avowed object of the self-defence spoken of, was 
to defend themselves against the enforcement of those laws, even 
though they were enforced by United States authority and United 
States officers. I know that our connty has been flooded with in- 
flammatory publications, and seditious speeches have been all over the 
county. I was deceived thus myself I speak of the county in 
which I reside, because I know more of that than any other parts of 
the Territory, I know that as good, and honest, and loyal men as 
ever lived have been deceived and led to counsel resistance to the laws 
from these inflammatory publications and these seditious speeches I 
have spoken of, and but for them, they would not have taken that po- 
istion, J. W. Clark was initiated in this order at the same time I 
mas, and his name was on this list which Mr. Bainter presented to 
we, and that was one of the reasons I supposed the company was con- 
nected with this society. I never saw the captain of the company in 
my life. I was told his name was Smith, but I do not know anything 
about him or where he lived. There were others in that company that 
gave me the sign of recognition of the order, time and again. 

After I told Lane that I should not consider myself Ijound by this 
organization, I never took any part in the action of those who be- 
longed to the society ; I merely listened to them to see how far they 
would go, but took no part myself either, one way or other. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

I judge there would liave been no difficulty in this Territory if the 
free State party had submitted to the laws passed by the Kansas legis- 
lature. So far as my knowledge extends, opposition and resistance to 
these laws have caused all the civil war and trouble in this Territory ; 
and since these laws have been published the resistance in our county 
has decreased ; and I know of no other cause of trouble in this Terri- 
tory but this resistance and opposition to the laws. 

ANDREW J. FRANCIS. 

Westport, Missouri, June 4, 1856. 



Gr. P. LowREY recalled, 

I was with Governor Reeder at Shawnee Mission during the ses- 
sion of the territorial legislature, and until his removal. After his 



922 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

removal, about the last of August, 1855, betook bis trunks, &c., from 
Shawnee Mission to Kansas City, to be stored temporarily, until hs 
could go up into the Territory and make other arrangements. It wen 
at this time that lie met Mr. Parrot, at Kansas City, about the 30th 
of August. The governor went, about the oOth of August, into the 
Territory, and made bis home at LaAvrence, where he remained nearly 
all the time up to his departure for Washington. I was familiar with 
bis plans, and I do not recollect ever hearing from him any intimation 
that bis remaining in the Territory depended on his being nominated 
as delegate to Congress, or any other nomination. If there had been 
any ground for Mr. V arr of s. " imjyression" I think I should have 
known it. I do not think any of the resolutions passed at Big Springs 
were in (rovernor Reeder's hand writing ; certainly the resolutions 
repudiating the legislature were not. I was chairman of the commit- 
tee to decide on day of election ; we reported a resolution calling the 
election on another day than the one designated by the territorial 
legislature for reasons assigned in the report. That committee did 
not report, or even have offered to them, anything coming from Gov- 
ernor Reeder ; I went to him for his advice, and be declined giving an 
opinion. 

The private letters which I have seen published, purporting to come 
from Governor Reeder to myself, are not correct copies of the original 
letters ; all his letters to me were locked up in my trunk, and the key 
is still in my possession ; it is a peculiar one, and in order to open the 
trunk the lock must have been broken. Governor Reeder's trunk was 
in the same building, and also locked. I liad in my trunk no letters 
or papers directed to him, so that the bundle of papers handed to Mr. 
Abel must have been jjrepared, after the robbing of both trunks, by 
mingling his papers with mine. 

There was no resolution offered at the Big Springs convention re- 
pudiating the laws of the territorial legislature except those reported 
and passed, and Mr: Parrot did not object to them. There was no ob- 
jection made b}^ any one except a motion by Colonel Lane to strike out 
two or three words. 

I am from Easton, Pennsytyania, and have carefully examined the 
list of voters at Pawnee on the 30th of March, 1855, and find the 
names of but four persons from Easton upon it. Of these I know 
that two have returned, both in the fall of 1855, one of them express- 
ing his intention to return to the Territory to live. ■ 

Some time in October, 1855, I first heard of the existence of the 
secret society mentioned by Doctor A. J. Francis. As I understood 
from members of this society, the reason for its organization was that 
for a long time free State men in Lawrence had been subject to insult 
and personal attack made upon them singly, in and out of the town, 
in the neighborhood, by persons who were in the habit of taking every 
opportunity to harass and browbeat free State men when they found 
them unarmed and away from assistance. This society was organized 
expressly to make free State men acquainted with each other, and give 
them a common interest in defending each other. The society was 
purely a local one, and never, to my knowledge, has been organized 
elsewhere than in Lawrence. Very shortly after its organization it 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 923 

produced its desired effect, and then went out of use and ceased to 
exist. Another object of the society was to produce a combined effort 
to make Kansas a free State. I do not know the name of the society, 
and was never told it. I identify it as the society Doctor Francis 
speaks of by a portion of his description of it. I never attended any 
meeting of the society after 1 was initiated, at which time its org-ani- 
zation was broken up, and it was but the result of accident that 1 vv^as 
initiated. Some persons desired to extend the organization to Leaven- 
worth, and I was initiated at the time they Averc, as a matter of con- 
venience to them. I have no distinct recollection of all tlie oath, but 
I know Doctor Francis testifies to matters as being in tlie oatli which 
were not contained in it. The oath required us to keep fire arms and 
ammunition ; to use all lawful and honorable means to make Kansas 
a free State ; to wear at all times on our persons a weapon of death ; 
and, I think, to go to the assistance of a brother when the probability 
of saving his life was greater than of losing our own. I do not re- 
collect anything in the oath which required us to deal with free State 
in preference to pro-slavery men, or to wear upon the person at all 
times the insignia of the order, or to obey at all times the orders of 
superior officers even unto death. It was not a part of the oath to be 
in readiness to take up arms in defence of fi'ee State principles, even 
though it should subvert the government. I do not recollect that it 
was a part of tlie oath to op})Ose the laws of the so-called Kansas le- 
gislature. It was not any part of tlie formula of the society to resort 
to any violent or unlawful means to advance free State principles. I 
never knew of any society in the Territory for the purpose of resist- 
ance to the laws of the Kansas legislature, and I so testified upon a 
former examination. I did not consider this society as coming within 
the scope of the interrogatory propounded to me upon my former ex- 
amination, 

G. P. LOWREY, 
New York City, Jujw 27, 18.56, 



Martin F. Conway called and sworn. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

There was a secret society formed in Kansas Territory, and came to 
my knowledge about the middle of June, 1855. I was informally in- 
itiated into it. The object of the society was to protect the rights of 
the people against the encroachments of the people of Missouri. It 
was formed in consequence of the invasion at the previous March elec- 
tion, and the recent outrages in Leavenworth. There was a printed 
constitution, form of initiation, &c. There were a number of divi- 
sions formed in difterent parts of the Territory. It was found to be 
cumbersome and unwieldy, and it fell into disuse, and I do not know 
as it ever accomplished anything. This was the societ}^ which Pat 
Laughlin claimed to expose, and Avhich was referred to in the report 
of Hon. Stephen A. Douglas of the United States Senate. 

Another secret society was afterwards formed, the proceedings of 



924 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

which were intendetl to he secret, hut the existence of Avhich was in- 
tended shonhl he known to the pnhlic. It was instituted ahout the 
middle of Septemher, 1855, The ohject of this society w\is to protect 
the movement of the people of Kansas for a free State organization 
against those attempts which it was expected the Missourians would 
make to defeat the movement. I was one of the iirst to engage in 
this movement for a secret society, and know all ahout it. In pro- 
ceeding to accomplish the ohject we had in view" it was necessary for 
us to have meetings, conventions, elections, and various other gather- 
ings of the people, and knowing ourselves liahle at such times to he 
attacked hy pro-slavery men in the Territory, as well as hy invaders 
from ^Missouri, we resolved upon this secret organization as a means 
of defence of ourselves, and resistance to them. It was a regimental 
organization, with officers such as pertain to regiments. It was neither 
the design nor tho""etrect of the society to resist the laws of the alleged 
Territorial legislature, hut was purely a defensive organization. The 
position we took in forming this secret society and in perfecting a 
State organization was, that as soon as the State government should 
he put in operation it would supersede the Territorial government, 
and the laws made under that territorial government, not hy any vio- 
lent method, hut in the regular order of things as had heen the case 
in other Territories ; that even if the Territorial laws had heen valid 
and of full force, they would have heen superseded hy the State gov- 
ernment as soon as Congress should recognize us as a State. We con- 
sidered this position estahlished and placed heyond dispute hy the 
sanction given hy the federal government to similar proceedings in 
other Territories of the United States, and helieving that we had a 
perfect right thus to take preliminary steps for the formation of a 
State government, we helieved we had also a perfect right to take all 
necessary steps to defend ourselves while taking those preliminary 
steps against the acts of citizens of a neighhoring State, and it was 
for that purj^ose alone that this society was formed. There was no 
printed or written constitution or formula of this society. Nearly 
all the free State men in aad around Lawrence hecame memhers of 
this society. I do not know that this society extended into any other 
portion of the Territory hesides Lawrence, and do not helieve it did. 
I think the society fell into disuse after the siege of Lawrence and 
the election for the ratitication of the State constitution in Decemher 
last, the ohject of its organization having thus heen accomplished. I 
cannot repeat the oath, and do not rememher it, as there was no writ- 
ten form. It would generally he given in ahout the same form, that 
is, Avith the same ideas, hut with change in the language, to express 
the same ideas. It was given hy the colonel of the "regi'ment. and at 
ditlerent times. He would give' the ideas of the oath in ditferent lan- 
guage, as he had no particular form of the oath to Avhich to confine 
himself. I attended the meetings of the society during the month of 
Septemher. There were a great many initiated every night, ten, 
fifteen, twenty, and thirty at a time, many who wouhf he strangers 
to me. I do not recollect when Dr. Francis was initiated. Our 
meetings were weekly. I heard the oath administered, I should tliink, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 925 

a dozen times. I can recollect the general objects of the obligation, 
but do not recollect the exact words of the obligation. 

I do not remember of ever hearing any ol>ligation required of any 
member to transact all the ])nsine.ss he had, so far as he was able with 
free State men. I am ])ositive 1 never lieard any obligation required 
that, under all circumstances and at all times, members should hold 
themselves in readiness to take up arms in deffmce of free State prin- 
ciples, even though it should subvert the government. I do not 
remember any obligation ref|uii'ing members to opj^ose to the utmost 
of their powers the laws of the so-called Kansas legislature. I do 
not remember of any such obligation as : " If any part of any obliga- 
tion is at this time omitted, I will consider the same as binding when 
legally, informed of it." I do not remernber any portion of the obli- 
gation requiring members to commit it to memory. 

The objects of the society were plain and simple, and could be 
easily remembered by any one. No sti'ess was laid upon the particular 
form of the obligation, nor upon any of the forms connected with the 
society. There was no act whatever done by means of that organiza- 
tion, so far as I know. No attack was ever made upon the X)olls of 
the State elections, except at Leavenworth and other points where the 
organization did not exist, and therefore nothing was done by means 
of that organization, so far as I know. 

I was at Lav/rence on the day of the election of the 9th of October, 
1855, and voted at that election. I think the number of votes cast 
there that day was over five hundred, but the precise number I cannot 
state. The election was quiet^ peaceable, and orderlv. 

M. F. CONWAY. 

Washington City, D. C, July 3, 1856. 



Dr. John H. Stringfellow testifies. 

To Mr. King : 

I came into the Territory from Missouri, Platte county, in July, 
1854. I contemplated a home in the Territory as soon as the Kansas- 
Nebraska bill was passed, or as soon as I found that a profitable in- 
vestment could be made in the Territory. I know of no arrangements 
made in Missouri to control the domestic institutions of the Territory. 
The controlling motive that started me to the Territory was a desire 
for gain. At the time of the passage of that bill, and prior to that 
time, I never heard any man in ray section of Missouri express a doubt 
about the nature of the institutions which would be established here 
provided the Missouri restriction was removed, and I heard of no com- 
bination of persons either in public or private prior to the time of the 
organization of tlie Emigrant Aid Society, and, indeed, for months 
afterwards, for the |)urpose of making united action to frustrate the 
designs of that society in abolitionizing or making a free State of 
Kansas. The conviction was general tliat it would be a slave State. 
The settlers who came over from Missouri after the passage of the bill, 
so far as I know generally believed that Kansas would be a slave 



926 KANSAS ArPAIRS. 

State. Free State men who came into the Territory after the passage 
of the hill were regarded vvitli jealousy hy the peoi)le of western Mis- 
souri, for the reason that a society liad heen formed, hy memhers of 
Congress and others, for the avowed purpose of shaping the institu- 
tions of Kansas Territory so as to make it a free State, in (Opposition to 
the interests of the people of Missouri. If no emigrant aid societies 
had heen formed in the northern States the emigration of people from 
there known to he in favor of making Kansas a free State would have 
stimulated the emigration from JMissouri. Had it not heen for the 
emigrant aid societies the majority in favor of slave institutions would, 
by the natural course of emigration, have been so great as to have 
fixed the institutions of the Territory, without any exciting contest, 
as was in the case of the settlement of the Platte })urchase. That 
was the way we regarded the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska bill, as 
by reserving a restriction to introduce southern institutions into 
Kansas. This and the principle of it was what induced us to support 
it. The fixed time that iiuy action was taken to forui societies in Mis- 
souri to counteract the movements of emigrant aid societies was in 
October, 1854. The end sought to be attained by the formation of 
these societies was to induce citizens to move into the ^''erritory who 
were friendly to the institution of slavery. We held public and pri- 
vate meetings. The members of these societies knew "each other, and 
in public and private i)ledged to use all honorable means to make Kansas 
a slave State. They raised no more money than for the incidental ex- 
penses of their meetings. The condition and ailairs ot' Kansas were 
discussed in these meetings. We consulted and talked about the mode 
of carrying out our object, which was by voluntary emigration. With 
respect to the then approacliing elections moans were taken to prevent 
underhanded advantages, which Ave feared would he taken to control 
the elections in favor of the free State party. Part of the means taken 
was to come into the Territory from iMissouri to prevent or counteract 
illegal voting on the part of hired voters from the east and other free 
States. I can't state lio\K^extensive these societies were. They were 
pretty extensive,- however, along through IMissouri. 1 don't know that 
ever I met with a man from anotlier State who belonged to the society. 
I cannot state liow nuiny members belonged to the society on the 30tl) 
of March, but I do not think any more belonged to it then than 
at the first election in November previous, I Qan't say where or 
whether any division of Missouri was made in these societies so as to 
go to the different polls in Kansas. Some of these societies existed to 
a limited extent in the Territory. They were united associations, with 
officers, and they communicate with other societies through their 
officers. The design was to direct or advise rather than to assist per- 
sons where to settle in the Territory. Since the election of the 30th 
■of March public organizations or aid societies have been formed all 
through the slave States, so far as I can learn, to enable settlers favor- 
able to the institution of slavery to reach the Territory without as- 
suming any control over their acts after they get here. Several gen- 
tlemen have left the Territory and the border of Missojiiri since March 
election in 1855, and visited the slaveholding States and addressed the 
people, urging the importance pecuniarily and publicly of a pro- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 927 

slavery emigration to Kansas Territory. The emigration from the 
soutliern States this spring lias heen large, which I attribute more to 
the general belief of the importance of such emigration rather than to 
the societies or Missourians. I don't know about money being raised 
for the aid of southern emigrants now here except from the news])apers 
of Missouri. All the elections that have been lield in tlie Territory 
have turned upon the question of slavery or anti-slavery, free and 
slave institutions. There are but two parties in the Territory — the 
abolition and the pro-slavery party ; and the real and immediate dif- 
ficulties in the Territory are attributable solely to Governor llceder 
and his particular friends in denying that tliere was any law in this 
Territory. 

Cross-examined by Governor King: 

Home two or three days after the election of tlie 30th of March, 1 
went down the river from Lcavenwortli City to Kansas City. At 
Leuvcnworth (Jity tiiere were some fifty persons who came aboard the 
same boat, and in -conversation with them, I learned they were per- 
sons from the free States who had recently arrived in the Territory ; 
had voted in the Territory, and were then on their return to their 
respective homes in the free States with no expression of tlieir inten- 
tion of returning to the Territory. At Kansas City a still larger 
party embarked on the same boat, some of Avhom I knew to be, from 
their'conversation, free State men, who had arrived in the Territory 
immediately preceding "the election, and were then on their return to 
the free States. 

About the middle of April, 1 started to Virginia on the steamer 
''New Lucy." At Leavenworth and Kansas City there Avere large 
numbers of persons from the free States, who had gone into the Terri- 
tory just before the election of the 80th of March, and were then on 
their return to the free States. I leai-ned from them that they had 
voted in the Territory. 

JOHN 11. STRINGFELLOW. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 185C. 



Amos Rees called and sworn. 

By Mr. Slierman : 

I came into the Territory in July, 1855, from Platte County, Mis- 
souri. 

Question. State what you know a))Out citizens of Missouri voting 
at an election iield in this county to fix yonr county seat. State what 
means were taken, if any, by citizens of Missouri to control tliat elec- 
tion, and whether or not their action led to the selection of Delaware 
as the county seat instead of Leavenworth. 

[Governor King objected to this question, and the committee held 
that as tlie election referred to was simply local in its character, and 
did not grow out of the political controversies in the Territory, they 
would not investigate it.] 



928 KANSAS AFFAIRS, 

I lived in Platte City ten years, and came into Missonri in 1818. I 
was at the election 30th of March, 1855, and voted here at that elec- 
tion. I desire to say^ in connexion with my voting, that my pruj^erty 
was here mostly. I was one of the original proprietors of the town. 
I had fully determined on to move here. I had my contract out for 
building a liouse, and had determined never again to vote in Missouri, 
in my own mind, and certainly never would liave done so unless I 
altered my dis})Osition to change my residence. At the time I voted 
I looked upon myself as a resident here as much as I do now. I 
know Hon. David R. Atchison well. He lived in tlie same town 
with me, and we practised law together. I know from general rumor 
that General Atcliison and a company from Platte county were in the 
Territory. Upon reflection, I am of the impression I did hear Gen- 
eral Atchison say that he was in a camp on the Nemaha at the March 
elections, hut that he did not vote. I should say that there were two 
hundred persons in the Territory from my neighborhood, from Platte 
City, down in the southeastern part of that county. A great many 
of those who were on here, were men wlio had been here and made 
their claims and improvements, and many of them are here now. 
Judge Morton, I think, was not in the Territory. Judge Almore was 
at this place at the election. 1 recognize the following names as, at 
the time of the election, being citizens of Missouri: Thomas Beau- 
mond^ John B. Wells, George Quinly, (but who is now a citizen of 
this county,) William H. S. Pratt, William J. Morris, John Venomon, 
N. A. Wilkison, Randall A. Gordon, Robert Peirce, R. N. Chim, 
(now a citizen of the Territorv,) E. T. Peirce F. Marshall, Samuel 
R. Offutt, A. P. Walling, 1\ R.Buckhard, James Doniphan, William 
Dickie, (now in the Territory,) W. Christerson, (now in the Terri- 
tory,) Smith Calvert, Joseph Mowers, C. E. Woolfolk, Jesse Vine- 
yard, George W. Dye, John D. Harper, W. S. Orflfut, P. R. Wag- 
goner, James Barbee, Jacob Pitts, William A. Gabbolt, A. Gilbert, 
Isaac Archer, J, C. Cockrill, Edward Duncan, L. P. Styles, William 
A. Gurthie, Samuel Fernandes, (now in the Territory, and one of the 
original proprietors of the town,) Joseph Halliday, Joseph Murphy, 
William A. Newman, Michael Birch, H. G. Wolf, (now clerk of the 
court of common pleas, but was not on the 30th of March.) These 
are principally citizens about Weston. I could, by taking time, fur- 
nish a list of those about Platte City who came here to vote, but my 
memory of names is poor, and I cannot now do it, but a great many 
did come over. I only know about companies from other counties 
coming over by hearsay. I saw a few men from Ray county, some of 
whom I knew, who told me they were coming over into the Territory. 

By Governor King : 

At a very early day after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act, 
it was reported currently in the newspapers, and believed, that there 
was a regular organization of the abolitionists of the north to colonize 
in this Territory their men, through their Emigrant Aid Society, to 
carry and control the elections upon the subject of slavery ; and, fur- 
thermore, through this organization, to control the institution of 
slavea'y in Missouri. Immediately after that there was a great deal of 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 929 

feeling and excitement in the upper part of Missouri. It was looked 
upon as an intermeddling with our own business by foreigners. Fol- 
lowing that immediately there were repeated public meetings in Platto 
county, for the purpose of taking into consideration the effort on the 
part of northern men, and our duties in connexion with it. I presume 
I attended some four or five of these meetings. There the question 
was freely and fully agitated as to our duties in that state of things, 
and for the purpose ol defending ourselves against what we looked 
upon as an aggression. In these meetings different gentlemen took 
different positions. Some favored the idea of coming over here and 
meeting them by voting at the elections, looking upon that as being 
of the same character of opposition as practiced by northern peo- 
ple ; others approved that idea and were in favor of immediate and 
extensive emigration and settlement. It was ascertained that it would 
be impossible to emigrate and settle, in time for the election, men 
enough to meet the imported vote. Then it Avas finally determined 
upon, in view of the fact that large masses of men were reported to be 
on their way to the Territory in time for the March election, to send 
over our own men and meet them in their own way. I fully believe 
that there would not have been any excitement in the border counties 
of Missouri^ or illegal voting in the Territory by Missourians, except 
from the reasons above. It was difficult to get the peojde around 
about it, and I was one of those who was active in doing it. The 
knowledge of the time of the election of the 30th of March was kept 
back from us, and before we ascertained what day the election would 
be we heard, by general rumor, that numbers of persons were coming 
up the Missouri river belonging to the northern emigrant society. 
The rumor was currently circulated and generally believed, and our 
action was based upon this rumor. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

My impression is that the Kansas-Nebraska bill was ])assed on the 
30th of May, 1854. Upon the passage of that bill it was generally 
understood that Kansas would become a slave State, as we intended 
to do all we could, legally, to make it so. When the two Territories 
were organized, under the same bill, it seemed to be a tacid under- 
standing, universal among our people, that Kansas was to be a slave 
State and Nebraska a free State. As soon as the emigrant aid socie- 
ties began to interfere with this understanding it created a great ex- 
citement. Immediately after the passage of the bill, and, indeed, 
before it, a number of emigrants came across the river, all entertain- 
ing the common belief that I have expressed — that here were two 
Territories, one to be a slave State and the other free ; although the 
early settlers came over to make money and had not tlie idea of 
slavery in their minds. I am willing to state, then, that wo always 
acted 'under the idea that slavery existed in the Territory since the 
passage of the' bill. Any movement by societies or organizations 
connected with foreign influence would have heated the same excite- 
ment if it tended to lead to the prohibition of slavery. _ The people of 
Missouri felt a deep interest in establishing slavery in Kansas, and 
regarded it as necessary for their safety. My opinion is, that without 
H. Rep. 200 59* 



930 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

tliis foreign influence individual societies and organizations might 
liave gone on to promulgate their opinions, and put forth their efforts 
to make this a free State, without ever having produced any unnatural 
excitement. The people of Missouri felt that through the institutions 
of Kansas their institution of slavery was to be affected. And if they 
had seen large masses of free State people settling here, that they 
would have endeavored to counteract it hy throwing over their citi- 
zens as settlers of the Territory. I saw no emigration from the north 
of the class I have mentioned coming up the river. 

I know Lewis Burns. He lived in Weston on June 10, 1854. J. 
H. K. Cundiff lived in Parkville, June 10, 1854. I have looked over 
the proceedings of a puhlic meeting, published in the Parkville Lumi- 
nary of June 10, 1854, of which Mr. Burns was president and Mr, 
Cundiff was secretary. I do not recognize the proceedings of that 
meeting but the eighth and ninth resolutions, which were as follows : 

8. Besolved, That we recognize the institution of slavery as already 
existing in the Territory, and recommend to slaveholders to introduce 
their property as fast as possible. 

9. Besolved, That we afford protection to no abolitionists as settlers 
in Kansas Territory. 

According to my belief they embody the general sentiment at that 
time, and which has continued to the present time, and is worse now 
than it was then. When I speak of this ninth resolution I mean 
abolitionists in its proper sense. I do not mean a man who is in favor 
of a free State, or a man who may be properly called a free-soiler. 
Such men I esteem to be gentlemen and have no objection to their 
settlement here. But by abolitionists has been understood here, in 
this community, to be men who believed it to be a virtue to steal and 
run off slaves. 

I was over at the election of November for General Whitfield ; and, 
indeed, have voted at every election in the Territory, as I regarded 
myself a citizen of tliat Territory from the beginning. 

AMOS EEES. 

Leavenworth City,"K. T., May 30, 1856. 



Wm. H. Tebbs recalled. 

To Mr. King : . , 

I was a member of the last grand jury of Jefferson county, Kansas 
Territory, "which sat about the 2d Monday in March last, and from 
that time on to the first of April. Dr. Francis was examined before 
the grand jury. I knew a Mr. Hutchinson a lawyer who was before 
the grand jury. Mr. Hutchinson made his appearance there in 
Osawkee, and after those developements were made before the grand 
jury by Dr. Francis, raid ho had said that Mr. Hutchinson was in the 
lodge when he was initiated, we summoned him to appear before us. 
Before we asked him any questions I gave him to understand that 
some developements had been made before us. I put questions to him 
in relation to this order, which he immediately refused to answer, on 
the ground that they would criminate himself, and that we had no 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 931 

jurisdiction over tlie matter, as we were enquiring about what was out 
of our county. The question was then written out, and submitted to 
Judge Lecompte, who presided, and he decided it was comjjetent. 
When we returned into the jury room Mr. Hutchinson then imme- 
diately asked permission to go into the court room below and attend to 
a case he had there. We told him that as a matter of courtesy we 
would let him go, but we would expect him to return as soon as he 
got through his case. We waited some time, and he did not return, 
and he never came back again, and I have never seen him since. 
To Mr. Sherman : 

We had been interrogating him in relation to this secret society in 
Lawrence. Judge Lecompte held that we had no authority to enquire 
as to what took place in Lawrence, unless we believed it implicated 
some one in our county. We did so hold, and upon that ground he 
decided the enquiry competent. 



Westport, Missouri, June 4, 1856. 



W. H. TEBBS. 



John, Scott testifies. 
To Mr. Oliver : 

Prior to the election in Burr Oak precinct, in the fourteenth district 
on the 29th of November, 1854, I had been a resident of Missouri 
and I then determined, if I found it necessary, to become a resident of 
Kansas Territory. On the day previous to that election I settled up 
my board at ray boarding-house in St. Joseph's, Missouri, and went 
over to the Territory and took boarding with Mr. Bryant, near whose 
house the polls were held the next day, for one month, so that I might 
have it in my power, by merely determining to do so, to become a 
resident of the Territory on the day of election. I was present at 
]\Ir. Harding's when the polls were held on the morning of election 
prior to and at the time the judges were appointed. When my name 
was suggested as a judge of the election, no such suggestion had been 
made to or in regard to me that I was aware of, until the hour of 
opening the polls had arrived, when, by the absence of two judges 
appointed by the governor, it became necessary to select others in 
their places. When my name was proposed as a judge of election, 
objections were made by two persons only, so far I knew, Messrs. 
Harding and Larzelere, in regard to my want of residence in the 
Territory. I then publicly informed those present that I had a claim 
in the Territory ; that I had taken board in the Territory for a month, 
and that I could at any moment become an actual resident and legal 
voter in the Territory, and that I would do so if I concluded at any 
time during the day that my vote would be necessary to carry that 
precinct in fivor of the pro-slavery candidate for delegate to Congress, 
and that I knew of no law requiring a judge of that election selected 
by the voters present to be a resident of the Territory. I was then 
elected, took the oath prescribed by the governor, and faithfully and 
impartially discharged the duties of judge of that election, swearing 



932 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

every mean wlio oiFered to rote, and was not known to "be an actual 
resident of the Terriorty, requiring eacli one to state that that was 
his actual phice of residence in preference to all other places. I did 
not during the day consider it necessary to become a resident of the 
Territory for the purpose mentioned, and did not vote or offer to vote 
at that election. The statements made by Alfred Larzelere in his 
testimony before this committee in regard to my declaring myself a 
citizen of the Territory is false, and he knew it to be so when he made 
it. Benjamin Harding, the only judge appointed by the governor who 
was present, claimed the right publicly to select the other two judges, 
and undertook to exercise that right, which caused a great deal of es- 
citement among the people present. He also claimed the right before 
being ratified as judge to determine who were and who were not quali- 
fied to vote for judges, or to be selected as judges of election. Oon- 
ciuding I was not qualified to act as judge, he refused to put my name 
to vote when nominated by persons present, whereupon it was done 
by some of the bystanders, and I was almost unanimously chosen judge 
of that election by those present. Ko efforts, that I know of, were 
made to interfere with any one entitled to vote. 
Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I held the office of city attorney for St. Joseph's at that time, and 
had held it for two or three years previously, and continued to hold 
it afterwards until this spring. I never acted as judge of election in 
St. Joseph's in my life. I voted at an election in St. Joseph's; in the 
spring of 1855 I was re-appointed city attorney. The question of 
slavery was put in issue at the election of November, 1854, to the 
sajne extent as in every election in this Territory. General Whitfield 
was regarded as the pro-slavery candidate, and had been selected as 
the pro-slavery candidate by the pro -slavery party. I regarded the 
the question of slavery as the primarily prominent issue at that elec- 
tion, and, so far as I know, all parties agreed in making that question 
the issue of that election. My removal into the Territory would have 
vacated my office without any resignation of my office, and if I had 
determined to become a citizen of the Territory on the day of election, 
-when I acted as judge, my office of city attorney of St. Joseph's 
would have thereby become vacated without any further action on my 
part. It is my intention, and the intention of a great many other 
Missourians, now resident in Missouri, whenever ^ the slavery issue is 
to be determined upon by the people of this Territory in the adoption 
of the State constitution, to remove to this Territory in time to acquire 
the right to become legal voters upon that question. The leading 
purpose of our intended removal to the Territory is to determine the 
domestic institutions of this Territory when it comes to be a State, 
and we would not come but for that purpose, and would never think 
of coming here but for that purpose. I believe there are a great many 
in Missouri who are so situated. This is one of the means decided 
upon by Missourians to counteract the movements of the Emigrant 
Aid Society to determine the character of the institutions of this Ter- 
ritory when it comes to be a State. 

JOHN SCOTT. 
Leavenwokth City, K. T., May 27, 1856, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 933 



Andrew H, Reeder called and sworn : 

I was appointed governor of tlie Territory of Kansas about July 1 . 
l&54j and as soon as the nomination was confirmed by the Senate, I 
proceeded to AVasliington city, at the request of the President of the 
United States, and remained there till the adjournment of Congress, 
in the first week of August, engaged in procuring necessary legislation 
for the Territory. I returned to Easton, I think, on the 7th of Au- 
gust. My arrangements for closing up a most extensive private and 
professional business, extending over six counties, were seriously re- 
tarded and prevented by a term of three weeks' court which followed : 
and on the 2l8t September I departed for tlie Terrritory, leaving my 
business in a most unsatisfactory condition. I landed at Fort Leaven- 
worth on Saturday, the Tth day of October, and made it my first 
business to obtain information of the geography, settlements, popu- 
lation, and general condition of the Territory, with a view to its 
division into districts, the defining of their boundaries, the ascertain- 
ment of suitable and central places for elections, and the full names 
<yf men in each district for election ofiicers, persons to take the census, 
justices of the peace, and constables. In a very few days I discovered 
that the procurement of this knowledge, in consequence of the new- 
Dess of the population, was utterly impossible, by any other means 
than by a tcur through the Territory. I found that, unlike most new 
Territories, the settlements of which cluster along a single line, the 
small popuhition of Kansas was sparsely distributed over a surface of 
about 20,000 square miles. With some trouble arising from the 
want of travelling facilities, I made the necessary arrangements,, and 
on the 14th of October I left, with two of the Territorial judges, 
Messrs. Elmore and Johnson, the district attorney, Mr. Isaacs, the 
United States marshal^ Mr. Donaldson, and my private secretary, 
Mr. Williams, for a trip into the interior, to procure the requisite in- 
formation. The secretary and chief justice had not then arrived in 
the Territory. I took in the route the payments of the Pottawat- 
omie and Kansas Indians, where a large number of whites as well as 
Indians were assembled ; and having made full notes of all the inform- 
ation procured from Indians and whites, I completed my trip, and 
arrived at Fort Leavenworth on the Tth of November. I then saw 
that if tlie election for delegate to Congress (which required no pre- 
vious census) should be postponed till an election could be had for 
legislature, with its preliminary census and apportionment, tlie 
greater part of the session, which would terminate on the 4tli of March, 
would expire before our congressional delegate could reach Washing- 
ton ; and I deemed it best to order an election for a delegate to Con- 
gress as early as possible, and to postpone the taking of the census 
till after that election. I was more convinced of the propriety of this 
course, by the fact that the common law and many of the United 
States statutes were in force over the Territory, and could well be ad- 
ministered through the courts established by Congress, and the jus- 
tices and constables whom I was authorized to appoint ; and by the 
additional fact that whilst the citizens of Missouri were vehemently 



934 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

urging an immediate election of the legislature, tlie citizens of the 
Territory were generally of the opinion that no immediate necessity 
for it existed. I prepared, without delay, a division of the Territory 
into election districts, defined by natural boundaries, easily understood 
and known, fixed a place of election in each, appointed election offi- 
cers for each poll, and ordered an election for congressional delegate 
to take place on the the 29th of November, 1854, and by the 15th of 
November my proclamations were issued, containing a description of 
the districts, with all the necessary information, instructions^ and 
forms. 

These proclamations were immediately distributed by express 
throughout the Territory. About the 24th of November the want 
of necessary conveniences induced me to remove the executive office 
to Shawnee Mission. By the fifth of December the returns of the 
congressional election were made, and on the sixth a certificate of 
election was issued to J. W. Whitfield, who stood highest on the 
return. Immediately thereafter public business called me into the 
interior of the Territory, and, having attended to the same, and also 
to some private business incidentally, which latter, however, did not 
detain me over two dayS; I returned to my office about the first of Jan- 
uary, and immediately commenced the preparation of books and pre- 
cepts for taking the census, preparatory to an election for the legisla- 
ture. Much unavoidable delay occurred in the proceeding from the 
want of mail and travelling facilities, the difficulty of notifying the 
various and more remote persons appointed to take the census, froiQ 
the sparseness of the population in making the enumeration and re- 
turn ; and yet in less than seventy days the census books and the in- 
structions were distributed over the entire Territory, and the enumera- 
tion was fully completed and returned. A return day was fixed in the 
precept of each census taker, but several of them found it necessary 
to prolong the time in order to complete their work, and the last re- 
turns were made late in the evening of Saturday, the third of March. 
I immediately proceeded to make the apportionment, designate such 
new election precincts as had become necessary, to appoint election 
officers, and to prepare necessary forms and instructions ; and on the 
sixth or seventh of March my proclamation for the election on the 
thirtieth was completed, and despatched by express to the printing 
office, about forty miles distant ; a large numbey of copies were re- 
ceived by me of the printer, and immediately distributed through the 
Territory, under arrangements previously matured for that purpose. 
The precise day of the election was never fixed by me, or communi- 
cated to any one else, at home or abroad, until about the sixth of 
March, when I was writing the proclamation. Before the returns of 
the census had been all received it was impossible to fix the precise 
day, and I could only judge that the election would probably take 
place about the twenty-fifth to the twenty-eighth of March, and I did 
not hesitate so to state, without reserve, to citizens of the Territory 
who made inquiry. I so stated to a number of prominent men of the 
pro-slavery party, and it was editorially announced jn the Frontier 
News, published at Westport, some time before the election, (I think 
more than four weeks before,) that the election would take place on 



KANSAS AFFAIES. 935 

tlie twenty-eiglitli of March. Among the gentlemen to whom I rec- 
ollect having communicated this information were Thomas Johnson, 
A. S, Johnson, Daniel Woodson, and John A. Halderman, all prom- 
inent men in the pro-slavery party. The first men to whom the pre- 
cise day was made known after I had determined it were Daniel 
Woodson and John A. Halderman, esqs., which Avas on the sixth or 
seventh of March, and it T\^as at once made puhlic hy them and my- 
self. I did not hesitate at any time to state to persons around me, of 
both parties, all that I could know myself in relation to the day of 
election, and I did not communicate it to the Emigrant Aid Society 
or their agents, or to any one else in the States, except, perhaps, to 
eome persons in the State of Missouri. In the appointment of jus- 
tices of the peace, constahles, census takers, and officers of election, I 
was careful to select men indiscriminately from both parties, with a 
view to treat all persons fairly, and afford no cause of complaint. At 
the election of the twenty-ninth of November a large majority of the 
officers of election were, as IJbelieve, pro-slavery men. Of the twelve 
men appointed to take the census six were pro-slavery men. A fair 
proportion of the justices and constahles were also pro-slavery men. 
My private secretary, Mr. Williams, having resigned, in November, 
1854, I appointed a pro-slavery man, John A. Halderman, esq., who 
served until July 1, 1855. At the election of the thirtieth of March 
more than one-third of the election officers were, as I believe, pro- 
slavery men. Anticipating, however, an invasion of illegal voters 
from the State of Missouri, I was careful to appoint in most of the 
districts, especially in those contiguous to Missouri, two men of the 
free-State party and one of the pro-slavery party. Notwithstanding 
all my efforts, however, at fair and impartial action, my person and 
my life were continuously threatened from the month of November, 
1854. As early as the 15th day of November, 1854, a meeting was 
held at Leavenworth, composed almost exclusively of Missourians, 
presided over by a citizen of Missouri, at which I was bitterly de- 
nounced, and a committee appointed, composed partly of citizens of 
Missouri, who waited upon me, and insisted upon an immediate elec- 
tion for the legislature. Their communication and my reply can be 
found in the newspapers of the day. This meeting was held imme- 
diately after the appearance of my first proclamation, and is gener- 
ally attributed by both j)arties to the fact that that 2)roclamation con- 
tained a provision for contesting elections before me illegally held, 
and did not provide for an election for the legislature. The election 
was held on the thirtieth of March, as ordered, and an invading force 
from Missouri entered the Territory for the purpose of voting, v/hich, 
although it had been openly threatened, far exceeded my anticipa- 
tions. About the time fixed as the return day for that election a ma- 
jority' of the persons returned as elected assembled at Shawnee Mis- 
sion and Westport, and remained several days, holding private cau- 
cuses at both places. I had frequent conversations with them, and 
they strenuously denied my right to go behind the returns made by 
the judges of the election, or investigate in any way the legality of 
the election. A committee called upon me and presented a paper, 
signed by twenty-three or twenty-four of them, to the same efiect. 



936 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Threats of violence against my person and life were freely afloat ia 
the community, and the same threats were reported to me as having 
been made by members elect in their j)rivate caucuses. In conse- 
quence of its being reported to me that a number of the members in 
their caucuses in their speeches had declared that they would take 
my life if I persisted in taking cognizance of the complaints made 
against the legality of the elections, I made arrangements to assem- 
ble a small number of friends for defence, and on the morning of the 
sixth of April I proceeded to announce my decision upon the returns. 
Upon the one side of the room were arrayed the members elect, nearly 
if not quite all armed, and on the other side about fourteen of my friends, 
who, Avith myself, were also well armed. My official action ujjon 
those election returns was entered upon the executive minutes, and is 
already in the possession of the committee. I was not then aware of 
the frauds perpetrated in the other districts, which were not set aside, 
as no complaints had been filed, and the facts had not been commu- 
nicated to me. Sufficient opportunity for contesting the election had 
been given by the proclamation. The form of complaint required was 
very simple, and full five daj^'S, exclusive of the day of the election, 
were allowed for filing it. The most remote polls were within three 
days' journey, or less, of my office, which was kept open till mid- 
night of the last day. The reasons why they were not contested have 
been already stated by other witnesses. I left the Territory about the 
middle of April, and came east for the purpose of taking out my 
family and attending to private business, as well as for the purpose of 
consulting with the President in regard to the state of things in the 
Territory. In the month of December, 1855, or January, 1856, I 
communicated my intention to the town association of Pawnee to call 
the legislature at that place, provided they would erect a suitable 
building for their accommodation, which they did. About the time 
of the decision on the returns of the election the members elect then 
assembled requested that I should convene them at the Shawnee Mis- 
sion, which I could^not consent to do, inasmuch as the Pawnee Asso- 
ciation had already expended considerable money in the erection of 
their building, and because I did not consider the Shawnee Mission a 
suitable place for their meeting. They immediately declared their 
intention to adjourn to the Mission if convened at Pawnee, and au- 
thorized Eev. Thomas Johnson to purchase furniture, bedding, and 
provisions for their accommodation at the Missidn, Before leaving 
the Territory I issued my proclamation for convening the legislature 
at the town of Pawnee on the second day of July. I returned to the 
Territory about the twenty-fourth of June, and proceeded to Pawnee, 
where the legislature met on the day appointed. The building in 
which they assembled was of stone, two stories high, about forty feet 
by eighty ,^ well provided with scats and writing-tables. Ample ac- 
commodations for boarding and lodging existed in the town : a com- 
fortable boarding-house, kept by Major Klotz, which would have ac- 
commodated forty or fifty ; a large boarding-house, kept by Mr. Tee- 
pies, which would have accommodated at least twenty ; another 
boarding-house, kept by Mr. Knapp, which would 'have accommo- 
dated nearly as many ; and a comfortable boarding-house, kept by 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 937 

Mr. Lowe, at tlie fort, wliich would accommodate from fifteen to 
twenty — this was about two miles distant, and a carriage was run 
back and forwards for tlie accommodation of their boarders. About 
the sixth of July they adjourned from that place to Shawnee Mission. 
The disagreement between the legislature and myself as to this removal, 
and all subsequent proceedings, are already in the possession of the 
committee, I was removed from office the last of July, and received 
notice on the fifteenth of August. During my presence in the States 
I went to the city of Washington, where I arrived in the beginning 
of May, 1855. I at once saw President Pierce, and had a full con- 
sultation with him on the state of things in Kansas, which was pro- 
tracted for more than two weeks, and kept up almost daily. I gave 
him, in the fullest manner, all the information which I had upon the 
subject, and endeavored to impress upon him the conviction which 
was upon my mind, that unless some decided course was taken the 
actual settlers of the Territory would be subjected to most cruel peu- 
gecution ; that there was evidently a settled determination on the part 
of the border counties of Missouri — strong in men and means — to de- 
jjrive them of the right of governing themselves and regulating their 
own aifairs. I stated to him that the seizure of tlie polls at the two 
elections which had been held, together with the intermeddling and 
tyrannic spirit which pervaded the entire action of our Missouri neigh- 
bors, concurred with all tlie information I had received to convince 
me that there was a settled determination, by intimidation and force, 
to subjugate the Territory entirely to their will, in defiance of the 
right of the majority and the principle of the organic law. I had 
learned some new facts since the grant of the certificates of election, 
which I also made known to him. Indeed, I stated to him all my 
knowledge and all my views in the most candid manner, for I had 
still the fullest confidence that he would share all my indignation at 
the gross wrong of this foreign interference. I had several times 
written him on this subject from the Territory. Immediately after 
tlie election of the twenty-ninth of November, at which the most dis- 
graceful scenes had been enacted, I wrote him fully what had taken 
place, and expressed my views on the subject without reserve. Pre- 
vious to that election I had also written him, and that such an inva- 
sion was openly threatened, but expressed the opinion that, by careful 
provisions in my proclamation, I could counteract it, for I did not 
then credit that it would be carried to such extremes of recklessness 
and violence. A short time previous to the election of the thirtieth 
of March I had again written him that the same thing was again 
threatened. These letters, however, were private, and I now see that 
I committed an error in making them so ; but I then had confidence 
that he felt upon the subject as I did, and that the cause of truth and 
justice would be best subserved by intrusting the whole matter to 
his discretion, without forestalling or hampering his future action. 
The President, in our interviews, expressed himself highly pleased 
and satisfied with my course, and in the most unequivocal language 
a^pproved and endorsed all I had done. He expressed some regret, 
however, that my speech in Easton had omitted all allusion to the 
illegalities of the Emigrant Aid Society, and thought it was perhaps 



938 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

unnecessarily strong in its denunciation of the Missouri invasion. I 
told liim I liad no knowledge of the operations of the Emigrant Aid 
Company except Avhat was before the whole public, and that so long 
as they had not sent out men merely to vote and not to settle, (of 
wliicli I had no evidence and which I did not believe,) I could not con- 
sistently denounce their course as illegal. He stated that this Kansas 
matter had given him more harassing anxiety than anything that had 
happened since the loss of his son ; that it haunted him day and night, 
and was the great overshadowing trouble of his administration. He 
stated that the most pertinacious complaints of me had been made to 
liim^ and the most urgent demands had been made for my removal 
upon every ground that could be got up ; that Gren. Atchison pressed 
it in the most excited manner, and would listen to no reasoning at all. 
As to the charges of purchasing Indian lands and interests in towns, 
he said he was entirely satisfied as to the former, that it was all fair 
and lionorable, and that hundreds had done so before me — ridiculed 
Mr. Mannypenny's objection to it, and said he had rebuked him when 
he talked to him of it ; he was, nevertheless, sorry, under the circum- 
stances of this case, that I had made any purchases, as they made a 
pretext for my enemies to annoy him with demands for my removal. 
As to the purchases of town property he said he was entirely satisfied, 
from his confidence in me, that they were all right_, but he wished me 
to explain them to him and refer to the acts of Congress under which, 
towns were laid out, so that he might be prepared to justify me and 
himself when the subject came up before him. I accordingly gave him 
all the information on the subject, both as to law and fact, which was 
in my power, and stated what was the fact, that in no one case had I 
been concerned as an original projector in the laying out of any town, 
but in every case had acquired my interest subject to the original lay- 
ing out. He expressed himself satisfied except that he thought the 
act of May 28, 1844, did not authorize the laying out of towns except 
on lands which h^d been surveyed. I replied that the Commissioner 
of the Laud Office had so construed the act as to recognise towns 
which had been laid out before the survey, and that Mr. Wilson would 
so state to him if he would inquire ; and that this construction vms 
right and necessary, for it was idle to expect the Territory to be settled 
if it was to remain two yedrs without towns. He expressed himself 
satisfied, and the subject was then dropped. He wished no explana- 
tion nor found any fault as to the contract for half-breed Kaw lands, 
but, as I liave already stated, he expressed himself, in strong language, 
entirely satisfied as to the fairness and honorable character of the 
transaction. 

I, however, pressed that and another matter upon his attention. The 
contracts for these lands had been before him with the accompanying 
papers in the month of January previous, and upon Mr. Mannypenny's 
making a most violent and high-tempered report against them upon 
the grounds of unfairness, as well as of technical want of conformity 
to the rules of the department, he had returned them to me, simply 
declining to confirm them. I now called his attentioiito them again, 
and, as he had expressed himself fully satisfied of their honesty and fair- 
ness, I requested him to examine the additional papers and depositions 
which we had procured to supply technical defects and a legal argu- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 939 

ment I had made to demonstrate, from the decisions of the Supreme 
Court, the acts of Congress, and opinions of the Attorney Generals, 
that the whole case and all we had to say upon it was before him, and 
requested him to examine them and decide it. He asked me to hand 
the papers to Gov. McClelland, Secretary of t!ie Interior, and I did so. 
The second matter to which I called his attention was the town site of 
Pawnee. I had informed him that my proclamation named that 
place for the meeting of the legislature, and gave him, as a reason for 
so doing, that it was remote from the influence of Missouri. He ap- 
proved of it very cordially, and a day or two thereafter I complained 
to him of what I considered the unfair action of the War Department. 
I stated to him that as soon as it was ascertained or suspected that I 
would call the legislature together at that place, it was at once assail- 
ed through the press and otherwise to break it down; that a free- 
State population recently had commenced settling in and around it ; 
that it was obvious its natural advantages would attract emigrants ; 
that its distance from Missouri would constitute a great objection to 
the projectors and friends of the foreign invasion of our Territory, 
whilst the same reasons would, in a few years, make it a rallying 
point for northern men, and draw about it a large settlement ; that 
this v/as foreseen by the Missourians, and hence their hostility to it 
and their determination to break it up ; that I had been informed by 
a reputable and credible citizen of Missouri that General Atchison had 
written to General Davis on the subject, and that difficulties had been 
started in regard to the military reserve of Fort Eile}^, and as to a dis- 
pute between the commanding officer there and a couple of intruders, 
which had so resulted as that the War Department had declared it, 
wrongfully as I believed, within the military reservation ; that after 
a number of houses had been erected, besides a large hall for the meet- 
ing of the legislature, and after it was known throughout the States 
that my proclamation had convened the legislature there. I explained 
that Colonel Montgomery had been ordered to survey and proclaim 
a military reservation at that place, and not being prepared to do so 
early enough to keep off settlers, had made a ^provisional reservation 
without survey of ten miles by eighteen, until he could fully comply 
with the order by selecting what land he would want, and surveying 
and proclaiming it. That in the mean time some of the officers of the 
post, the sutler, and some other gentlemen, had conceived the idea of 
a town in that vicinity, and some of them had addressed Col. Mont- 
gomery a letter, stating their wish to lay out a town, designating two 
places which they supposed he would not include when he came to 
survey his reservation, and asking his permission to use one of the 
points for the purpose contemplated ; that the Colonel, although not 
yet prepared exactly to define the reserve he would make, was satis- 
fied that one of the places they named would not be needed or included 
by him, and had, in his reply to their letter, so informed them, and 
that he had no objection to their taking possession of it ; that they 
had accordingly proceeded to locate and lay out upon this ground the 
town of Pawnee ; that all this had happened in the summer before 
I had arrived in the Territory, or had any knowledge of the town, or 
the men who had laid it out ; that in November, 1854, in our tour 



940 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

througli the Territory we liad stopped at the fort, and were very hos- 
pitahly treated by the officers, and were then for the first time made 
acquainted with the fact that such a town existed. The officers and 
sutler of the post showed us their town site, informed us that it wus 
outside of the reserve, and, as a matter of courtesy to the five Terri- 
torial officers, including myself, whom I have mentioned as constitu- 
ting our party, presented to each of us a share, being one twenty-fifth 
part, at the same price as the original stockholders had theirs, viz : a 
proportion of expenses, which we of course accepted ; that the officers 
of the post were probably led into this project by the fact that the 
same thing had been done by a number of citizens and officers at Fort 
Leavenworth, who had laid out a town upon ground excluded from 
the Leavenworth military reserve, and that the Secretary of War, in 
a correspondence arising out of the transaction, had defended them 
and approved the act ; that Colonel Montgomery had, subsequently to 
the laying out of the town, made and returned a survey of so much of 
the one hundred and eighty square miles as he needed for the purposes 
of a reserve at the post, and, to exhibit the whole transaction, had 
returned a draught showing the lines of the surveyed reserve, the 
lines of the town adjoining it, and the correspondence to which I 
have alluded ; that Quartermaster G-eneral Jesup had endorsed the 
return " recommended to be approved according to Colonel Mont- 
gomery's draught and specifications," the effect of which would have 
been to exclude the town ; that the Secretary of War, instead of fol- 
lowing or adopting the recommendation of General Jesup, had en- 
dorsed the return " recommended to be approved according to Colonel 
Montgomerj-'s draught, as shown by the exterior lines," the efi'ect ot 
which was, by excluding all except the draught and adopting the 
exterior lines, to extend the reserve over the town with all its inhabi- 
tants and improvements ; and as this recommendation had been approved 
by himself (the President) probably without being aware of its object 
or efiect, which would be discrediting and disastrous to the free-State 
party of the Territory, I stated to him that if he did not choose to re- 
voke his approval and adopt the recommendation of General Jesup, 
the same result might perhaps be effected if the Secretary of the In- 
terior would include the town in the public surveys. He stated that 
he was not aware of the condition of things when he approved of the 
reserve, regretted that he did not know it, and requested me to call 
upon the Secretary of the Interior and state to him the facts, and he 
would afterwards have a consultation with him. I accordingly called 
upon Governor McClelland, and, after a conversation with him, was 
referred by him to General Wilson, Commissioner of the Land Office, 
to whom I also stated the facts. The conversations in regard to the 
purchases of half-breed lands and the town of Pawnee took place at 
different times throughout our interviews, although I have stated 
them here separatel}', for the sake of convenience. I stated to him, 
also^ that the Secretary of War, by adopting all the reductions of the 
provisional reserve ascertained by the survey, with the exception of 
the town plot alone, had abandoned the provisional reserve and recog- 
nised the survey, in contradistinction to the provisional reserve, as a 
compliance with the original order. I also informed him that the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 941 

Secretary of War "had commissioned Generals Cliurchill and Clark to 
proceed to Fort Riley to investigate and report, and, as it was entirely 
oi)vioiis tliat the town plot, a part of which extended at least two miles 
from tlie fort, afforded neither water nor timber, I had no doubt 
Generals Clark and Churchill would recommend the exclusion, (as I 
have since learned they did.) The two subjects to which I have al- 
luded were discussed incidentally during our interviews, but the prin- 
cipal question which occupied our attention was the general political 
condition of the people of the Territory. He was profuse in his ex- 
pressions of approval of my course, but expressed himself deeply 
solicitous as to the probable consequences of my return to the Terri- 
tory. Pie declared that, in the excited state of the community, he 
was? fearful of personal violence to myself; and that if violence was 
committed upon me the whole North would be inflamed, civil war 
would probably ensue, and no man could predict the result. He re- 
peated this, and enlarged upon it much and often; said that it would 
be a fearful calamity, the beginning of the end, &c., concluding with. 
the opinion that it would be unsafe for myself, and for the country, 
that I should return to Kansas in the capacity of governor. I told 
him promptly and decidedly that I would not resign the office ; that 
two considerations forbade me, to think of it; that, as things now 
stood, the executive office in my hands was the only means of pro- 
tection for the people against the persecutions and oppressions which 
had been perpetrated, and would be continued, from the State of Mis- 
souri ; that it would be base and dishonorable in me to betray and 
abandon them, and that no considerations of personal danger to my- 
self would induce me to think of it; that, besides this consideration, 
the whole country had resounded with threats against myself in case 
I should return, and that a resignation of my office under such cir- 
cumstances would be attributed to pusillanimity and cowardice. He 
concurred in this view of the case, and proposed to effect all that was 
desirable for the public safety and for the public good by removing 
me from office in a way that would obviate all my objections, and pro- 
ceeded at length to give his ideas as to what should be done. He pro- 
posed that I should make to him in writing a full report of all the 
proceedings in the Territory, with my views and opinions, referring 
tlie whole subject and the remedy to him, and professing to my wil- 
lingness to abide by any plan he should adopt for redressing the 
existing wrongs and adjusting the present difficulties ; that he would 
reply in Avriting to this communication, and would take upon himself 
the responsibility of removing me from office as a part of the remedy, 
and at the same time would give the most full, satisfactory, and un- 
equivocal approbation of my course ; that whilst he would declare my 
removal to be necessary in order to allay the existing excitement and 
bring about a more calm and sober state of public feeling, and avert 
the danger of violence or outbreak, he would exonerate me from all 
blame in producing that excitement; that, in order fully to testify the 
sincerity of his approbation, he would confer upon me some unmis- 
takable mark of his favor, and went on to say that the mission to 
Cliina would be very shortly vacant by the return of Mr. McLane, to 
which vacancy he would appoint me at once. To his written answer he 



942 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

proposed tliat I should reply by saying, in effect, tliat I was not pre- 
pared to say lie had acted unwisely. After considerable discussion 
and much reflection upon this projjosition, I finally answered that if 
we could both agree upon the terms of the entire correspondence be- 
tween us, and if I could be satisfied that our people would be as fully 
cared for and protected as if I remained in office, and a successor 
would be appointed who would resist the aggressive invasions from 
Missouri, I would co-operate with him. He assured me that the lat- 
ter conditions should be complied with, and said there would be no 
difficulty in agreeing mutually upon the correspondence. He re- 
quested me then to prepare my communication, which I did, and 
submitted it to him. He retained it one day, and then suggested 
various modificatious. After discussing them it was agreed I should 
re-write it, which I did, and submitted it to him a second time. This 
did not entirely meet his approbation, and he again suggested altera- 
tions and modifications. He then informed me that despatches had 
been received from Mr. McLane in England which seemed to indicate 
the necessity of his returning in person to China, and expressed his 
fears that it would be out of his power to confer upon me that ap- 
pointment, but that he would find some other in lieu of it, which 
would be equally or more desirable. I told him that the obtaining of 
that or any other office was to me a matter of indifference, in the con- 
dition of my family and private affairs, and constituted no part of the 
inducement to me to agree to his proposition ; that I j)referred rather 
to go on and ascertain whether we could adjust the matter in its other 
aspects, and if we could agree upon them the matter of another ap- 
pointment would be no obstacle to their adjustment. We then dis- 
cussed his objections to my second draught, and I agreed to re-write 
my communication for the third time. Having prepared and submit- 
ted it to him, I left it with him, and proceeded to Virginia for my 
wife, who was there upon a visit to two of her brothers. After an 
absence of two or three days I returned, and he submitted to me, in 
his own handwnting, a draught of my communication, which vBry 
much condensed and generalized what I had written, and which he 
said he had prepared himself; this draught wanted the concluding 
portion, in which I was to refer the whole difficulty to him, and 
profess my willingness to abide by any remedies he should adopt 
for adjusting it. After examining and discussing this draught, 
I required that certain alterations and modifications should be made, 
which I noted, and to which he assented. He also read to me then, 
or at some previous interview, I can't recollect which, a portion of his 
reply to my communication, which came fully up to what he had pro- 
posed, so far as it went. But my recollection is,. that the paper was 
not entirely finished. I took with me his draught of my communica- 
tion, wrote out the conclusion, and submitted it to him; he was dis- 
satisfied with it, and said it would not answer. I requested him to 
specify particularly the portions which were wrong, and the reasons 
why they were wrong. He declined doing so ; he said that the whole 
spirit and tenor of it was unsatisfactory ; that it appeared to cast too 
much responsibility upon him. I replied that it had -been distinctly 
understood throughout all our negotiations that I would neither 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. . 943^ 

resign my office nor invite a removal ; and that I did not sec how I 
couldj short of this, say anything less than I had written. He sat 
down and wrote in pencil a suhstitute, which he handed me, which I 
said I would take with me, and from the two might perhaps prepare 
something which would satisfy us both. I then conversed with him, 
as I had done several times before, as to the extent of protection he 
would afford to our people. He assured me he would appoint some 
honorable, upright northern man, who was above intimidation or 
corruption, and would faithfully perform his duty, and named one 
individual upon whom he was willing to confer the appointment. 
He inquired of me what particular action I proposed that he should 
take. I told him that one great means of protecting our people 
would be to have all his appointees in the Territory understand that 
the administration strictly required of them to set their faces and use 
their influence against all sorts of foreign interference ; that there 
were some sixteen officers of the general government in the Territory, 
and that their combined influence would be all-powerful for good or 
evil. I also suggested the idea of a proclamation, to be issued by 
himself, reciting what had been done, sternly disapproving it, and 
pledging his administration against foreign interference as a violation 
of the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska bill ; and the use of the 
government troops, if necessary^ to prevent a repetition of past out- 
rages ; and spoke of the moral influence upon Congress and upon the 
nation of a fixed and unyielding opposition to them of the adminis- 
tration. The manner in which he met these suggestions, the objec- 
tions which he stated to issuing a proclamation, the doubts he ex- 
pressed of his legal authority to support such a proclamation if issued, 
and his evasion of the true point at issue by talking of the Emigrant 
Aid Society, made me very distrustful of any sincere intention on his 
part to give adequate protection to our people, and I left him^ saying 
that I would come in again in the morning. My reflections that 
night brought me to the conclusion that, if I was removed, our people 
would be left entirely at the mercy of their invaders, and that, unless 
I could have some distinct and positive security for their protection, I 
would proceed no further with the present negotiation. I saw him 
again the next morning, and so informed him. Our conversation 
then, though entirely courteous, did not have that same amicable spirit 
which had characterized all our preceding interviews except that of 
the night before. I said to him that it was evident to me that he 
was about to make concessions in the wrong direction ; that he was 
perfectly aware that, in all previous angry collisions between north- 
ern and southern sentiment, I had favored the compromises which 
had satisfied the South, and had secured their rights against the 
clamor of the anti-slavery men ; that I considered this a clear case of 
aggression on northern rights ; in whatever there was to be of conces- 
sion or compensation should be made to the North, and not to the 
South. The interests of the North, the interes^ts of the Democratic 
party, and the principles of truth and justice, loudly required it; and 
that, if he would boldly and promptly take that course at tliis time, 
before the mass of the southern people had taken any position upon 
this question, he would be largely sustained even at the south; and 



944 ' KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

that the longer the evil was allowed to progress, the more perplexed 
and complicated would the case become, and the more difficult of 
remedy, I failed to convince him of my views, which he rather 
evaded than answered; and finally told him that, as we could not 
agree, there was nothing left but for him to take the responsibility of 
his acts, and I of mine. He spoke of the dangers of my returning in 
office; to which I replied that they had no terrors for me, so long as 
I felt I was in the performance of my duty. He said: "Well, I shall 
not remove you on account of your official action ; if I remove you at 
all, it will be on account of your speculation in lands of the Terri- 
tory." I told him they were not speculations, but simply lawful 
purchases. After I had risen to leave the room, I remarked to him 
tliat the additional papers relating to the purchase of half-breed lands 
were now before him; that he had the whole case, and myself and 
colleagues were very anxious to have his confirmation or rejection of 
them before the 1st of June, as several of the contracts expired on 
that day by their own limitation. He remarked that he had not had 
time to examine the papers. I then alluded to the town of Pawnee 
and the military reservation, which was an important matter in its 
bearings upon the political parties of the Territory, and in regard to 
which he had promised me to speak to the Secretary of War and the 
Secretary of the Interior. He replied that he would have no time to 
think of the matter or attend to it, but that, if the vacation of my 
office couhl be satisfactorily adjusted, he thought all these matters 
could be arranged in such a shape as to promote my private interests. 
I felt insulted by the proposition to such an extent that I dared not 
trust myself to rej^ly. I was conscious of a state of temper so angry 
and excited as to leave only the alternative of silent contempt, or an 
angry and indecorous reply. I chose the former, and, as I was stand- 
ing near the door with my hat in my hand, I bade him good morning 
and left him. • Some seven to fourteen days after this I received, at 
Easton, Pa., asnote from him requesting me to send to Washington 
the honorable Asa Packer, member of Congress from that district. 
This request I communicated to Judge Packer, who proceeded to 
Washington in a few days. I made my arrangements to proceed to 
the Territory without my family, I had previously made all the 
necessary arrangements to take my family with me, but abandoned 
the idea after 1 had come to the States in consequence of information 
received^ which disappointed me as to the quarters I expected and 
had provided for them in the Territory, About 10 o'clock at night 
on the evening preceding the day I was to leave Easton for Kansas, I 
received a letter from the State Department asking explanations in 
regard to the purchase of half-breed lands, and other speculations in 
lands of the Territory. This letter was enclosed in an ordinary en- 
velope, not franked by any person, and without the endorsement in- 
variably used upon all envelopes of letters coming from the depart- 
ment on official business, so that, had I proceeded to Washington in 
consequence of receiving it, and there closed the negotiation which 
had previously failed, there would have been no trace before the 
public of any evidence that I had received an official' communication 
to call me there. Instead of going to Washington, however, I de- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 945 

termined to go to Kansas. A duplicate of that letter, as I afterwards 
learned, was forwarded to the city of New York, to meet me there in 
case 1 should fail to receive the one directed to Easton. Tlie sequel 
of the correspondence is before the public. On the 26th of June I 
mailed a letter containing the explanations called for, which, by due 
course of mail, must have reached Washington on the 9th of July ; 
and the letter notifying me of my removal, on the day of its date, was 
mailed on the 30th July, (Monday,) although dated on the 28th. 
This removal, which had been thus suspended for twenty-one days, 
was immediately preceded b}^ the intelligence of my veto message, 
which repudiated the legislature, dissolved all connexion with it, and 
treated as void all its laws passed at the Shawnee Mission, This 
message had created much excitement in the legislature, and a peti- 
tion for my removal was thereupon prepared and signed by the mem- 
bers, and one of their body despatclied to present and press it in per- 
son. This messenger was met on tlie way in the States by the intel- 
ligence which made his further progress unnecessary, and thus the 
President was saved the embarrassment, or deprived of the oppor- 
tunity, of considering the main question at issue between the legisla- 
ture and myself. The papers showing the contract for the half-breed 
lands had been before the President in January, 1855, and had been 
of course examined by him, as they were returned to me by him with 
a note from his private secretary, stating that he declined to con- 
firm them, without concurring in all the reasons mentioned in Mr. 
Manypenny's report. There was no final rejection of the contracts, 
and I at once proceeded to supply the alleged defects of proof. Nor 
was there any allegation or intimation in any correspondence or 
otherwise that the contracts were illegal or dishonest, or that they 
were finally rejected. Having su})plied the alleged dei'ects, the whole 
case was again laid before him in May, and about the middle of June 
I was called on to explain it. The papers then before the President, 
and which had been before him in January, contained my own state- 
ment and argument, with the depositions and certificates of other 
persons, giving a history and elucidation of the whole transaction far 
more thorougli than any explanations I could make in tlie absence of 
the papers. I have never been informed to this day, and do not know 
in what aspect and for what reasons these contracts were considered 
a cause of removal. Whether they were treated as unfair and dis- 
honorable, or simply illegal, or whether the position was taken that 
a public officer has not the same right to purchase as a private indi- 
vidual, I have never been inibrmed. The "other speculations in 
lands of the Territory," of which explanation was demanded after I 
was removed, was shown to mean the participation in locating the 
town of Pawnee on the military reservation. Before the removal I 
could obtain no explanation of what it meant, although I urgently 
solicited it. There was nothing to be desired of ex})lanation in regard 
to this matter, which I had not given to the President in May in the 
most full and ample manner, and I had especially and particularly 
explained to him that I was not in the country, and had never heard 
of the town until after it had been located and surveyed in 1854; and 
that the reservation had been extended over the town in May, 1855 
H. Rep. 200 60* 



946 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

The third draught of my communication to the President, which I 
made as above stated, as well as the redraught thereof in his hand- 
writing, and the draught by him in pencil of the intended conclusion, 
were all preserved by me, and taken with me to Kansas Territory in 
April, 1856. They were left in mj trunk in the hotel in Lawrence 
when I left there in May, and I can now give no information of them, 
except that I have been informed by persons who were present, that 
on the 21st day of May, 1856, when the said hotel was destroyed by 
incendiaries, the possee of the slieriff of Douglas county broke open 
and rifled my trunk, and stole all my clothes and papers. Since 
then I have not seen these papers, or heard of them. The President 
requested me to recite in that communication his approval of my con- 
duct, and in his draught recited it himself in his own handwriting. 

My attention has been called to the testimony of Marcus J. Parot, 
and I find in it many errors, though I do not consider them material. 
He is entirely mistaken in saying that he saw at Kansas City any 
resolutions, in my possession or Avritten by me, in favor of holding an 
election on a day different from that provided by the Territorial law. 
I never wrote any such resolutions ; and when I met Mr. Parot, at 
Kansas City, was in favor of participating in tlie election on the 1st of 
October. I did not change my mind until I had got to the Big 
Springs convention, and was persuaded, by an examination of the 
Territorial election law, that our voters would be excluded, and found 
that there was a general concurrence of opinion in favor of a separate 
election. Nor did he see any resolutions, in my possession or written 
by me, "looking to the repudiation of the laws by force," as he states 
it, unless he means resolutions which declared the laws to have been 
framed by representatives of a foreign power, and not binding on us ; 
that we would first resort to all peaceful remedies in the courts, the 
ballot-box, and Congress, and when they were all exhausted, and we 
were compelled to choose between a permanent enslavement of our- 
selves and resistance, that we would tlien resist. This is probably 
what he called, in loose language, "looking to a repudiation by 
force." 

In the testimony of W. Barbee, I notice that he states his knowledge 
of the sentiments of the voters, as ascertained by him from them when 
he took the censns in the 5th and 6th electoral districts. The 5th 
district was not taken by him, as he informed me. It was a part of 
my arrangement to furnish the judges of election of each district a 
list of all tlie voters of the district^ copied from the census ; and when 
a district was divided for convenience into several precincts^ to ascer- 
tain from the person who took the census of the district, which of the 
voters lived in each precinct, so as to furnish to the judges of each 
a list of the voters in tlieir particular precinct. The 5th district was 
divided into four precincts. I called on Mr. Barbe for the informa- 
tion necessary tlius to divide them. He evaded me for some time, and 
finally acknowledged that he could not tell me, as he had not taken 
the census. I insisted on knowing who had taken it, and he said he 
had employed Joseph C. Anderson and Lykins, both of whom were 
elected to the Territorial legislature, and that he had'copied their lists 
into his census-book at the hotel in Westport. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 947 

All the knowledge I have of any secret society or societies in Kan- 
sas Territory, is the following : 

In the month of September, 1855, I was invited to become a mem- 
ber ; assented, and proceeded to the place of meeting; found about 25 
to 30 men assembled ; was assured b)'' the presiding officer, that the 
objects Avere such as would not conflict with any of the obligations of 
an honorable man and a good citizen, and an assurance that if I so 
found them, I would not reveal the existence of the society, in case I 
desired to take the oath when I should hear it. I gave this promise^ 
and the presiding officer then administered tlie oath. I found it unex- 
ceptionable, and assented to it. I have never attended a meeting 
since that evening, and have never seen a written or printed constitu- 
tion ; have forgotten the pass-words, except the question and answer, 
''Are you in favor of making Kansas a free State? Yes, if Missouri 
is willing." The principal points of the oath of initiation were — to 
labor by all honorable means to make Kansas a free State ; mutually 
to protect and defend each other against violence ; always to keep a 
firelock and ammunition in the liouse; to wear a weapon of defence, 
in the shape of a knife or revolver ; to rush to the rescue of a brother 
who should be assailed by violence, whenever there was a greater 
probability of saving his life than of losing my own. I have read the 
oath, as stated by A. J. Francis, and I am confident that there are 
many things recited by liim of which I never heard as a part of the 
oath, viz: tlie pledge to deal with and employ free-State men in pre- 
ference to pro-slavery men or Missourians ; to obey unto death the 
order of superior officers ; to be in readiness to take up arms in de- 
fence of free-State principles, even though it should submit the gov- 
ernment to wear at all towns the insignia of the order ; and to con- 
sider binding any part of the obligation which may have been omitted 
in the formula. Of all these I have not the slightest recollection, 
and do not at all believe they constitute a part of the oath. I am 
very confident I took no such pledges; and had they been profiered, 
I should have refused at once ; and I could not have taken such an 
obligation, or had it offered to me, without recollecting it. As to the 
laws of the so-called Kansas legislature, that any i)iedge was made 
in regard to them, it is possible that there may have been a pledge 
to oppose, disavow, or repudiate them as not binding, and not to 
avail myself of them, and such a promise I may have made and for- 
gotten. I am confident, however, there was no pledge to resist them 
in gross by force. Such a pledge I would not have taken, and could 
not have forgotten; because, although there were some I would never 
have submitted to when enforced after all peaceful remedies had been 
exhauscd, there were others of so indifierent a character, and not 
peculiarly obnoxious in themselves, which I would have considered it 
unnecessary to resist, even though they had no binding force. I do 
not know the name of this society; I did know it at one time, but 
have forgotten it. 

I am confident there was no pledge to wear the insignia of the 
order, whi.h was a black ribbon in the button-hole; because the pre- 
siding officer, immediately after my initiation, informed me^ in the 
meeting, that I would be excused from wearing it, if I desired. The 



948 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

object of tlie society was combined effort to make Kansas a free State, 
but no illegal means Avere alluded to in the formula, so tar as I can 
recollect, or contemplated or practised outside of the formula, to my 
•knowledge. Another object was mutual protection against violence. 
In the spring and summer previous, I learned that political opponents 
were in the habit of coming into the town in parties, and seeking pre- 
texts for individual quarrels, in the course of which some of the citi- 
zens of the town were beaten; and this society (which, I understand, 
was purely a local one, and confined to Lawrence) was then got up 
for defence against these assaults. I have been told by members 
that it has gone into disuse, and that no meeting has been held for 
some time. 

I have said that it was local, and confined to Lawrence. I have 
learned that some of the citizens of Leavenworth, finding that it ope- 
rated beneficially to repress violence in Lawrence, adopted it, or 
undei'took to adopt it there. I do not know how far they proceeded. 
I know of no other secret society. 

I have examined the testimony of Robert Wilson, who testified that 
a large number of men came to Pawnee immediately before the 30th 
of March, of whom 60 or VO were from Pennsylvania, and a good 
many from Easton, Pennsylvania. I have examined the poll-list of 
that election, and I find upon it the names of four men from Easton and 
the vicinity. There are no others that I know of, or can recognise. 
(I was born and have always resided, until ten years ago, in Easton, 
Pennsylvania, and am well acquainted there and in the surrounding 
country.) They are Charles Weithneacht, Jacob Shelly, John Mc- 
Cracken, and John Westover. Of these one has returned, as he told 
me, for his family, having taken a claim and built a small cabin on 
it. One was in Westport when I last heard of him. One, not liking 
the county, had gone to Minnesota ; and one, after working at vari- 
ous places in the Territory until fall, then returned to Easton. I 
find only tv»^elve other men whom I know to be from Pennsylvania, 
of Avhom two are dead. Several were still there in September, 1855 ; 
and some I know returned hom« in the summer. All of these except 
two were, as I believe, from Pike county, the village of Monroe, Penn- 
sylvania, and went there, as they informed me, for the purpose of set- 
tling and remaining. The greater part of the inhabitants of Pawnee 
and vicinity were discouraged by the extension of the military re- 
serve over Pawnee, and the subsequent driving out of the inhabitants 
under the order of the War Department, and left. They were noti- 
fied by an order of the commanding officer, and, as I have learned 
from various persons, their houses were torn down and destroyed, ex- 
cept three. The house of Robert Wilson (the witness) was spared : 
a house I had erected for myself was torn down or l)lown up, I do not 
know which. Of the twelve men I refer to, I feel tolerably confident 
that I saw five or six there as late as September. The Reserve was 
extended over the town as early as May, and the order to leave, I 
think, was in September or October. 

I brought or sent no man to Kansas Territory to vote. Of those I 
find on the list, I find two who were very anxious to go out, and 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 949 

wished me to assist them. I loaned them the money, taking their 
notes for the amount. One of them is the man I have mentioned as 
having returned to Easton ; and the other has not returned, to my 
knowledge, and I believe is still in the Territory, or in Missouri. I 
assisted none of the others to go. There is one other young man yet 
in the Territory, who was desirous to go out from Pennsylvania, and 
I advanced him money to assist him, taking his note. He has re- 
mained, and is still there, as I have recently heard; but he has never 
been to Pawnee. I have assisted other men who were pressed in the 
Territory, hue this is the extent of my taking men there. 

I was not an original stockholder in Pawnee, as is well known by 
all persons connected with the project. I first came in at the same 
time with Judges Elmore and Johnson, United States marshal Don- 
aldson, and district attorney Isaacs, in the manner I have stated, 
about the 2d of November, 1854, after the association was formed, 
constitution adopted, town located and surveyed, or partly surveyed. 
I afterwards purchased two other shares from Mr. Wilson, making 
twenty sub-shares, as nearly as I can recollect ; some of them were 
for other persons, to whom they have been transferred. I disposed of 
one of them to Mr. Mai-shall, as stated by Mr. Wilson, but did not 
sell it to him at all ; on the contrary, I exchanged it for other town 
stock, and before Mr. Marshall had been elected to the legislature, or 
before I knew he was a candidate ; all of which facts Mr. Marshall, a 
gentleman of the same politics as Mr. Wilson, will, I have no doubt, 
state if called on. As to the residue of Mr. Wilson's evidence, I can- 
not consent to meet it wffch any statements of my own. It was taken 
when I was not present, and was not represented, and when there 
was no " opportunity to object, or cross-examine hira, and, as I sup- 
pose, was only received in a time of great haste, thiTlugh mere inad- 
vertence, as I had offered evidence opening up the subject of my offi- 
cial conduct in fixing the seat of government at Pawnee, which was 
objected to as irrelevant, and ruled out by the committee. 

A cross-examination would have fully explained Mr. Wilson's tes- 
timony, as it will be seen he testifies to disconnected scraps of conver- 
sation, declarations of other persons, contents of papers not produced, 
&c. I was the first to offer evidence on this subject; and having been 
overruled, I cannot consent now to meet this evidence by my own 
statements alone, at a time when other evidence is beyond my reach, 
and cannot be waited for* 

A. H. REEDER. 



960 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Squatter Meetings. — Burning of Oakley's House, by S. J. Jones. — 
Mobbing of Rev. Pardon Butler. — Mobbing of Phillips, and Homi- 
cide OF Clark. — Homicide of Collins. — Seizure of Ballot-box at 
Leavenworth, December 15, 1855. — Murder of R. P. Brown. — 
Sundry Arrests. — Zimmerman at Atchison. — Reeder's Letters. 

John A. Wakefield called and sworn. 

1 came into the Territory in July, 1854, from Iowa, and settled 
about six miles west of this on the California road in the second dis- 
trict and have resided there ever since. We undertook to have squat- 
ter meetings to pass by-laws for the government of citizens in holding 
their claims. At those meetings we were met by the peo])le of Mis- 
souri. A meeting held late in July or first of August, 1854, was or- 
ganized by electing myself president, and S. N. Wood secretary of the 
meeting, and it was held on Judge Miller's c]aim_, on what was then 
called " Backbone Ridge." The first meeting proved a i'ailure on ac- 
count of those men Avishing to vote. We adjourned the meeting for 
a few days, I think for two days. We came ; the Missourians were 
there, and claimed to take a part and did take a part in the meeting. 
The actual settlers were dissatisfied with this and adjourned from 
Thursday to meet on the Saturday following. After the Missourians 
left the ground the citizens re-assembled on the same day, and then 
passed a code of by-laws for the government of claims and elected 
officers, Avhat was termed a chief justice, a marshal, and a register of 



claims. Some rew weeks alter a notice was given of a new meetmg, 
at the same place, to adopt amendments to their by-laws. When we 
assembled in the morning, on the ground, we found between one and 
two hundred men there from Missouri. Myself being the presiding 
officer, I called the meeting to order. The Missourians presented 
themselves to vote. I then rose, made a sliort speech and told them 
that none but actual settlers of the Territory would be allowed to vote 
at tliat meeting. The meeting then was addressed in a very lengthy 
and inflamatory speech by a man from the State of Missouri, of the 
name of Dunham, claiming that the Missourians Jiad a right to vote 
at that meeting. He was followed in a short speech by a Mr. Lyon, 
a citizen of the Territory, A Dr. Lykins, of Kansas city, then spoke, 
claiming the right to vote there. I then took the privilege of respond- 
ing to Dr. Lykins myself, in a speech, denying the right of Missou- 
rians to vote. This i)roduccd very great excitement. A man by the 
name of McGee, from near Westport, Missouri, made gestures with 
his fist towards me, and cried out '"Beware Avhat you are doing." At 
this time there was a great deal of shoving and pushing, and such 
excitement as appeared likely to lead to blows. A gentleman there, 
whose name I^cannot call to mind, but he claimed to be from Louisi- 
ana, sent me a note, tliat he wislied to address the meeting. I then 
gave orders for them to o})en the way and let the gentleman come for- 
ward, which, after some difficulty was done. He went on to make a 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 951 

speech to quell the excitement, and recommended a committee of con- 
ference of the settlers and the Missoiirians to try to make a compro- 
mise. A resolution was then adopted raising that committee of con- 
ference, which committee took the hy-laws we had adopted at the first 
meeting and went out. They came 1)ack and reported the hy-laws to 
the meeting with some amendments to them, and all voted, of both 
parties, for its adoption, exce])t some of the actual settlers. A minor- 
ity reyort was then made by the actual settlers and was concuried in, 
all voting for it. That was the end of the meetings concerning the 
rules and regulations for the government of claims. 

JOHN A. WAKEFIELD. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



Constitution of the DeJaicare Squatter Association, eiiihracinq all the 
laws j^O'Ssed by the different Sqiiatier meetings from June 10, to De- 
cember 2, 1854. 

Constitution of the Delaware Squatter Association, upon the Dela- 
ware lands ceded to the United States, by the Delaware Indians, in 
the Territory of Kansas : 

Article I. This association shall he known by the name of the 
"Kansas Delaware Squatter Association," and by such name shall be 
able to hold a court for the trial of all difficulties, growing out of the 
settlement of the public lands within said district, in regard to its 
occupancy. 

Article II. The officers of the association shall be a president and 
two associate judges, a secretary, treasurer and marshal, who shall 
be elected annually from among the actual settlers upon said lands. 

Article III. The president, by virtue of his office, shall be chief jus- 
tice of the squatters' court ; he shall preside at all meetings of the 
association, and be judge of the first judicial district. 

Article IV. The associate justices shall be judges of and reside 
within the district, whicli shall be assigned them by the association. 

Article Y. The president and associate judges shall each respectively 
be competent to try and determine all causes to them submitted for 
trial. 

Article VI. The said president and associate justices shall have 
power to appoint their own clerks and sheriffs, and remove them at 
pleasure. 

Article VII. The said clerks and sheriffs so appointed, shall per- 
form all and singular the duties, and be entitled to receive the same 
com]iensation as the clerks and sheriffs would be for like services in 
the district courts of the United States for Territories. 

Article VIII. The president shall preside at all meetings of the 
association. 

Article IX. The secretary shall keep a correct record of all the pro- 
ceedings of the association in a book kept for that purpose, which 
shall be open for inspection jit all times ; and in a book kept for the 
purpose, keep a record of all claims which shall be made in accordance 



952 KANSAS AFFAIRS. , 

witli the provisions of the association and for which he shall receive 
fifty cents. 

Article X. The treasurer shall safely keep all moneys belonging to 
the association, and pay them out as directed by the general court. 

Article XL The marshal shall be the executive officer of the associa- 
tion, and the general court, and give personal attendance at their sit- 
tings, and at the general court shall perform all the duties required of 
him in order to carry out the provisions of the association, in bring- 
ing its decision to a speedy termination. 

Article XII. In bringing suit it shall be necessary for the complain- 
ant to make his complaint to the judge in whose district he may reside, 
in a plain and intelligible manner, setting forth his complaint under 
oath, and if the judge shall think his complaint just and deserves a 
hearing, he shall demand of the complainant an amount of money 
sufficient to indemnify the officers for all costs which may accrue in 
the event of a failure of making good his charge, and direct the clerk 
to issue his warrant to the sheriff commanding the defendant to appear 
before him at a time to be fixed, therein to show cause why he should 
not be disposessed and deliver possession to the complainant, and also 
issue his subpoena for all such witnesses as either party may require. 
Which warrant and subpoenas shall be served and returned as process, 
directed to the sheriff from the district court of the United States. 

Article XIII. On the trial of such cause, the same laws and evidence 
shall be applicable as in the district court of the United States, 

Article XIV. There shall be a general court at Leavenworth on 
the first Monday of each montli, composed of all the judges, or a ma- 
jority of them, for the trial of such causes as may be taken by appeal 
or writ of error from the district courts of the several districts to the 
general courts, at Avhich time and place all causes shall be heard and 
determined in their order, and finally adjudicated upon. 

Article XV. In any cause whicli has been decided in any of the dis- 
trict courts, ""if eitlier party shall think himself aggrieved by the 
decision of the judge^ he may make his appeal or have a writ of error 
to the general court under the same rules and regulations as in the 
disti-ict courts of the United States, by first depositing with the clerk 
sufficient money for the payment of all costs which has or may accrue 
in the cause. 

Article XVI. Should the court or judge grant an appeal or writ of 
error, the clerk shall make a correct transcript of' the judgment and 
all the proceedings had in his court, and cause the same to be filed 
with the clerk of the general court, on or before the first day of the 
term thereof, and if an appeal, also the papers in the cause which 
may be heard de novo, but in either case the cause shall be heard at 
the first term. 

Article XVIL Upon the final determination of any cause before the 
district court, or the general court as the case be, the court shall direct 
the clerk to issue a notice to the sheriff or marshall as the case may be, 
commanding the losing party to forthwith leave and surrender to the 
successful party the immediate possession, and should the losing party 
refuse to comply with the order of the court, when thus notified, he 
shall be declared out of the protection of the association, and the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 953 

sheriii may command a posse to assist if necessary, to put into execu- 
tion his orders. 

Article XVIII. On the trial of any cause, if either party shoukl de- 
mand a jury, the court shall cause the clerk to issue a venire to the 
sheriff commanding him forthwith to summons six disinterested squat- 
ters to appear before him as jurors to try the cause^, (naming it,) which 
shall he served and returned as other process, and should either party 
object to any of the jurors, the pannel may be filled by the bystanders ; 
in making up the jury the same rules shall be observed as in the dis- 
trict courts of the United States, but there shall in no case be more 
than two challenges without cause shown. 

Article XIX. In any cause submitted to the court or jury for trial, 
the defendant before he shall be permitted to put in any defence, shall 
deposit with the clerk an amount of money sufficient to indemnify the 
court for all costs which has or may accrue in the cause, and on a final 
determination of the cause, the costs shall be taxed up a ainst the 
losing party, and the money deposited by the successful party refunded 
to him. 

Article XX. All the officers of either of the courts herein specified, 
before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, shall take 
an oath faithfully and impartial to discharge the duties of their res- 
pective offices. 

Article XXI. The clerk and treasurer shall, before entering upon the 
duties of their office, give bond to the president of the association by 
his individual name, for the faithful application of all moneys in- 
trusted to tliem, and should they or either of them fail so to do, suit 
may be forthwith brought on said bond, in the name of the president, 
(by his individual name,) for the use of the injured party, before any 
court in the Territory, and collected as other debts are collected, and 
said delinquent declared out of the protection of this association, and 
all his claims as such disregarded. 

Article XXII. In case of the absence of the president at any of the 
meetings of the association, one of the associate justices shall preside 
and perform all the duties required of the president. 

Article XXIII. In deciding causes submitted to the courts, all the 
rules and regulations of the squatters' association in regard to claims 
shall be strictly observed, and be the supreme law. 

Article XXIV. Any squatter upon the Delaware lands ceded to the 
United States may become a member of this association by signing 
his name to its books. 

Article XXV. The president and associate justices shall each be 
entitled to receive two dollars per day, for every day they or either of 
them may be engaged in trying causes, to be taxed and collected as 
other costs. 

Article XXVI. The boundary lines of the association shall be as de- 
fined at the squatters' meeting, held on the 4th day of November, A. 
D. 1854. 

Salt Creek resolutions, adopted June 10, 1854. 

Whereas, We, the citizens of Kansas Territory, and many other 
citizens of the adjoining State of Missouri, contemplating a squatter's 



954 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

home on the fair plains of said Territory, are assembled at Salt Creek 
Valley for the purpose of taking such steps as will secure safety and 
fairness in the location and preservation of claims: 

Therefore, 13e it resolved, 

1st. That we are in favor of bona fide squatter sovereignty and 
acknowledge the right of any citizen of the United States to make a 
cla,im in Kansas Territory, ultimately with the view of occupying it. 

2nd. That such claim, when made, shall be held inviolate, so long 
as a bona fide intention of occupjdng it is apparent, and for the pur- 
pose of protecting and defending such claim, we agree to act in concert^ 
if necessary, to expel intruders. 

3d. That every persons of lawful age who may be the head of a 
family, who shall mark out his claim of 160 acres, so that it may be 
apparent how the same lies, and proceed with reasonable diligence to 
erect thereon a cabin or tent, shall be deemed to have made a proper 
claim. 

4th. That any person marking out his claim shall be deemed to 
have forfeited it unless he commences his cabin or pitches a tent 
within two weeks thereafter, unless the same shall be on lands such as 
prohibit it by militar}'' or Indian reservations. 

5th. That all persons now holding claims shall have two weeks 
from this day, in which to make the improvements contemplated by 
the foregoing resolutions. 

6th. No person shall be protected by the squatter association who 
holds in his own right more than one claim. 

7th. That a citizen of the Territory be appointed as register of 
claims, who sliall keep a book in which he shall register the name and 
descri[)tion of all squatters, and their claims and the date of making 
the same, for which registration he shall be allowed the sum of fifty 
cents for each claim, to be paid by the claimant. 

8th. That Ave recognise the institution of slavery as already existing 
in this Territory, and recommend to slave-holders to introduce their 
property as early as possible. 

9th. That we will afford protection to no abolitionist as settlers of 
Kansas Territory. 

Stockbridge resolutions, adopted July 8, 1854. 

3d. Besolved, That we adopt the resolutions 'and proceedings of 
the Salt Creek Squatter Association, held on 10th June 1854, so far 
as they do not conflict with the following. 

4th. That the making of improvements, by erecting a cabin, tent 
or fence is essential to the validity of any claim laid on the Delaware 
lands. 

5th. That all claims must be registered with intelligible metes 
and bounds. 

6th. That all persons holding claims shall be allowed two weeks 
from this day in which to make the required improvements. 

7th. That D. Dodge, Fort Leavenworth, be appointed register for 
the Delaware lands — that all claims must be registered within two 
weeks from the time of making them — that the sum of fifty cents 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 955 

shall be the registration fee, and that in case of a transfer the fee shall 
be fifty cents. 

8th, That a iowa ^c?e purchaser shall be entitled to^all the rights 
and privileges of an original claimant. 

The following resolution was adopted at a meeting held at Leaven- 
worth, on Friday, September 29, 1854: 

Eesolvcd, That we concur in and approve of, and will defend and 
support the laws and regulations as passed at Salt Creek on the 10th 
of June, and at Stockbridge on the 8th of July, 1854, until altered or 
annulled by the settlers of this Territory. 

Leavemoorth resolutions, adopted Novemher 4, 1854. 

Whereas, The welfare of Kansas Territory requires the immediate 
settlement of the lands ceded to the United States by the Delaware 
Indians, and that the claimants of said lands should become actual 
residents of said Territory and occupants in good faith of the respective 
claims made by them, and whereas the best portions of said lands are 
claimed by non-residents, thereby depriving others of the privilege of 
making actual settlements, and retarding the progress of the Terri- 
tory, debarring the citizens thereof of the aid and society that they 
would otherwise enjoy, preventing pi-oduction and improvement, im- 
posing upon the pioneer settlers all the hardship of frontier lite, in 
preparing the country for occu],mtion, while such non-residents are 
enjoying the advantages and comforts of civilized life in the States 
and their claims enhancing in value from the privations and labors of 
the actual residents, therefore. 

1st. Ilesolvcd, That we recognize as a valid claim upon the Dela- 
ware lands, onlj'" such as is occupied as the actual and only residence 
of the claimant or of some person or persons residing on the same, as 
his tenant or by his procurement. 

2nd. That after the expiration of twenty-live days from this date, 
all lands v/ithin the Delaware purchase and within the boundaries 
hereinafter described, excej^t those held as above mentioned, shall be 
subject to claim by any person who may be entitled to hold a pre- 
emption under the United States laws. 

3rd. That no claim shall contain more than 160 acres of land, and 
that the same shall be selected in bodies according to the United 
States laws regulating pre-emptions. 

4th. That for accomplishing these ends, an association be organized 
to be known as the Delaware Squatter Association, and that the 
jurisdiction of the same shall be co-extensive with the Territory ceded 
to the United States by the Delaware Indians. 

Leavemoorth resolutions, adopted Novemher 15, 1854. 

Resolved, That all squatter laws, passed by the settlers upon the 
Delaware lands, prior to this date, are adopted by this association. 

Tlie following rei)ort and resolutions were adopted at a squatter 
meeting held at Leavenworth, on the 2nd day of December, 1854. 



956 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Your committee appointed to examine into the propriety of amend- 
ing the first and second resolutions, passed at a meeting of the squat- 
ter association, on the 4th day of November, 1854, have had the same 
under consideration, and wouhl ask leave to make the following 
report ; and would recommend the following amendment : Strike out 
the preamble^ the first and second resolutions, and insert the fol- 
lowing: 

1st. Resolved, That we recognize as a valid claim all such claims 
as were recognized as valid under the squatter laws of the Delaware 
squatters prior to the 29th day of November, 1854. 

2nd. Besolved, That after the expiration of three months from this 
date, all lands within the Delaware purchase not occupied as a home, 
shall be subject to be claimed by any person who may become an 
actual settler. 

3rd. Resolved, That all rights which have accrued under the res- 
olutions of the 4th of November, 1854, shall remain as valid as though 
these resolutions had never passed. 

OFFICFRS OF THE COURT. 

E. R. REESE, chief justice. 

A. PAYNE, associate justice. Stranger district. 

A. RUSSELL, " '' Salt Creek district. 

MILES SHANNON, marshall. 

GREEN D. TODD, deputy marshall. 

S. D. PITCHER, chief clerk of court and recorder of claims. 



V Colonel A. M. Mitchell being called and sworn. 

I reside in St. Joseph's, Missouri, and have so resided for several 
years. I was present at a public meeting held on the 24th of June, 
1854, at Whitehead, in the Territory of Kansas, and the following is 
a true report of the proceedings of that meeting : 

KANSAS MEETING. 

At a large and enthusiastic meeting of the settlers of Kansas Ter- 
ritory, held on the 24th June, 1854, at Whitehead, in accordance with 
notice previously given, the following proceedings were had : 

Colonel A. M. Mitchell was called to the chair, "and James R. White- 
head appointed secretary. 

On motion of Colonel W, Broadus Thompson, the chairman ex- 
plained the object of the meeting, and appointed a committee to pre- 
sent resolutions for their consideration. The committee consisted of 
Colonel W. Broadus Thompson, Ca])tain John H. Whitehead, Benja- 
min Wharton, James B. OTool, and John R. Carter. 

During the absence of the committee the chairman made an able 
address, showing the necessity of an immediate organization for mu- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 957 

tual protection against intruders, and ibr the promotion of the inte- 
rests of the Territory. 

The committee, through their chairman, AV. Broadus Thompson, 
rei»prted the following resolutions : 

AVliereas, we, citizens of Kansas Territory, intending to fix our 
homes U})on its fertile soil, have this day met at Whitehead, for the 
purpose of taking measures to secure safety, certainty, and fairness in 
the location and preservation of claims, be it resolved, 

1. That we are in favor of bona fide, squatter sovereignty, and ac- 
knowledge the right of any citizen of the United States to make a 
claim in Kansas Territory, with the ultimate view of occupying it. 

2. That such claim, when made, sliould he held inviolate, so long 
as a bona fide inteiition of occupying it is a])parent ; and, for the pur- 
pose of protecting and defending such claims, we agree to act in con- 
cert, if necessary, to expel intruders. 

3. That any person of lawful age, or who may he the head of a 
family, who shall mark out his claim of one hundred and sixty acres, 
so that it may he apparent how tlie same lies, shall he deemed to have 
made a proper claim. 

4. That any i)erson marking out liis claim shall he deemed to have 
forfeited it unless he commences his cabin or pitches his tent within 
thirty days thereafter, unless the same shall be on such lands as pro- 
hibit it by military or Indian reservation. 

5. That all persons now holding claims shall have thirty days from 
this day in whicli to make the im[)rovements contemplated by the 
foregoing resolutions. 

6. That no person shall be protected by the squatter association 
who holds in his right more than one claim. 

*7. That any person building his cabin or tent within less than half 
a mile of another shall be deemed an intruder. 

8. Tliat a citizen of the Territory be aj)pointed as register of claims, 
who shall keep a book in which he sliall note the names and descrip- 
tion of all squatters and tlieir claims, and the date of the same, for 
which he shall be allowed the sum of fifty cents for each claim, to be 
paid by the claimant. 

9. 'il\\i\t i\\<i bona fide purchaser of a claim located and registered 
be recognized as entitled to tlie same, under the laws of this associa- 
tion, provided his intention be to occupy the same as a citizen of this 
Territory. 

10. That we will afford protection to no abolitionist as a citizen of 
this Territory. 

11. Tliat we recognize the institution of slavery as already existing 
in this Territory, and recommend to slaveholders to introduce their 
property as early as practicable. 

12. That a vigilance committee be appointed by the chair, consisting 
of thirteen members of this association, whose duty it shall bo to decide 
upon all disi)utes in relation to claims, and to insure an execution of 
their judgments in regard to rightful claimants, shall have, power to 
call together the entire squatter association. 

13. Tliat all persons who wish to heciune members of the " Squatter 
Association" shall subscribe to the foregoing preamble and resolutions. 



958 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

The foregoing preamble and resolutions, presented and supported byf" 
Colonel W. Broadus Thompson, in a forcible and eloquent speech, were' 
unanimously adopted. 

By unanimous consent, the chair appointed James R. Whitehead 
register of claims. 

As vigilance committee, John H. Whitehead, Samuel P. Blair, 
Thomas W. Waterson, Carey B. Whitehead, James B. O'Tool, Hen- 
derson Smallwood, Anderson Cox, John W. Smith, sen., Samuel 
Montgomery, Benjamin Harding, John Keaton, Joseph Siceliff, and 
John W. Smith, jr. 

On motion, it was 

Resolved, That the chairman appoint five delegates to the general 
territorial convention to be held at Salt Creek on the 4th day of July 
proximo. 

Whereupon, Captain John H. Whitehead, Benjamin Wharton. 
Albert Head, Samuel P. Blair, and John R. Carter, were appointed 
said delegation. 

It was further resolved that the papers of St. Louis, Independence, 
Weston, St. Joseph's, and Savannah^ be requested to publish these 
proceedings, for reference and guidance of all interested. 

The meeting then adjourned, to meet again at this place on this 
day four weeks. 

A. M. MITCHELL, President. 

James R. Whitehead, Secretary. 

A. M. MITCHELL. 



Samuel Smith called and sworn, 

I came into the Territory on the 1st of April, 1855, from Illinois. 
and settled near Lecompton. Mr. Joseph Oakley and myself bought 
a claim there of Mr. L. D. Hendricks. Immediately after we took 
possession, Mr, Oakley left for Michigan for his family. I remained 
there. I went to Kansas City to take down Mr, Oakley, leaving my 
boys to build a cabin on my portion of the claim, Mr. Oakley and my- 
self having divided it. A committee waited upon me after my return 
and informed me I was trespassing upon a claim owned hj S. J. 
Jones, aftewards sheriff, and a Dr. Davis. A gentleman calling 
himself Dr. Davis w^as present, and told me this. They ordered me 
to appear before a commission established at Benecia, but I did not 
do so. It was the 8th of April that we took possession of the claim. 
On the 2d of May, Mr. Jones came with a party. I was sick and in 
bed in Mr. Oakley's caoin, as mine had not much accommodation in 
it. Mr. Oakley's cabin was on the claim when w^e bought it. Mr. 
Jones told me he had burned my cabin, and told me I must leave the 
claim, that it was his. There was some conversation about the penal- 
ties of this associatiation, among which were hanging, tarring and 
feathering, &c. I was somewhat threatened with these penalties in 
the name of the association. I have never been able to ascertain 
that either Jones or Davis had ever been in possession of this claim. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 959 

I did not leave, but continued to work on the claim. I found my 
cabin burned down. On the 28th of May I was invited to assist a 
man by the name of Hancock, who lived near by, in buiklinga house, 
and went over there for that purpose. We were cutting logs a short 
distance from where the house was to be erected ; and shortly after 
we commenced work, an alarm was given that a crowd of armed men 
were coming towards us. There were some half a dozen of us at work, 
and we all left immediately and went to the house that Mr. Hancock 
was then living in. When we got there, I saw a crowd of twenty- 
five or thirty men coming towards the house; and when they got 
there we were ordered by Mr. Jones, tlie leader, to disperse. We 
stood our ground, and they marched up in front of the house. Jones 
ordered the crowd to make ready and take aim, and in that position 
they came up. They were all armed with shot guns, rifles, and re- 
volvers. Among them I recognized Mr. Jones, Mr. Evans Todhunter, 
Mr. Roderick, now postmaster in Lecom})ton, Mr. Taylor, a lawyer, 
Mr. Ellison, called "Squire Ellison," and a Mr. Gentry. When the 
crowd had got near enough to fire, after they had taken aim, Mr. 
Ellison called out not to shoot. We showed no resistance, but stood 
perfectly quiet. Mr. Ellison spoke to me, and said we ought to be 
careful, for some of the boys would shoot. After some conversation, 
Mr. Jones ordered Mr. Hancock to leave the premises, which, at first, 
he refused to do ; but after some threats, lie took out his goods from 
the liouse and went off. I understood at that time that Jones was 
postmaster at Westport, Missouri. Mr. Hancock's family were turned 
out of doors, and, for some weeks afterwards, I saw his goods out on 
the open prairie, until he could build a house for himself. At that time I 
had some conversation with Jones, after Mr. Ellison had told me he had 
been to my cabin, and had advised me to leave it, possibly for fear Jones 
and his party would turn me out by force. Mr. Jones, in conversation, 
acknowledged that he had threatened to shoot me if he found me in Oak- 
ley's cabin again. I returned to the cabin after that, and sent two of my 
boys out to arouse the neighbors. The rest of us went to work to 
fortify the cabin, so that we might defend it, by loading our guns and 
knocking out some chinks between the logs to put our guns through. 
I found written on the cabin door, " You are hereby ordered to leave 
these premises by 4 o'clock this evening." This v/as written with 
red chalk, but had no signature. About 4 o'clock, Jones came to the 
cabin, leading a crowd. I went out and had a conversation with him. 
He was anxious for me to leave without further trouble, and insisted 
that I must leave at all liazards. After consulting my friends, I con- 
cluded to leave the cabin ; and we all did so, and went off from it for 
a short distance, and stopped to see wliat would be done. Jones went 
back and consulted his friends for a while, and then some man of the 
crowd went up on the roof of the cabin and set the shingles on fire. 
I was not near enough to recognize that man. The cabin was burned 
down. One of my sons and a Mr. Grout went to the cabin and took 
my goods out after the cabin was set on fire. I left tlie claim then 
for several months, until after Mr. Oakley returned. Jones put a 
man in a house outside of the claim we had bought, and they took 
our rails we had cut, and raised a crop of corn on our claim. Mr. 



960 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Jones never lived in that house, and did not live in the Territory, so 
ftir as I know. After Mr. Oaldey returned, he built a house on his 
claim, and we then went on the claim again and occupied it. I went 
on my share of the claim shortly after Mr. Oakley did, and I com- 
menced building a house. In the conversation, at the time Mr. Han- 
cock was turned out of the house he was living in, Mr. Jones told me, 
when I threatened to apply for civil redress, that Judge Lecompton 
was interested in the claim. In Se})tember last, an injunction was 
served upon me, issued by Judge Lecompton, forbidding me to com- 
mit any more waste by cutting timber on this land; and the case is 
still before his court, and I have ever since been under that injunc- 
tion. After my house was burned, I went to Tecumseh, and applied 
to the grand jury for redress against these persons for having burned 
my house and threatened my life, but they refused to give me any 
hearing. This was before the county lines were established. Attor- 
ney General Isaacs told me there was no law in regard to burning 
liouses or mobbing persons, and they had no jurisdiction over it. 

SAM'L SMITH. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 12, 1856. 



Edward Oakley called and sworn. 

I came out here and landed in Kansas city the first day of April, 
1855, with my father, Jose])h Oakley, and settled near Lecompton. 
The town site was laid out, but there were no buildings there. We 
settled about a mile from the town line. My father's house was 
burned by S. J. Jones and his party, on the 28tli of May, 1855, while 
my father was about on his way to Michigan. He and his party liad, 
some two or three weeks before, burned down Mr. Samuel Smith's 
house. I was in my father's home, with Mr. Smith and others, when 
Jones and his i)arty came up. After the house was set on fire one of 
Mr. Smith's sons and a neighbor, by the name of Grout, went to the 
house and took the goods out of it. I saw the man get up on the roof 
and set the shingles on fire, but was not near enough to recognize 
who it was. 

EDWARD OAKLEY. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 12, 1856. 



Rev. Pardee Butler called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Reeder : 

I came first into the Territory about the middle of May, 1855, from 
Iowa. I came in at St. Josepli's, Avent up on Wolf river, came down 
on the Kansas river, and then returned and settled on Stranger creek, 
about twelve miles from Achison. On the 16th of August I went to 
Achison for the purpose of taking a boat down the river. Mr. Kelly 
was postmaster at Achison, and is also co-editor df the "Squatter 
Sovereign." After transacting some business at the post office, I said 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 961 

to liim, in the presence of Archibald Elliott, esq., " I should, some 
lime since, have become a regular subscriber to your paper, only I do 
not like the spirit of violence that characterises it." He said, "I 
look upon all free-soilers as rogues, and they ought to be treated as 
such." I replied, '''Well, sir, I am a free-soiler, and expect to vote 
for Kansas to be a free State." He said, " I do not expect you will 
be allowed to vote." I went from the post office to my boarding 
house and remained that day. I related to a number of gentlemen 
the conversation I have just given, and said to them "an attempt has 
been made to cow free-soilers into silence ; but it is our right to speak, 
and I intend to utter my sentiments when I please." Nothing more 
transpired on that day. The next morning Kelly entered my board- 
ing house, accompanied by a number of men, and presented me certain 
resolutions, cut out of the Squatter Sovereign and pasted on a sheet 
of white paper, and demanded that I should sign them. They were 
as follows : 

"Whereas, by recent occurrences it is now known that there are 
among us agents of the underground railroad, for the express purpose 
of abducting our slaves ; and, whereas, one J. W. B. Kelly, hailing 
from some infernal abolition den, has, both by words and acts, proved 
himself a worthy representative of such an association ; and, whereas 
others in the vicinity, whose idle habits and apparent plenty of 
money, induce us to believe that they are hirelings of some such in- 
famous society ; believing it due not only to ourselves, but to the ad- 
joining portion of Missouri, to rid ourselves of so great an evil, and 
for the furtherance of this end : 

Besolved, Isf, That one J. W. B. Kelly, hailing from Cincinnati, 
having, upon sundry occasions, denounced our institutions and de- 
clared all pro-slavery men ruffians, we deem it an act of kindness to 
rid him of such com])any, and hereby command him to leave the town 
of Atchison in one hour after being informed of the passage of this 
resolution, never more to show himself in this vicinity. 

"liesolved, 2d, That in case he fails to obey this reasonable com- 
mand, we inflict upon him such punishment as the nature of the case 
and circumstances may require. 

''■Besohed, 3fZ, That other emissaries of this Aid Society who are 
now in our midst tampering with our slaves are warned to leave, else 
they too will meet the reward which tlieir nefarious designs justly 
merit — hemp. 

'■'^Besolved, Ath, That we approve and applaud our fellow-townsman. 
Grafton Thomasson, for the castigation administered to the said J. 
W. B. Kelly, whose presence among us is a libel on our good standing 
and a disgrace to the community. 

''Besolved, Uh, That we have commenced the good work of purging 
our town of all resident abolitionists, and after cleansing our town of 
such nuisances, shall do the same with settlers on Walnut and Inde- 
pendence creeks, whose propensities for cattle stealing are well known 
to many. 

'■'Besolved., &h, That the chairman appoint a committee of three to 
H. Kep. 200 61* 



962 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

wait upon tlie said Kelly and acquaint him with the action of this 
meeting. 

^^ Resolved, Itli, That the proceedings of this meeting be published, 
that the world may know our determination. 

"On motion of Henry Allen, copies of these resolutions were ordered 
to be made out, and a committee of three be requested to circulate 
them, with a view of obtaining signatures, thereby showing who are 
abolitionists." 

This was a difference that grew up between a J. W. B. Kelly from 
Cincinnati and Robert S. Kelly, of the Squatter Sovereign, and others 
known as " border ruffians." I declined to subscribe to these resolu- 
tions. I commenced reading the resolutions aloud. Robert S. Kelly, 
editor of the Squatter Sovereign, finally interrupted me and demanded 
I should sign them. I rose up ; walked down stairs into the street ; 
here they stopped me and demanded, " will you sign?" I refused : 
when they seized me and dragged me to the river, cursing me for a 
damned abolitionist, and saying they were going to drown me. When 
we arrived at the bank, Mr. Kelly painted my face with black paint, 
marking upon it the letter "R." The company had increased to some 
thirty or forty persons. Without any trial, without witnesses, judge, 
counsel, or jury, for about two hours I was a sort of target at which 
were hurled imprecations, curses, arguments, entreaties, accusations, 
and interrogatories. I told them my coming to Kansas was projected 
before it became apparent that there would be any controversy about 
slavery here ; that I came for reasons independent and extraneous to 
this question ; that I never had any connexion with any Emigrant 
Aid Society, and never made any communication to any paper con- 
cerning Kansas affairs. I was not accused of tampering with slaves. 
' I explained to them that I could not countenance any interference be- 
tween master and slave in Kansas, while that was an open question. 
They alleged nothing more against me than that I had spoken among 
my neighbors favorably to making Kansas a free State, and had said 
in the office of the Squatter Sovereign, "I am a free-soiler and intend 
to vote in favor of making Kansas a free State." Ira Norris, esq., 
late of Platte City, who was with the company, said, "Mr. Butler, I 
will advise you for your good, as a friend, when you get away just 
keep away." I said I intended to go away, but intended to come 
back again ; that I could not leave ; that I owned real estate near 
Atchison, in Missouri, and had a claim on Stranger creek. Some one 
remarked, you can sell your claim through an agent. I said I would 
not sell my claim through an agent nor in my own proper person ; 
and that if my life was not taken by them I intended to live upon it. 
They said, stay on your claim, but keep away from Atchison. I said 
I should come back to Atchison if my life was not taken and Providence 
permitted me to do so. They said if I came back again to Atchison 
they would hang me. They offered to show me the very tree on which 
they would hang me. They made another proposal, that I might live 
in the country and vote as I thought best, but hold my tongue. I 
said I would speak when I pleased. I told them I had done no wrong ; 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 963 

that I had as good a right to come there as they had, and should do 
my duty as I understood it, and they might do the same. I said, 
"you are many, I am but one man ; dispose of me as you think best ; 
I ask no favors of you." They constructed a raft of two cottonwood 
saw logs, fastened together with inch plank nailed to the logs, upon 
which they put me and sent me down the Missouri river. The raft 
was towed out into the middle of the stream with a canoe. Eobert S. 
Kelly held the rope that towed the raft. They gave me neither oar, 
rudder, nor anything else to manage my raft with. They put up a 
flagon the raft with the following inscription upon it: "Eastern Emi- 
grant Aid Express. The Kev. Mr. Butler, agent for the underground 
railroad. The way they are served in Kansas. For Boston. Cargo 
insured, unavoidable danger of the Missourians and the Missouri river 
excepted. Let future emissaries from the north beware. Our hemp 
crop is sufficient to reward all such scoundrels." They threatened to 
shoot me if I pulled my flag down. I pulled it down, cut the flag off 
the flag-staff, made a paddle of the flag-stafi", and ultimately got 
ashore about six miles below. 

To the best of my knowledge I had not had any conversation in 
the presence of slaves. I neither had sought to entice slaves away 
from their masters, nor did the}^ accuse me of it. They all admitted, 
when we were together, that I was not an abolitionist, but a free- 
soiler. By freesoiler I mean one in favor of making Kansas a free 
»State. 

[Part of Mr. Butler's deposition is struck out, according to the ruling 
in the case of James Harris.] 

PAKDEE BUTLER. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 9. 1856. 



George F. Warren was called and sworn. 

I was at Leavenworth at the time of the lynching of William Phil- 
lips. It was May 17, 1855. He had written a protest to the governor 
signed by himself and a number of others. He is a citizen of Leaven- 
worth, a lawyer. A committee served a notice on him to leave the 
Territory. I saw the notice. The committee consisted of thirty, viz: 
William Hughes, now clerk in the land office of Mr. Calhoun, sur- 
veyor general ; H. Rives Pollard, associate editor of the Kansas Herald 
at Leavenworth ; William Adams, publisher of the same paper ; D. 
Scott Boyle, then and now cierk of the territorial court under Judge 
Lecompte ; Eli Moore, deputy city marshal of Leavenworth ; J. M. 
Lyle, chief clerk of the Shawnee legislature; D. J. Johnson, lawyer; 
Bennett Burnam, city surveyor ; J. M. Alexander, a lawyer from 
Pennsylvania ; J. C. Posey, surveyor. I do not remember the names 



964 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of any more now. This notice was served some days before the mob- 
bing. There was to be a meeting in town on the day the notice re- 
quired him to leave. Mr. Phillips and myself left on that day. To- 
wards evening we returned. An hour or two after we arrived in town 
some one wanted to speak to Mr. Phillips in the Herald printing office. 
He went there, and I remained part of the time on the outside where 
I could see in and hear them talk. They asked him to sign that paper 
to leave the Territory the next day at noon, at the same time holding 
a pistol at his head. He vfould not sign it. A man asked him then 
if he would fight. He reached his hand to him and told him yes. 
Some one spoke then and said the man who proposed to fight should 
not do so, and thus throw away his valuable life for that damned abo- 
litionist. They then proposed to tar and feather Phillips. They 
could not find any tar and feathers. He told them that molasses 
would do just as well. I then left, and shortly afterwards I saw 
Phillips. Some days afterwards, while I and Phillips were helping 
to raise a building, there was a company of thirteen came there. 
They were J. M. McAlear, William Hughes, Boyle, Burnam, Pollard, 
Adams, Moore, Heath, Lyle, Johnson, Posey, Mr. Blair, deputy mar- 
shal, and one other. Hughes came close to Phillips and told him he 
must leave the Territory and go with him, McAlear put his hand on 
Phillips' shoulder and told him he must go. All of them had re- 
volvers. Phillips was unarmed, and only three or four of his friends 
were around, who were all unarmed except myself, and I had a re- 
volver. There were but few persons in sight. Phillips made no 
reply to McAlear. Myself and Mr. Gould rushed towards him and 
was pushed back, and my pistol was taken from me by a friend of 
mine from Tennessee who wanted to fire, but I prevented him. They 
then took Phillips to the river^ put him on a flat boat, and all got in 
and crossed the river. While they were crossing, a magistrate or- 
dered a posse out with arms to rescue him. Only three of us appeared, 
and they were then crossing the river. They shook their fists at us, 
and told us we would have to go next. They landed on the other 
side, and that was the last I saw of them that day. I saw Phillips 
next morning. He had just finished getting tar oif from him and was 
running bullets. One side of his head was shaved. These men were 
never punished for this ofi'ence. They were at one time brought before 
Judge Lecompte and bound over to keep the peace. He said it was his 
duty to remove the clerk and prevent the lawyers from practicing at 
the bar, but he would not do it for that time. To my knowledge they 
Avere never indicted or tried. Most of them are still living in the 
Territory and holding office. 

G. F. WAEREN. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 965 

A. Payne called and sworn. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I reside in Leavenworth, county, in this Territory, since June, 
1854. I was appointed on a committee of ten, at a public meeting of 
the citizens held on the 30th of April, 1855, relating to William 
Phillips, and was president of that meeting. In pursuance of the 
resolutions of that meeting, we notified William Phillips that he had 
rendered himself obnoxious to this community^ and supposed that he 
had been accessory to the death of Malcolm Clark, who was killed on 
that day by Cole McRea. 

He did not comply with the notice, and did not leave at the time 
designated. When the time expired we held an adjourned meeting, 
and, in pursuance of the resolution of the adjourned meeting, we 
went to Mr. Phillips' house again, and was told by his brother that 
he was not there. The committee retired, being satisfied that such 
was tlie fact. My impression is, that I next saw Mr. Phillips the 
evening of the adjourned meeting, about dusk, in the city, near the 
Herald ofiQce. Some person, I don't know who, remarked, in my 
hearing, that Phillips had deceived us, that he was now in town. 

Some one, I think Mr. Posey, went to him and arrested him, or 
took hold of him, and told him to walk with him into the printing 
office, that being the nearest room. He went with Mr. Posey, and 
some six or eight others followed ; I don't exactly remember the num- 
ber, where a consultation was held as to what disposition should be 
made with Mr. Phillips. Various modes were suggested as to what 
means should be used to carry out the resolutions, none of which were 
adopted, and Mr. Phillips was released by partially promising that 
he would leave as soon as he could wind up his business ; that is ail 
I know of it. I was not with him when he was taken over to Weston^ 
and know nothing about it except from hearsay. The paper hereto 
attached, cut out from the Kansas Weekly Herald, I believe is the 
published account of the proceedings of the two meetings to which I 
have referred. 

Public Meeting. 



At a meeting of the citizens of Leavenworth and vicinity, held on 
the evening of the 30th of April, for the purpose of taking some ac- 
tion in regard to one William Phillips, who is reported to have been 
accessory to the murder of Malcolm Clark^ D. J. Johnson was called 
to the chair, and Joseph L. McAleer chosen secretary. 

On motion, the following preamble and resolutions were unani- 
mously adopted. 

Whereas, by facts elicited on the coroner's inquest held over the 
body of Malcolm Clark, as well as from other circumstances that have 
come to our knowledge, it appears that William Phillips, of Leaven- 



966 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

worth, was an accessory to the murder of one of our most respected 
citizens ; and whereas_, the conduct of said Phillips, heretofore, has 
fully demonstrated his un worthiness as a citizen or gentleman ; there- 
fare. 

Resolved, That, in accordance with the expressed desire of the in- 
dignation meeting to-night, William Phillips he ordered to leave this 
Territory by two o'clock, Thursday evening next; and that a com- 
mittee of ten be appointed to notify him instanter of the requisition 
of this meeting. 

Besolved, That the notice be written and signed by the committee, 
who shall proceed, immediately after the adjournment^ to the resi- 
dence of William Phillips, and deliver it to himself in person. 

Resolved, That the course to be pursued in regard to the other abo- 
litionists and to the other matters of importance, be left for the deci- 
sion of the meeting of the citizens, to be held next Thursday. 

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the 
officers and other members of the committee. 

The Chairman ajipointed the following named gentlemen to wait 
upon Mr. Phillips: Jarrett Todd, John C. Posey, N. B. Brooks, 
William C. Berry, Thomas C. Hughes, H. Rives Pollard, Joseph L. 
McAleer, John H. McBride, James M. Lyle, A.. Payne. 

On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet again on Thursday, 
May 3. 

D. J. JOHNSON, Chairman. 

James M. Lyle, Secretary. 

Signed by Jarrett Todd and others of the committee. 

The following is a duplicate of the notice served on William 
Phillips : 

Leavenworth City, April 30, 1855. 

Sir : At a meeting of the citizens of Leavenworth and vicinity, we, 
the undersigned, were appointed a committee to inform you that they 
have unanimously determined that you must leave this Territory by 
two o'clock of Thursday next. Take due notice thereof, and act ac- 
cordingly. 

JARPiETT TODD, 
JOHN C. POSEY, 
N. B. BROOKS, 
WILLIAM C. BERRY, 
H. RIVES POLLARD, 
JOHN H. McBRIDE, 
JAMES M. LYLE, 
A. PAYNE, 
THOMAS C. HUGHES, 
WILLIAM L. BLAIR. 
William Phillips. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 967 



Puhlic Indignation Meeting. 

Pursuant to adjournment of the indignation meeting on the 30th, 
the citizens of Leavenworth re-convened on Thursday Last, at 11 
o'clock, Colonel A. Payne presiding, and James M. Lyle acting as 
secretary of the meeting. 

The committee appointed to draft resolutions reported the following 
through their chairman, J. M. Alexander, which were unanimously 
adopted : 

Resolved., That we regret the death of our esteemed fellow-citizen, 
Malcolm Clark, and most bitterly condemn the cowardly act by which 
he was murdered ; but we would deprecate any violation of the laws 
of the land by way of revenge, and stand ready to maintain and de- 
fend the laws from any violation by any mob violence ; that we do not 
deem the time has arrived when it is necessary for men to maintain 
their inalienable rights by setting at defiance the constituted authori- 
ties of the country. 

JResolved, That we deeply and sincerely sympathize with the family 
of Malcolm Clark, deceased, in their sad and irreparable bereavement, 
which has deprived them of an affectionate and doting father, and 
the community of one of her most useful, enterprising, and esteemed 
citizens. 

Resolved, That the interests of our young and lovely* Territory 
have lost, in the person of Mr. Clark, an energetic and praiseworthy 
friend ; one who was ever ready to put forward his best energies to ad- 
vance the public weal_, and whose sentiments were liberal, and at all 
times expressed with a bold and fearless defiance of the errors of the 
day. 

Resolved, That no man has a right to go into any community and 
disturb its peace and quiet by doing any incendiary acts or circulating 
incendiary sentiments ; we therefore advise such as are unwilling to 
submit to the institutions of this country to leave for some climate 
more congenial to their feelings, as abolition sentiments cannot, nor 
will not, be tolerated here — and while we do not say what may be the 
consequences, for the peace and quiet of the community we urge all 
entertaining and expressing such sentiments to leave immediately, 
claiming the right to expel all such as persist in such a course. 

Resolved, That in the present state of public excitement there is no 
such thing as controlling the ebullition of feeling, while material re- 
mains in the country on which to give it vent. To the peculiar 
friends of northern /awa^ics, we say, this is not your country, go home 
and vent your treason, where you may find your sympathy. 

Resolved, That we invite the inhabitants of every State, north, 
south, east, and west, to come among us and to cultivate the beautiful 
prairie lands of our Territory, but leave behind you the fanaticisms of 
higher law and all kindred doctrines, come only to maintain the laws 
as they exist, and not to preach your higher duties of setting them at 
naught ; for we warn you in advance that our institutions are sacred 
to us, and must and shall be respected. 



9G8 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Resolved^ That the institution of shivery is known ajid recognized 
in this Territory, that we repel the doctrine that it is a moral and 
])olitical evil, and we hurl hack with scorn upon its slanderous authors 
the cliargo of iidiumanity, and we warn all persons not to come to our 
own peacel'ul iiresides to shinder us and sow tlie seeds of discord be- 
tween the nuister and the servant, for mucli as we may deprecate tlie 
necessity to wliich we may be driven, we cannot be responsible for the 
consequences. 

Iicsolved, That Ave recognize the right of every man to entertain his 
own sentiments in all questions and to act them out so long as they 
interfere with neitlier ])ublic or })rivate rights, but that when the acts 
of men strike at tlie i)eace of our social rehitions and tend to subvert 
tlie known and recognized rights of others, such acts are in violation 
of morals, of natural law, and systems of jurisprudence to which Ave 
are accustomed to submit. 

Bcsolved, That a vigilance committee, consisting of thirty members, 
shall now be appointed, who shall observe and re})ort all such ])ersons 
as shall openly act in violation of law and order, and by the exin-ession 
of abolition sentiments produce disturbance to the quiet of the citizens 
or danger to their domestic relations, and all such persons so ollend- 
ing shall be notified and made to leave the Territory. 

The committee a])pointed on Monday last to notify Mr. Phillips of 
the requisition of the citizens of Leavenwortli, reported to tlie meet- 
ing that the said Pliillips had left town in compliance Avith the in- 
structions given him. On motion of J. Marion Alexander, a coni- 
inittee of vigilance, consisting of thirty, Avas appointed for the purpose 
of carrying out tlie resolutions of the meeting. The folloAving gentle- 
men compose the committee : 

-A, 1 PIIRAM RICH, 

A. PAYNE, 
S. D. PrrCHER, 
A. J. SCOTT, 
THOMAS C. HUGHES, 
WM. W. CORUM, 
JARRETT TODD, 
ALEXANDER RUSSELL, 
D. J. JOHNSPN, 
SAMUEL BURGESS, 
C. C. HARRISON, 
R. E. STALLARD, 
G. D. TODD, 
M. P. RIVELEY, 
H. RIVES POLLARD, 
JAMES M. LYLE, 
JAMES SUNETT, 
JOEL HIATT, 
LEWIS N. REES, 
L. P. STYLES, . 
C. N. BURGESS, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 969 

JOHN C. POSEY, 
G. W. AVALKER, 

D. SCOTT ]^>OYLE, 

E. A. LONG, 

WM. G. MATT?IIAS, 
H. D. McMEEKlN, 
JOHN MILLER, 
W. L. BLAIR, 
NATHANIEL HENDERSON, 
H. LONG. 

Tlie meeting was ably and eloquently addressed by Judge Lecompte, 
Colonel J. N. Burnes, of Weston, and D. J. Johnson. 

On motion of Bennett Burnham, it was unanimously confirmed, 
that the proceedings of this meeting be piil)lishcd in the Kansas 
Herald, Platte Argus, and in all otlier papers friendly to the cause. 

On motion the meeting adjourned sine die. 

A. PAYNE, Fre.ndent. 

James M. Lylp:, Secretary. 

Question. Was you ])resent on the 22d of December, 1855;, at the 
time the press of M. W. Delehay was thrown into tlie river, and, if 
so, state the circumstances of that transaction ? 

Annwer. I was hero at the time the press was thrown into the river. 
It was done about dusk. I could not tell how many persons were 
engaged in the work of destroying the press. I was in the store be- 
low, as much engaged in the protection of property of my friends as 
anytliing else. I saw the press when lalling from the up])er door to 
the ground. It was injured to some extent in the fall, but I can't 
say to what extent ; and I understand, although I did not see, it was 
thrown into the river. I suppose the type and other materials were 
either thrown into tbe river or scattered upon the ground ; the whole 
printing establishment was destroyed. I do not know of any legal 
warrant or process by virtue of which this was done ; I do not know 
that the parties engaged in this were ever brought to any judicial trial. 
I was here on the 15th of December, and remember the time of the 
adoption of tlie free State constitution. I saw no other difficulty ex- 
cept tlie taking of the ballot boxes ; they were not destroyed, but I 
;^^ave them, or ordered them to be given, to the sheriff. Green D. Todd, 
(jf tlie county, who probably has tliem now. 

The election did not go on, to my knowledge, after that. I, and 
others engaged in this transaction, had no legal process, and acted 
under no legal process in seizing the ballot box. But three or four 
of us entered tlie house, but a number were outside to assist^ I suj)- 
pose, if necessary. To my knowledge, no one has been arrested, tried, 
or examined for the mobbing of Phillips, the destruction of Delehay's 
press, or tlie seizing of the ballot boxes. These acts were done by 
persons well known, and no effort was made to conceal the persons or 
the acts. 



970 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



To Governor King : 

The cause of the meeting of which I have spoken was in conse- 
quence of the killing of Clark. I was at the squatter's meeting held 
on the 30th of April, at which Clark was shot. While some one was 
speaking at that meeting McCrea interrupted the speaker frequently. 
I remarked to Mr. Clark, who was standing near me, that McCrea was 
not a Delaware squatter, that he lived on the "government cut-oif," 
as it was called, and that I thought only those interested in the Dela- 
ware lands should participate in the meeting. Clark remarked that, 
if McCrea was not a Delaware squatter, he would request him to re- 
tire and not to interrupt the meeting any more. Clark went to Mc- 
Crea and told him that he understood he was not interested in the 
Delaware lands, and it was the wish that only such as was should 
participate in the meeting. McCrea remarked that, if such was the 
wish of the meeting, that he would retire, and did so. Soon after- 
wards a resolution was offered, and a vote taken ; the ayes and nays 
heing called, McCrea and others of his friends voted. 

The chairman heing unable to decide, a division was called for, and 
the question was decided in the affirmative, and the chairman an- 
nounced that the resolution was carried. McCrea remarked that it 
was a damned fraud, and that it was through the instrumentality of 
Malcolm Clark. Clark remarked, "it is not so, sir." McCrea told 
him it was a God damned lie. Clark made towards him, and I saw 
McCrea attempting to draw his pistol. Clark seemed to be picking 
up something, but I cannot say what. At this time Clark must have 
seen McCrea in the act of drawing his pistol, being nearer to him than 
I was. Just at this time the crowd rushed in between myself and 
Clark and McCrea, and I saw nothing further. I heard the report of 
the pistol, and Clark exclaimed, "the scoundrel has shot me," and 
saw McCrea running with a pistol in his hand. Clark died in a few 
moments. The general rumor prevailed, and I believe it, that Phil- 
lips had advised the killing of Clark ; and the rumor prevailed, also, 
that he had been seen to hand McCrea something which was supposed 
to be a pistol. 

I don't know that the matters relative to the destruction of Dela- 
hay's press and the taking of the ballot boxes were ever investigated 
before a grand jury. 

A. PAYNE. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 29, 1856. 



EicuAED E_. Rees called and sworn. 

Examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I came into the Territory about the middle of November, 1854, and 
have resided here ever since. I presided at a meeting of the pro- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 971 

slavery party held in this city on the 19th of May, 1855. 1 think 
C. C. Harrison, a citizen of the district^ was secretary of that meeting. 
My recollection i.s that the resolutions were presented in writing and 
passed, and those puhlished in the Kansas Weekly Herald of the 25th 
of May, 1855, in this city, are correct, as far as I recollect. The 
" memorable 30th," referred to in the fifth resolution there published, 
I presume refers to a meeting held on the 30th of April, but I do not 
recollect of being present at that meeting. I was at that time a 
member elect of the legislative council of this Territory. Eavcu D, 
Todd, I understood, resided in the Territory at that time, but my im- 
pression is that Jared Todd resided on his farm across the river. I do 
not recollect that the resolutions of the meeting of April 30th were 
referred to except as above. 

On the 30th of April, 1855, Judge Lecompte was judge of the 
court of this district, I think called by the governor the first dis- 
trict. Colonel J. N. Burnes I understood to reside at that time in 
Weston, Missouri. D. J. Johnson resided here in Leavenworth at 
that time, and I am not aware of his holding any office here then 
or since. D. Scott Boyle was the clerk of the first district court, and 
has been ever since. Mr. William G. Matthias w^as then a member 
elect of the house of representatives of this Territory, according to 
the returns of the 30th of March, 1855. H. D. McMeekin held the 
same office then as Mr. Matthias did, and is now, as I understand, 
a deputy marshal of the Territory, and also a deputy sheriff of this 
county. Green D. Todd is now sheriff of this county, but held no 
office, as I am aware of, at that time. A. Payne was at that time a 
member elect of the legislature, according to the returns of tlie 30th 
of March, and I believe is now a colonel of militia. Thomas G. 
Hughes was afterwards engrossing clerk of the house of representa- 
tives, and upon the resignation of Judge Halderman was chosen chief 
clerk of the council, and is now constable of Leavenworth township, in 
this county. M, P. Kively is now county treasurer. H. Kives Pol- 
lard was connected with the Kansas Herald as associate editor. James 
M. Lyle was afterwards judge of the election on the 22d of May, and 
then chief clerk of the house of representatives, and now is clerk of 
the county board of commissioners of this county. Alexander Eussell 
is now a justice of the peace. Lewis N. Eees was judge of the elec- 
tion of the 30th of March, and is now postmaster at this place. W. 
L. Blair has been dejmty constable since then. L. P. Stiles resided 
the last time I knew in Farleigh, Platte county, Missouri. C. M. 
Burgess was judge of election of the 29th November, 1854. The rest 
of the names published in that connexion are of persons that I do not 
know of having held offices here, though some of them may have been 
on the grand or petit juries here. 

The following is the copy of resolutions published in the Kansas 
Herald on the 25th of May, 1855 : 



972 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



PUBLIC MEETING. 

At a meeting of the pro-slavery party of tliis city and vicinity, held 
on Saturday last, on motion of Jarret Todd, K. R, Rees was called to 
the chair, and C. C Harrison was chosen secretary. 

After an explanation of the objects of the meeting, the following 
resolutions were_, on motion of Judge Payne, unanimously adopted : 

1st. That we heartily endorse the action of the committee of citi- 
zens that shaved, tarred and feathered, rode on a rail, and had sold by 
a negro^ William Phillips, the moral perjuror. 

2d. That we return our thanks to the committee for faithfully per- 
forming the trust enjoined upon them by the pro-slavery j)arty. 

3d. That the committee be now discharged. 

4th. That we severely condemn those pro-slavery men who from 
mercenary motives are now calling upon the pro-slavery party to sub- 
mit without further action. 

5th. That in order to secure peace and harmony to the community 
we now solemly declare that the pro-slavery party will stand firmly 
by and carry out the resolutions reported by the committee appointed 
for that purpose on the ^^ memorable 30th." 

On motion of Green D. Todd, it was adopted that the proceedings 
of this meeting be published in the Kansas Herald, Platte Argus, and 
all other papers friendly to the cause ; after which, on motion of 
Samuel Burgess, the meeting adjourned. 

R. R. REES, Chairman. 

C. C. Harrison, Secretary. 

I cannot identify the proceedings of the meeting of the 30th of 
April, 1855, as published in the Kansas Herald of May 4, 1855. 
Thomas C. Hughes, I understand from reputation, is a clerk in the 
surveyor general's office of this Territory. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

There was a public rumor that at a squatters' meeting here Malcolm 
Clark had been killed by Cole McCrea ; the report stating that William 
Phillips had furnished McCrea the pistol with which Clark was killed. 
Meetings were held, as I understand, and Phillips was notified to leave. 
He persisted in remaining, and was taken by some seven or eight men, 
I do not recollect how many, across the river to Weston, Missouri, and 
there tarred and feathered. Such was the rumor, but I do not know 
of the fact. Phillips was publicly charged with being an accessory to 
the shooting of Clark. The community here were indignant at Phil- 
lips also for his affidavit, swearing that voters were deterred from 
voting here on the 30th of March, 1855, and the prevailing opinion 
here was that the affidavit was false. This affidavit related to the 
contest of the election of the 30th of March. These were the circum- 
stances I understood led to the lynching of Phillips. On account of 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 973 

these prevailing rumors and the death of Clark the meeting was held 
at which the resolutions emhodied in this deposition were passed. 

By j\Ir. Sherman : 

Several of the persons who attended this meeting and took part in 
it were, as I understood, parties to the lynching of Phillips. I never 
talked with any of the free State men ahout the correctness of Phil- 
lips' affidavit, hut I knew it to he false myself. 

PtICHAKD E. KEES. 

Lea-vt:nworth City, K. T., May 17. 1856. 



H. H. Johnston called and sworn. 



To Mr. Scott : 



I was present at an election held in Leavenworth in December 
1855, when the hallot boxes were taken. My house is about fifty or 
sixty yards from where the election was held. I heard a fuss and dis- 
turbance in the street and went down to where the crowd were gath- 
ered. I went up immediately to the house and saw Captain Charles 
Dunn at the window where their votes were received. . I heard him 
demand of Mr. Geo. Keller the ballot box, and asked him repeatedly 
to give it up, on the ground that the election was illegal. Mr. Keller 
refused to give it up, and Captain Dunn said he would be forced to 
take it, and he then pulled the window out and went into the house, 
and I think one or two were in company with him. Mr. Keller got 
out of the way in an instant. Mr. Wetherell was engaged some time 
in trying to get the ballot box, and in getting out from between the 
wall and the table. He ran through the bar room of the house where 
the election was held, and in the hurry let the ballot box fall in the 
bar room. Captain Dunn followed him out on the porch, and being 
excited, demanded the ballot box. Mr. Wetherell drew abowie knife 
on him ; Captain Dunn, in endeavoring to ward off the blow, knocked 
the knife out of Wetherell's hand ; Dunn then took Wetherell by the 
coat collar, by one hand, and struck him several times in the face, and 
then pulled him down in the mud on his face and hands. A man 
jumped on AVetherell once or twice with his feet when he was down in 
the mud, bruising him considerably about the face and head. Captain 
Murphy came up at that time and seeing Mr. Wetherell, took him up, 
raised him on his feet^ and told the peojile round, he was a good man, 
and he believed a law-abiding citizen, and any person attempting to 
strike him, would have to fi.ght him first. Mr. Wetherell was then 
taken by two or three men to his store, and in a few minutes after- 
wards I went in to see him. He told me he was not hurt very badly, 



974 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

tliat he was more frightened than anything else, and would get all 
over it in a short time. 

H. H. JOHNSTON. 

LeaveiWORTh City, K. T., May 29, 1856. 



John Lynch called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I reside at Doniphan city, in this Territory, and have resided there 
since March, 1855. I was there at the time of the difficulty in which 
Samuel Collins was killed. I was in Dr. Brown's office the night 
before Collins was killed. Up to that time Mr. Collins and myself 
had been on very friendly terms, though we were of different politics. 
I was sitting down in a chair with my legs crossed, in Dr. I3rown's 
office, when Collins was advancing towards me, as I supposed, to 
attack Laughlin, who was behind me, and between whom and Collins 
some very hard words had just passed, the lie being several times 
passed between them. Mr. Collins was standing close to me, and I 
thought Laughlin, from the sound of his voice, was almost directly 
behind me, which made me afraid to change my position. I requested 
Mr, Collins not to run over me. He said "Damn you, I will kick 
every rib in you out of you." I could not say anything I was so em- 
barrassed at that, I still remained in the chair, and did not leave the 
office until Mr. Collins had left it. As Collins left the house, he stood 
in the door and shaking his finger at me, he said " Damn you, I will 
take your life." I made no reply to him and he left, I also left and 
went with Mr, Laughlin to Squire Vandevere and got out a peace 
warrant against Collins, and then I put in the hands of a constable, 
and told him where I understood the threats would be put in execu- 
tion, and requested him to be in before that time, 

I was at my breakfast the next morning in one of the rooms of the 
hotel, when I heard some yelling out of doors. I heard some one say 
that Mr. Collins was going to kill everybody in town. I looked out 
of the window and then rushed out of the door_, supposing I was one 
of the threatened. When I got out of doors I saw Mr. Collins 
flourishing a knife before Mr. Laughlin. I could not say what Mr. 
Laughlin was doing, but I thought he was dodging behind Mr. Fore- 
man, who seemed to be trying to intercede between them. This was 
between thirty and forty feet from the hotel, perhaps fifty feet. As 
my life had been threatened the night before, I seized my gun when I 
got up from the breakfast table, and took it with me out of doors, 
and when I got to the corner of the hotel in sight of the parties, I 
fired it in the direction of Mr. Collins. I then advanced, and we met 
each other and struck at each other with our guns, which we had 
clubbed, and I fell, and I know nothing of what took place there 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 975 

afterwards. From the threats that had been made against my life, I 
shot at Collins in what I considered a necessary defence of my life. I 
cannot tell whether I hit Mr. Collins or not. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

My gun was a smooth bore shot gun. I do not know what it was 
loaded with, as it haci been loaded by some one else, and I suppose 
had been brought home loaded. I do not know who had borrowed it, 
but I frequently loaned it to persons to go duck hunting. I suppose 
I was between forty and fifty feet, perhaps sixty feet, from Collins when 
I fired on him, and then we both advanced towards each other. 

JAMES LYNCH. 

Leaven woRTii City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



Allen B. Lyon called and sworn. 



To Mr. Scott : 



I reside at Doniphan city, in Doniphan county, in this Territory ; 
and was there building a house in October and November, 1855, and 
was there at the time of the difficulty between Patrick Laughlin, 
James Lynch, and Samuel Collins, residents of Doniphan ; in which 
difficulty Collins was killed. The circumstances of the killing of 
Collins, so far as I know them, were these : On the evening prior, I 
was in the office of Dr. Oscar Brown, where I slept. Mr. Laughlin 
came in inquiring for the doctor. Mr. Collins came in about fifteen 
minutes afterwards. Laughlin was lying on the bed, complaining of 
being sick. Several gentlemen came in with Mr. Collins. After they 
had been there some time, Laughlin got up and walked around near 
Collins, and inquired of him why he had hailed him on the street the 
day before when passing Collins' mill, and insulted him in the man- 
ner that he had. Collins denied having cTone so. Laughlin declared 
he had, as he could not be mistaken in the man at that distance. 
Collins then told he was a damned liar, and a damned perjured scoun- 
drel, that he had published infamous lies to the world, and that he 
(Collins) would make him take them all back ; "or," said he, " you 
or I, one will land in hell" — or eternity, I forget which — "before 
breakfast to-morrow morning." Laughlin told Collins he was a 
damned liar ; upon which Collins rose from the sofa upon which he 
was sitting by my side, and advanced towards him. I caught Collins 
by the arm, and tried to persuade him to desist. He sat down, but 
soon got up again ; told Laughlin to prepare himself ; that he would 
be up in the morning early, and that he would make him take back 
all he had said and published, stating that he was not then armed_, 
and he knew Laughlin was armed. Collins did not say what publi- 



976 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

cations of Laiighlin's lie alluded to. • Tliis was a few days after 
Laughlin had published what purported to be an exposition of a 
secret military society in the Territory ; and, so far as I know, there 
was no other piiblication of Laughlin's made at or about that time. 
Mr. Laughlin replied to Collins that he had nothing to take back of 
what he had stated, and what he had published was true ; and as he 
had done nothing more than what every honest man ought to do, he 
was not afraid to meet Collins in any way. Collins made a statement 
in regard to Laughlin, that he understood James Foreman had given 
Laughlin a cow to change his politics, and publish this exposition. 
Laughlin told him he was a damned liar, and Collins started towards 
him, as though he intended to attack him. Mr, Lynch, who was 
sitting between the two, threw up his hands, and requested Mr. Col- 
lins not to advance. Mr. Collins threatened to kick every rib out of 
Lynch' s body ; and told him^ damn him, he would kill him. Mr. 
Lynch immediately left the room, and a few minutes afterwards Mr. 
Collins left, saying, as he went, that he would certainly be back in 
tlie morning, and Laughlin should be ready. A short time after- 
wards, we heard the report of a gun, and then while we looked out of 
the window^ I saw the flash and heard the report of two guns, appar- 
ently in the yard of Mr. Ccfllins' house. Mr. Lynch and Mr. Laugh- 
lin went that night to get out a peace warrant against Collins. Early 
the next morning, somewhere about sunrise, young Mr. Collins came 
over and told me he wished to re-measure some lumber his father had 
sold me, stating that he thought it had not been measured correctly. 
He went to the lumber pile, and measured some small quantity, not 
one half of the lumber, and then young Collins went back home. 
Laughlin at that time was standing in the main street of Doniphan, 
about twenty steps from me, talking with Mr. James Foreman and 
some others. A few minutes afterward, I started to breakfast. When 
I got to the corner upon which the hotel stands, I met Mr. Collins, 
his two sons, and a nephew. Mr. Collins had a double-barrel shot 
gun in his hand, both barrels cocked. Mr. Laughlin was walking 
directly from Collins^ about twenty yards in advance, with his back 
towards Collins. I tried to attract the attention of Mr. Collins, but 
he paid no attention to me. He called to Laughlin, and said, " stop, 
Grod damn you, and take back everything you have said, or I will put 
sixteen through you," and kept advancing on him all the time, fre- 
quently repeating his demand to Laughlin to tal^e back what he had 
said and published. Laughlin turned round, and stood with a bucket 
of flour on his arm, and told Collins he had nothing to take back, and 
nothing that he could take back. When within about six yards of 
him, Collins drew up his gun, pointed it at Laughlin, and pulled one 
trigger ; the gun did not go off". He then rushed upon Laughlin, 
cursing furiously, drew a large knife from his breast, flourished it in 
front of Laughlin's neck two or three times, demanding that he should 
take back what he had said. Laughlin refused, and he plunged the 
knife into Laughlin's left side. Laughlin staggered several steps 
back, retreating from him. Collins then drew up his gun again, 
and presented it at Laughlin ; and as he pulled the trigger, Mr. Fore- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 977 

man got his hand upon the barrel of the gun, and forced the muzzle 
down, and the contents entered the ground between Laughlin'8 leet. 
At this moment, a gun was fired from the bar of tlie hotel. I heard 
the shot strike against the fence on the opposite side of the street. 
Mr. Collins immediately wheeled round, throMnng up the breach of 
his gun, and advanced. Mr. Lynch met him with a shot gun in his 
hand, holding it by the barrel. Mr. Collins struck at Mr. Lynch, 
who received the blow on his gun, and the breeches of both guns were 
broken oif ; the next blow Mr. Collins knocked Mr. Lynch down. It 
was not until Mr, Collins' attention was drawn towards Mr. Lynch 
that Mr. Laughlin attempted to draw a weapon. I had been watching 
him very closely, wondering why he did not do it before. After Mr. 
Collins had knocked Mr. Lynch down, he turned round and advanced 
towards Laughlin, with the barrels of his gun raised as for a blow. 
Mr. Laughlin had his pistol out and fired at Mr. Collins, who dropped 
his gun barrels, and clasped his arms around his breast, and cried 
out, "■ Oh, Lord!" He soon sank down on the ground^ and died in a 
few minutes. Mr. Laughlin was knocked down with a club, just 
after he had fired his pistol, by a son of Mr. Collins, I think. After 
Laughlin fell, Mr. Collins' nephew threw a piece of brick at him, 
which just brushed his hair. Mr. Laughlin 's brother ran up at this 
moment, and seized the pistol which had fallen out of the hands of 
his brother, and fired at Mr. Collins' nephew, who was running away, 
and the ball just grazed the side of his neck. He then turned and 
presented the pistol at young Collins, who had knocked his brother 
down, who threw up both hands and asked him not to shoot, that his 
father was dead, and he desisted. I then went up to Mr. Collins, 
opened his bosom, saw that he had received several shot in his right 
side. The fight then stopped, and those who had been shot and 
knocked down were then carried away. The ground was covered with 
blood, like one had been butchering a hog, and I thought there were 
at least three persons killed — Collins, Laughlin and Lynch. 

The town Avas in a state of disquiet and alarm for some weeks after- 
wards, in consequence of what had taken place, and the threats that 
were made against the lives of Lalighlin and Lynch. While Mr. 
Laughlin was confined to his bed at the house of Mr. James Forman, 
some excitement was caused by the report that some one had attempted 
to break into the house, whereupon a ii.-ird was placed around the 
house to protect him. As soon as possible, Laughlin was removed to 
St. Joseph, Missouri. I did not myself hear any threats made against 
Laughlin and Lynch, but such was the rumor. The officer told me 
that a peace warrant was taken out and placed in his hands to be used 
on Collins the night before the fight, and he got into town a few 
minutes after the fight had taken place. Collins was notorious for 
being a free State man. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard. 

I understood that Mr. Collins had been living in that neighborhood 

for some months, and at the time he was killed was running a steam 

saw mill. I also understoo i that Mr. Laughlin had been living there 

for some months ; both of them were comparatively old resideats, and 

H. Hep. 200 62* 



978 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

had been free State men and acting together up to a short time before 
tliis difficulty, when Laughlin had changed his politics and published 
to the world what he styled an exposition of a secret military organi- 
zation, and had implicated Mr. Collins in it, as colonel of the 
Doniphan regiment in that organization. Mr. Collins was from 
Andrew county, Missouri, where I had been acquainted with him. 
Mr. Lynch was from Kentucky, and a pro-slavery man. Mr. Laugh- 
lin was from Kentucky, and. was a pro-slavery man. Collins' two 
sons and his nephew were free State men. Mr. James Foreman was 
a pro-slavery man. Mr. Foreman tried to stop Mr. Collins as he 
first went towards Laughlin, and succeeded in pushing down Collins' 
gun as he fired. He seemed to be using every effort to prevent the 
shedding of blood. I think that this was a political difficulty. Mr. 
Lynch and Mr. Collins seemed to be friendly up to the time of the 
altercation in Mr. Brown's office. All seemed anxious to prevent the 
shedding of blood except Mr. Collins, his sons, and his nephew. On 
the morning of the fight, one of the young Collins had a dogwood 
club in his hand about four feet long, and as large round as a man's 
wrist. I did not notice whether the other two young men had any- 
thing or not. I never learned why the guns were fired in Collins' 
yard after he had left Brown's office. 

A. B. LYON. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 26, 1856. 



William Burgess called and sworn. 

By Governor King : 

I am a resident citizen of Leavenworth county, and was present at 
the election in Leavenworth city for the adoption of the free State 
constitution the 15th of December last. I know G-eorge Wetherell. 
I saw tlie encounter between Wetherell and Charles Dunn about the 
ballot-box. After Charles Dunn demanded the ballot-box and told 
the judges it was an unlawful election that they were holding, that it 
was unconstitutional and agaimst the laws of the Territory, Mr. 
Keller told Dunn tliat he would not deliver the ballot-box. Dunn 
then jumped into the window, when Wetherell seized the ballot-box 
and ran into another room and out through into the street, and as he 
ran had a revolver and a bowie knife in his hand at tlie same time. 
Just about the time he got to the door Dunn overhauled him and 
seized the ballot-box. I am confident that Wetherell had a bowie 
knife and revolver in his hand, as 1 have stated. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Wetherell must have dropped the pistol at the scuiHe for the 
ballot-box. Wliile Dunn had hold of Wetherell, the latter drew his 
bowie knife. Dunn then knocked him down. This was all I saw. 

To Governor King : 

After knocking Wetherell down Dunn returned into the house, and 
did nothing more. 

WILLIAM BUBGESS. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., Blay 30, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 979 

George Wetherill called and sworn. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I came into the Territory in August, 1855, I think, from Pennsyl- 
vania, and settled in the city of Leavenworth, where I have since 
resided. I keep a grocery store here. I was one of the clerks of an 
election held here on the 15th of December last, on the adoption of the 
»State constitution. We opened the polls about nine o'clock in the 
morning, and the voting went on without interruption until noon. 
Then Captain Charles Dunn came to tlie window, in a very boisterous 
manner, and demanded the ballot-box. Mr. George Keller, H. M. 
Hook, and Adam Fisher were the judges of election. Wlien the de- 
mand was made Mr. Keller tried to reason with him, and induce him 
leave. There was some talk between the two parties. He then 
smashed in the windows and jumped in, together with several men, 
none of whom I knew except Dunn. I cannot name any of the others, 
and have not been able since to find out who they were. Before this 
time one of the judges and one of the clerks had gone to dinner, but 
the voting was going on until Dunn came up. The judges rushed out 
into the next room, in the same building, and made tlieir way out 
and made off. In the hurry of the moment, I snatched up the ballot- 
box and followed them. I threw the ballot-box beliind a counter in 
the adjoining room as I passed out. As 1 was passing out of doors 
Dunn caught me by the throat and piislied me up against the outside 
of the building, and demanded the ballot-box. I no not exactly re- 
member my reply, but I think I told him I had not got it, but did 
not tell him where it was. He then struck me in the mouth with his 
fist, and another person struck me on the right side of the face. I 
either fell or was pushed down into the nrnd, the crowd at tlie time 
rushing on to me. They jumped upon my head and back, and kicked 
me in the side. Mr. R. P. Brown, Mr. Anthony, and others came to 
my rescue, and carried me to Mr. McCracken's store. I was very 
much injured on the 15th of December, I was bruised, but received 
no cut wounds. I was able to be about the store a day or two after- 
wards a little. In a day or two I was able to attend to my ordinary 
business. I was not right well afterwards. About the first of Jan- 
uary I was taken down sick with the rheumatism, and have not been 
well since. I never had the rlieumatism before. I supposed it was 
the effect of cold weather, and partly from my business. After the 
attack upon the judges the election was suspended. 
Cross-examined by Mr. King : 

I had no weapons about me at the time, and did not draw a pistol 
upon Dunn when he came into the room. 

GEORGE WETHERILL, 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iaij 26, 1856, 



980 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

George H. Keller recalled. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I was one of the judges of election in 1855, in this city, at the elec- 
tion upon the adoption of the Topeka State constitution. I acted as 
one of the judges. About one o'clock in the day, while the election 
was going on. Captain Charles Dunn came there and ordered us to 
desist. I told him I reckoned not. He commanded me, under the 
authority of the territorial laws, to desist immediately. I told him 
not to he too fast ; that I did not think we would desist. He said we 
should, and then called his men, and they rallied around, and he then 
demanded the ballot-box. I told him he could not have it ; that I 
should not give it up. When I told him, he then seized the sash of 
the window where we had been receiving votes and pulled it out, and 
all his party and himself came through the window into our room. 
They were armed with guns, revolvers, and bowie knives. I think 
Mr. Wetherell and myself were the last of our people who left the 
room after Dunn and his party came in. I saw no more of Mr. 
Wetherell on account of the great crowd around there until I saw 
some three or four men carrying him along apparently very much ex- 
hausted and bruised. Mr. Wetherell had no arms that day to my 
knowledge. When the first demand was made for the ballot box, and 
Captain Dunn had stepped back into the street to call his men, I re- 
marked that we had no arms to defend ourselves, and those in the 
room with me, among whom was Mr. Wetherell, assented to my ob- 
servation. I saw no bowie knife or pistol on Mr. Wetherell, and 
think he had nothing of the kind, I had no arms myself more than 
a small penknife. I saw some of the crowd going up the street after- 
wards holding up the ballot-box, with exultive shouts, and I do not 
know what became of it. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

Mr. Dunn said he considered our election an unlawful assemblage, 
and therefore demanded the ballot-box. I think he said something 
about our proceedings being against all law, and that the people Avere 
determined not to have it go on. The election was held under the 
authority of the Topeka convention. I do not know of any other au- 
thority claimed for it at that time. 

G. H. KELLER. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 31, 1856. 



G. W. HoLLis called and sworn. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I reside in this city, and have been here since April, 1855. I was 

here in December last, and attended an election where votes were taken 

upon the adoption of a State constitution, the polls being held on 

herokee street, I was there when the ballot-box was taken away. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 981 

Mr. Dunn came down about one o'clock and demanded the ballot-box, 
in the name of the territorial laws, of the judges, Mr. Keller and 
others, Mr. Wetherell being one of the clerks. The ballot-box was 
not given upon the first demand, and he demanded it again. He then 
called the boys to come on, and broke in the window, and went into 
the window, 1 think. I saw him afterwards come out of the front 
door on Main street. He caught Mr. Wetherell at the door just as 
Mr. ^y :herell came out. He drew back his hand to strike him, but 
I do not know whether he struck him or not. The crowd marched 
together, and Wetherell was carried by a rush of some eight or ten off 
the stoop. Wetherell falling on the ground as he fell off the stoop. I 
saw a man kick him, but I did not see any one jump on him. I do 
not think Wetherell had any weapons of any kind ; I saw him draw 
none. Weth.erell was taken down on the cover to Mr. McCracken's 
store by his Ir lends. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

I do not know what authority this election was held under, except 
the Topeka convention. I cannot say whether he had a bowie knife 
or not ; I do not think he had one ; I did not see him have any ; he 
may have have had one, as he was concealed a portion of the time, to 
some extent^ by the crowd. I do not know that Mr. Wetherell had 
the ballot-box ; do not know who had it. I think Mr. Dunn de- 
manded the ballot-box in the name of the territorial laws. I do not 
know what grounds he had for demanding it. I saw no violence 
offered to the judges. I saw no one strike Wetherell ; and all the vio- 
lence I saw was some one kick him. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I did not see Mr. Dunn show any warrant for demanding the ballot- 
box, and I do not know whether he had any or not. 

G. W. HOLLIS. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iaij 31, 1856. 



H. M. Hook called and sworn. 

To Mr. Howard : 

I have lived in Leavenworth City since the fall of 1854. I was at 
an election in December last when the ballot-box was taken. I was 
one of the judges of the election that day. I was at home at dinner 
at the time the box was taken. When I got back the window was 
taken out and the judges were away. I did not see Mr. Wetherell 
when he was hurt that day. I saw no arms about him that day, 

H. M. HObK. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 31, 1856. 



Joseph H. Bird called and sworn. 

I was at the election at Easton on the 17th of January, 1856. I 
live in Leavenworth, and am by occupation a house-carpenter. The 



982 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

night of the election I staid at Easton, at Mr. Minard's house, the 
l)lace where the election was held. We had not been disturbed before 
the election was about being closed. Afterwards, about six o'clock at 
night, a large party of horsemen, I should think forty or fifty, not 
more, came down towards the house, and a few of them, some five or 
six, demanded the ballot-box. They were not answered right away, 
and they threatened to come and take the ballot-box ; that they would 
have it, if they had to shoot every man there, or something to that 
efiect. I do not remember the precise words they used. There was a 
report during that day that there was to be an attempt to take the 
ballot-box, after they had collected in a sufficient body to do so. After 
this party demanded the ballot box, the persons at the house came out 
in front of the house and ranged themselves in a line. The free State 
party then tried to choose a commander, but did not do so on account 
of the disorder among them. The horsemen then went away. The 
next that was done, some fifteen from our house, and I was one of them, 
went up to the grocery to see how many were there. Brown was the 
leader of the party. When we got up there all the men on the op- 
posite side turned out and formed in a line, and we did the same our-- 
selves. Brown stepped out and said we came up to get a drink, and 
we would have it. There was some little show of "fight. Some of 
both parties were pretty much drunk, but there was no disturbance, 
and we went in and got a drink and then went back to the house. 
Then about twelve o'clock or later, Mr. Sparks and one of his sons, 
and a person named Tritt, who lived with Sparks, started for home. 
Mr. Tritt was riding but the rest were on foot.' Mr. Sparks was 
armed with a double barrelled gun, and his son, I think, had a rifie. 
Mr. Tritt I think was not armed. The first thing we heard was Tritt 
came along on his horse, very much frightened, saying that they had 
got Sparks prisoner, and that as many as nine persons had shot at 
him. Then Mr. Brown said all must go to the rescue of Sparks, and 
fifteen of us seized our arms and went up to the rescue. Of those who 
went were Mr. Knight, Mr. Brown, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Taylor, Mr. 
Eobertson, Mr. Wright, and myself, so far as I can recollect. I know 
there were quite fifteen of us, because when we were some way from 
the house Brown drew us up in a line to count us and see how many 
we were, and then went back to the house to get more. No more 
came, and we then went up to Dawson's and found Sparks and his 
son in a lane formed of two fences. We went to the upper end as if 
we were going to marcli right down through. Brown called out to 
thep that we would have Sparks and must have him ; that they must 
deliver him up. When they saw a body of us by moonlight they 
opened and let the Sparks' come out up to us, which they did. At the 
end of the lane Mr. Sparks sliook hands with Brown and myself, and 
seemed to be glad we had come. They said we need not think we 
had got Sparks secure, for they would take him before he got across 
the prairie. They also said they would shoot him before he got across 
the prairie. We were all very much excited. When we came out of the 
lane we went off" towards a log house to the left, towards Mr. Minard's, 
and the other party took the other road towards Daw.^on's, the parties 
diverging from each other. When we got just opposite the log house. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 983 

we heard a good deal of hollowing from the other party, and turned 
round and some one of the party fired, and I heard the hall distinctly 
as it passed over my head. They had got just up to the hack of Daw- 
son's store. That was the first firing I heard that night. Brown 
then turned around to us and said, "hoys they have fired on us," and 
appeared very much excited. They then fired again, one shot striking 
a man hy the side of me, Mr. Sparks' son, on the arm, making a very 
had hruise, but did not draw blood, but went through his coat close to 
his skin. Then Brown turned round and leveled his rifle, one of these 
rifles, and a great portion of us did the same, and fired. There was 
then a general firing by both parties. I noticed after we had fired 
that there was quite a collection got round one place, but I could not 
tell what for. While we had been firing we had been retreating to- 
wards Mr. Minard's house, and coming up to another house on our 
way there, we took protection behind it. We then loaded up our 
guns, and some, if not most of us, fired again, as others did on the 
other side. There was pretty sharp firing for about ten minutes. The 
moon was shining on our guns and prevented our taking aim. We 
then retreated towards Minard's and staid there all night. Nothing 
more happened during the night, except that we heard that there was 
a man at Dawson's either killed or dangerously wounded. None of 
our party was wounded but Sparks. I found a shot in my scalp a day 
or two afterwards, but did not know it at the time. Young Sparks 
also had a wound on the top of his head which made him very sick 
and kept him in the house all night. 

We started home in the morning between eight and nine o'clock, I 
should think. When we got within about a mile of the road that 
turned to Salt creek, which we intended to take, two wagon loads of 
men, eight in a wagon, each in a four mule team^ came rushing down 
hill, full speed, past us without saying anything. Our horses were 
walking at the time going up hill. They drove past a little ways 
and stopped. One of them drove back past us, and turned partly 
across the road as if to stop us. They then hailed us and asked us 
where we came from, and where we were going ; whether we were 
free State or pro-slavery. Some one of us answered that it was no 
time to answer such questions. We were all the time driving on. 
They then jumped out of their wagons and came up towards us, and 
we then jumped out of onr wagon. Brown called to them and told 
them to keep their distance, that we were well armed and could 
defend ourselves against them. Our wagon had stopped when we 
jumped out of it, and we stood by it. We looked at the top of the 
hill and saw a body of horsemen coming, who came down to us and 
told us to go up to the top of tlie hill. We did so, and the other 
persons in the two wagons ; the horsemen went up with us. When 
we got up there, there was a cry that they had got Brown sure, and 
they made a rush towards our wagon. Captain Martin interfered, 
and told them there must be no violence, and that we must be treated 
as prisoners. He also told us we must give up our arms. Brown 
then stood up in the wagon and told Martin we were ready to give up 
our arms if he would treat us as prisoners should be treated, but we 
did not want any Kickapoo rangers' treatment. There was a rush 



984 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

then made by a man named Gribson, before any reply was made, at a 
Mr. Taylor, who had a Sharpe's rifle, the only one in our company. 
He took away his rifle and passed it over to some one else, and then I 
saw Taylor was down and Gibson was on him ; with liis hatchet 
make a pass at Taylor and knock off" his hat, scraping his head very 
closely. Some person then interfered to prevent Gibson from hurting 
Taylor. Taylor then got up and went away from Gibson, who made 
another dash at him, and the person defending Taylor from the 
hatchet was severely cut in his hand. He was one of their party, 
but I do not know who he was. Martin then went to Brown and 
told him he must give up his arms ; that he commanded that com- 
pany, and would assure Brown good usage. Brown gave up his 
revolvers and two guns in the wagon. They also took the guns from 
the rest of our party. We retained our pocket arms until we got 
back part way to Easton, when they also were given up to Martin. 
I never heard of those arms again. We were then taken back to 
Easton. They said we must go back with them, and they would deal 
with us in accordance to how many were killed the previous night. 
When we arrived at Easton we were put in Dawson's store, where we 
staid some half an hour, when Captain Martin came in and told 
Brown he must go with them into the next room, as they wanted to 
try him. Brown was then taken and carried into the other room in 
Dr. Motter's office. We were left with a body to guard us. A great 
many of the other party had got rather excited by liquor, and were in 
the room with us, and bought ropes and made nooses, and declared 
they would use them to hang us. They made a great manj' threats 
of the like character. They next called on me to go in and be 
examined. I went in, and Brown was still there. They had just 
commenced to examine me, when the door, which was locked, was 
burst open and a crowd rushed in, headed by Gibson. Gibson had 
the Sharpe rifle, which he presented to Brown's heart. Brown then 
took hold of it and pushed it away from him. Gibson then took his 
hatchet and struck Brown a blow on the side* of the forehead. There 
was a general rush in and out, some coming in and some going out. 
A great many, excited by liquor, declared they would kill Brown, 
and many rushed out, as I supposed, so that they should not witness 
it. I knew I could not help Brown, and I rushed with the crowd that 
were going out. Bruwn had no arms when he was struck with the 
hatchet. I did not see Brown fall as soon as the blow was made. I 
did not consider it sufficient to knock him down. It was on the left 
side, and was rather a gash on the temple. I saw the cut and the 
blood. Dr. Mottcr, Captain Martin, and others, were in the room 
when the rush was made in. I was not there afterwards, and never 
saw Brown afterwards. Yv hen Brown was struck he was standing 
up and said : "Keep him ofl'!" "Keep him ofi"!" and tried to defend 
himself. I went back into Dawson's store. Captain Martin came in 
shortly after and told us there was a poor chance for us, but he would 
do all he could for us ; that his men were getting drunk very fast and 
he could not control them. He said if we would put our names to a 
l)iece of paper he would give us a chance to escape. He said we had 
better start a foot, and he would send the team on after us. We then 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 985 

put our names on a piece of blank paper, and Captain Martin said we 
had better start and make tlie best of our way home. This M-^as about 
five o'clock in the afternoon, I think. We then left and made the 
best of our way home. We had got some two miles when we saw 
some six or eight horsemen full chase after us. We went off to the 
side of the road and stopped until they passed, and we heard them 
.say if they caught us again we should not get away so easy. I got 
home here, to Leavenworth, between eleven and twelve o'clock that 
night. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

When we signed that paper some of them, Mr. John Dunn among 
them, said he knew the most of us ; that we were generally inclined 
to mind our business and stay at home, and he thought Brown was 
the leader of this, and other talk to that effect, and then Captain 
Martin asked us to sign that blank piece of paper, as I believe, for 
the purpose of using it to save us. I think he did all he could to that 
effect, and acted, so far as I could see, like a gentleman. Many others 
behaved well ; but others had got drunk at the grocery. I was pretty 
certain thai. Gibson and a man called Isaacs were not drunk, and they 
were worse than any who were drunk, though there were many of 
them . 

JOSEPH H. BIRD. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 16, 1856, 



Henry J. Adams called and sworn. 

I reside in Leavenworth city. I first came here about the first of 
July last. I am a native of New York, but came from Washington 
city here, and have been engaged in public surveys. 

I was at the election of Easton Ihe IVtli of January, 1856. It was 
an election for State officers under the State constitution of Kansas. 
It is in this district and the twelfth election district under the State 
apportionment. I went from this city to that election, accompanied 
by R. P. Brown, J. C. Greene, Calvin Lucas, and a man by the name 
of Robinson, and one by the name of Bjrd, whose first names I do 
not remember, George Taylor, and a Fienchman employed by Mr. 
Brown to drive his team. There were eight of us in the wagon. 

After the election was over, a party of men came up from Mr. Daw- 
son's store, about a quarter of a mile east of Mr. Minard's, where the 
election was held, I think, twenty-five or thirty in number, for the 
jjurpose of taking the ballot-box or poll-list, as we understood. Some 
of our party were out with their guns, drawn up in line near the door 
to resist any such attempt. Considerable altercation took place back 
and forth, but I do not recollect exactly what was said. Some of our 
party were considerably excited and I thought were going rather too 
far. and Mr. Minard and I were apprehensive they might fire upon 
this party coming up, and we urged them not to do so, to commit no 
act of hostility except in self defence. After some parleying, and, I 
thought, urging by the leader of the party coming up, to get his men 



986 KANSAS AFFAIRS 

over, tliey retired without doing anything. The main body went 
hack to Mr. Dawson's, three or four of them remaining about halfway 
between Minard's and Dawson's, apparently on the watch. Soon after 
they retired they sent a messenger up with a written demand, not 
signed, but addressed, I think, to Mr. Minard, for the ballot box. 
Mr. Minard knew the individual who brought it, and told him he was 
surprised to see him in that business, and to take the message back to 
him who sent it and tell liim if he had any message to send him, to 
gign it. He went back with it, and shortly afterwards another man 
came up with another message of the same import, and with a threat, 
I think, to come and take the ballot box in an hour, if it was not de- 
livered up. It was signed, I think, by Doctor Motter. I am not cer- 
tain that he signed himself "Doctor," but that is what he is called. 
No further attempt was made to take the ballot-box. Two or three 
persons from this party came up to Minard's house at different times 
during the evening. One man, whose name was said to be McAlier^ 
I recollect as one of them. Mr. Minard was acquainted with McAlier, 
and he talked with him for about an hour, and I thought there would 
be no disturbance. Some of our party at two different times went to 
Dawson's, No hostility was displayed towards them that I heard of. 
I did not go myself, and with several others advised our men not to 
go down there for fear something might give rise to disturbance. 
About forty of us staid with Mr. Minard, by agreement, for the pur- 
pose of assisting him to defend his house, as we were apprehensive it 
would be attacked. I was satisfied there would be no further disturb- 
ancC; and about one or two o'clock in the night I went to bed. Shortly 
after, before I had got asleep, I heard a stir in another room and went 
out of mine to sec the cause of it. I learned that Mr. Sparks and one 
or two of his sons had started to go home, and while going by Mr. 
Dawson's house had been captured, and that Mr. Brown and a party 
of twelve or fifteen had gone to their rescue. I heard firing a short 
time afterwards, and saw the flash of guns and thought there might 
have been twenty-five shots consisting of one volley at one time, and 
several scattering shots before and after. Shortly after the firing, 
Mr. Brown and the party with him returned with Mr. Sparks and his 
sons. One of the sons had been slightly wounded in the arm, he said. 
No further disturbance arose during the night, and early the next 
morning all of our party had dispersed and gone home. 

I left about eight or nine o'clock in the morning. When we were 
about half way from Easton to Leavenworth, we met two wagons 
loaded with men, and one of the wagons was drawn by four animals — 
mules, I think. They hailed us to know where we were from, and 
wanted us to stop. There was a double track, and Mr. Brown drove 
by them without stopping. Shortly after we passed them, we saw 
another and a larger party in front of us, two wagons, and about 
thirty on horseback. The party in the wagons we already met, 
shouted to those in front of us, and they answered by a shout, and 
then all rode around us and surrounded us. We got out of the wagon, 
and Mr. Brown said, "I think the time has come," or something like 
that, and raised his gun as the party were rushing in upon us, levell- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 987 

ing their guns aud shouting. I suggested to Mr. Brown not to fire. 
I do not know as he had any intention of firing ; but I thouglit there 
was no use in our small party making any resistance. I recognized 
Mr. Pierce Risely, and asked him if he had any authority in that 
crowd. He said he had not; that Captain Martin commanded tliese 
men. I asked him to point out Captain Martin to me. He did so. 
Martin was near by on a horse, and hearing his name mentioned, he 
rode up where we were standing. At this time there was a great 
deal of noise and disorder. I asked Captain Martin if he commanded 
these men. He said he did. I asked him if he could bring them to 
order, and I think he said he could ; and I either asked or insisted 
that he should do it ; and he made an efibrt to do so, and, I think, 
partially succeeded. When I had done speaking to Martin, I turned 
round and saw George Taylor, one of our party, on the ground, and 
two or three men were around him, and partially over him, and he 
was making an effort to get up. As he got partly up, his head came 
in sight, and a man who had a hatchet struck at his head. I have 
understood that that man's name was Gibson. I sprung there and 
caught the hatchet in time to prevent its hitting Taylor. Some per- 
son on the other side of Taylor caught Gibson about the same time, 
and pulled liim round out of my reach. It was one of his own party, 
trying to prevent his killing Taylor, which he seemed bent on doing. 
Gibson made a second blow at Taylor's head, and one of his own 
party caught the hatchet. He then commenced hacking Taylor's cap 
to pieces, which was on the ground. I told Martin to put Taylor 
under the protection of some one who would take care of him, as I 
thought he was hurt. I told Martin to put Gibson under guard, as 
he seemed bent on killing somebody^ and I was afraid he would do it. 

These men were all armed with guns, pistols, some of them with 
Bowie knives, and a great many with hatchets stuck in their belts. 
The most of them were hatchets apparently just taken from some 
store. 

We asked them what they meant by stopping us in that way, and 
what they were going to do? and tliey said they had understood that 
several pro-slavery men had been killed out at Easton ; that there 
was a large party of free State men from Lawrence there, and tliey 
were going out to see if it was so, and they were going to hang those 
who had killed the pro-slavery men. There was a good deal said 
about hanging ; I do not remember it all. They said they had 
already procured the rojies. They insisted upon our getting into one 
wagon and going back to Easton with them. We objected to that, 
but were obliged to submit ; and I proposed to Captain j\[artin that 
some of his men should ride in our wagon, and some of our men ride 
in his wagon. I was satisfied that there were some men in his party 
so excited that I did not consider we would be safe, surrounded by 
them, with none of their men with us. Martin consented to that 
arrangement. Two of his men rode in our wagon and two of our 
men in his. When these men first stopped us they took every thing- 
out of the wagon, including some five or six guns. Brown's gun was 
taken from his own hands, I think, and I saw Gibson take Taylor's 



'988 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

gun away from him. They took two blankets from the wagon and a 
small carpet satchell, containing some child's clothing, which Mrs. 
Brown had left at Minard's some days before. One of our party had 
worn his blanket around him, as is customary in this country. As 
we were going back lie complained of being cold. I spoke to Martin 
about those blankets, and insisted upon their being restored immedi- 
ately. He made or professed to make some effort to find them, but 
they were not restored. After we had been taken back to Easton, 
they put us all in Mr. Dawson's store, and placed as many men in 
there to guard us as could Avell get in, and had a strong guard out- 
side. I was there, I think, three quarters of an hour, or an hour. 
There was a good deal of threatening, talking of hanging, and while 
I was there some two or three who lived in the neighborhood were 
brought in prisoners. One of them was one I saw the evening before 
at Minard's, and they told him they were going to hang him. They 
told us all they were going to hang us ; assured us repeatedly of that, 
and showed us the rope they were going to hang us with, and said 
they had enough to hang us all with. And while I was in Dawson's 
store a man came in, whom I understood Avas one of the editors of the 
Kickapoo Pioneer, and enquired if Brown was in the room, and which 
one he was. Brown was pointed out to him, and he levelled a rifle at 
him, and asked him if he was responsible for what he had said, or 
something to that effect. Some one suggested to him that this was 
not Brown the editor of the Herald of Freedom. He lowered his gun 
tlien, and made some remark. I am not positive what it was. 

They let me go, I think, three-quarters of an hour or an hour after 
I was taken there. Something was said about my being a United 
States surveyor, and I suppose that was the reason they let me go. 
No reason was given why they let me go. One of their party, a Mr. 
Sharp, was talking to me in a very excited manner, when a Mr. 
Grover whispered something to him ; whereupon Sharp turned round 
and apologised to me, and told me he had been under a misa})prehen- 
sion ill regard to me, and I could go if I wished. I at first told him 
I would not leave; but, after a little reflection, I concluded it would 
be better for me to go, as I might be able to get some assistance to 
get my friends out of their hands. Before I left I saw a Mr. Burn- 
ham and a Mr. Lyle, from this place, come into the room where we 
were. I asked Mr. Burnham to use his influence with these men for 
the protection of tlie party. I knew he was a pro-slavery man, and 
supposed he had infliionce with them. Burnham promised he would 
do what he could for them. I asked Mr. Sharp to go with me and 
find Captain Martin, Mr. Rively, and Dr. Harris; I wanted to see 
them together before I left. He Avent with me and we found these 
men; I think all three of them. I asked them what they intended to 
do with our party. They told me that not one of them should be 
harmed, except Brown. I do not remember precisely what they said 
they would do to Brown. They left the impression on my mind that 
he was in very great danger, and that he would be killed if he was 
not got out of their hands. My impression now is, that they avoided 
stating distinctly what they would do with him. I learned, either 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 989' 

from them or others standing by, that they had sent parties out in 
pursuit of Minard and Sparks, and those parties were out when I left. 
I understood, I think, from Martin, that they intended to punish 
Minard and Sparks as well as Brown. I asked them why they wished 
to injure Minard, and they answered that he had made himself ob- 
noxious, or odious, in that neighborhood, but they did not state how. 
I came away then, after they promised me that they would not harm 
any of the rest of the party but Brown; "that not a hair of their 
heads should be hurt." I saw none of the rest of the party until 
nine or ten o'clock in the evening. I left there about two or three 
o'clock. Before I left there I charged them to take certain excitable 
individuals out of the room, and put sober men in their places, if they 
wanted to keep fi'om injuring any of the rest of the party. Before I 
could get any relief, 1 heard of the discharge of the others of the 
party, and that Brown was taken home mortally wounded. 

I do not tliink I knew any of the first party who came up on the 
day of election and demanded the ballot box. Of the party who took 
us prisoners I recognized but ivvo ; one Mr. Rively, of Salt creek, and 
Dr. Harris, of Kickapoo. 1 subsequently learned the names of Mr. 
Sharp, Mr. Daniel Grover, and I have understood a member of the 
council of this Territory, Captain Martin, captain of the Kickapoo 
rangers, Mr. Gibson and Mr. Posey. There was a comimny from 
here who joined the rangers there after we were carried to Easton as 
prisoners. Among them was Mr. Bennett Burnham, county sur- 
veyor, appointed by the legislature, I believe, and Mr. Lyle, now 
clerk of the probate court in this county. I saw a Mr. John Dunn 
there, but do not know whether he was with the party who took us or 
joined them afterwards. The company of men who took us is ordi- 
narily called the Kickapoo Rangers, and at that time, I understand, 
was a volunteer company. After that I saw an announcement in the 
Kickapoo Pioneer of their organization, and, I understood, regularly 
organized under the military law. Captain Martin as captain^ and Mr. 
Rively as one of the lieutenants. None of tliese men have been 
arrested that I know of, and none publicly examined for this offence 
that I know of A grand jury has been empanelled here, but I think 
the court did not sit for the trial of causes. None of the property 
taken from us was returned, except one pistol. Mr. Minard is a man 
of a very peaceable and quiet disposition, and I should not consider 
him one to cause any trouble in a neighborhood. So far as I know. 
Brown was a quiet, peaceable man also ; no fighting man, though a. 
resolute one. 

HENRY J. ADAMS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 15, 1856. 



990 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



J. C. Green called and sworn. 

I reside in this city. I came here the 20th of March, 1855. I was 
here in January last, and went over to Easton to an election held on 
the 17th of January, 1856. Mr. Adams, Mr. R. P. Brown, Mr.' 
Bird, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Taylor, myself, and a French- 
man, I think, called Jareau, to drive, joined our party. There were 
eight of us who went to Easton together in Mr. Brown's wagon. I 
remained in Easton all day. There were various reports that a party 
were coming to take the ballot-box. Towards night a party of men 
came up within a hundred yards of Mr. Minard's house, where the elec- 
tion was held. They appeared to be generally armed, and were yelling. 
A party of men who were at the house stepped out and told them 
they must come no further. They then stopped and used a good deal 
of abusive language. The one who seemed to be in command of the 
party coming up, told them to charge several times, but they did not 
do so. After standing there a short time, they turned and went back. 
During the evening one or two men from that party came to the house, 
and said they wanted the ballot-box. One man came up on horseback, 
and brought a note to Mr. Minard, which he read, stating that if we 
would wait an hour they would come and take the ballot-box. Mr. 
Minard, I think, sent the note back. About one or two o'clock that 
night, Mr, Sparks, who was there, and lived some four or five miles from 
there, said he would go home, and started off, with one or two of his 
sons, and another man named Clark Tritt, I think. They had been 
gone but a short time, when Tritt came back, apparently very much 
alarmed, stating that the other party had taken Mr. Sparks, and 
were going to kill him. As soon as that was known, Mr, Brown, 
with some fifteen men, I think, started to rescue Sparks. I did not 
go myself. Tliey had been gone not half an hour when we heard 
considerable firing in that direction. Brown and his party returned 
with Mr. Sparks and his sons, one of whom was slightly wounded. 
After breakfast in the morning we started for home. After riding 
about six miles, we met two wagons filled with men, who told us to 
stop. Mr, Brown told the driver to go on, and we passed them ; and 
then their two M'agons were turned about and followed us. Some of 
them jumped out of their wagons, and said they would see if we 
would not stop. We then jumped out of our wagoii, and Mr, Brown, 
I think, told them if they wanted anything to come on. We then 
saw in the road in front of us some forty or fifty more men armed, some 
with horses and some with wagons. They had stopped at a house near 
there. We kept walking along until we came up to them. They 
began cursing us, saying that they had got us, and were going to 
hang us. Finally, they said we must get into our wagon and go back to 
Easton. Some of our party objected to our all getting into our wagon, 
and thought it was not safe to do so. They then put some of us in 
our wagon, and some in another, and the whole party started with 
us towards Easton. While on the way, some one of their party saw 
that I had a revolver, and he remarked to me that I liad better give 
it up, I told him I would give it to the captain of their com]3any, if 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 991 

tliey had any captain. He said they had, and that his name was Mar- 
tin. Presently Martin came along on horseback by the side of the 
wagon, and I gave him two revolvers. I had one in a belt, and the 
other I had in my pocket. Upon arriving at Eastou, we were taken 
into Mr. Dawson's store. Some men were left to guard us in the 
house, while others were sent for Mr. Minard. After a while the 
party returned, and one of them said that Minard had too good a 
horse for them, and they could not catch him, but they thought they 
had wounded him, as they had fired at him, and had seen him reel 
on liis horse. I do not know who said this. The party who took us 
prisoners were joined by others at Easton, and this man was one of 
the men, but I do not know which of those parties he belonged to. 
I heard them express some anxiety with regard to a party they said 
had been sent after Mr. Sparks. Some one remarked that there had 
been only eight sent, and he did not think eight men could take 
Sparks from his neighborhood. We had not been there long before 
these men brought in Mr. Tritt, thrusting him into ihe door, saying, 
" Damn you, we have got you now, and we will hang you." Some 
one of their party, who was in the room with us, proposed that they 
should buy a rope to hang us all with. They then asked the clerk of 
the store if he had any rope there, and he said he had. Presently I 
saw one of these men with a piece of new rope wound around his 
arm, and a young man by the name of Eli Moore, who lived at this 
place at that time, but now, I understand, at Lecompton, came in, and 
reviewing most of us, remarked to some of us that they had got us, 
and were going to hang us all. About four o'clock, I should think, 
some of them came in and told Mr. Brown that he must go with them. 
I think previous to this they had released Mr. Adams. I should think 
we were first put into the store about one or two o'clock. Mr. Brown 
hesitated considerably about going out with these men. They in- 
sisteil upon his going with them, and one man took hold of him. He 
finally went with them. Most of the party who had taken us pris- 
oners went out with Mr. Brown, and said they were going to try 
him. They had been gone half an hour, perhaps, or more, when 
Captain Martin came into the room where we were, and said that the 
men were determined to kill Brown. He did not think they could 
be restrained ; and if they killed Brown they would kill all oT us, 
unless we were let go there. He then put it to a vote with the men 
who were guarding us, and they all consented to let us go. We went 
out with them until we passed the building where Brown was said to 
be, and there they left us ; and five of us went to the woods as soon 
as we could, the Frenchman remaining there with the team of Brown. 
We liad been in the woods some twenty minutes, when we heard 
these men going along the road with their wagons and horses to- 
v/ards Kickapoo. It was then a little dark. Of those who went with 
Brown to rescue Sparks, I Recollect George Taylor, Joseph Byrd, and 
Calvin Lucas, I think. The others I do not recollect. 

Of those who took us prisoners, I recognised Mr. D. A. N. Grover, 
Mr. Rively, John Duuii, and a man they called Gibson, another they 
called Blake, I think. Dr. Harris, and Mr. Berry. Of those who 
joined the party at Easton, I recognised D. J. Johnson, J. M. Lyle, 



992 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Bennett Burnham, Mr. Shockley, Mr. McAlear, Eli Moore, James 
Rich, a young man by the name of Donner, I think — they called him 
Major Uonner — and Mr. Alexander Russell, a justice of the peace 
there, and appointed by the territorial legislature. I do not now re- 
member any others. 

I saw Gibson have a hatchet Avhen we were taken prisoners, and 
also after we had been taken to Easton. Many of the men on horse- 
back had small hatchets — I should think ordinary lath hatchets — 
which appeared to be new. As we were in the store before we were 
discharged, I heard many of the men say that Brown should never 
get away from Easton alive. One man came into the store and said 
that Brown had as many friends in the room where they were trying 
him as he had enemies,' and he would be damned if I3rown should 
get away from there alive. Some one said that Brown ought not to 
be killed, but ought to be given up to the law. >Some one then said 
they would be damned if Brown should get away alive. Some among 
these men appeared to be anxious to have no one killed. As we came 
out of the store, where we were discharged, I heard considerable 
noise in the adjoining building, where Brown was said to be. Some 
one outside objected to our going away. Mr. Burnham, who was 
with me, told them that it was all right. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Oliver : 

I have not said that Mr. Sparks was taken prisoner, but that I 
heard so. I do not know that Mr. Tritt, who belonged to our party, 
and who said that Sparks was taken prisoner, was with us Avith any 
message. All 1 know about Sparks' being taken prisoner was from 
Tritt and Sparks, both of whom were of our party. 

I was present when Brown's party started to rescue Sparks. They 
were armed with rifles, most of them, and some, I presume, had re- 
volvers ; but I do not know that they had any other weapons. I was 
not with that company. I should think there were about fifteen of 
them Avhen they started from Mr. Minard's house. I do not know 
'how many they had when they reached the place where Sparks was 
held. It was about a quarter of a mile to the grocery where Sparks 
was said to be — perhaps half a mile. The party said they were going 
down to rescue Mr. Sparks — I supposed in any way they could, and 
at all hazards, I do not know how many persons had Sparks in 
charge. They brought Mr. Sparks back with theni. I do not know 
that any of the opposite or pro-slavery party attempted to vote at Eas- 
ton. I do not remember that any of the free-State party said any- 
thing about the pro-slavery party attempting or offering to vote. I 
do not remember of any of the pro-slavery party offering to vote that 
day, and being prevented by the free-State party. I should judge 
there were about seventy free-State men at that election, many of them 
armed with rifles and revolvers, and perhaps some of them with small 
pistols and bowie-knives. I do not think any of them had hatchets. 
J did not see any. I should presume that half of them were armed, 
but I think not with rifles. I saw many there who did not appear to 
have arms. I think likely one-half of them had arms 'in sight. The 
election was for members of the legislature and officers of the State 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 993 

governraent and a representative to Congress. I think about seventy 
votes vrere cast that day. I do not know of any pro-slavery rnen 
taving voted. I am satisfied no objection would have been ma^le if 
any pro-slavery man had attempted to vote. That election was held 
upon the ground that the people of Kansas had adopted a State c in- 
stitution which had been framed at Topeka ; and believing that that 
constitution had been adopted by the people, they were voting for 
State officers under it, and also in accordance with the proclamation 
issued hv the executive committee. I understood that James H. Lane, 
Cyrus K. Holliday, J. K. Goodwin, Q. W. Brown, O. W. Smith, and 
Marcus J. Parrott, were on that committee. Dr. CTiarles Robinson, 
I think, was treasurer of the committee, though he may have been a 
member ot the comrnitt^se. I think Governor Beeder had nothing to 
do with that committee. 

Qa^iion. Was not that election held upon the alleged ground, 
among other reasons, that the laws passed by the Kansas legi-lature, 
held at Shawnee Mission, were null and void^ and to which no alle- 
giance was owed ? 

Aroswer. I cannot say that it was held upon those grounds. I un- 
derstood it to be held upon the ground that the people of Kansas had 
a right to frame and adopt a State government whenever they pleased, 
and that even if the territorial laws were valid, yet the people ot Kan- 
sas had a right to vote under a constitution framed by themselves, the 
election being held by order of the executive committee, and under 
the State constitution formed at Topeka. 

Qtiesiion. From whence did you claim to derive the authority to 
frame this constitution ? 

Answer. We claimed to derive it from the organic act, and from 
the iact that the people had a right to Irame their own institutions to 
suit themselves. | 

Q'lesfion. Was not the ground assumed by your party that the law.? 
of the legislature held at Shawnee Mission, convened under the. procla- 
mation of Governor Reeder at Pawnee at first, were null and void? 

Aruswer. That was the ground assumed, perhaps, by a majority of 
the party. 

Qijs*<tion. Did Governor Robinson assume that ground? 

Answer. I do not know that I ever heard him, or Governor Reeder, 
say anything about that. 

Question. What is your ground on the subject? 

Aroiwer. My ground has been, that I did regard those enactments 
as really legal; but still I have always obeyed them when summoned 
before the court, as I was once as a witness. My opinion was, and is, 
that those laws are null and void. 

1 understood the captain to say that they had determined to kil] 
Brown, and I understood him to refer to some of his men, and to all 
•who were then in the room with Brown. I got the idea that Martin 
did not want Brown killed. The free-State party took their arms 
with them to defend the ballot-box, because it had been taken from 
them at an election in this city ; and they had understood that it 
would be taken away, or an attempt made to do so, at any place in 
thiscountv. The ballot-box was taken in this city, I think, on the 
E. Rep. 200 63* 



994 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

IStli of December, 1855, at an election upon adopting the free-State 
constitution. 1 saw a man (Charles Dunn) go into the room where 
the hallot-hox was, and come out with it. It was the intention ol the 
free-State party at the election at Easton to resist any niob trying to 
take the ballot-box, or break up the election. I do not remember that 
anything was said that day about the election being against the ter- 
ritorial laws. I never understood that the governor or the territorial 
authorities would interfere w^ith that election, and we did not expect 
any such thing. I have heard a good many free-State men say that 
the territorial laws were null and void, because they were passed by a 
legislature imposed upon them by foreign votes ; but others thought 
it better to get along with them the best they could. I think most 
all I have hea d speak of it said they thought the laws were null and 
void ; but some would try and get along with them the best they 
could. I think the most of the free-State party think they owe no 
allegiance to those laws, and if they obey them, it is to preserve peace 
and have no difficulty. I have heard men of our party express con- 
tempt for these laws, and have heard them say they were not valid, 
and have heard them also say, that even if they were valid, thev^ had 
the right to make a State government tor themselves. I think because 
the free-State party regarded those laws as oppressive, as well as null 
and void, perhaps they proceeded with the State organization leading 
to this election. 

I think the people of Kansas counselled this election. I do not 
really know who were the leaders in this movement. 1 have heard 
J. B. Chapman, of Kansapolis, (Whitfield City formerly,) say he was 
the first man who proposed it. He holds no office under the State 
government. I have had considerable conversation with Dr. Robin- 
son, but 1 do not recollect that there was anything said particularly 
in regard to that matter. His views were, that the people of Kansas 
had a right to form a State government, and quoted the example of 
Michigan, Arkansas, and Calilbrnia. I cannot say that he ever said 
anything to me in regard to the validity of the laws of this Territory. 
I may have heard him say something about them, but I do not recol- 
lect what he said. I have heard him refer to the Ijogus legislature in 
contradistinction to other legislatures, but I cannot state what he said. 
I think^ from his calling the legislature at Shawnee a bogus legis- 
lature, that he regarded their laws null and void. 

[Mr. Howard objects to this testimony in relation to the elections 
being taken in this connexion, as the wdiole course of the committee 
has been to take the testimony upon difierent subjects, in different 
depositions ; and also that it is not strictly a cross-examination ; and 
claiming the witness as his witness in chief in this examination, in 
reference to the death of Brown. 

Mr. Oliver states that he has not understood any such course as 
having been followed by the committee ; that he did not appear as 
an attorney, but as a member of this committee, and therefore 
not to be restricted to rules of cross-examination, as would apply to 
party and party ; and that this having nothing to do with the con- 
tested election between Reeder and Whitfield, and' neither of these 
gentlemen, nor their attorneys, being present, nor any person repre- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 995 

*senting any party of people in this Territory, lie insists that he has 
Hhe right to ask any question of the witness touching the troubles in 
•this Territory, whether they bear immediately or mediately upon 
'them ; and further, that it does not lie with the majority of this com- 
'mittee to restrain him in that examination. 

' Mr. Sherman understood the rule under which the committee have 
heretofore acted to be this : that in all public matters relating to elec- 
'tions their examinations should be with open doors ; in all matters 
^vhere individuals are charged with crime, and especially with homi- 
'•cide, the examination should be in secret. This rule was adoi^te 1 by 
'general consent. This witness was called during a recent session to 
^testify as to facts conne<-ted with the homicide of Brown, and there- 
' fore, he thinks, that, according to the rule, the question of the validity 
' of the laws of the Territorial legislature ought not to be examined 
j into in secret session, but that the testimony will be competent and 
'^ proper at another time, and with open dooi's. It has also been the 
■; practice of the committee to keep each subject by itself; and where a 
' witness is examined on tvv^o distinct matters, his testimony is sei)arated, 
and each part signed ; and Mr. Sherman thinks that this rule ought 
' to be adhered to, and that this subject ought to be embraced in a sep- 
'i arate deposition; but as it has proceeded thus far, as a part of the ex- 
] amination of this witness, touching the homicide of Brown, it may 
( as well be completed. 

• Mr. Howard thinks the examination in this connexion about the 
i election of the tree-State party as irregular at present, though not in- 
I competent as a separate deposition, that being the rule heretofore fol- 
i lowed by the committee.] 

(' Examination resumed by Mr. Oliver, who did not claim to be 
I strictly cross-examining. 

I Witness. I do not think I ever conversed with Governor Reeder 
I about this matter. I had an introduction to him about a year ago, 
I but had not much acquaintance with him until he was at this city, 

about a month ago. 
' I think at Easton, while we were prisoners there, I heard two or 
I three different individuals remark that they did not want any fight- 
ing, or any injury done to any one, but I did not know who said so. 
I was at the election in Easton the day before, and voted there. I 
voted for Charles Robinson for governor, N. Y. Roberts for lieutenant- 
governor. Colonel Mark W. Delaha for member to Congress. I ar- 
rived at the place of election at 10 or 11 o'clock on the 17th of Jan- 
uary, and remained there through the night, until perhaps 8 or 9 
o'clock the next day. I think I saw one or two individuals, free-State 
men, drink from a bottle that would hold about a pint, that they had 
in a wagon near the house. I saw some that I thought were under 
the influence of ardent spirits, as I saw some persons drink there. I 
saw Mr. Brown, the deceased, drink out of the bottle I have referred 
to, but I do not know as I could state that I saw any body else drink. 
This was about 9 or 10 o'clock at night. I told Mr. Brown that I 
thought he was a little intoxicated, and he said he was not. I should 
think it was one or two o'clock in the morning that Brown and his 
party went down to rescue Sparks. I think he had been asleep that 



996 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

night, but I do not know certainly about that. I was up when they 
started, but did not go with them. There was a call for all who had 
o-uns to go, and I did not consider myself called upon to go, as I had 
no guns. I had two revolvers, but there were other, reasons why some 
of us did not go. I should think about fifteen went. I noticed them 
first particularly ; they were on toot, and were armed with their guns, 
and some had revolvers and knives, and one or two young men had 
small i)istols. The understanding wben they left was that they were 
going to rescue Sparks. S])arks had left, some fifteen minutes or half 
an hour before they started for him, i'or home. 1 think two of Mr. 
Sparks's sons and Mr. Tritt went witb Spaiks, when he left I think 
Mr. Sparks had a double-barrelled gun, but I do not think the rest 
were armed, though I am not positive about that. I do not know 
that any of the pro-slavery party were up there before the election 
was over, but two came up alter the election was over. I think there 
was no interruption by the pro-slavery party to the election while it 
was going on, except what 1 have stated about a party having come 
up near the polls, about thirty or forty in number, and their ofiicer 
ordered them to charge, when some of our party went out, but they 
did not do so. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

The election was not held here, in Leavenworth city, because the 
business men of this place were afraid if it was held here it would 
result in bloodshed and the destruction of property, and that was the 
general impression. It was feared that it would result in a general 
riot. It was expected by the citizens that the opposing force would 
consist of citizens of this town and from Missouri. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

I cannot say that I know of any Missourians who threatened to in- 
terfere with this election. 

J. C. GREEN. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 16, 1856. 



David Brown called and sworn. 



I came into the Territory about the middle of September, 1854. I 
am no relation to Mr. R. P. Brown. I lived about three miles north- 
west from here, in Salt Creek valley. R. P. Brown lived upon a 
claim west of me, adjoining mine, some 600 yards from where I lived, 
upon another man's claim of the name of McCrea, and lived in the 
cabin of McCrea. I understood there was some partnership in regard 
to the living on the claim. Mr. Brown had a wiiie, and a little girl 
some two and a half years old, living with him. I was at the house 
some three or four hours after Brown was brought home. I was the 
first man who was sent for. About 12 o'clock at night a messenger 
came to me to come to this place to get a doctor. ' I did not get any 
one to go out, but spoke to one, who promised to come. The one who 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 99T 

brought me the message was a Frenchman, named Charles Jareau, I 
think a teamster for Brown. I got back to Brown's house about 3 
o'ch)ck, and found him in a dying condition, lying upon a pallet on 
the floor, 'his clothes literally covered with blood. I sat down, took 
his head upon my lap, and examined the wound. I asked him how he 
was ; he said he was dying, but should die in a good cause. I com- 
menced opening his vest to ascertain if there were any further wounds 
in his body, and he told riie they were all in his head. I opened his 
vest, but found no other wound. He raised apparently from one side 
as if he wanted to turn over to the other side, and exclaimed, "■ I am 
dying ;" and immediately died, with his head upon my lap. When I 
was unbuttoning his vest, Mrs. McCrea, of the house, handed me some 
warm drink to offer him, but I discovered he was too far gone, and 
returned it to them. The man who was present stated that they had 
been giving him some warm drinks at the grocery before they brought 
him home. This man's name was Charles Dunn, and he was captain 
of one of the companies out there in the affair. He insisted on my 
offering it to Brown, but I refused. After Brown died, I proceedfd to 
superintend the burial, changing the clothes, getting a coffin, &c. 
He was buried on Sunday, the 20th of January. Dunn told me that 
he had befriended Brown, notwithstanding they had been personal 
enemies, and had brought him home from Easton, where the affi ay took 
place. He said when he first discovered Brown he had received this 
wound ; and after receiving the wound. Brown had made his escape, 
fled to the woods, and had been caught and brought back ; and Dunn 
had been instrumental in keeping them there from shooting or hang- 
ing Brown, as some wanted to do. 

Dunn showed me a fresh wound he had received on his hand, he 
said, wliile doing this, in shielding off a gun, to prevent a man from 
shooting Brown. Dunn was at that time very much intoxicated. 
After Brown died, Dunn promised to come back immediately, but he 
did not. I saw nothing ol him until about 11 o'clock the next day. 
He lives about a mile from where Brown lived. 

The wound on Brown's head was on the left side of the head, cut- 
ting the inside of the left ear, and extending perhaps two inches long 
to the left temple, cutting off a lock of hair. His body was taken up 
about a week af'ter he was buried, when his brother came on here, and 
was examined by three physicians of this place. I helped to take the 
body up, and saw the physicians examine the wound, and run the 
middle finger of their hands into the skull the whole length of the 
finger. 

I have never known of the public examination of any of the men. 
engaged in this matter, or of any attempt to arrest any of those men. 
After Brown died, his wife and child came to my house and lived with 
me until about the first of April, when I saw her on a steambDat and 
start on her way home to Michigan. Mrs. McCrea lived with me 
during the same time, an<l left with Mrs. Brown. After Brown was 
killed, Mrs. McCrea sold her claim. 

I was at the election at Easton on the I'Zth of January, 1856 ; and 
on my way there I was stopped by the Kickapoo Rangers, who de- 
manded where I was going and where my business was. I declined 



99 S KANSAS AFFAIKS. 

for a time to tell thera. They insisted, and I told them one portion 
of my business, which was to go and see a Mr. Dawson, a prwslavery 
man, to j;jet some money he owed me. That did not seem to .^^atisfy 
them altogether, and they askeil me if I was going to the election to 
Tote. I told them I thought prolvibly I would go to the polls. I said 
I did not know whether I should v«»te or not. Two of thera, who 
seemed to be the most forward of them, separated — one taking my 
horse by the bridle, and the other went back in the grocery where I was 
stoj'pevl. some two miles this sideof Ea^ton. where these Rangers were 
stationed. The one who went to the gr«>cery was named McAleary, 
and the other wa* namevi Hubl^ard. Hubbard flourished a little pistol 
around, which he said S':»metimes silenced abolitionists. Mr. Mc- 
Aletry, after he returned from the grocery, told me I could pass on, 
and 1 did so, and went to the election after having collected the money 
of Mr. Dawson, and then returneil l>ack and stop^W with the Kiekapoo 
Kaugers, voluntarily, at the grix^ery. They inquired if I had been to 
the election. I told them I had. They a.«iked me who were sitting as 
judges of the election. I told them I did not know- them. They said 
they were going up to take the ballot-l>»>x. I told them they had not 
force enough to do that ; that, in the first plac^, there was no ballot- 
box ; that the Yotinir was done in a man's hat. They said they would 
go and take the hat. I sai<l they could not do that, for there were 
alxnit sixty men there who I believed were able to and would iletend 
the ballot-lx>x. I then left them autl went home. This McAleary 
did most of the talking with me. I diil not know this Hubbard, and 
may have mistaken his name. I did not see Dunn that day. I 
should think this company of Kickap<x> Rangers cvmsisted of aKuit 
twenty-five when I was st"pj>etl going out. When I came Iviok, I 
shouKl think there were only twelve or fifteen of them. On my return 
some of them ap[>eared to be intoxicated, but none. I think, when I 
went «>ut. 

Alter Brown died, I came to town to get a shroud and a coffin made, 
and on my way back I met this Dunn cv^raing towards the town. 
Just atter I got back to where Browns Kxly was, a man who was 
■working for Merrill Smith came in. and said that a Mr. Harvey had 
sent him to forbid nie or any one else t- nching the Kxiy till a cor- 
oner's inquest couKl be held over it. I therefoie leit him until that 
night at candle-lighting, when the same messenger came lv»ck and 
told me Mr. Harvey had declined acting in the matter, as he could 
not get enough to come with him. I then helped, to dress the body, 
and It was buried the next day. 

To Mr. Howani : 

I came from East Tennessee to Minnesota Territory, anil then here. 

DAVID BROWy. 
Lkavkxttorth CiTY; K. T., May 15, ISoC. 



KAHSAS AFFAISS. 999 



M. P. Rnmr called &nvl svom. 

I T«^iie at Salt creet. three miles west of thi>! plac«?, anvl keep 5t<-»re 
there. I w^fc* ne^r BAstAn on the 18th of Jamasry. lS-16. I nrst saw 
Mr. R. P. Brown nesir Ea^ton on that day, wi'h a number of mea with 
him, wh.^s^ naraeji 1 d-^ nv»T reddlect. He wis xralking. hnt I dc» not 
recollect whether br his wa^on or not. As that was ^^me time asro, 
I do not reoollect much that took place ; not much took place while I 
was there. Some men had him, but I don't kn^w whether they were 
K VAi>-y-> Ran^rs or not. They had him at Easioa. after they took 
in P.^wji>n's store, where they kept him. I thought I would be 
.rht up here to testify in relation to the elections, an I not in re- 
^..:A to any little difficulties? that hare occurred in the Territory. I 
did not come up h«^ to give any testimony al»ut anything but elec- 
tions, 

J Mr. Howard stated to the witness the object of the examination. 
I read to him the authority given to the committee by the House of 
Bepresentatives.] 

By Mr. Sherman: 

Q. Will true answers to questions as to what was done that dav by 
tiie persi^^ns you hare sp<^»i of to R. P. Brown, tend to criminate you 
>on*lly ? 
A. Upon doe r^e^ioa. I think they might in some slight degree. 

By Mr. Howard : 

(j"*. What per^jon? were there of Mr. Brc.was ivirty ? 

^. I am aoqnaintevl with but one of them — a Mr. Adams., T think, a 
surveyor. The rest I do U'^'t know, and don't think I shouM know 
any 0: rhem U'^w, except a Mr. Grreen. There were some six others, I 
think. Hesi les those two. 

Q. Did yon see Brown's party before they g^-'»» to E*st.'»n ? 

A. I saw his party, and suppose Bn>wu was with them, though I 
did not see him, some five or six miles this side of Enston. 

They had a wagon with them, but I do n-H kn-^w whether they had 
just 2xn out of it or not, A Frenchman named Jareau, I think, was 
driviuij. When the wagons met. I think there were of our party a 
man named Capt, J.»hn W. M.^rtin, of Kickap^x* : a Mr. Gibson, who, 
I think, lived at Kickap.H? at that time, but I don't kn«iw where he 
lives now. though I have seen him at Kickapoo and at Weston within 
the last three weeks. Charlrs Dunn was not with us when tSe two 
parties met. but >Mned us at Easton in the ane'^n'^^n. A Mr. D. A. 
N. Gr»ver. now member of the (X»uncil. and b" ihe district at- 

torney. w*s there. Mr. Sharp was there from K Dr. Harris, 

fi\»m near Kickapoo. was there. Mr, Adkins was there ; I do n>^t know 
b.-< 5rst name, nor where he lives. I think that is aK>ut all I can re- 
.^t. I should think there were about twelve or ritVeen of our party. 
I : .ak Br<»wn's party c^'»n<iste^l of from seven to nine. I think all 

.- virty were on horse Hack, but I do not reoollect of their havin* a 
~. ..on, though they maj have had. I do not recollect of any other 



1000 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

wagons there but Brown's, and if there had been I think I should 
have recollected it. There may have been, but I do not now recollect 
of any other wagons there but Brown's. Brown's party had guns and 
revolvers with them, but I do not know that all had. Our party took 
them prisoners, and made them go back to Easton with us. I think 
they did not make any resistance to going back, though they did not 
seem to like it. In going back they rode in their wagon part of the way 
and part o\' the way they walked. I was on horseback, part ol the time 
ahead and part behind. 1 think they were put in Dawson's store when 
we got to Easton. We got there, 1 think, about two o'clock in the after- 
noon ; it might have been before noon. I kept along near them 
all the time going there. We did not let them all go at one time ; most 
of them went olf, 1 think, near about four o'clock. We had no war- 
rant to stop these men. We heard that Mr. Brown, with a number of 
others, had been t)ut holding an illegal election at Easton; that there 
had been some misunderstanding between Brown and his party and 
some gentlemen who lived at Easton, and that Mr. Brown was the 
leader of the party who fired up-m those gentlemen, killing a gentle- 
man by the name of Cook, a pro-slavery man, a resident ot the Terri- 
tory. We then determined to take back this party, and see whether 
they had fired upon the gentlemen at Easton, and whetdier Mr. Cook 
had been shot. They went back with us, and we ascertained that 
there had been a fight, and that they had shot at a party of pro-slavery 
men with guns and pistols, and had shot Mr. Cook. Mr. Cook was 
an old settler, so I understand : a man of tiimily, and a very clt'ver 
man. He subsequently died. When we got there, Mr. Cook was ly- 
ing in Mr. Dawson's house, groaning, as I heard him do, but 1 did 
not see him. The citizens were very much exasperated, and it is not 
to be wondered at that they should retaliate ; I fully expectetl they 
would. The prisoners were questioned, and all let go home, but Mr. 
Brown. It was proven that Mr. Brown was the leader of the baud 
who had made the attack the night before, and shot several rounds at 
the gentlemen of Easton. Brown did not deny it. They then con- 
sidered what should be done with Brown, but did not agree upon any- 
thing. All considered him guilty of a very bad act, in heading the 
mob and first tiring upon the citizens at Easton. Some did not wish 
to punish, as he was in the jHnver of a dozen or more men by himself^ 
though they thought he had acted badly. He was then taken out of 
the store by some one, I do not recollect whom ; and it was proposed 
by some person, 1 do not recollet whom, that Brown and Gibson 
should fight, which they did. Brown fought, and Gibson knocked 
him down with his fist; that I saw. While he was down. Brown 
hallooed "• Enough." He then got up, and I led him to the wagon 
and put him in it, and he went home in the wagon. That is all 1 re- 
collect of it. I went ufi' in advance of the wagon, and the next day I 
heard Brown was dying- I did not see the tight between Brown and 
Gibson when it commenced. I saw Gibson knock him down, and saw 
Brown strike at him. 1 did not see Gibson use any weapon at that time, 
though I saw Gibson have a hatchet as we were going out there that 
day. I did not see him have a hatchet at the time of the tight. I do 
not know that Brown was bleeding when 1 helped him in the wagon. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1001 

for it was ahont dusk. Mr. Cliarles Dunn helped me to lead Brown 
to the wagon, and Brown got in himself. I was not at Easton on the 
day of this illciial election. I did not see either Brown or Gibson, at 
the time of the fight, have any weapon. It was about dusk, and I 
shonhi |)rohahly not have seen the weapons if tliey had bad any. 
The fight took place near the store, but no ring was i'ormed. I do not 
know liowjarge the party of Easton men was that Brown liad fired 
on the day before. I do not kuow that any of Brown's party was 
wounded. The pro-slavery men were taking no part in the election. 
I heard that they were at Mr. Dawson's store, and Brown and his 
party came down there to attack them. I do not recollect of hearing, 
the day Brown was hurt, that the pro-slavery men of Easton had de- 
manded the ballot-box the day before. The pro-slavery party that 
Brown's party fired at were represented as being muck smaller than 
the other. 

When our party met Brown's party, before we went back to Eas- 
ton, I recollect of seeing Gribson strike at a young man with a hatchet. 
I think the young man was on his feet running from Gibson, and I 
saw Ca[)tain Martin take hold of Gibson to hold him. Tbis young 
man had no gun at that time. I do not know what became of the 
arms of Brown's party, and do not recollect what was said about or 
done with tbeni when we took them. These prisoners did not have 
their arms wben they were in Dawson's store, and 1 do not know 
what liad become of them. 

Dr. Harris, of Kickapoo, came over here and said they liad been 
killing some of our men at Easton, and wanted us to go and see if it 
was so. 1 do not know whether our party was armed. I had none 
myself. I do not recollect of seeing any one with a hatchet but Gib- 
son. Gibson might have struck Brown with a hatchet, and I not 
have seen it. I did not look on all the time. The fight did not last 
more than a minute or two. I did not see Gibson knock Brown down 
more tban once. I saw no rope put around Brown's neck, though I 
heard some threats. I heard there at Easton that Brown's party had 
come down from Minard's, where the election was held, and had chal- 
lenged the pro-slavery men of Easton to fight; had used insulting 
language, and tliat had incensed the pro-slavery men. I did not bear 
that the pro-slavery party had taken any free-State man prisoner just 
before the fight, or that Brown had come to rescue any one but I 
heard that he had come there simply to fight. I heard nothing about 
a free-State man named Sparks being captured by the pro-slavery par- 
ty. I do not know^ of my own knowledge, that the grand jury has 
made any inquiry into this matter, or have ever attemj)ted to inquire 
into this fracas. I have been a member of the grand jury since that 
time, and nothing was said about it then, and no one ever came be- 
fore the grand jury to make any complaints that I know of. Easton 
is in this county. I did not know Brown before that day ; but I had 
seen Gibson once or twice. So far as my recollection goes, I do not 
think tliere were more than twelve or fifteen in our party that day. 
There may have been a wagon in our party that day, but I don't re- 
collect about it. I am confident there were not four wagons in our 
party. Brown's party had been stopped by some gentlemen ahead of 



1002 KANSAS AFFAIRS, 

US, and behind fhem as we came up. Gibson was of that party, but 
I do not recollect whether he was on horseback or on foot. So far as 
I recollect, there were not three wagons in our })arty ; but I am not so 
confident as I was about there not being four, though I have no idea 
that there was that many in our party^ and I do not recollect our hav- 
ing any four-horse or mule team. I am not positive that there were 
not twenty men in our party. There may have been more than 
twelve or fifteen, but that is as near as I can recollect. I would not 
like to say, upon my oath, there were not thirty ; but my impression is 
that there were not. Mr. Sharp, Avho was with us at Easton, was on 
the grand jury when I was. There might have been others of our 
party on that day on the grand jury, but I recollect of none but Sharp 
and myself. Deputy Marshal McMeekin summoned us to serve on the 
grand jury. I am not sure he was not at Easton that day. He lives 
in this city. I do not recollect whether the judges of the illegal elec- 
tion on the 17th of January last have been indicted or not. There 
Las been some inquiry, I believe. There have been indictments 
found against those who acted as judges on the election of the adop- 
tion of the State constitution. I know our utmost endeavors were made 
to find out who acted as judges and clerks on the 17th of January last, 
and at all the bogus elections held by the abolitionists here ; but T do 
not recollect whether or not their names have ever been found out. 
We were very anxious to find them out, as we thought they acted 
illegally. I am from Philadel])hia to this Territory, and came out 
here in April, 1852. I do not know of any indictments having been 
found against persons for political offences. 

They killed one of the pro-slavery men, and the pro-slavery men 
killed one of the others, and I thought it was about mutual. I am 
opposed to all these quarrels. 

M. P. RIVELY. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iai/ 15, 1856. 



George A. Taylor called -ind sworn. 

I was at Easton at the election of the 17th of January, 1856. I 
went up with Mr. Brown. A Mr. Sparks had been at the election 
that^ day. After the election was over, I heard that he had been 
stopped and taken prisoner, while on his way home, by a company at 
Dawson's store. When we heard that, some twenty of us started on 
foot, and went down and found Mr. Sparks surrounded by the com- 
pany, down a lane a little to the right of Mr. Dawson's store. When 
I first saw Mr. Sparks he was standing near a fence, and had a double- 
barrelled gun with him, and the others were standing around him. 
Some one of our party asked if Mr. S[)arks was there, and it was an- 
swered that he was. Mr. Brown, I believe, said that we had come 
down after him, and wanted him delivered up. They said Mr. Sparks 
could go, as they did not wish to detain him there. Mr. Sparks then 
came over and joined us, as we were all mixed up together in a crowd. 
We then separated, and after we had got about one 'hundred yards 
from that party, with Mr. Sparks mth us, there was a shot from the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1003 

other side, which I thought was fired at us. We immediately returned 
the fire, and it was kept up on both sides for perhaps fifteen minutes. 
One of our men was wounded. As soon as the firing stoy)ped we all 
returned to Mr, Minard's. When we got to the house, we found that 
one of Mr. Sjiarks's sons was wounded, a ball having broken the skin 
on the top of his head so as to draw blood. We remained at Minard's 
till the next morning at sunrise without any more trouble. Most of 
the free-State men had gone home at that time. 

Mr. Brown and his party, eight in all, including the driver, then 
started to return to Leavenworth. We had got about a mile from 
where the Kickapoo road joins the Fort Kearney road, where we saw 
two wagon loads of about fifteen men. When we got up against them 
they asked us if we were free-State or pro-slavery. There was no an- 
swer made to that. They ordered us to halt, and we drove directly 
along without saying a word. After we got about twenty-five yards, 
there were two rifles pointed at us from the two wagons we had just 
passed. A part of our party, all but the driver, then got out of our 
wagon and walked along by the side of it. We went on very slowly, 
and one man came on foot and passed us, with a revolver in each hand, 
and joined the other party. 

When we got to the top of a knoll, we saw another party — I should 
think of a hundred men — who were at a double log-house. We walked 
on up tlie road to where they were. Directly one of them came to me 
and told me he wanted my rifle. I gave it to him. I was standing 
among the crowd about five minutes, and the man who took my rifle 
came up to me and knocked me down, and several hit me while I was 
down. He caught hold of my hair, and when I raised up I saw him 
trying to hit me with a hatchet. I raised up and pulled away from 
him. I dodged about then for some time, and he followed me with 
his hatchet. Some one caught him and held him, so as to prevent his 
hitting me. In the mean time the hoises had started, and some one 
fired a revolver at the driver. The horses were then turned around, 
and we were put in our wagon — two pro-slavery men exchanging places 
with two of our party — and we were taken back to Dawson's store 
and kept there. I was let off about three hours after Mr. Adams left. 

There was a man there who said his name was Sharp, wh(t came into 
'the store and told Mr. Brown that they wanted him to come out. Mr. 
Brown then went out with them, and that was the last time I saw 
him. After Mr. Brown went out, they came in for Mr. Bird, and he 
went out and came back directly. We were all discharged about 
three-quarters of an hour after Mr. Brown was called — a little after 
sunset. As we came out, we saw a crowd very near the door gath- 
ered around some one, I understood to be Mr. Brown, some crying 
out, "kill him," and others saying they had better not. I should 
think there were at least 125 men, consisting of those who took us, 
and others, from Leavenworth. Those who took us called themselves 
the Kickapoo Rangers. Of those I saw there, I knew Mr. Burnham, 
of this city, and a Major Donner, I think they called him. 

These men were all armed with rifles, double-barrelled shot-guns, 
■Bpu nearly all with revolvers and knives. Wliile we were ke])t in the 
'Bsaios:^ prisoners, I heard men say that Brown should never go away 



1004 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

alive ; and others, tliat they had rather not kill him. They appeared 
to be angry with him because he was the leader of our ])arty. TKey 
complained of his being at the election, and the leader of the party 
who came down the night before to rescue Mr. Sparks. I heard no 
demand made for the poll-books. There was a party came up about 
sundown, but I do not know what they came for. I have never seen 
my rifle since it was taken from me. It is fourteen miles, I think, 
from here to Eiston. Mr. Sparks, I think, lives in the neighborhood 
of Easton. I do not know his full name. 

GEORGE A. TAYLOR. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 15, 185G. 



Dr. James Davis called and sworn. 

I came to this place about the 4th of April, 1855, and have resided 
here ever since. I was here last winter, and attended the post mortem 
examination of Mr. R. P. Brown, when he was taken up from his 
grave for that purpose, in February or March last. His brother came 
here and requested that this examination should be raarle. When 
the body was taken up, I took particular pains to examine the wound. 
It was in the left temple, severing the temporal bone to the length of 
about two and a half inches. I judge that the wound was made with 
one blow of a hatchet or tomahawk, or some weapon of that kind. The 
temporal bone was opened sufficiently to admit my finger anywhere 
along it for two inches. I ran my fore-finger into the wound up to 
its second joint. I have no doubt it was a mortal wound. Dr. Few 
and Dr. Park, of this city, were also present at the examination. I 
am a physician, and have been a practising physician for ab )ut twenty- 
seven years. 

JAMES DAVIS. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 16, 1856. 



Dr. J. G. Park called and sworn. 

I came to this city in May, 1855, and have resided here ever since, 
I attended a post mortem examination of Mr. R. P. Brown, when his 
body was taken up from his grave — I think in March, 1856. We 
discovered but one wound upon his person, except a slight flesh wound 
over the left eyebrow, though we did not examine particularly — only 
what appeared externally. We found a wound on the left temple, 
about a line from the outer end of the socket of the eye, and running 
towards the ear, and about an inch and a half or two inches long, so 
far as I can now recollect. I ran my finger through the squamous 
portion of the temporal bone, which is the thinnest part of the skull 
bone. The opening into the skull was sufficiently large to admit my 
fore-finger, which I ran into the brain. Fragments of pieces of bone 
were sticking on the inside into the brain, no doubt forced in by the 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1005 

instrument with which the hlow was inflicted. So far as the flesh 
was concerned, I should think the wound was made hy a sharp-edged, 
instrument, and the hone seemed to be broken in wider than it was 
cut. From the appearance ot the wound and the appearance of the 
bone, it would seem to have been made by a hatchet, and the blow 
must have been struck from behind, or when the head was inclined 
downwards. The wound could have been made by a tomahawk or 
lath-hatchet. The wound was one that must have produced death, 
and the only wonder is that the person should have lived so long after 
he received it. 

I have been a practising physician for ten years past. This exami- 
nation was made some weeks altti- Brown's death. He was buried in 
the coldest weather we had. There was no decay in the body, except 
that we could rub up the outer cuticle of the skin with our lingers ; 
but the body was in sufiicient state of preservation to allow us to 
make a satisiactory examination. 

J. G. PAEK, 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 17, 1856. 



Samuel F, Few called and sworn, 

I have been a practising physician for five, and a consulting phy- 
sician at the Hot and Warm Springs, Virginia, tor nearly three years. 
I now reside near Leavenworth city, and have been residing there 
since 1854. I was called upon to examine the body of Mr. R. P, 
Brown on a Sunday, on an intensely cold day. On account of the 
cold I rather declined going, but promised, if the parties would bring 
the body near by my cabin, I would examine it, in connexion with 
any other physician they would call. They tried to make the arrange- 
ment, but they failed to do so, and they took it to the graveyard and 
buried it. Some time after that I was introduced to a gentleman of the 
name of Brown, who asked me to accompany Drs. Park and Davis, of 
this town, to examine the body of his brother. I went up to the grave a 
little before they had exhumed the body. After they had taken it up, 
I think I examined the body, first. There was no decomposition. 
The body had been frozen stiff, and was about thawing them. I 
examined only the head, where I found two wounds : one was a 
sharp cut, a mere flesh wound, that would have done no harm, over 
one of the eyebrows ; another was upon the left temple. From what 
I had heard, I had expected to find only a depression or a fracture of 
the skull pressing upon the brain ; but on opening the lips of the 
wound to examine it, I introduced my fore-finger, its full length, to 
the base of the brain ; I also ran it in front and in rear of the brain, 
and up and down. I found lying upon the brain the soft portion of 
the temporal bone. I tried to pull it out with my finger, and could 
not do it ; and then 1 introduced two fingers into the cavity at the 
same time. I did not get the bone out, because I could not manage 
my two fingers. I did not know Mr. Brown ; J. may have seen him. 



1006 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

This wound was cansal by a sharp instruraeut. A hatchet could have 
caused such a wouud, and was aecessarilv mortal. 

SAMUEL F. FEE. 
Leayexworih CriY. K. T., Mat/ 17. 1S56. 



Nick Smith called and sworn. 

I reside in Leavenworth ciry. I am acquainted with EH Moore ; 
he is now a deputy marshal or deputy sheritf of this county, and I 
have seen him engaged in the public service of writs, processes, *S:c. 
I was in the office of Mr. D. J. Johnson, an attorney in this city, when 
Captain Dunn and Eli Moore were present. This, I think, was about 
a mouth ago, perhaps more or less. Ttiere were several other gentle- 
men present. The conversation turned upon the murder of Brown, 
last January, 1 observed that I had heard that Brown had been 
treated very brutally and outrai::eously by tlie members of the com- 
pany who took him, and said that I had heard he had l>een kicked in 
the face by some member oi the company. After expressing dis- 
ap'probation and disgust myself. Captain Dunn remarked that he 
would give me a full history of the case, and then proceeded to do it : 
and before completing it, was called out. Mr. Moore said that he was 
there himself. The treatment of Brown was not denieil by any one ; 
but I think Captain Duuu disapproved of the murder, and stated that 
he had opposed it in council. Captain Dunn said Brown was killed 
■with a hatchet, but did not say who had done it. Eli Moore did not 
say what part he took in it, though he said he wa^ there ; but did 
not say whether he approved it or not. I do not think Moore was 
deputy sheriff or marshal when this murder took place. I never 
conversed with any one but Captain Dunn, of those who witnessed it. 
about this murder. 

NICK SMITH. 

LKA\-ENAyoKTHj K. T., Jday IG, lS5o. 



Edward Motter called and sworn. 

I came to this Territory in November, 1855, and was residing at 
Eastiin in January last. On the 15th of January, ISot^. an election 
was to be held, but it was put off until the ITth, on which day a body 
of men came in armed with a number of Sharpe's rifles. I do not know 
the men, but I understood them to l>e free-State men going to the 
election, and f^o or 70 in number I think. The election went on. the 
men standing around with arms and votiuir. All were armed ; I 
heard that some Ave or six had Sh>irpe's rifles, and saw one ; others 
weie armed with revolvers and bowie-knives in any quantity. About 
10 o'clock a man named Brown came to Eastonwith eight or ten men, 
all armed to the teeth. During the day nothing occurred ot any im- 
portance. About 6 o'clock in the evening Mr. Brown came down j 1 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. lOOT 

went lip to him ftiul said, "Mr. Brown, 1 iliinlc it woiilil bo advisublo 
for you to return witli your men." He threw o[)en his coat aiul said, 
"by (lod, you think 1 am m)t armed." 1 said, "that makes no dif- 
fereiii'e to ine," and k^tt liim ior a few moments. About an hour 
atterwards 1 went over to the jjjriH'ery and saw Brown reading a letter, 
and tidd him thini^s were gettiui; to a eritieal position, and he had 
better i;o home with his men. I did not then see auythinjj; more of 
him until about 1) o'ch)ek that eveniujij. He brought about twenty 
men down to the jxrocery, part of them armed and part not. I told 
]\lr. l>ri)wn that his men eouhl not eome into the ij;i'oeery, because 
they were gettini^' diuiik aiul there wouhl be viokMiee committed. 
ISine of them rushed into the grocery, and 1 kejit eleven of them out. 
Brown was one of tiiose who came in — the lirst one who went in. 
About 11 o'clock men were running both ways. Brown's party had 
gone back to j\lr. Miiiard's house. Tliey sent down a messenger to 
us, calling us cowanlly, thieving, niggardly sons of bitches, and 
dared us to come up to IMinard's house, and that if we did, there 
would not be one to tell the tale. That was just the expression Mr. 
Minard used, and they all said so. After that news came down 1 seat 
them a note as follows: that if they would hold on, probably we 
would call to see them upon any demand they had requested. 1 have 
that note at home yet. About 12 o'chn-k I\lr. Sparks came ilown, and 
instead o\' going directly home he walked at least a quarter of a mile 
to come down where our men — the pro-slavery party — were. He knew 
that his most bitter enemies were there ami intoxicated at the time. 
I was sitting in the otliee, in company with i\lr. Samuel J. KoidvOgey, 
Samuel Burgess, and Dr. Kennedy, when he passed by. I heard 
someone tnitside exclaim, "there goes t)ld man Sparks, Avith his ritle 
on his shoulder." Some ten or twelve of our boys ran after him, 
hallooing after him. JMr. Kookegey and myself immediately ran down 
to where Spaiks had stopped, and got ou the fence and made o s})eecli, 
that they should let the old man go on home ; that it would not do 
to commit any violence on him. Ten or twelve of the men were about 
leaving, when Sparks commenced cursing and swearing about some- 
thing — I could not tell what. 1 went to him, and tried to persuade 
him to go on home, and he refused to go. Then Mr. Brown came 
down from IMr. j\linard's house, with I think 25 or 30 men. He was 
at their head himself, and had a double-barreled gun_, cocked. When 
he got to the head of the lane where we were, I was standing there in 
company with Mr. Kookogey. Brown came up to me and called me a 
God daujned cowardly, thieving, niggardly sou of a bitch, and told us 
to clear the lane, and took ^Iv. Sparks out ; after he had got him out, 
he then comnuinded the pro-slavery men to march in front. Mr. Bur- 
gess told our men they should not do it ; to go behind, as he thought 
Brown's intention was to fire on us. I myselt went behind all of the 
folks there, for ftar that they would fire upon us. We arrived at the 
forks of the road, where an Imlian trail led olf, and they had got be- 
tween 80 and i)0 yards ahead of us, when there was a ])istol fired trom 
Brown's party. Immediately after the first fire, firing commenced 
on both sides. One man named Richardson, ou the pro-slavery side, 
was shot in the leg, the ball penetrating the anterior portion of the 



1008 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

leg, strikins: the tilnilar bone and glancing off, and lodged in the 
posterior portion of his leg. I came up while the tiring was slill go- 
ing on. I step[>ed behind a stump, and as I did so, a man I took to 
be" Mr. Sparks fired at me both barrels of a double-barreled gun, 
loaded as I thought with buck-shot, from the way they rattled aijainst 
the fence. While I remained behind the stump there were four rifles 
shot into the stump, of course by some of Mr. Brown's men. After 
the firing ceased I went to my otiice. A man came over and told me 
that Mr. John Cook was shot ; 1 went over to see him, and rendered 
services as a surgeon. He was shot, the ball entering the groin, and 
passin-j out in the upper portion of the hip-bone. I probed the woi.nd, 
and found it had cut the posterior portion of the colon ; striking the 
spine, and passing up and cutting otf the posterior portion of tlie right 
kidney. I remained with him until, through fear, I left the place 
about 3 o'clock that night, and did not come back until the next day 
between 12 and 1 o'clock. 

Believing that our place was in danger, I sent an express to Kicka- 
poo. Mr. Kookogey sent an express to Messrs. Johnson & Lyle, of 
this city. Companies came down from Kickapoo and Leavenworth 
the next day (Friday) between twelve and one o'clock, at the time I 
did. Mr. Brown and his company were taken on the road, somewhere 
between Leavenworth and Easton. ^Ye examined Mr. Brown. I 
asked him who was at the head of the free-soil party the night pre- 
vious. He said he was. I asked him who fired the first shot He 
said some one from his company, but he did not know who it was. 
Then I asked him if he had not done wrong. He said he had. I 
then left the room. Captain Martin was present and heard all this. 
I went down to see Mr. Cook and attend to his wounds, as I had not 
seen him since the night before. I came back there, and Mr. Brown 
was still in the room where I had left him. There were many there 
intoxicated on both sides. I did not see Mr. Brown killed. I was 
in Mr. Dawson's store at the time he was wounded, and do not know 
who inflicted the wound. I ascertained that they had put Brown in 
a wagon and brought him somewhere near Leavenworth city, but I 
do not k-.ow^ to what place. I remained with Mr. Cook until Satur- 
day eveni;.g at eight o'clock, when I received information that a party 
of free-soilers had threatened to mob me that night ; for what cause I 
do not know. I again left the place, and Mr. Cook was dead when I 
returned the next evening. This is all I can recollect of what took 
place, and I give it without prejudice or favor towards any one. 

I came from Baltimore city, Maryland, to this place. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I lived at this time in Easton, my office adjoining Mr. Dawson's 
store. I do not know who told me there were five or six Sharpe's 
rifles in the free-soil party. I think there were about sixty or seventy 
of the free-soil jvirty at that election. I do not think there were over 
fifteen or twenty of the pro-slavery party at Mr. Dawson's store that 
night after the election. Mr. Dawson's is just the length of a quarter 
section o\' land from Mr. Minard's house, which stands about the middle 
of his claim, and Mr. Dawson's about the same on his claim. The 



KANSAS AFF-ORS. 1009 

hons^e* are in siglit. Of those fifteen or twenty men ^vho were at 
Dawson's. I know bnt tbnr or five; Mr. Burgess, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
Koi^kogey. Mr. Cook, Mr. Woodwarvi. and myself. . Mr. Cook lived 
alxnit tour »^r five miles from them, and got there ahout half an honr 
before he was shot. This fighting took place l>etween twelve and one 
o'clock at night. Mr. Cook had been there during the day, and left 
in the evening about eight oclook, and then returned. I think the 
fight continued about ten or fifteen minutes. Along the first the 
firing wa^ in volleys. The moon was shining that night. I cannot 
say whether they trieii to hit each other. One ball parsed along my 
foot, cutting my boot. Mr. Eichardson livetl about two and a half 
miles above Ea^ton, Sparks lived about south from Mr. Miuard's 
house. There is no north and south road there. The Fort Eiley 
road runs along by Miuard's and Dawson's houses. I think, by going 
across the prairie. Sparks could have saved at least a quarter of a mile 
distance, and he did go home that way after the fight. Sparks was 
about half way between the creek and the head of the lane when I 
was talking to him. After that I went up to where Mr. Brown was, 
and he called me a thieving, niggardly, cowardly, son of a bitch, and 
ordereil us to clear the lane, and of course we backeil out. The lane 
was, I think, about one hundred and fifty yards long. Sparks was 
standing at the fence when I talked with him : he had his gun with 
him. I did not hear him threaten to fire on any one. Those from 
Dawson's store were standing around Sparks as if surrounding him. 
John Sj^rks, his son, was with him. 1 saw two or three guns among 
those who were surrounding him. but I do not know as all were 
armed. Among them were Mr. Burgess. Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Kookogey, 
Mr. Cook, Mr. Woodward, and myself. There were about ten others, 
but I do not recollect them. I was standing at the head of the lane, 
on the way back to my office, when Brown got there with his party. 
Brown spoke first, and spoke to me, and called me a cowardly, thiev- 
ing, niggardly son of a bitch, and ordered us to leave the lane. The 
pro-slavery men then left, as Brown's party was twenty-five or thirty 
to our twelve or fifteen. Brown then went down the lane with his 
party and got Sparks and his son, every man having his gun ready 
to fire, and went from the head of the lane towards Minard's before 
the firing commenced. Our men went on up towards Dawson's store. 
The first" shot wa^ then fired from Brown's party towards our party, 
about ninety yards ofi\ One road from the lane led to Minard's and, 
the other leil to the store. Brown" s party took one road and ours took 
the other. The jmrties kept up the two roads until they got to be 
about ninety yards apart. I learned that Cook wa^ shot shortly after 
the firing ceased. I took him to my room at Mr. Dawson's house 
and put him on my bed, where he remained until he died. I cannot 
say how many men came down from Kickapoo and Leavenworth the 
next day. but I should think there were fifty or more. I was not pres- 
ent when Brown's party were released. Mr. Dawson's house is about 
two liundred yards from his store, and 1 was down there attending 
Mr. Cook. * The lane I have spoken of is back of the house and 
.•>outh of the store. Some of our men said one thing and some another 
about what they were going to do with Brown. I do not rememWr 
of hearina: Captain Martin trv to persuade his men not to kill Brown. 
K.^ Re-... 200 01* 



1010 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I know Mr. Gibson, and saw Mm there that day. I judge he was 
armed. I did not see him with any arms until after Brown's party 
were taken. I was in the room where they were, and asked Brown 
some questions. I asked Brown if he was the leader of the party 
the night before. He said he was. I asked him if he had not been 
doing wrong. He said he had. I judge he meant that he was viola- 
ting the laws of the Territory by supporting a legislature not recog- 
nised by the governor, and in supporting an election which was illegal. 
I do not know what else he meant. He must have had reference to 
the firing, also, upon our men. He was not a citizen of Easton. I 
cannot say what he referred to, but I thought that must have been 
what he referred to. I did not specify what I meant when I asked 
him if he had been doing wrong. I heard others specify to him 
what they meant. I think Dr. Harris talked with him about the 
election. Captain Martin was also in the room, and asked Brown 
the same questions I did. Mr. Eively was in the room. I never 
heard Mr. Gibson say anything about who wounded Brown. Mc- 
!Xish lives in Easton, and was there. I did not see Brown after he 
was wounded. I was in the store at the time and did not go out at 
all. I heard some noise and hallooing outside, but not much, as the 
most of the men had gone off. Brown was out of the store at the 
time. I do not know whether he had been taken out of the room 
where he was, or had gone out himself. He had been in a room 
adjoining the store, and I think was taken in there for protection. 
Brown was in that room when he told me that one of his men fired 
the first shot. There were some seven or eight men in there. I do 
not recollect all of them. I was in there about a quarter of an hour. 
Brown's men were not there, but I think were about town somewhere, 
but I do not know where. Mr. Cook stated, after he was shot, that 
he thought some man in or about the grocery had shot him, but we 
examined that man's revolver and it was all loaded. Mr. Cook was 
in front of the grocery when he was shot, not up where the fighting was. 
By Mr. Oliver : 

I heard Mr. Brown say to men who asked him, that he came out 
there to vote, and I know he did vote. They said they brought their 
arms to protect the election. I did not hear any of Brown's party say 
that day that there were no laws in the Territory. All the difficulties 
that happened that day grew out of that election. I think if Mr. 
Sparks had not come down by the grocery there ^ould have been no 
difficulty. I think there were about fifteen of the pro-slavery party 
at the grocery, and about sixty or seventy free-soil men at Mr. Mi- 
nard's house. I don't recollect of hearing Mr. Brown say at any 
time that he had come to this Territory to make this a free State. 

By Mr. Howard : 

Some drunken men of the pro-slavery party did say something 
about going to take the ballot-box, and they were so drunk I don't 
think they could have carried the box if it weighed six pounds. 

By Mr. Oliver : 

I heard no sober man of our party saying anything about taking 



KA>'SAS AFFAIK3. 1011 

the "ballot-box nntil they had dared lis to come up and there had been 
considerable swearing. 

By Air. Howard; 

After the excitement began to grow pretty high, liquor might have 
had some effect, but I think it commenced from the effects of the elec- 
tion and men coming there to vote with arms. 

The bail which hit Mr. Cook was probably about a quarter or a half 
ounce, I should think, though I did not see it. I should think it was 
a rifle-ball, that run about seventy or eight v to the pound. 

E. S. MOTTEE, Jl. D. 

Leavexworih, K. T.J J/ay 16, 1856. 



Stephen Sparks called and sworn. 

I came to the Territory in October, ISoi, from Platte county, Mis- 
souri, where I had been living since 1845. An election was called to 
be held on Tuesday, the lota of January, A. D. 1856, at Easton ; 
and upon learning a rumor that prevailed through the neighborhood 
that Kickap30 Eangers were collecting in force to prevent the election, 
it was postponed until the Thursday following, the ITth. On the 
evening before that day I went up to Ea^ton. The polls were opened 
about noon ; everything was quiet then ; but we saw a company at 
Janesville, half a mile or a mile from us, passing on horses once in a 
while on a bluff there, and several persons came in and complained of 
being insulted by them, and were stopped by them. 

Among others, my son, Moses Sparks, was halted, also Mr. Pen- 
nock, and some two or three with them were stopped, and their guns 
taken out of their sleds or wagons. From a bluff near the polls we 
could see the party. It passed on so until a little before sundown. 
They came over into Easton across the creek, and stopped at a 
grocery near Dawson's. About dusk, between thirty-five and forty-nve 
men, as near as I could guess, came up towards Minard's, where the 
election was held. I heard some one of the crowd, who appeared to 
be the leader, say, •• Charge on them, God-damn them, laint atraidi"' 
About this time our men had nearly formed themselves from the d>,>or 
to the road. Upon seeing our force they halted, and returned with- 
out further difficulty. S^ome time after a note was sent to the house 
where we were, from them. The note was directed to me and Mr. 
Minard, and had no name to it. After looking at it, we concluded to 
give no answer until some one would put his name to it. Another 
note was sent by a messenger with Dr. Motter"s name signed to it. 
Mr. McAlear then came up, and Kookogey with him, to reason with 
tis, and said it would be better for us to give up the ballot-box, or it 
would turn out worse. We concluded there would be no difficulty. 
This was late at night, and I proposed that I would go home, and 
started home with my son and nephew. My roa<l was through Easton. 
Snow was on the ground, and that was the only brc;ken way to my 
house, and it is the road I always go. When getting near Dawson's 



1012 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

store, I saw several men, and heard several say, " Gml damn him, 
there he is," and called old man Sparks, and said they had got me 
now. There was a great deal of talk, and the men had been drink- 
ing, I walked on and came near the store door ; several men threat- 
ened me very heavy, and demanded that I should surrender. They 
were then all round me, some in front and some behind, and on each 
side. I kept on until where the road turned off between the stoi-e and 
the grocery. They demanded that I should go in and drink with 
them, but I refused. My son wanted me to surrender, but I spoke to 
him low, and told him to keep near me and close by my side. We 
then turned south from Easton towards home. The comj)any then 
fell back and gathered as if in consultation, so that I got several rods 
ahead of them. They then burst loose with a good many threats and 
cursings, and followed me. I kept on at my usual pace, and kept the 
boys close by me. They again stopped to consult, and then the crowd 
came on and made a heavy charge on me, and their common expres- 
sions were, God-damn him, shoot him ! kill him ! damned abolition- 
ist ! There were then two guns tired. Upon this I turned and lev- 
elled my gun, but my son dissuaded me and I did not fire, but started 
on again, and was then near Dawson's house. I turned into the lane 
leading to his house, and part of the crowd formed a line across the 
lane, so that I could get neither way, and were making towards me. 
My son and nephew, at my suggestion, got into a corner of the 
fence — a rail fence, staked and ridered. We were there at bay, and 
were prepared to make the best defence we could. I reasoned with 
them, and said there were plenty of my old neighbors in Platte 
county with them ; that I knew I would not surrender to a drunken 
mob. Benjamin Foster then fetched his fist in my shoulder, and said, 
God damn you, I could (or would) smash you. I then told him to stand 
back, and told him if he laid his hands again on me he would regret 
it. They demanded our general surrender, and that we should go 
back to the grocery. They had guns, pistols, &c., and presented 
them at me, and told me to march or they would shoot me. I told 
them to shoot. No gun was fired there. I said they must shoot me, 
as I would not give up to a drunken mob. David Large then took 
hold of my son's gun and demanded that he should give it up. He 
refused, and in their struggling I presented mine, and told him to let 
go. He did so. They then, with threats^ hallooed several times ; and 
we remained in that position some fifteen minutes, until R. P. Brown 
came and rescued me. 

At the time they fired, as I spoke of, the man who was riding my 
horse went back to Minard's and gave the word. I had no idea 
of this. The first I saw of Brown he was near by, and his party afoot, 
stretched across the road, and inquired if I was there. I answered 
that I was. He told me to march to him. I started and was about 
half way when Sam. Burgess caught hold of my shoulder. I told him 
to let me go, and prepared for defence, and he did let me go. He 
marched forward around me, and my son and nephew also came into 
the ring. Brown told his men to march back, and all did so, friend 
and foe going together in a crowd, I being in the centre. Then wo 
went to the forks of the road ; there the other party took the straight- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 1013 

forward road, and we, with Brown's party, turned to the left. About 
forty or fifty yards, Brown urged me to walk in, as they were going 
to shoot. This he told me three times distinctly. The last time, I 
told him I would obey him. He was marching backwards looking 
towards the other crowd, conversing with them not to fire, and told 
them that if they did, he would return the fire. When we were about 
sixty or eighty yards off, the fire was opened upon us. The first fire 
was from the northwest of their crowd. I am sure they fired first, as I 
saw the fire distinctly. Then Brown ordered a fire in return, and 
both })arties fired, and a great many guns were fired. The men were 
scattered in Indian file, and the fire was kept up for some time. My 
son was wounded and knocked down, within six or eight feet of me, 
at the second fire, but he raised again and fired. He was wounded in 
the arm and head slightly. We finally marched back to Minard's. 
I staid there all night, and started home before breakfast. About 
3 o'clock in the afternoon I heard of Brown's capture, and that Mi- 
nard was also taken, and that they were to be hung. I never saw 
Brown afterwards. 

Cross-examined by D. A. N. Grover : 

There was a rumor that the Kickapoo Kangers were mustering on 
Sunday, in Kickapoo, for the purpose of taking the ballot-box at 
Easton. I heard this in my neighborhood before Tuesday; I think I 
heard it on Sunday or Monday. The election was put off from the 
15th to the 17th, on account of this rumor. There was an election 
held by the free-State party at Easton on the 17th of January, 1856. 
The purpose of the election was to elect State officers under the State 
organization. I can't say, for my life, whether the organization was 
either a free-State or slave-State organization, but, as I understood, 
an organization of the people of Kansas. Robinson and Roberts 
were the candidates for governor ; Miles Moore was a candidate for 
attorney general ; I was a candidate for the legislature, and was de- 
clared elected to the lower branch, and was at Topeka, and served as 
such. Over fifty votes were cast at Easton that day. I belong to the 
free-State party, but am no abolitionist eitlier. 

I can't say whether the men at Minard's house were armed. There 
were arms at the house. I did not see men come there with arms, as far 
as I now recollect. I did not go to the polls that morning, and I did not 
go there that day. I went the evening before, but I did not take my 
gun with me. I had two sons there with me, and I did not see either 
of my sons or my nephew taking any arms there with them. I saw 
my sons and nephew have guns the night of the election. I think 
Brown's company had guns — all, I think, who came for me. There 
was a rumor that the Kickapoo Rangers had taken the ballot-box at 
Leavenworth city, and were coming to Easton to get the ballot-box 
there. How true the rumor was I do not know. While I was at 
Minard's I saw a company of men across on the bluffs, on the other 
side of the creek, riding back and forth, during the day. I only know 
from hearsay whether these men were armed or not. I should tliink 
it was three-quarters of a mile from Minard's to where these men were. 
I do not know who these men were, except from hearsay, where they 



1014 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

■were from, or where they were going, I do not think I went from 
the polls, during the day, alone down to Dawson's store. I went to 
Bristow's stoje, but I did not go alone. That was in the evening. 
I had no difficulty with the pro-slavery men at that time near the store; 
not a word, as far as I recollect. There was some whiskey at Minard's. 
It was, I think, about sundown that I went down to Bristow's. I 
had not a word of difficulty with any individual that I now recollect. I 
was there but a very sliort time when I saw a crowd coming up; I walked 
up to keep out of difficulty. I had no difficulty with John Moore. 
did not see him, to my knowledge, until I started for home that night, 
and he pitched around me and said, Damn you, I have got you now. 
There has been a private difficulty between us, and my opinion was 
that he sought that difficulty. There had been unpleasant feelings 
between us for some time. Dr. Motter came to me in Dawson's there, 
when more than twenty-five or thirty men were standing around me 
making threats, and said to the company, "as Mr. Sparks is on his 
way home and has got thus far, let him go." He requested that of 
the company, and then went round between me and home, and the 
last I saw of him was standing there in the lane. I do not know as 
any messages were sent by the men at Minard's down to the men at 
Dawson's to provoke them. I heard nothing of any challenge being 
sent down to the pro-slavery men to come up and fight. I sent none 
myself, and I never heard of any, though there might have been. A 
man by the name of Woodward came up to Minard's with one of the 
notes, and I saw the same man around me in the lane. Shep. Wood- 
ward was not sent back to the store to tell the boys to come on, as I 
recollect. My answer was, I think, that if they got the ballot-box 
they would get it at all hazards, as they said they would have it. I 
had but little to do with the notes, but handed them over to Mr. Mi- 
nard : the second one ; I never handed any more. I may hare had 
a conversation with Shep. Woodward, but I did not know it. I felt 
a little fired when I was noted out as an individual, and the threats 
were made that they would have the ballot-box, and I may have said 
something harsh, but I do not now recollect. I saw a crowd come up 
towards Minard's house, and I heard one of them call out to charge ; 
he was not afraid ; but he did not charge. Our company were drawn 
out from the door, pretty much towards the road, and I think some 
had arms and some had not, but whether the mo^t of them had arms 
or not I cannot say. I do not know as any one commanded our com- 
pany at that time. I could have gone from Mr. Minard's house on a 
bee-line home, which would have been nearer home than the way I 
went, but it would have been over rocks and drifts. I went the road 
I usually go — and go yet. I saw one young man who was drunk on 
that day, and there were several who went down to Dawson's for 
drink ; and there was some whiskey at Minard's. Mr. E. P. Brown 
wanted me to go down with him once and get some liquor ; but I did 
not go, and cannot say whether he went or not, but I think he did. 
I do not know that Brown got into any difficulty there that day, but 
I heard of such a thing, I think, a day or two afterw,ards. I have no 
recollection of Brown coming back and making hard assertions against 
those down there ; I think some one did, but I do not recollect who it 



KA2fSAS AFFAIRS. 1015 

was. I saw John Moore and his brother in the crowd that surrounded 
me in the lane. There was one man laid his hand on my shoulder and 
said he would or could trash me, and a great many harsh threats were 
made against me. I do not know how many men staid at Minard's 
that night. I remained there that night until 12 o'clock, in conse- 
quence of the threats made against the ballot-box. I did request a 
large number to stay, when reports were brought to me of what was 
said down town. After staying there a while I concluded that I would 
go home, as I thought the mob had gone away, or would go away, and 
there would be no difficulty. 

STEPHEN SPARKS. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 22, 1856. 



John Wilfley called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I was at the free-State election, at Easton, on the 17th of January, 
1856. The election was held at Mr. Minard's house. I was' at Mi- 
nard's house, and saw voters coming in armed with guns, and they 
generally came in armed. They remained at that house all day. 
Every man (so far as I saw them) voting was armed. No pro-slavery 
men voted, so far as I saw. I should think there were about sixty- 
five free-State men there. There were pro-slavery men in town that 
day ; some fifteen of them while I was there, which was until dark. 
The pro-slavery men were not armed that I saw, and they interfered 
in no way^ so far as I saw. Mr. Brown, in the afternoon, went down 
into town some half a mile from the place where the election was held, 
and publicly declared he had an organized company with him of armed 
men, and made threats that he would shoot holes through any man 
faster than he could count, if any man dared to touch him, and de- 
clared that he would get on his hands and knees and crawl through 
the snow, as bad as it was, a mile, to get pro-slavery men to fight him 
and his men. He also stated that his company had sixty-eight shot 
ready to fire. That was about all the threats I heard Brown make. 
There was no fuss in town until after these threats were made. No 
man had made any threats to him before that, and no one said any- 
thing to his threats. Tl\ere was no difficulty or quarrelling up to the 
time I left, which was about dark. I understood afterwards that a 
man by the name of Cook was shot that nighty and Brown killed the 
next day. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I did not vote that day, because I did not want to vote ; I staid 
there merely to see the people, and see what was done. I was down 
in town when Brown came down and made those threats. Brown had 
two men with him whom I did not know, and stood in front of Daw- 
son's store when he said this. There were some fifteen men at the 
store — Dr. Motter, Mr. Kookogey, the two Messrs. Rose, Mr. Price, 
and others 1 do not now recollect. This was, I should think, about, or 



1016 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

a little before, snmlown. I tliinkthey had liquor to sell at Dawson's 
store. I do not know whether the men witli Brown came down with 
him, hut they went away witli him. Brown said he and his company 
had sixty-eight shots ready. I supposed his company were up to Mr. 
Minard's. I do not know who came with Brown to the election. He 
said he had sixteen shot himself, and lie showed them. Nobody spoke a 
word to liim, hut he did all the talking. 1 do not think Brown was 
drunk then. 

To Mr. Scott: 

Tliese twelve or fifteen men at the store where Brown made these 
threats, I do not know whether they were all pro-slavery men or not ; 
I think they were mostly, though one or two that I knew were not. 
I do not know whether any of those twelve or tifteen men, except my- 
self, had been up to the place of voting or not ; I do not recollect of 
having seen any of them up there. No dithculty had occurred at the 
place of voting before I left for home, and 1 do not think any pro- 
slavery men were there when I left. ^Yhen I left the place of voting 
the free-State party were putting out armed guards. I had stopped 
there aiime, after Brown made his threats, while I was on my way 
home. 

JOHN WILFLEY. 

Lelwenworth City, K. T., Jlay 29, 1856. 



S. J. KooKOQEY called and sworn : 

To Mr. Scott : 

I was clerking for Dawson, at Easton, at the time the free-State party 
had an election at Minard's, the ITth of January, 1856. The election 
was said to have been appointed for the 15th, and was postponed 
till the 17th, but I do not know for wliat reason. 1 saw a number 
of men there that day that I never saw before or since. All the 
men Avho came there to vote were armed. I do not know of any 
pro-slavery men who came to that election : and at night, when I 
went up to ^Minard's with his wife, who was down town, I saw some 
seventy or eighty men in the room there ; it was about ten o'clock at 
night. I was quite well acquainted with ijearly all the persons in 
tluit neighborhood, as they traded where I was clerking. I saw but 
three men in the room that I recognised ; the rest appeared to be 
strangers to me. I recognised James Comstock, a Mr. Davis, and old 
I\Ir. Sparks. There might have been others I knew, but I did not 
notice them. 1 was not cliallenged by sentinels when I went up to 
the house, though 1 saw some about a hundred yards from the house. 
After 1 came back to the store. I went up again to see Mr. Miuard, as 
1 had just received notice from General Whittield that Dawson had 
been appointed postmaster at Easton. Mr. McLear went up with me, 
and went into the house, while I stopped outside and talked with 31r. 
!Minard, who had just come out, about the post office. We walked 
back to the door, and old man Sparks rushed out very much excited, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1017 

and said '"'nere is tliis damned McLear up liere ; Minard, let's kill 
him," or bang him, I forget which. Minard went into the house, 
and at the same time Sparks recognised me, and asked what I was 
doing up there. I tokl him I tliouglit I liad a right to go anywhere 
I chose. He asked me if I did not know these were very ticklish 
times. I tohl him I did not know of any dilHculty anywhere. He 
took me one side and endeavored to get me into a political discussion, 
detaining me some ten or fifteen minutes longer than I wanted to 
stay. I told him we were so lar apart on the slavery question, there 
was no use in our talking about it. I then went back to the store, 
leaving ]\IcLear at the house. I met Mr. Samuel Burgess at the store, 
and told him that ]\IcLear was at Minard's, and he had better go up 
and see about it. "We had some talk as to what we should do about 
McLear, and while we were talking McLear came down, saying that 
lie had been released. Everything appeared then to be quieting 
down. The first time I saw Mr. Brown in my life was that day, be- 
fore the store, about sundown. He had two men with him, and said 
that they had come there to have an election, and to vote, and Avould 
not be molested, as they were armed for resistance. He remarked 
that he was prepared, and said if we did not believe it he would show 
us, and then he threw open his coat, and I saw one or two pistols on 
him. No one had spoken to him then. That is all the remark I 
heard him make, as 1 was called off in the store. At night, after 
McLear and myself had been at Minard's and returned to the store, 
Brown marched down with ten or twelve armed men, and the party- 
threw the muzzles of their guns down, and he said " We act upon the 
defensive." We told him to come on, and he should not be molested. 
All the men in the grocery then came out, and Brown's party went 
into the grocery. He called for something to drink all round, and 
got a jug ol liquor and a fiddle. They then came out of the grocery, 
and Brown commenced a conversation with Dr. Motter and myself. 
He said he had seen one ballot-box taken, and he would be God 
damned if he would see another taken unless they went over his dead 
body. Wc told him we had no such idea ; and that even if we had 
had, it was then too late. Brown and his men then left, and went 
oft' leisurely towards Minard's. In an hour or so after that, while I 
was nearly asleep, old man Sparks came along in front of Dr. Mot- 
ter 's otfice, leading his horse, with a crowd of men about him, and 
turned around the store towards Dawson's house, two or three men 
walking along talking to him, one of whom he was not on good terms 
with ; the main crowd was walking along behind. He turned into a 
lane near Dawson's house, and when he had got down the lane about 
fifteen steps he stopped, but whether of his own accord, or because the 
men made him stop, I do not know. I was sitting about ten steps 
from Sparks, and heard some talking to him, condemning his course. 
Wliile they were talking to him, I heard some noise behind me, and 
looked around and saw Mr. Brown and a party coming along. Some 
of his men seemed disposed not to come, and he was saying to them, 
'' God damn you, come along." When he got to the entrance of the 
lane, they levelled their guns, and Brown said, " You God damned 
lousy, pro-slavery sons of bitches, we demand old man Sparks." We 



1018 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

then turned and walked up to his party. He told us to march on be- 
fore his party, and we refused. We then came along together towards 
Dawson's store. When we got about a hundred and fifty yards from 
the lane, there was a road that turned oif to Minard's from the one 
that led to Dawson's store ; we separated : the free-State party, who 
had old man Sparks in the middle of their crowd, turned oti* towards 
Minard's Avhile we kept on to the store. Dr. Motter and myself were 
some five or six steps from our main party, and were talking. After 
they turned oif, and had got some ten or fifteen steps, some one in the 
free-State party fired a pistol, which I considered was rather in exul- 
tation of their having got old man Sparks, and not intended to be 
fired at our party. There was then a general firing on both sides, 
and then the free-State party broke and ran, some behind some houses, 
and some behind the bank of a creek there. The principal portion of 
our party got behind Dawson's store. Several of our party had no 
guns at all, while the others had double-barrelled guns and rifles ; 
but I do not think more than fifteen or eighteen of our party had 
arms. The firing, I think, lasted some minute or a minute and a 
half, not longer. I saw a man fall in front of the grocery, and I 
heard some one cry out, " Cook is shot." Mr. Comstock and myself, 
I think, were the only men behind Dawson's store then, while the 
rest of our men ran over to the grocery, some thirty yards from the 
store, where Cook was shot. We then came out from behind the 
store, and as we stepped out some man on the free-State side fired at 
us twice, striking the fence near us, and then they ran away from be- 
hind the house where they were. I then went into the store and got 
some blankets, and took Mr. Cook down to Dawson's house. When I 
came back, everything was still and quiet, and I saw no men of either 
side. I heard that the free-State men were going to stay that night 
at Miuard's. I went to bed. The next morning I saw Mr. Brown 
and his party — some six or seven cf them — start for Leavenworth. I 
think that, if it had not been for Mr. Sparks and Mr. Brown, there 
would have been no difficulty at all. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

When I went up to Minard's with McLear, it was about eleven 
o'clock at night. 

S. J. KOOKOaET. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 29, 1856. 



EssEXETH Sparks called and sworn. 

My husband's name is Stephen Sparks. We live on the other side 
of Stranger creek, about twelve miles from this place, and four miles 
south of Easton. My husband and son were arrested, as they told 
me, on the night of the 17th of January last, by the Missourians and 
Kickapoo Eangers, and they were rescued by K. P. Brown, and others. 
I know that they came home from some conflict by their wounds. 
My son was grazed by shots on his head and arm. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1019 

In the evening of the next day, about 3 o'clock, a party of from 10 
to 18, a right smart company of men, came to out house and inquired 
for ]\Ir. Sparks, my husband. At the time they were coming, Fran- 
cis Browning was at the house. He had just rode up, and asked two 
men, who were going along the road, to help him rescue Brown. One 
of them said he could not go. Tlie other said he did not know how 
soon it might be his case, and took the harness off his horse, and one 
of the guns which the man had, and rode oif with him. This man 
was Francis Browning ; the name of the other who went with him 
was Richard Houcks. 

Just as they started, two men rode up and called for Mr. Sparks. 
I told them he was out on business. They said they had private busi- 
ness with him. 

Just then Mr. Browning, seeing a party of horsemen on a little rise, 
coming from Dawson's, turned back and asked these two men what it 
meant. They said " they did not know; there was a great excite- 
ment at Dawson's, they had heard, but they had not been there." 
They then gave the sign by firing two pistols in the air, and motion- 
ing to the party with their hands. The party then came riding on as 
fiist as they could, shouting. When they came up, they all joined in. 
pursuit of Browning and Houcks, shouting "kill them," '-kill 
them," "kill the damned abolitionists," and firing upon them; but 
they divided, one going one way, round the hill, and the other the 
other way, and escaped. 

The party of horsemen then returned, and stopped before the door, 
and held council for a few moments, and one man said, " Capt. Dunn, 
give orders ;" and the man he spoke to gave orders. He said, "Now 
we will take the house; shoot down Capt. Sparks at sight." 

I then told them I had an aftiicted son, and that anything that ex- 
cited him threw him into spasms right at once ; and that Mr. Sparks, 
and all but him, were away from home. When I stepped to the door 
and looked in, I saw Captain Dunn, with a six-shooter presented at 
my son's breast. I did not hear the question asked, but I heard my 
son's answer — " I am on the Lord's side, and if you want to kill me, 
kill me ; I am not afraid to die." Dunn then left him, and turned to 
my little son, about twelve years old, and put the pistol to his breast, 
and asked him where his father's Sharpe's rifle was, and my son told 
him he had none. Dunn asked him where those guns were, pointing 
to the racks, and told him if he did not tell the truth, he would kill 
him ; and my son told him the men-folks generally took care ot the 
guns. 

When they came out, I asked Captain Dunn, "What does all this 
mean?" He answered that they had " taken the law into their own 
hands, and they intended to use it." 

JMcAleer, who formerly lived here in Leavenworth, was one of the 
party, and one of the Scotts, from Missouri, and some said there were 
two of them there. One John Dunn, a brother of the captain, was 
there. I heard the name of Dunn from others, but the Scotts and 
McAleer I know myself. The Scotts were raised within a mile or so 
of where we lived, in Platte county, Missouri. The party then left. 

Late in February, eight men came to the house. Two men came 



1020 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

up first, and the others followed to the house on foot, in the afternoon, 
and asked for Mr. Sparks, and left the following -paper with me : 

To Stephen SparJcs : 

"The undersigned, as you are aware, are citizens of this neighbor- 
hood. Many of us have come here with our families, intending to 
make Kansas our jiermanent home. It is our interest and desire that 
peace and good- will prevail among us ; and whatever may conduce 
to this desirable end, will meet our hearty approval. 

"The local excitements that have occurred in this vicinity, have 
been principally attributed to you, and, we believe, justly. You have 
figured in them conspicuously, and, in the afiair at Easton, more 
reprehensible than ever. 

"Believing, therefore, that your further residence among us is 
incompatible with the peace and welfare^ of this community, we advise 
you to leave as soon as you can conveniently do so. 
" Joseph Thomas John Moore 

Abner Foster H. E. Kennedy 

Reuben Sutton George W. Brown 

Lark Farrell William Gill 

Geo. W. Browning James Foster 

Wm. McLain Simon B. Pankake 

Carom Norvell C. H. Allen 

Augustine White R. P. Briggs 

Matthew A. Register W. Z. Thompson 

JohnM. White 0. S. Allen _ 

Thomas Hickman Morgan Wright 

^Benjamin Foster Edward MeClain 

'Joseph Moore . C. C. Harrison 

Joseph Moran Wesley Davidson 

Andrew J. Scott Edward M. Kennedy 

Samuel Burgess Andrew J. Davis 

John C. Scott John W. Burgess 

John Burgess James Norvell 

Joseph L. McAleer Joseph Gray." 

Only one of the signers is an actual resident in the neighborhood. 
Most of them are Kickapoo Rangers and Missourians. One of the 
two who first came to the door, said his name.was Kennedy, from 
Alabama; the other, I think, emigrated from Missouri to Kansas. I 
asked him what he had against Mr. Sparks. He said he had nothing 
against him, but he was too influential in his party, and they in- 
tended to break it down. He told me to tell Mr. Sparks to leave by 
the 10th of Mctrch, or abide the consequences. 

A night or two before the 10th of March, four men came into the 
house, about 10 o'clock, and searched for Mr. Sparks, but did not find 
him. They asked for the "notice to leave," and if I had given it to 
Mr. Sparks, and made many threats, and charged us to leave at that 
time, and said that if he was there, they would cut him in pieces. 

her 

ESSEXETH'+ SPARKS. 

mark. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 2Iay 24, 1856, 



^ KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1021 

BES'JAiiix. H. Brook testifies : 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I was taken into custody at the first term of the district court, in 
Doniphan county, in spring of 1856. I was summoned as a juror to 
attend the first term of the court ; I did not understand which . the 
grand or petit jury. I fell on the panel of the petit jury. The 
first two days of the term, I was unwell and could not attend. On 
Friday, the fifth day of the term, while I was in attendance upon the 
court. I was arrested on a hill of indictment for sitting as a judge of 
the election at which Eeeder was said to have heen elected to Con- 
gress. They brought me before the court and arraigned me before 
the bar for trial, as I understood it. The indictment was quashed. 
The judge ordered the clerk to quash the indictment and hold me in 
custody. I got my attorney to get me out on bail to go home that 
night, that I might appear next morning. I gave bail to appear 
next morning. The next morning I appeared, and my attorney got it 
laid over until the next term in August, and I was let ofi" until the 
next term on the same bail I had given before. This was for acting 
as judtre of the election on the 9th of October. 1855. 

B. H. BROOK. 

Leavexworth City, Jlay 23, 1S56. 



Bexjamix Hardixg testifies : 

I acted as judge of the election upon the adoption of the State 
constitution, held on the 15th December, 1855. I think I was not 
arrested, indicted, or imprisoned for that ; but I was arrested and 
imprisoned upon the charge of serving as judge of an election on the 
9th of October, 1855 ; but I did not serve on that day. The indict- 
ment was found bv the errand iurv which sat at Whitehead : Judsre 
Lecompte, I have understood, piresiding. I was indicted, and some 
months afterwards arrested. I was confined because I declined to 
give bail, and was kept in custody for eight days, and then I gave 
bail and was discharged from custody. The indictment is still pend- 
ing. An attachment was also served upon me at the same time, 
which I understood to be for contempt of court in failing to appear 
when summoned as a juror. Bail was also required for my appear- 
ance on that charge ; at the same time I gave bail on the other charge. 
The amount of the bail for the attachment was 8200, and for the in- 
dictment $500. 

[The question was overruled, Major Oliver dissenting.] 

Quest io7i. Why did you fail to serve as a juror? 

[The question was overruled. Major Oliver dissenting.] 

Question. Why did you refuse to give bail under the indictment; 
and under the attachment ? 

[The question was overruled, Major Oliver dissenting.] 

B. HAEDIXG. 

Leavexworth Citt. K. T., Mai/ 24, 1856. 



1022 KA2;SAS AFFAIRS^ 



E. E. Zimmerman testifies : 

Shortly before tlie election, last foil, for delegate to Congress, 
about a week before the election of the first of October, I took some 
handbills with reference to a meeting to be held at Kickapoo, of all 
persons who would attend, in relation to a free-State convention, and 
also handbills in reference to the free-State election of the 9th of Oc- 
tober, 1S55. I then went to Atchison, sticking up and distributing 
these notices on the way. I stopped at the hotel at Atchison, and 
gave some of these handbills to the landlord, and asked him to put 
them up in some public place. There was a man who said he lived 
in Missouri and owned a lot of niggers there, who was called General, 
I think, who came up to me and snatched the bills out oi my hands. 
He then read the notice about the State constitutional convention to the 
crowd, putting in and leaving out words to make it read ridiculous. 
There w-as a big fat fellow there, I believe they called Thomason, 
walked up towards me and said I was a damned abolitionist. I stootl 
up against the wall, as I was standing in the passage, and put my 
hand under my coat-tail as if to get a pistol, though I was unarmed; 
I was asked if I had read the Squatter Sovereign, and I said I did 
sometimes ; I was asked if I did not know that they allowed no such 
documents put up there, and that I was guilty of high treason, tS:c.; 
and there was some talk of having me tried before some justice of the 
peace there. They took the bills before my face and lighted their 
cigars with them, and burned them, and took olf others ; I stepj>ed 
out. and as it was after dark, I asked the landlord for a room. He 
said he could not give me a room then, but showed me into one alx>iit 
an hour afterwards. I heard the crowd talking outside. Bob Kelly, 
one of the editors of the Squatter Sovereign, and this fat man, were 
in the crowd. This Bob Kelly suggested that it would be a good 
plan to hang me, and set an example to all abolitionists coming to 
Atchison. Another suggested that I had better not be killed, but 
that it would be better to tie my pony on one side of a raft, and my- 
self on the other side, and be sent down the 3Iissouri river. And 
then one suggested that perhaps they had better keep me there until 
the day of speaking came otf. and not let any of the handbills be cir- 
culated, and have some fun with Lane and others who were to come 
there to address them. That Avas about the substance of the conver- 
sation. I was at the window listening to this, but I went to bed 
again then. The next morning a number came to me and asked me 
where I was going. Among them was a doctor from Platte city, who 
said he knew me at Kickapoo. He asked what all this meant. 1 told 
him what the object of the State convention was. After the conver- 
sation he spok? to these men. and as I had no more bills I promised 
not to go to Doniphan, as I had intended, but to go across the river and 
return home that way. There were some fifteen there, and they ap- 
peared to be considerably excited. They advised me when I left 
never to call there again with abolition documents, if I knew what was 
good for me ; that i would find that latitude very unhealthy for abo- 
litionists, who were short-livt-d ; that these handbills were treasonable 



KANSAS -AJTAIRS. 1023 

and opposed to the laws. I crossed over into Missouri, and went 
home that way. The night hefore., as I have forgotten to mention, 
thev said they were determined I shoukl not go to Doniphan. 

^Mr. Whitfieki objected to this evidence being received, on the 
grotmd that it was a mere personal ditficulty. The majority of the 
committee overruled the objection, and admitted the evidence ; from 
which Mr. Oliver dissents.] 

I had never seen any of those men before that time, and never have 
seen them since. 

To Mr. Oliver: 

The conversation I heard at Atchison after I went to bed seemed 
to relate to the bills I had brought with me, and they seemed deter- 
mined to have no free-State men speaking there. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I had handbills for calling a meeting to be held at Atchison, an- 
nouncing speakers and their names on it, the meeting to relate to the 
propriety of a State constitutional convention at Toj^eka, and stating 
that so many delegates were to be elected from Atchison ; and it was 
an invitation to all electors to attend, and I think headed, •• A call 
to the people of Kansas." Other handbills I had were for giving 
notice of an election to be held for delegate to Congress, and was a 
general notice to ail parties ; not a word was said about the laws of 
the Territorial legislature, that I can recollect, in the handbills in ref- 
erence to the convention at Topeka. 

To Mr. V'hitfield: 

I was not at a meeting where these notices of the convention were 
agreed to be sent out. 1 happened to be down at Leavenworth city, 
and 1 was asked, as it was on my way, to take some of these bills 
along and distribute them. 

I think Mr. Robert Eiddle handed me some of them. The conven- 
tion for the State constitution was proposed to be held at Topeka. I 
had understood that pro-slavery men, as well as free-State men, were 
to take part in it. I know pro-slavery men who voted for the State 
constitution. I did not understand that the persons who called the 
convention were opposed to the laws of the Territory ; nor did I ever 
know of any sucli understanding among those in lavor of the conven- 
tion. I heard free-State and pro-slavery men talk about the matter, 
and they said they were heartily tired of the excitement here, and they 
thought the best way was to have a State organization, with the offi- 
cers elected by the people. I Avas never at a meeting where it was 
resolved to repudiate the laws of the Territory. I was at a meeting 
at Leavenworth city. Mr. Parrott was called upon to state the object 
of the meeting, ami he stated it was to nominate delegates to be voted 
for by the people to sit at Topeka to frame a State constitution. I 
understood that it was not to be a free-State convention. 1 know that 
some free-State men nominated pro-slavery men. Mr. Halderman 
was nominated, but declined ; another pro-slavery man was nominated, 
but declined. I understood that all parties were to be represented. 



1024 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

I was not present at the Big Springs or the Topeka conventions, 
have seen and read the resolutions passed hy the Big Springs conven- 
tiou, and believe they were generally endorsed by our party. 

In Atchison, while I was standing in the passage of the hotel, I 
judge there were eleven men present, but do not know whether there 
were any more or less in the party after I went to bed. I can give no 
opinion as to the number of people in Atchison. I should tliink 
there were a great manv more than eleven there. 

EDMUND K. ZIMMERMAN. 

Tecumseh, K. T._, May 7, 1S56. 



Peter T. Abell called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I, with a number of other persons of Atchison, of this Territory, 
•was at Lawrence a few days ago, with the United States marshal's 
j)Osse. During the time we were there some of the gentlemen of the 
posse, from my town, picked np those letters, with a number of others, 
and other papers, near the big hotel, and handed them to me. The 
papers that were with those letters were notes and bonds, and other 
papers, directed some to A. H. Reeder, and some to Grosvenor P. 
Lowry. The reason I am not willing to surrender them, but have 
prepared copies for this investigation, is, that I have been reij^uested to 
give them to attorney general Isaacks. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I did not regard the letters in anr lis-ht at all when I received 
them, either as private or otherwise, for they were handed to me while 
I was then in the j^osse, and I took them. I heard them read; and 
the gentleman who read the letters said that, as Reeder was one of the 
persons the marshal wished to arrest, he thought it right to look into 
his letters. After hearing the letters read, I supposed they were pri- 
vate letters written by Reeder to Lowry ; but 1 had no regard about 
them, as there was much confusion there — many men about there at 
the time ; and I took them when they were handed to me. I have 
exhibited the letters to others since then. I do not know as I can 
recollect all who have seen them. They have -been read since they 
came in my possession ; and I do not recollect of but two or three in- 
dividuals who have read them since I came back here. I do not know 
the private relations between Mr. Lowry and Gov. Reeder. I have 
heard, since I came here, for the first time, that Mr. Lowry was Gov. 
Reoder's private secretary. The question of the propriety of exhibit- 
ing these letters has never been raised by the persons I have shown 
them to, or who have heard them read. At the time the letters were 
read, it was said that Reeder was one of the very men the marshal 
wished to arrest; and he was generally regarded as the instigator of 
all the devilment in the Territory, and anything was fair with him. 
I exhibited them after I ascertained they gave no clue to his where- 
abouts, merely because I thought they were evidence to show Reeder's 



¥ 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1025 

connection with the disturhances in the Territory, and for no other 
purpose. All to whom I have shown these letters have taken the 
same view I do with regard to the propriety of exhibiting them ; at 
least, T judge so, as nothing was said against it. Under ordinary 
circumstances I would be the last man to examine private letters. I 
have shown the letters to my private friends, but I do not think I am 
called upon to say who those persons are. Others of ray private 
friends I have refused to show them to, even since they have been 
brought before this committee ; and I would suppose that, at that 
time,' there were some twenty or thirty persons present when they 
were read. I think a gentleman named Palmer, of Atchison, picked 
these letters up in the street, near the hotel, and, 1 tliink, before the 
hotel was destroyed, though I will not be })ositive about that. I do 
not know that Gov. Reeder's trunk was broken open, though I heard 
that one of his trunks was found. I do not think these letters were 
taken from his trunk, though they may have been. When Mr. Palmer 
handed me these letters, some one, I do not know whether it was 
Palmer or some one else, said those letters were important ones, and 
should be preserved. When I received them I understood them to be 
letters from Gov. Reeder, for some one read out his name at the bot- 
tom of some of them. When the property was being carried out of 
the hotel, I was in a room with General Pomoroy writing ; and when 
I came out they were handed to me. They appeared like a parcel of 
letters put up in a hurry when I saw them. I saw that some were 
directed to Lowry, and some to Reeder, and looked as if the papers 
of both persons had been hurriedly tied up together. All these pa- 
pers, except some I have here, were sent to Atchison with the com- 
pany that went from Atchison ; and I think they are now at Weston, 
Missouri, to be returned, so far as the valuable papers are concerned, 
to those to whom they belong, if they can ever be found. I cannot 
say in whose possession they are now. I heard of no money being 
found with the papers. I "did not read any of them myself, but 
merely heard others read them. I never took possession of any but 
these letters. I did not see or hear of any letters to Reeder there 
from his wife. The papers were read before the crowd ; and one ar- 
ticle on free love, said to be in Reeder's handwriting, which seemed 
to cause some amusement. I did not hear of there being any letters 
in this bundle from Mr. Reeder's family. I do not think there was 
any particular authority for taking the bonds and papers to Weston ; 
but I took them there myself. I v/ill not tell in whose custody I 
placed them, because I think it has nothing to do with the letters 
brought here. No communication has been made to Mr. Reeder, or 
any of his family, at Easton Pennsylvania, in regard to these papers, 
to my knowledge. This bundle of papers was picked up in town, 
taken to camp, and there read to some persons in the camp ; after 
which they came into my possession for the first time. In the fore- 
going testimony I do not mean to convey the idea that these letters 
were read to the whole crowd in the town as soon as they were picked 
up, for I did not hear any of them read until after we went back to 
camp. 

^ P. L ABELL. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 21, 1856. 
H. Rep. 200 65* 



1026 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

D. J. Johnson testifies: 

To Mr. Matthias : 

When the difficulty commenced which led to the tarring and feather- 
ing of Phillips, politics had nothing to do with it. Malcolm Clark 
had been killed, and an inquest was held on his body. When more 
facts were brought to light which led the community to believe that 
Mr. Phillips was accessory to the death of Clark, a meeting of the 
citizens was called, at which I myself made a speech, and declared 
that if politics had anything to do with Mr. Phillips' case, I would 
have nothing to do with it. It was believed by the citizens and my- 
self that there was no law to bring Mr. McCrea or Mr. Phillips to pun- 
ishment. The citizens at that meeting appointed a committee of ten 
men to inform Mr. Phillips to leave town in five or ten days, or some 
such time. At the time appointed for him to leave, there was a large 
number of the citizens assembled on the levee, who instructed the 
committee to go and see if Mr. Phillips had left. We went to look 
for him and could not find him. We reported him gone. The citi- 
zens refused to discharge the committee as they were certain he would 
return. He did return that night. The committee, assembled some 
two or three days after that and arrested Mr. Phillips — took him over 
on the island opposite here, and there took a vote as to what they 
should do with him, after he had refused to sign a written agreement 
to leave the Territory. A majority of the committee voted to tar and 
feather him. The committee could get no tar and feathers this side 
of Rialto ; and we took him up there and feathered him a little above 
Kialto, Missouri. The only politics ever connected with the affair was 
afterwards by the newspapers. On the day that Malcolm Clark was 
killed there was a large Delaware squatter meeting to regulate their 
claims, and perhaps elect some officers. Mr. McCrea, I think, lived 
on Kickapoo lands, as I understood, and was not regarded by the 
Delaware squatters as a member of this meeting. 1 was not present 
at the meeting, but was sick, until after I heard Malcolm Clark was 
dead. 

D. J. JOHNSON. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 30, 1856. 



Captain John W. Martin called and sworn. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

On the ITth of January, 1856, about 11 o'clock at night, I got a 
letter from Dr. Motter, of Easton, requesting us to come down there 
and assist them against the free-soilers, who were going to drive them 
out. I answered his note by telling him I apprehended no danger, 
and he had better go on until they commenced to fight. About sun- 
rise the next morning I received another note from him, saying that 
one of their men named Cook had been killed by the free-soilers the 
night before. I then went down to Kickapoo, and told the men what 
had happened, and showed them the notes, and we concluded, a good 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1027 



many of us, to go out to Easton and see "liat was up. We started 
off — citizens of the place, as they chose to go. I was asked if I was 
going to call out the Kickapoo Rangers, and I said I was not. We 
went about three miles from Kickapoo, and then stopped at the house 
of a man named Kenedy, who lived on the military road. Home of 
the men went on while we were stopping there. Tlieyhad been gone 
some five or ten minutes, and we heard them coming back in company 
with another wagon. They came up and said they had caught some 
men from Lawrence, who had been at Easton in the fight the night 
before. That caused a good deal of excitement, and some questions 
were raised as to what we should do with them. Some of them got 
into a fight with one young man who liad been taken in the wagon, 
by tlie name ot Taylor. I was asked what we had better do with the 
party, and I said that I thought it would be better to take them back 
to Easton, and then we could see who they were. About that time, 
Dr. Hotter recognised Mr. Brown as being the captain of the party 
who were in the fight at Easton the night before. Some of the free- 
State men in the wagon asked me what we were going to do with, 
them, and I told them we were going to take them back to Easton. 
They asked me if I would protect them, and I said I would, so far as 
I could. I requested Mr. D. A. N. Grover and Mr. Williams to get 
into the wagon with them, to protect tliem from injury, they being 
sober, discreet men. We then went on to Easton, and all of the free- 
State men got out of the wagon, and we put them in Mr. Dawson's 
store for protection against some of the men who had got to drinking, 
and had become excited. Some were excited before we got there, and 
belonged to the party who had been there the night before. We 
found no free-State men in Easton, who made any show of fight, as 
had been represented to us. I took Mr. Brown out of the room where 
we had placed him and his party, and took him into another room 
where there were some four or five of our party, in order that we might 
examine him, and decide what was best to be done with him. Dr. 
Hotter questioned him as to what he (Brown) had done the night be- 
fore. Brown went on to state that they had come to Easton to the 
election to vote, and to defend the polls if necessary ; that he had un- 
derstood that the Kickapoo Rangers, or the pro-slavery party, were 
coming there to take the ballot-box away from them. He stated the 
cause of the difficulty of the night before, to have grown out of the 
fact that Mr. Sparks was going from Mr, Hinard's house home, and the- 
news came to Hr. Hinard's that Sparks had been taken prisoner, and 
he went down with some 30 or 40 men to rescue him. They went 
down and found Sparks up in a corner of the fence, with some 15 or 
20 men around him. He demanded that Sparks should be given up, 
and they did so, and he ordered the party who had Sparks to- 
march back in front of his party. They refused to do it, and told him 
to go before and they would come after him ; and they marched that 
way about a hundred yards to where the road forked. He (Brown) 
and his party took the left-hand road, and the other party took the 
right-hand road. He said that where the roads are about 40 or 50 
yards apart, and the two parties were about opposite to each other, 
there was a gun fired; and he thought it was from the pro-slavery 



1028 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

party, and lie and his party then returned tlie fire. He said there 
were some two or three rounds exchanged, and all of his men ran off, 
pretty much, and went up to Minard's, 

That, I think, is about the substance of what he said at that time 
about the matter. 

AVhen Brown had made this statement, the question came up as to 
what we should do with him. Myself and Mr. Elliott, Mr. Grover 
and Mr. Burgess, advised them to bring Brown back to Leavenworth 
city, and place him in the hands of the proper authorities here. 
There were others in the room at that time ; and I went out, and the 
crowd asked what conclusion we had come to, and I told them. They 
swore that would not do, because Brown would get away as McCrea 
had, and they were determined to have Brown or shoot him. I told 
them that would be wrong and cowardly, as Brown was a prisoner, 
and that I would be responsible for him — would take him back my- 
self, and he should not get away. Several other men promised the 
same thing, and then went back into the house to get some other steady 
men to go out and talk Avith the crowd, and try to pacify them ; and 
they did so. While I was in the room some drunken men, some who 
lived out on the Stranger, some from Leavenworth, and probably one 
or two from Kickapoo, but none who belonged to the Kangers, broke 
open the door of the room and came in. Myself, Mr. Kively, and Mr. 
Elliott put them out again. After the crowd got out, Mr. Elliott, 
•who was an old gentleman, advised me to come out, as the crowd 
•would kill me and Brown both. He said he would not stay there and 
be exposed to such a set of drunken fools, and advised me to come 
aAvay. I went out in a few moments afterwards, and went into the 
• other room where the rest of the prisoners were, and got them away 
while the crowd was breaking the second time into the room where 
Brown was. I then went back into the room where Brown was, and 
the crowd succeeded in breaking in the second time. Some of them 
caught hold of him and tied his hands with a rope, and some tried to 
shoot him. Mr. Rives and myself tried to protect him all we could 
by throwing the muzzles of the guns up and trying to take them away 
•from them. Brown said I had done all I could do to save him, and 
if he was killed his blood would not be on my head. I cursed the 
■men, and told them they were doing wrong, and declared if they 
would kill Brown in spite of all I could do, I would not stay to see 
them do it. These men were not a company of which I had any com- 
mand. The company of Kickapoo Rangers was not called out, and 
the only way I had any control over those who were there was by en- 
treaty and expostulation. I then went out of the room, and got my 
horse and went home to Kickapoo, after having done all in my power 
to prevent any harm being done to the prisoners, and trying to get 
the sober men to put the drunken men in the wagons and bring them 
away. I did succeed in getting some of the more sober and discreet 
men to come away. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

We started from Kickapoo for Easton about 8 o'clock. ♦ When 
Brown's wagon was brought up to Kennedy's, I suppose our whole 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1029 

party consisted of about forty men. Kennedy's is about five miles from 
Easton. Our party consisted of only such men as chose to go; but 
there was no organization. There were some seven of Brown's party 
with the driver, I think. I think there were two wagons in one party, 
and one was a four-mule wagon. Some of Brown's party, when we 
decided to take them back to Easton, asked who was the captain of 
our party, and some said that I was. Brown himself came to me and 
asked me to take charge of his pistol, as I did also some of the others 
of his men. Some of thera gave their arms to others of our paity. 
There were some of ours in Brown's wagon, and I think Taylor had 
a Sharpe's rifle. After we got about a mile from Kennedy's, a man 
by the name of G-reen gave me his two pistols. I do not know 
whether all of Brown's party gave their arms up or not. "When 
Brown's party came up to Kennedy's first with the four or five of our 
party who had gone ahead of the rest of us, one of Brown's party, 
who said his name was Taylor, and a man named Gribson, got into a 
fight. Gibson tried to strike Taylor with a hatchet, but not while 
Taylor was down, I do not think Taylor was ever down on the 
ground, but only on his knees. When Gibson struck at Taylor with 
the hatchet Taylor ran away. I caught hold of Gribson as he was 
running after Taylor and stopped him. I asked Gibson what he 
meant, and he said Taylor had drawn his gun on him when they first 
met. When we started back, Mr. Adams, I think, asked me if we 
were going to take them back to Easton, and I told them we were ; 
and he asked if I would protect them, and I told him I would as far 
as I could. I do not think the surrender of their arms was connected 
with any condition or promise of protection. They were given up to 
difierent persons of our party. 

Some of those men who tied Brown's hands, and were about him 
when the crowd broke open the door l^he second time, were Sharp, 
Moore, and some two or three men they called Moore. Jo. Moore 
was one of them, though I did not know them ; and one by the name 
of Moore, (Eli Moore,) from this place. He seemed to be pretty active 
against Brown, and against what I desired to have done. There were 
others in the room engaged in the affair that I did not know. I do 
not recollect of seeing Gibson there in the room. It was about sun- 
down when I left, and I do not think any one had harmed Brown 
then. There was a great uproar about Brown in the room, and also 
outside the house. As far as I could hear, Brown desired the crowd 
to follow my advice, and bring him back to Leavenworth. There 
were more than a dozen in the room when they broke in the second 
time ; but there were a great many outside. I have never heard any 
man say he struck Brown any blow, and I never desired to hear any- 
thing about the mritter. I do not know whether the arms given up 
by Brown's party were ever returned. I did not keep the arms, but 
-gave them to some of the men Brown's pistol was sent for by his 
wife, and I gave it to the messenger. Mr. Grove sent for his, and I 
had loaned them to some one, and had forgotten who had borrowed 
them ; and I did not know the pistols. I sent word to Grove that if 
he would come up I would assist him in finding them. 

J. W. MAETIN. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 27, 1856. 



1030 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

"Wiley "Williams called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I Iviunv nothing of tlie circumstances tliat led to the killing ot 
Brown. I lived in Kiclcapoo last January, Init I went witli some citi- 
zens to Easton. As I went down to Kickapoo in the morning from 
my house, Capt. Martin told me that he had received a despatch from 
Dr. blotter, of Easton, that there had been an election of the free- 
State party the day before; and about seventy-five men, commanded 
by a Mr. Brown, had attacked, in the night, a party of pro-slavery 
men, consisting of about fit'teen. in the town of Easton, and shot at 
and Avounded Mr. Cook, who at that time Avas }>erhaps dead: and that 
this man said that there would be a hundred and fifty free-State men 
on the ground the next day for a fight. Capt. Martin said that there 
were but few of the pro-slavery party in Easton to protect themselves — 
not more than fifteen or twenty he knew o\' in that neighborhood — and 
lie thought it was right and just for us to go out as law-abiding citi- 
zens and stop the difiiculties that might arise on either side. I told 
him that I would go out as a citizen to assist in suppressing the ditfi- 
culties, but that I would not go as one of the company of Kickapoo 
Rangers. Capt. Martin said that it had been proposed to him by two 
or three of the company, to have them called out to go as a company. 
He had told them he had no right to call them out unless ordered by the 
governor, or some legal authority ; and therefore he should not call 
them cuit. I agreed with him in that opinion. I suppose ^ome fifteen 
or twenty of us started from Kickapoo for Easton; some on horseback, 
some on foot, and one v»-agon, with about five in it. It is about ten 
miles to Kickapoo from Easton. There were not more than six of 
the Kicka})oo Rangers in the fifteen or twenty who started with us. 
We went on about four miles from Kickapoo, and stopped at a Mr. 
Kennedy's, on the road, to warm ourselves. Betbre we got to Mr. 
Kennedy's, we met a wagon with two men in it, and they turned their 
wagon and went back with us, after we had told them wlnit we heard 
had occurred at Easton. After we had been at Kennedy's a few min- 
utes. Capt. ]\Iartin came tome and said, •• Williams, get in our wagon 
and go on with our boys — we will come after you ; there are two or 
three of the boys drinking a little,, and as you do not drink any, you 
c^\n see that they behave themselves. If you meet any persons on the 
road before I catch up with you, treat them gentlemanly, and have 
no difiiculty with them if you can help it." I started ofi' with the 
boys and wagon, and when we had got between half a mile and a 
mile, t!ie wagon tliat had turned back to Kennedy's with us was about 
two hundred yards ahead ot^ our wagon. We saw a wagon pass that 
and come towards us with some six or seven men. I saw Mr. Hodges 
in our first wagon look back towards the wagon that they met, and 
motion his hand. He immediately turned his wagon and came towards 
us, some forty or fifty steps behind the wagon he had met, and which 
was coming towards us. When the wagon got within some five or six 
ste[)s of ours, I said to the boys, "Boys, there's a party of the pro-slavery 
men just from Easton. The ditficulty is all over, and we will go 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1031 

back. Levi, turn your wagon. ' ' Levi Bowman was driving the wagon, 
and did not turn as I asked him to do, but said he did not believe 
they were pro-shivery men, I tohl him, ''I know better; there is Mr. 
Ohiham driving, and I know him to be a good pro-shivery man." 
About this time they got nearly opjiosite our wagon. I said to them 
'' How do you do, gentlemen?" being pretty contidont that it was ]\[r. 
Oldham. I said, ''"Is the difficulty over at Easton ? tell us the news." 
A man sitHng in the wagon, Avhom I learned afterwards was Mr. 
• Brown, did not make any reply, but turned around to the men sitting 
"back of him and looked pretty savage, motioned to the company with 
his hand, and they seemed to assent silently to something. I then 
said, '' Boys, I certainly am not mistaken ; that is Mr. Oldham, and 
they are trying to play a trick off on us. ' ' They moved very slowly, and 
.by this time had got a little past our wagon. I said to them again, 
1 " Gentlemen, please to tell us the news ; we have started to Easton, 
' and if there is no difficulty at Easton we want to go back. Is that 
' Mr. Oldham driving, or am I mistaken?" This man Brown seemed 
again to rule the company by a motion of his hand ; and nothing more 
. was said by any of the party. Brown's driver seemed to make a kind 
[ of a halt. One of our boys said, "they area set of abolitionists, and 
will not give a man an answer when he asks them in that gentlemanly 
I kind ot' style." Two or three of our boys became excited ; I told them 
j to keep cool and say nothing — I would ascertain who they were. 
; I then looked on the other side, and saw the other wagon — Mr, 
I Hodges' wagon. One of the boys in that wagon took up his gun, 
( and hallooed to Brown's wagon, and told them if they did not stop he 
\ would shoot them. Brown's wagon was seventy-five yards, perhaps 
I less, from ours. When one of our men said that those in Brown's 
, wagon were abolitionists, another of. our men asked them if they were 
abolitionists or pro- slavery men ? I heard no answer ; but one of our 
men said that he heard Brown say that he answered no such damned 
questions. When one in Hodges' wagon said that he would shoot 
them if they did not stop. Brown's wagon stopped, and seven men got 
out and faced about in pretty good order I thought, towards us, shoul- 
der to shoulder. The driver did not get out. When Brown got out 
I lie held his gun about half presented, and the others not so much so. 
Bowman, our driver, then picked U]i his gun and said he would shoot, 
I caught him by his pantaloons and pulled him down on the seat. 
When he put down his gun, I then told the boys to raise no fuss, and 
not to shoot; that that was certainly Mr. Oldham, and they were try- 
ing to play off a trick on us, and I would go and see them. Two of 
the boys in our wagon said they were younger than I was, and they 
would go and see who they were, I said, talk to them coolly. Find 

I out who they are, and what they are after. Brown's ]iarty still kept 
their ground. Our boys passed by them instead of talkiug to them, 
j as directed by me. Brown and his party then started on foot and 
I followed our boys on towards Kennedy's. I then said, "Boys, we 
' will go on and see what they are after," O^c. Some of the boys got 
out of our wagon and went on foot, and when two or three of us in the 
I wagon got to Kennedy's, I saw Brown and his party in our crowd ex- 
I cept the driver, who was in Brown's wagon. One or two of the pro- 



1032 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

slavery party were fighting them. Brown's party were not fighting 
at all. Capt. ^Martin was trying to keep peace, and commanded our 
boys not to touch them. I went to ^Vlartin and asked him not to let 
those men he hurt, as they were in the hands of the pro-slavery party, 
who greatly outnumbered them. Martin said he had been trying all 
he couhl. hut two of the boys were drinking, and swore they would 
have a tight. By this time a young man of Brown's party, named 
Taylor, whom one of the pro-slavery men had been fighting, ran up 
to me ratlier for protection. His cap was cut, as he said, with a 
hatchet. He asked me what he should do ; and if they would kill 
him ; and if he had better run. 1 told him no ; that the boys were 
excited, and might shoot him, and I would protect him as long as 
I could stand up, as he said he had been taken a prisoner. While we 
were talking, 1 saw a man, whom 1 do not now recollect, running. 
toAvards Taylor with a hatchet in his hand : and I saw Capt. Martin, 
and Taylor saw him about the same time, and asked if that was Capt. 
Martin? I told him it was, and I called the Captain to me, and he 
came towards me. I asked him not to let those men be hurt. . He said 
he would not if he could help it. I then called Major Berry, at which 
time he seemed to be keeping some one from fighting one of Brown's 
party. I asked him if he was assisting in keeping order, and he said he 
was. Mr. Taylor and Capt. Martin wt-re standing by me : and Mr. Mar- 
tin said to me that it was damned strange that two or three of the boys, 
who had been drinking, and who had been the CAuse of the whole 
fighting here, could not be kept in subjection bv that crowd. The 
difficulty there was then suppressed. Captain Martin selected two or 
three men — Dan Grover was one of them — to go into Brown's wagon 
with his men, as they were taken back to Easton, and see that they 
were not ill-treated. "We all then went on to Eii^tou ; and when we 
got there, there were a good many ot the pro-slavery party at the store 
of Dawson — two or three drinking : and there appeared to be a good 
deal of excitement. One of them swore he would kill Brown : that 
he was the damned rascal that shot Cook the night before. I asked 
how he knew that ; and he said he saw him do it. Brown *s wagon 
had got there, and he and his party had been put in Dawson's store. 
I went into the store, saw Browu and his party there, and there was 
no person saying anything to them ; but there was a great deal of ex- 
citement outside. I went to a house about two hundred yards from 
the store to see Mr. Cook, who had been shot. ~ I went back to the 
store in about an hour alter wards, and Brown and his party were still 
in the store. About that time Brown was taken out of the store. I 
did not see how he went. In about twenty minutes I went out and 
asked where Brown was. Some one told me he was in Dr. Motter's 
drug-store, adjoining Davson's store. I asked what they were going 
to do with him ; and that person said he did not know, but he be- 
lieved they would hang him. About this time two men, I wiis told, who 
hired aKnit Easton, and had been in the fight the night before, came 
up near the door and said that they might as well hang him ; if they 
did not, they would shoot him. They had guns ; and one said he 
would shoot Brown, and said to the other. " I will go around to the 
back window and shoot through now, God damn him." He was 



KANSAS AFFAIKS. 1033 

pretty dniuk at the time, as I thought. I followed him around, aud 
put mv hand ou his shoulder, and told him not to do Si> hy any me«\iis 
in the world. By this time Captain Martin came up where I wjis, 
and said to this man, ** God damn your soul, if you do not stop t« 11- 
iUiT about shooting, I will shoot some of you." I turned around and 
saw an c^ld gentleman hy the name of Elliott, and asked him wliat he 
thought of the proceedings, and what they were doing iu there with 
Brown? Said he, ** I do not know ; these drunken rebels are acting 
so, I cannot get in there." I asked him what he thought ought to be 
done? He Siiid, •'^Yl^y, we have laws here; I think we ought to 
take him and have him tried l>efore Judge Lecomptou ; what da yoa 
think of that?" I said that was deeideilly my opinion, aud that I 
had consulted with Judge Rusisell, and he and Captain Martin and 
others were of the same opinion. Directly after that, I said I wvHild 
try to get into the house and see what they were doing. Squire El- 
liott said he wished I would, and proposed that we should try and get 
the Ivys home, and let Brown l>e dealt with according to hiw : aud 
that from what he had understood. Brown had confirmerl many to 
hang him. I then went to the door. A man followed me there with 
a gun in his hand, who I understood afterwards lived near Easton. 
He said to me, '' If you go in there I will go in too. and shoot that 
Gixi daniueil alx>litionist Brown, for I intend to kill him." I do not 
think I learned his name. I did hear that it was a man nameil Moore, 
so some thought from my description. I knocked at the door, and it was 
immediately partly opened, and this man rushed in before me. Cap- 
tain Martin was either in there or went in there about that time. I 
stood at the door and saw Captain Martin catch this man's gun as he 
said he would shoot Brown, and seemed to try to take it away from 
him. cursed him and told him he should not shoot, and ihat he was 
a damned fool. In the encounter Captain Martin and this man fell, 
rather up against the house. I did not go in, but went away just at 
that time. Directly I saw Captain Martin outside, and asked him 
-what we should do ? He asked what I thought should be done ? I 
said that we should take Brown down to Leavenworth City and give 
him up to the civil authorities. He said '• I cant do authini;. nor you 
either : let us go home. Go and get in the wagon, and if any of 
tiiese drunken sons of bitches want to stay here let them stay. I have 
done ail I could do with them. But look aroimd for the boys a little 
and tell them we will go." I then went to see if I could find any of' 
the Ih\vs. and saw two or three by the door of the house where Brown 
still was. One of them I knew, and he lived in Kickapoo. I ivsked 
where our boys were that came in our wagon? He said he thought 
one or two of them were in the house where Brown was. I knocked 
at the door. It was opene^l, and I went in. They were then taking a 
rope from off Brown's hands, which seemed to have l>een tied. Brown 
was then standing in the corner, with some four or five boys standing 
aroxmd. and some were talking rather harsh to him. One of them 
was named Sharp, from Kickapoo. The other I did not know, but 
was told they lived about Easton. • I said. • ' Boys what in the world are 
YOU doing ? You have been tooling here all day. and it is now almost, 
night and it is time for us to go home." Brown then said, speak- 



1034 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

ing to me, '^ My friend, can you do anything for me? I am in a bad 
condition." I was just about saying something, when some three or 
four persons got in between us, and I did not get to speak to him. I 
then started out, and said, " Boys, let us go home. The only way ot 
deal with Brown is according to law." I went out ; the first man I 
met was Levi Bowman, our driver. I told him to get into our wagon 
and we would go home : and then he, Robert Wooding, and myself 
got into the wagon, which was about fifty yards irom the house where 
Brown was. 

After we had got in the wagon Ave saw a good many men around 
the door of Dr. Motter's, where Brown was; and some one in the 
crowd up there said, "• Come here, Bob Gibson." Bob was then com- 
ing towards our wagon ; but when called, turned around and said, 
'' What in hell do you want with me?" The other one said, "Come 
here, you and Brown are to fight ; and whichever whips, that shall 
settle the question, and he has agreed to it." I saw some persons 
then come out of Motter's office with Brown, and when he came out 
there was a crowd some twenty or thirty about the office. They then 
went across the road, taking Brown with them, and went behind a 
log-liouse, as I supposed, to fight. The two men who were in the 
wagon with me got out and went around there, leaving me alone in. 
the wagon, having asked me to go ; which I refused, saying, I did not 
believe in such fighting, and I could do no good if I went and com- 
manded tlie peace. 

It was tlien between sundown and dark. After they had been gone 
a very short time, I heard hoUooing behind the house, "Hurrah for 
Gibson," " Hurrah for Brown." In a short time after that, I saw 
Brown come running towards the wagon I was in, his wagon being 
close to mine, with the driver still in it. I said, ' ' Come on, Brown . and 
get in." Several of the boys were close behind him : and one, I do not 
know who he was, struck Brown in the face and turned him around. 
That was not more than ten steps from my wagon. As he turned, I 
saw the blood spouting out of his head or neck, I could not tell which. 
He turned and ran down the lane, and was pursued. Some person 
fired a gun, but I saAv it as it went off, pointed up in the air. Brown 
was caught and brought back, put in his wagon, and we all then 
started home. Brown's wagon going on with us. We stopped about 
half a mile from Easton, at a grocery kept by Martin Hefness, and 
•Brown's wagon stopped also. I asked some of the boys if Brown was 
hurt badly ; and some said he was, and he was bleeding very bad. I 
had borrowed a large buftalo-robe of Dr. Motter before I started from 
Easton, and while the boys went into Hefness' s I went to see Brown 
in his wagon, and said, '' Brown, how do you feel? Are you badly 
hurt?" He said, " I tliink I am not very badly hurt, but I am very 
cold." I then told him if he would accept of my robe, he was welcome 
to it. He said lie had a blanket over him, and he wanted me to keep 
the robe, or I would get cold. I insisted upon his taking it, but he 
refused, as he said I needed it myself. I then went back to our wagon 
and got in it, and we went on towards home — Brown's wagon going 
along before ours. When we got to Kennedy's, about six miles from 
Easton, Brown's wagon and some of our party went the Leavenworth 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1035 

road ; some of the Kickapoo boys went that way that I know of ; but 
we all went on home. 

WILEY WILLIAMS. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Jai/ 26, 1856. 



Isaac S. Hascall called and sworn. 



To Mr. Kins; 



I came into the Territory in 1854 and went np in the neighbor- 
hood of Fort Riley, and settled there. In the spring of 1855 — I think 
the first part of March — General Pomeroy came np there, saying he 
was looking ont locations for the men coming ont under the Emi- 
grant Aid Society, and concluded to settle a quantity of them at the 
mouth of Blue river, and made arrangements with a Presbyterian 
minister from Illinois, named Blood, with regard to their coming on. 
Shortly ai'ter that a party of some forty or fifty came in from the New 
England States, by the way of Lawrence. After staying a short time 
with the party, he left to bring up more recruits. He came back with 
a few more, and then left again for the New England States. He said 
he was paid by the Aid Society to lecture in the East to drum up })er- 
sons to come to Kansas. He said his object was to make it a free 
State. A Methodist preacher from New Hampshire, of the name of 
Lovejoy, was one of the men who came out with Lincoln. He said 
he came solely for the purpose of making Kansas a free State ; that 
he did not like the country, but would remain there for that purpose. 
Lincoln said he had a free pass to go back upon ; that he went free ; 
that it did not cost him anything. This company, in connection with 
a Cincinnati company, mobbed Osborne, and drove him otf his claim. 
There was a company who came from Cincinnati, chartering a boat 
by the name of "Hartford," and called themselves the Cincinnati 
Land Company. They were free-State men. Osborne came on and 
made a claim near the mouth of the Blue river, and they said that 
unless they ousted him immediately he could hold his claim by law. 
They alleged against him that he was a pro-slavery man ; that they 
never could associate with him ; that they must get rid of him soon 
or he would hold his claim by law, and consequently they would use 
force to make him go. The first company that came on from the 
New England States were the ones who took the most active part in 
this matter, and the reverend Mr. Lovejoy was the noisiest one among 
them. He said that he wanted none but his kind of men to settle in 
that country ; and the substance of what he said was, that they would 
rid the country of that kind of men if they could. Osborne made his 
claim about the time this company got there. I have no knowledge 
of his claim conflicting with any claim that was there. A man by 
the name of Eussell went on the'claim the wint-^r before, but he left, 
and said that he did not intend to come back again, as he was dis- 
gusted with the country. I do not know whether he had anything to 
do with this company or not, or whether he sold the claim to them or 



1036 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

not. Osborne did not go on the claim until after Russell left : and 
there was no conflict that I know of between Osborne and Russell. 
The company collected in a force of thirty or thirty-five men and 
went upon the claim where he was at work, and forcibly seized him 
and took him off. Before they gathered this force I was down near 
where the boat •• Hartford" lay. in the Kansas river, and I heard 
this man Lincoln advise the men generally to mob him, as that was 
the only way to get rid of him. The substance of their desire to get 
rid of him was, that he was not a man of their stripe, and they did 
not want any such man there. I think there were five preachers in 
the crowd who had a hand in getting this thing up — four Methodists 
and one Presbyterian. After seizing Osborne and taking him by 
force down to the boat they kept him a prisoner for a while, and then 
let him ofi". They told that if he left, and did not show his head again, 
his neck would be safe, but if he did come back they would do some- 
thing serious to him. Osborne had a friend by the name of Garrett, 
living up on Blue river, and he went up there. Garrett's brother 
was a clerk on the boat '' Financier.' which lay above, in the river. 
He went up to that boat, and when on his way back they arrested 
him, without claiming to have any legal warrant to arrest him upon 
any criminal charge. They made an allegation against him as a rea- 
son for arresting him the second time, that he had threatened the life 
of Captain Miller for the proceedings the day before. And as Os- 
borne stopped at my house and took dinner the day before, they 
thought, I suppose, that I could give some evidence against him. and 
they came out on the claim where I was at work, and demanded that 
I should give evidence against him. One man on each side had hold 
of Osbornes coat-collar, pulling him along, and one behind was 
pushing him along, and one was walking before him, swinging a 
cane over his head. In this manner the man was brought up to 
where I was at work. I refused to give testimony against him until 
they showed some authority for doing so. They said they had ar- 
rested him. and intended to deal with him. and threatened me when 
I refused to give testimony against him. I demanded their authority, 
and they gave me to understand that their authority was in their own 
strong hands. They tried to intimidate me, and get me to state some- 
thing that they alleged I knew against him. After some parley, I 
gave them to understand that I knew nothing against the man. 
They then carried him back to the boat in the same manner they had 
brought him up to where I was. They put him in the cabin, and 
stationed a guard over him. I followed the party to the boat when 
they took him there. There was a man from Arkansas camped a 
short distance up the river, and I went after him to get him to assist 
Osborne. The people said we were making some stir in the matter ; 
and they brought his horse down, and brought Osborne out and told 
him if he lett it was all well and good, but if he did not they would 
fix him. Osborne then left, and has not been back there since. One of 
the Cincinnati company stated that they intended to regulate matters 
in that part of the country, and if a man settled thert^ he would have 
to come under their regulations. When OsK">rne was brought up to 
me, one of the company was riding Osborne *s horse around as if try- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 10 



Oi 



ing his speed. Tliis company have now staked out Oshorne's claim 
into a town, called Manhattan. I have never known anything against 
Oshorne : he seemed to he a young man of intelligence, and moved in 
the best circles in the Territory. I think Osborne's given name was 
W. J. or J. W. Since that time he has been made postmaster at 
Wyandott. 

I understand, from the company these four methodist preacher 
came with, that they came from the New England States. I came 
from Xew York, where I was born, to this Territory. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

Mr. Osborne was from Xew York, I think from Schoharie county. 
I came from Erie county. The Manhattan Town Company came from 
Cincinnati. They set up some claim to the land after they drove ofif 
Osborne. They claimed that they got their claim from this New Eng- 
land company. They allege that Osborne had jumped the claim he 
was on. I did not understand from them that the question had been 
tried by a squatters" court, and I think it had not. There was a case 
subsequent to that where a person was driven off his claim by this 
company ; I believe it is not an unusual thing for disputes to arise and 
for men to be driven oft' their claims in this Territory. Osborne 
claimed to be a strong pro-slavery man at that time. 

To Mr. King: 

The New England company they claimed to get their title from 
was the one that came on under Lincoln. The Cincinnati company 
came in there as a separate organization, but united with the New 
England company afterwards. I he^rd of no pretence by that com- 
pany of holding a title under Kusscll. They claimed it by a gift from 
some of their own part v. 

ISAAC S. HASCALL. . 

WestporTj Missouri, June 5, 1856. 



Peter T. Abell called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I, with a number ol persons of Atchison, of this Territory, was at 
Lawrencea few days ago with the United States marshal's posse. During 
the time we were there, some of the gentlemen of the posse from my 
town picked up those letters, with a number of others, and other papers, 
near the big hotel, and handed them to me. The papers that were 
with those letters were notes and bonds, and other letters, directed, 
some to A. H. Reeder and some to Grosvenor P. Lowry. The reason 
that I am not willing to surrender them — but have prepared copies for 
this investigation — is, that I have been requested to give them to 
the atttorney general. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

I did not regard the letters in any light at all when I received them, 



1038 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

either as private or otherwise, for they were handed to me while I 
was then in the posse, and I took thera and heard tliem read ; and the 
gentleman who read the letters said, that as Reeder was one of the 
persons tlie marshal wished to arrest, he tlionglit it rij^lit to look into 
his letters alter liearing his letters read. I supposed they were ])rivate 
letters, written by llecder to Lowry, but I had no regard about thera_, 
as there was much confusion there. Many were about there at the 
time, and I took them when they were handed to me. I have ex- 
hibited the letters to others since then, I do not know as I can recol- 
lect all who have seen them. They have been read since tliey came 
into my possession ; and I do not recollect of but two or tliroe indi- 
viduals who have read them since I came back here. I do not know 
the private relations between Mr. Lowry and Gov. Reeder. 1 have 
heard, since I came here, for the first time, that Mr. Lowry was Gov. 
Reeder's private secretary. The question of the propriety of exhibt- 
ing these letters has never been raised by the persons I liave sliown 
them to, or who have heard them read. At the times tlie letters were 
read, it was said that Reeder was one of the very men the marshal 
Avished to arrest; and he was generally regarded as the instigator of 
all the devilment in the Territory, and anything was fair with him. 
I exhibiteii them, after I ascertained they gave no clue to his wliere- 
abouts, merely because I thought tliey were evidence to show Reeder's 
connexion with the disturbances in tlie Territory, and for no other 
purpose. All to wliom 1 have shown these letters have taken the 
same view I do with regard to the propriety of exhibiting them ; at 
least, 1 judged so, as nothing was said against it. Under ordinary 
circumstances, I would be the last man to examine private letters. I 
have shown the letters to my private friends, but I do not think I am 
called upon to say who those persons were. Others of njy piivate 
Iriends 1 have rel'used to show them to, even since they have been 
l)rought before this committee, and read before this committee ; and 
I would suppose tliat at that time there were some twenty or thirty 
persons })resent wlien they were read. I think a man named Palmer, 
of Atchison, picked these letters up in the street, near the the hotel, and 
I think before the hotel was destroyed, though I will not be positive 
about that. I do not know that Gov. Reeder's trunk was })roken open^ 
though 1 heard that one of his trunks was found. 1 do not think 
these letters were taken from his trunk, though they may have been. 
When Mr. Palmer handed me those letters, some one — I do not know 
whether it was Palmer, or some one else — said these letters were im- 
portant ones, and should be preserved. When I received them, I un- 
derstood them to be letters from Gov. Reeder, for some read out his 
name at the bottom of some of thera. When the proi)erty was being 
carried out of the hotel, I was in a room with Gen. Pomeroy writing, 
and when I came out they were handed to me. They a})peared like a 
parcel of })apers put up in a hurry when I saw them, and saw that 
some oi' them were directed to Lowry and some to Reeder, and looked 
as if the pa[)ers of both persons had been hurriedly tied up together. 
All those i)apers^ except some I have here, were sent to Atchison with 
the company that went from Atchison ; and I think they are now at 
Weston, Missouri, to be returned, so far as the valuable papers are 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1039 

concerncil, to those to wlioin tlioy belong, if they can he fouml. I 
cannot say in wliose possession they are now. 1 heard ot" no money 
being found with the papers. I did not read any of them myself, but 
merely heard others read them ; and I never took possession of any 
but tliese letters. I did not see or hear o\' any letters to Eeeder then 
from his wife. Tlie pajiers were read before the crowd, and one 
article on free-love, said to be iu Ueeder's handwriting, which seemed 
to cause some amusement. I did not hear of there being any letter 
in this bundle from ^Ir. Reeder's family. 

I do not think there was any j)articular authority for taking the 
bonds and pa[)ers to Weston ; but I took them tliere myself I will 
not toll in whose custody I phiced them, because I tliink it lias nothing 
to do with the letters brought here. No communication has been nuide 
to ]\lr. Reeder, or any of his family, at Easton, Pennsylvania, in 
regard to these papers, to my knowledge. ^Miis bundle of pa[)ers was 
picked up in town, taken to camp, and then read by some persons in 
the camp : after which tliey came into my pcvssession for the iirst time. 

In the foregoing testimony, I do not mean to convey the idea that 
these letters were read to the whole crowd in the town as soon as 
they were picked up, for I did not hear any of them read until after 
we went back to camp. 

P. T. ABELL. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., Jla// 27, 1850. 



1040 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



MURDER OF DOW.— RESCUE OF BRANSON.— SIEGE OF 
LAWRENCE.— MURDER OF BARBER. 

The following testimony in regard to the homicide of Charles W. 
Dow was taken in secret session : 

William McKinnet called and sworn, 

I reside in the Territory, at a place called Hickory Point, on the 
Santa Fe road. I have resided there since the tirst Monday in De- 
cember last, I think. I lived within four miles of where I now live 
since last May, at Willow Springs, and lived there at the time Dow 
was killed. I was at work on my house where I now live on the day 
that Dow was murdered. I saw Mr. Dow that lorning some two 
hours before he was shot ; that was the first time I saw him that day. 
Tlie next time I saw him he was coming from the blacksmith's shop, on 
the Santa Fe road, towards my house where I now live. Mr. Coleman 
was standing at the corner of the house, where I was at work, with 
a bouble-barrelled shot-gun. As Mr. Dow got opposite the house, 
Mr. Coleman was standing at the corner of the house. He left and 
went out towards the road where Dow was passing. I called to Mr. 
Coleman to hold on a little, that I wanted to see him. He observed, I 
will see you again this evening. They both went off down the road 
together towards Coleman's house. When they got opposite his house 
I heard a gun fired down there, and I looked and saw the smoke of 
the gun, and Mr. Coleman throwing the gun on his shoulder. I ob- 
served to my son, " I wonder what Coleman is shooting at." The 
place where Coleman was, when I saw him throwing his gun on his 
shoulder, was some three hundred or four hundred yards from where 
I was. 

Some time before this, Harrison Buckley came up to where I was at 
work on my house, inquiring for " the third man," calling no 
names. He came from towards Mr. Hargous's house. I just observed 
to him, " you must have been drinking this morning, and your eyes 
are in an eclipse^ and you cannot see." He turned round and went 
off towards the blacksmith's shop. I heard some loud talking in the 
direction of the shop, which is west of my house, in sight. 

The first I saw of Mr. Coleman that day was between ten and eleven 
o'clock in the morning. He was going westward toward the black- 
smith's shop. He met Mr. Buckley, Mr. Hargous, and Mr. Wagner, 
as I thought, about halfway between my house and the blacksmith's 
shop. They seemed to be conversing for some time, but I did not 
hear anything that was said. Neither of them had a gun at that 
time, as I remember. Coleman went north across the prairie towards 
a Mr. Runnell's. The next thing I saw of Mr. Coleman was, he was 
coming from towards Mr. Hargous's, and came up to my house where 
I was at work at the time I have before mentioned. * He observed to 
me, " you will soon have your house done." He had a double-bar- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1041 



« 



relied gnn with him. I heard the report of the gnn sometime hetween 
twelve and two o'clock. When I saw Mr. Coleman throwing his gun 
on his shoulder ho was nearly opposite his house, whicli is ahout 
one hundred yards from the road. Some little time alter that I and 
my son went down to the grocery, which is nearly opposite the black- 
smith's sho]>, to eat our dinner. There I heard from John Bradbury 
what had taken place that morning between Dow and Buckley at tho 
blacksmitli's shop. While we were eating dinner, Mr. Buckley came 
to the grocery, and said to me, " Mac, did you hear that gun down 
the road ?" I observed that I did. " Well," said he, " there is a 
man lying dead in the road." I observed to him, " I reckon not, 
Buckley." He said, " you can go and see for yourself. " While wo 
were in conversation a Dr. Chapman came to where we were, and 
I got in conversation with him concerning the matter. I observed to 
him, " I believe I will go down there." Chapman said, " I would 
not go nigli them. You know how it is here. They do not like you 
very well for buih ■^^r on this claim here, and you might be in a little 
danger yourself" 'That was the reason I did not go to take charge 
of the body of Dow. ' 

About the time Dpw passed my house, and Coleman started after 
him, Mr. Harrison I^ackley left the blacksmith's shop and came follow- 
ing along the roadjwpassed my house, and went on after Colera m and 
Dow; and about !the time the gun was fired he had ome up with 
them nearly oppositle Coleman's house. At the time I saw Coleman 
throwing his gun on his shoulder, I saw Mr. Buckley and Mr. Wag- 
ner on the gi'ound, off tiieir horses, e.\changing them — Mr. Buckley 
having passed my house on Mr. Wagner's horse. I saw no other 
person there at Iha^ time. 

Mr. Dow had a claim adjoining Coleman's, but being an unmarried 
man, he lived at M'"- Branson's, about a mile or a mile and a quarter 
northeast of Coleman's bouse. Branson's claim is north of Dow'a 
claim, and Dow's is east of Coleman's, and mine is south of Coleman's. 
Hargous did live at thit time on the claim I now live on. Hargous 
was from Missouri. Wagner was from Kentucky. Buckley was from 
Missouri. Coleman claiaied to be a Virginian by birth. I am from 
Missouri to the Territory, but originally from Kentucky. 1 came to 
Missouri four years.ago last fall. Dow was from Ohio. 

Coleman and Dow did not speak to each other at the time Dow passed 
my house, and I do not know that they spoke on thc,roi\d. I did not 
see Dow's body in the road, but saw blood where he Avas said to have 
been found, some fifteen or twenty-five yards from where Coleman was 
when I saw him throwing his gun on his shoulders. Dow was not 
armed, so far as I know, but had in his hand, as he passed my house> 
what I took to bo the skane of a wagon. 

Some time during the last winter Mr. Coleman was at my house, and 
told mc that he was the man that shot Dow. That was early in the 
morning, about 8 or 9 o'clock. James P. Saunders, Samuel Clark, 
and one or two others I do not recollect, were there at the time ho 
said this. He said that he did it in self-defence. He observed this: 
*'I am the man that shot Dow, and nobody else had anything to do 
with it, and I did it in self-defence." 
11. Rep. 200 6,t3* 



1042 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Dow's "body was not removed from where he fell until Eome time 
between fcundcwn and diifck. As ] was going horae I f-aw a companj 
in the road where his body was. making pre] aratir^ns to take it away, 
as I fiujipoted. His body was afterwards rtmoved to Mr. Branson's 
house, and taken charge of by him, as 1 understood. He was killed 
on Thursday, the 21st day of Kovtniber, and buried^ I think, on the 
following Saturday. At the time of the murder, a man named Moody 
was at work at Coleman's. 

Mr. Coleman's house was burned on the night of the 2Cth of Novem- 
ber, Ihito. Mr. Buckley's house was burned about daylight on the 
morning of the 27th of ^November. On Sunday before the burning of 
Coleman's house, Mr. Moody took a portion of Mr. Coleman's furniture, 
and loaded it in a wagon, and started, as he said, for Missouri, A 
man by the name of James Campbell took Mrs. Coleman and her child, 
or children, in his carriage to Missouri. The rest of the ]dunderwas 
left, as 1 was told by my son, in his charge and that of a Mr. Jones. 
I was present at a meeting of persons — many of them I knew to le 
citizens — held at the place where I)ow was killed, on the 2Cth of 
Kovember, I did not hear any resolutions that were passed. I do 
not know who was chairman of the meeting. They asked for in- 
formation in regard to the murder, and I gave them some ; but not 
near so much as 1 have told here. iSince the time of the murder 1 
have seen Coleman passing along Hickory Point several times. I do 
not know as he has ever assisted as deputy sheriff, or that he was at 
the arrest of Branson. 

I saw Mrs. Jones, who lives about four miles from where I now 
live, passing along by my house, towards Mr. Coleman's just after Mr. 
Bucklev, and just before 1 heard the gun fired. 

WM. McKIKNEY. 

Lawbesc-e, K. T., 3fay 2, 1856. 



Salem Gleason called and sworn. 

I was present at the black.smith shop, near Mr. McKInney's, on the 
2l8t day of Kovember, 1855. I drove up to, the bla'^^ksmith's shop 
gome time between 12 and 1 o'clock. I heard hard words, and heard 
the blacksmith, a Mr. Poole, say he would not have such words in 
his shop, and they must go out of doors. 1 heard him say, "Mr. 
Buckley, if you cannot behave yourself, go out of the sho]>. I will 
not have such words in the shop.'- 1 then went into the shop. I 
saw Mr. Buckley and Mr. Dow there. The blacksmith was mending 
a small v.-agon skane for Mr. Dow, The conversation lowered as soon 
as I stepped into the shop. They soon had the wagon skune and lynch- 
pin fixed. Mr. Dow pai'l for his work, and left in the direction of 
his house. Then there was soniething said between the blacksmith 
and Mr. Buckley. And the blacksmith, Mr. Poole, said, ''■ Why did 
you not shoot him then ?" 8aid Buckley, '' 1 ha^d to shor^t a man 
on hearsay ; but if he has said it, I'll be damned if 1 won't shoot hirn 
yet." Buckley's gun was then cocked at both barrels ; it was a dou- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1043 

:^Mivarroned shot-gnn. Ho said l\o cooked it to shoot liim. Ho thou 
.t !t tho sliop, and startod on his horse in the direction after Dow. 
When he took up the gun, which was sitting near the door, it was 
still cooked. I lol't the shop very shortly after IMr. Buckley did. He 
. wont oast and I wont west from tho sliop. Rackloy toitk his gun with 
' him. Some throe or four liours a'.'tor this there came along a team- 
ster who lives at or near Council City, nanunl Henry Smith. Ho in- 
formed my son that a dead man lay in the road east of the hlacksmith"s 
' shop a little ; he did not say how far. I started for my horse, whioh 
* was some eight or ten rods t"rom where I was. I mounted him, and 
rode up to the place where tho body lay, some mile in- so from whore 
I started. I saw tho murdered man, who was Diuv, lying with his 
, head in the wagon-track and his feet on tlio side of the road, with the 
' skano and lynch-pin still in his hand. When I came in sight of the 
' corpse, there were some eight or ten men standing over him. As 
soon as I got, as I snpposod, so as to he soon by them, tlu-y loft, lu 
this company I recognised Mr. Poole, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Rnokloy, and 
Mr. Ilargons. Tho company, all oxcojtt one or two, had gnus, mostly 
donblo-harrolled shot-gnns. There seemed to be a C(Mh»1o o\' young- 
sters in the company who were not armed. IMr. Poole came directly 
towards me as 1 was going up. I observed, " Buckley has sliot Di)w at 
last." " No," said Mr. Poole, *' It was not Buckley, it was C.^lemau." 
1 (lid ni>t get oiY my horse when T reached tho cinpso, but 1 saw the 
blood running from his nock, his month, and nose; and saw the hVwA 
on his breast. I merely stopped to look at him a nuMuont, and then 
rode past him and went to Mr. Branson's, where Dow made his home. 
I infoiinod them there that Dmv was shot. Mr. Branson was a good 
deal alarmed at the news, and said ho wished mo to g«) on and give 
information. 1 rode iVom tlioro to a ^Ir. Ib^pkins' to intorm them. 
But my danglitor had got there before mo and informed them. My 
health would not ponnit nu' to ride any more, and I rrtniiu'd home. 
1 noticed two shot-holes in Dow's nook as I was Untking at him. 

I was not at tho mooting called at the spot where Dow was found. 
i\lr. Pi)ole left t. e lU'iglibm-hood about that tinu\ and, I think, is now 
in tho State of Missouri. Coleman has hoon baokwartl and forward 
since that time, during this spring, to Washington croi-k, wliich is 
about six or eight miles iVcun whore I live; generally with a pretty 
strong guard ol Irom six to eight mm with him. Wo Icuow nothiuj; 
of wluMO he was for some time after the murder of Ditw. Dow was 
buried on the S^iturday afterwanls. At the grave, just after it wasi 
filled up, a motion was made by a man named Farley to burn the 
house of Colonuin, who had lolt his house, with his family. 1 tc^hl 
them, saying, " Here is this nnui nuird<red. and lor us t.> go t(> doing 
such a thing as that, it will oi)c'rato against ns. It will bo better to 
fetch the otfonder to justice than tx) destroy proptMly." The \)cr- 
sons there ft-ll in with me, and argiiod not. \o Ao it. Dow was iu)t 
armed when he lolt the hiacksmitirs shop ; and I kut^v he owned no 
small arms, lie had there tiolhing in his hand but thewMg<ui skaue, 
which is a pii ee of iron about 12 or lo inclus K>ug. botwcon a quaiter 
and a. hall-inch wide, and perl aps a (|n;»i'tcM- of an ineh lliick. and is 
usod to gi» ovi'r tlu' Olid ol the a\l(>-lroi'. whore the whoi'l giios on, and 



1044 KANSAS AFF-UES. 

the IvncL-pin is passed through it. Dow was considered a peaceable 
citizen. Dow made his home at Branson's, but I think there was no 
relationship between thera. Their claims adjoined. I am myself a 
native of New York, but emigrated from Pennsylvania to the Terri- 
tory. Poole lelt his shop and the neighborhood shortly a'ter the lorces 
began to gather on the Wakarusa. I believe the Mr. Farley I have 
mentioned came from the Stiite of Missouri. Coleman's house was 
bnrned some few days after Dow was buried. Farley was still in the 
neighborhood when the house was burned, but left shortiv afterwards. 

SALEM GLEASOX. 
Lawrkxce, K. T., May 3, 1S56, 



Thomas Bkeese called and swora, 

I lire about three miles from where Coleman lived last ::i:i, ar.i 
about the same distance from Dow and Branson. I was at heme ..t 
work at the time Dow was killeil. For some five or six wetks pre- 
vious to the death of Mr. Dow, H. H. Buckley used to visit my house. 
On one occasion, as he was sitting at my dinner-table — he, h's wife, 
and two other neighbors were there — he commenced with his great 
threats on the abolitionists and Yankees; what they would do with 
them; how many they would shoot down, and so forth. I named to 
him, as he got my feelings rather warmed, *• Mr. Buckley, the way ta 
shoot down the alnditionists 'and Yankees is, to use thera well, and 
Trhen you go to the |X)lis. then give your vote, and les them do the 
same." His wife was sitting present, and ordered me to say nothing 
to Mr. Buckley on that occasion whatever, and let himal let 

him do what he pleaseil. and no matter wliat he did. he _ . to 

a society that, it his proj^rty was destroyeil. would give uari taree 
times as much more. I got up from my own table, and K>Ul her. IT 
that was the game, just go ahead, I should say no more. After I _ 
np from the table, Mr, Buckley ol^erved that he meant to shoot .. v 
paunch of old Branson and Dow, because they were abolitionists, and 
trould steal his niggers. That led to our neighlx^rly intercourse 'x*:ag 
broken up. I heard no more threats from Mr. Buckley. I heard of 
the murder of Dow alnnit the dusk of the evening he was killed. I 
had a daughter that had stopi>eii at Buckley s, and they had sent mr 
horse home. I put my horse away, and starieil to see after her, and 
she came running up to the yard fence: and I askeil what ktpt her. 
She stated that Mr. Buckley had gone out hunting. a< hi« \ri:e said, 
and she wanteil h.er to stay with her that night, a^ s' ak 

Mr. Buckley would get home. "And," sa'vs she, " ^.ve 

kilkxl Mr. Dow. and he is lyipg in the middle of the road aione, 
alxnit op}Kisite Coleman's." 

I rjiu then afoot just as fast as I could. When I got there^ the 
body had just been remove^l to Mr. Br^uison's house. I saw the 
puddles of blvHxl in the r-v^d. I thon t^ir^^e-.i Ivick Iv.^n^e. The next 
morning I went : ^ I 

heipovl to drc^ ; , ug 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1045 

« cat into the jugnlar Tein on the left side, *nd one in tJjc jugrJar 

▼«n on the righi. side of the nerf:, entering in front. There were four 

sh - iato h:- " ^: on both $:.\ - ' - " re the pit of V3 

«T riee of .at clear ih. ^ y jiiid lovip?-.! in 

his coat, Xiiese sliiirs vrerc > . ;«vo :»:i ta^h siuc, a 

- ..-.ce apart, Siome six iiu^hes '. . ; wounds in the neojc, 

' The sluiTS thst ivissed throagh his Kxiy \rere ot lead, and loob?d as if 

they Trere made of lead l>^ien out aad cut off; were of irre-giilar 

fihape, and are now in the T>osse5sioa of Mr, Branson. We baried 

him oil :he SAiurvlar :V 

I xras KOI presea: a: . ::ng at Hickory Point, I emigrated 

into the Tcrriiory froai MisSv^ari nearly ttro years ago. hut was horn 
in Montgo'-Dcry co an ty, Maryland. I lived some years ia Kentnoky. 
' I first saw Buckley ia ^lohnson county, M:sSvMni, hut had no personal 
I »cqua:ri:aa.v whh him until he caaie into the Territory, I first saw 
[ Colt r,ia:i a: Hickory Pv»int, I first knew Dow at Hickory Point, also. 
I first knew Br - :re in the Terriiory; he caine here from Indi- 

ana. Pv^w w;o the 5nest young meri I ever got ac.ya:uaied 

with — a quiet, v- .. .. \. .,ad worked for me a irroat leitl, 

THOMAS BREESK 
Lawiiss-ce. iv. T., Ma^ 3, IS06. 



Xksol.^.? McKixxst called and sworn. 

' ^;-i> :i: w rk w:ih my father on his house on the day Dow was 
ed. I saw Coleman on that day, between 12 and 1 o'clock, as he 
house. I saw Mr. Dow before noon, about 10 or 1 1 o'clock, 
.rJs the hliicksmiih's shop ; and I saw him returning in 
ut an hour and a half wiih a smiill piece of iron in his hand. He 
i good ereaiag or g>od morning, I forget which, as he ixasseil and 
nt on towards his house, Mr, Coleman was at our house as he 
-*ed. and he sranod after Mr. Dow just as he got opposite the house, 
. I s.iw them g.'iug ofi" side by side, I went to work ou the house 
. r they ]»a>sed, and was chinking the house. I saw Mrs. Jones go 
a few minutes after they lef^, in the same direction. I kept at 
k until I heard the report of a gun, and looked and saw the smoke 
v-. I, Coleman was standing some fit\y yards or so from his house. I 
saw the fiash and smoke of Coleman's gun, and saw him throw it, first 
en his anr a on his shoulder, and then turn oS" towards his 

house. I ^ ink, that from where Coleman stood when I saw 

liim to where Dow s body was found, was some thirty or forty yards. 
Buckley passed our house just behind Mrs. Jones, riding on horse- 
back. When I turned around at the report of the gun, Buckley had 
got off his horse, and was standing near Coleman, "and Hargous was 
there at the same time on foot. When I looked around. Mrs, Jones 
was about fifty yards this side of where Dow's body was found. 

Mr. Buckley came riding up on his horse from towards Mr. Har- 
gous's, abo)it 10 or 11, and had a double-barrelled shot-gun with him. 
"^hen he rode up n^tr the house he called cut, ** where is the third 



1046 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

man?" I told him there was no third man there. My father said 
to him, that he had too mucli liquor in him. He said he reckoned 
not, and then turned awa}'' and went towards the blacksmith's ship. 
The next time I saw him, was when he went on after Coleman and 
Dow. When Coleman went off with Dow he had a double-barrelled 
shot-gun in his hand. I first saw Coleman on that day in the morn- 
ing, about 8 or 9 o'clock ; he had no gun with him then, and was on 
hoisebiick. When he and Dow went off from our house, which was 
the next time I saw him, they were on foot. Something like half an 
hour after that I heard of the death of Mr. Dow, from Mr. Buckley. 
I was then in a grocery near the blacksmith's shop, and Mr. Buckley 
rode ])ast it and went to the shop, then turned back to the grocery, 
and said there was a man lying dead by the side of the road. He 
asked me if I heard the report of the gun, and I told him I did ; that 
was all I said to him. I did not go down to Dow's body, or to the 
funeral. 

I was at the public meeting held at Hickory Point, in relation to 
the murder of Dow. I think there were about 100 persons there, and 
it was held at the place where the murder was committed ; the men 
standing in a circle around the spot where Dow was found. I do not 
think any steps had been taken to arrest Coleman at the time of the 
meeting. I heard he was tlicn down at Shawnee Mission, or in Mis- 
souri. He has never, that I have heard of, been arrested since then^ 
and has been at large ever since. I do not recollect much about the 
resolutions passed at the meeting at Hickory Point ; I cannot identify 
them. I never heard Coleman or Buckley say anything about that 
affair afterwards. I do not recollect of ever hearing Coleman say any- 
thing about any difficulty between him and Dow. As Coleman and 
Dow went off from our house together, I noticed that they kept get- 
ting further and further apart. 



Lawrence, K. T., 3Iay 3, 1856. 



NICHOLAS McKINNEY. 



John C Davidson called and sworn. 

I live about eight miles from here, and about four miles' from 
Hickory Point. I know Mr. Buckley and Mr." Coleman and Mr. 
Hargous, and had seen Dow once or twice before he was killed. Since 
Dow was killed, I heard Mr. Buckley say, that on the day of the 
difficulty he went to Mr. Hargous to help him kill a beef At dinner 
time Mr. Coleman came to Mr. Hargous' with his gun, and looked 
rather mad; and when asked to eat some dinner, said he did not want 
any. They asked him what was the matter? And Coleman said he 
bad been driven off his claim. There was nothing more said about 
it then; and Mr. Buckley said that after he got through dinner, he 
got on his horse and went to the grocery near Mr. McKinney's to get 
some tobacco and a horn. From the grocery he said he went to the 
blacksmith's shop. At the shop he found Mr. Dow; Someone had 
told Buckley, so he said, that Dow had said something about him. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1047 

but he'did not tell rae what it was. He and Mr. Dow, he said, talked 
the matter over, and Mr. Dow denied ever saying anything of the 
kind ; and he told me that everything was right between them then. 
He did not tell me how he got to where Dow was killed, and he did . 
not tell rae he was there. He said that after Dow was killed, a Dr. 
Chajiraan came on, and Coleman said he wanted to give himself up 
and have a lair trial ; and Chapman advised him to go to the governor, 
who was then at Shaven' e Mission, and give himself up. Buckley 
said that Mr. Coleman wanted him to go with him, and he went to the 
Mission with him. But he said if he had known he would have been im- 
plicated in the matter by going with Coleman, he would not have gone. 
Bucklev told me that Coleman had shot Dow— that Mr. Dow had driven 
him off his claim. He said that before this, Mr. Dow had had his claim 
marked out, and when the reserve line was run, it threw Mr. Dow's 
claim over on Coleman's claim. Mr. Coleman was engaged in the 
burning of lime, and Mr. Dow came and told him to stop; and he 
would not do it. And Dow went down and got Mr. Branson ; and 
when Coleman saw them coming, he left. He told me that Coleman 
had shot Dow, but did not say how it came about. He told me that 
the controversy about the lime kiln took place the day of the murder. 
There were no witnesses subpoenaed in our neighborhood, and no ex- 
amination made of tlie charge against Coleman that I know of. 

JOHN C. DAVIDSON. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 3, 1856. 

(The secret session was here closed.) 



Thomas Breese testifies : 

It was some time in March, 1855, that Lewis Farley was living on 
a claim near Hickory Point, with his family. In the first settlement 
of the Territory the squatters met and made a law that every settler 
might hold two claims — a prairie claim and a timber claim, of 160 
acres each. I was at their meeting of the 15th of August, 1854. 
They wanted me to vote upon the subject ; and I told them I should 
not vote, because I had not taken a claim, and had no right to do so. 
After they had voted on that proposition, they then agreed that the 
claimants were to be upheld in their claims at the risk of life, death, 
property, or what not. I then told them that I did not think the 
squat law could rule the government. Mr. Farley was by, and made 
a proposition to the meeting to support him in the holding of claims 
for his father, brother, and brother-in-law ; and they agreed to do so 
unanimously. He said his father and brother and brother-in-laAv had 
been out here and made their claims, and v/ere coming back ; and I 
know that they did come. 

After that Mr. Farley built a house on each of those claims. Men 
came on them afterwards and jumped those claims, leaving him in 
possession of his own claim. In the latter part of the winter, or the 
first of the si)ring, in 1855, a little squad came up from Missouri. I 
advised Farley to relinquish his prairie claim^ and go on upon his 



1048 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

timber. He did so, Wken the squad came up tliey told liim lie had 
to leave that timber. He told them he was the first claimant there, 
and had relinquished his prairie claim. They undertook to compro- 
mise with him, and coaxed him out to Willow S[)rini;s, to go before a 
reieree. There had been a foundation for a cabin made on the claim, 
which Farley had torn down. He was not seen by his family for 
Eome tinie alter he went up to Willow Springs. One of the mob, my 
near neighbor, said to me, "They had run off Farley — the stinking 
Ecoundrel ; and now they would starve out his wife and chihlren." 
8ome time after that Mrs. Farley came to my house crving, and I 
found tliat the house had been torn down. The main leader of them 
was, I think, a Mr. James Morrison, who lives about two and a half 
or three miles from Westport, with whom I talked. He gave as the 
reason for tearing down Farley's house that he was a free-soiler, and 
claiming more land than he deserved. Mr. Farley and his family 
finally left the neighborhood. 

Cross-examined by Colonel Woodson : 

Lewis Farley was from Indiana. James Morrison, near AVestport, 
and his son George Morrison, and Coleman, (wlio was charged with 
killing Dow), a man called Rijieto, Thomas Hopkins, and Joe Lager, 
and a number more I do not know, Avere engaged in this matter. Of 
these men, Coleman and Hopkins lived in the Territory then. Ripets 
fold me that they tore Farley's house down. Farley was on the claim 
when I came into the Territory. The house that was torn down was 
finished about a week before. The one that Farley tore down was a 
cabin not fini.shed, put up by a Mr. McKinney. so Farley told me. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Ripeto said about Farley, "The damned abolition son of a bitch, 
he intended to kill him." I learned from the company that they had 
mobbed Farley at Willow Springs. 

To Mr. Reeder: 

This was just before the March election, and the company did not 
leave the neighborhood until after the election ; at least I saw them 
at the election in this district. I want you to understand, gentlemen, 
that I am a pro-slavery man, and voted the pro-slavery ticket ; but I 
want to see things done fair. 

To Colonel Woodson : 

I heard from Ripeto and Morrison that they had mobbed Farley. 1 
saw James Morrison here at the election of March, 1855. Morrison 
was the only one of the mob from Missouri that I saw at the election. 
Lager livts at Hickory Point. Hofdiins lives close by me. I do not 
know Avhetlitr Ripeto is living in the Territory or not. 

THOMAS BREESE. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 3, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1049 

William McKinney testifies : 

I understand tliat Ripeto inalces his home at John Wells', near 
New Santa Fe, Missouri. Ripeto said to me, "we have toi-n down 
Farley's house ;" and he told me that some 150 persons liad camjjed 
on the claim he was claiming at that time. Ripeto said also, " They 
have given Bvansnn notice to leave there, and that damned old aho- 
litionist is so hadly scared that he dares not step out 50 yards from his 
house to cut a stick of timher for firewood," I saw a jiarty start out 
from Missouri towards the Territory a few days hefore the election, 
the 30th of March, and they returned in five or six days. My eldest 
son, Wilday McKinney, was along with them. 1 did not hear them 
say that tliey were coming out here to vote, or why they were coming. 
It was after the party returned that my son tohl me that Farley's 
house had been torn down on that trip. That party went to Sweet- 
zer's creek, some 28 miles from Hickory Point, as tht^y told me. 
There was but a small party of them, and they went out in two-horse 
wagons. I understood I'rom them that an election was held at Sweet- 
zer's creek on the .30th of March. 

WM. McKINNEY. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 3, 1856. 



Wild AY McKinney caUed and sworn. 

I was at Hickory Point last fall, the day after Dow was killed. I 
was down in the State of Missouri the day Dow was killed, antl left 
Westport the evening of that day. I stopped at a place that night 
on Indian creek, and Coleman came in after I had been in Led some 
time. I waked up as he came in, and raised, up in my bed and asked 
him what was uj), and he said nothing particular ; that was all that 
was said that night between us. The next moi'uing he told me he 
had killed Mr. Dow — that he had shot him. I don't think he told 
me anytliing more about the matter then. He said he was going 
down to Westport and to the Mission to give himself up. I then 
went on home. I live with my father, William McKinney, and keep 
the grocery he spoke of in his testimony. Tbe day after I got back 
Mrs. Coleman sent for me, to see me as to what she had better do, to 
go or to stay there. After some converati )n, she concluded to go to 
Missouri. I lielped to load most of her furniture and things into a 
wagon ; some things were left there. About a month after that I 
saw Mr. Coleman again, but he said nothing about Dow at that time. 
Some other time afler that Colemffn told me that on the day Dow was 
killed, in the morning he and Moody was down fixing a limekiln, and 
Branson and Dow came up with their guns where they were, and drew 
them on them, and ordeied them off. He then left and went up 
home, he said. He saw Mr, Dow in the evening again, and Dow 
made at him with a wagon skane, and he slu)t him. 

WILDAY McKINNEY. 

Lawrence, K, T., May 10, 1856. 



1050 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Daniel T. Jonis called and sworn. 

I know F. M. Coleman. I have heard of the death of Charli?s W. 
Dow, of Hickory Point, last tall. I saw Mr. Coleman so^ne time the 
last of Noveniher in company with Mr. Buckley, about half a mile west 
of Westport, Missouri. He told me there at that time of the death 
of Dow, and that was the first I had heard of it. I had a slight per- 
sonal acqaintance with Mr. Dow. Coleman told me that he had killed 
Dow — that he had shot him. He gave as a reason, that while he was 
at work on his own claim, cntting timber, Dow had com there and 
forbade him to cut any more. He also said that Dow hai threatened 
to'kill him, and he thought that one or the other of them had to die, 
and therefore he had shot Dow. Coleman said, when I saw him. that 
he was going to see the srovernor of the Territory to give himself up, 
after he had been to "Westport and got some legal advice. I have 
never seen .Mr. Coleman since that time. I was well acquainted with 
Coleman. So far as I saw ot Mr. Dow, he was still and quiet. I never 
saw anything wrong of him. I never saw Dow intoxicated in my 
life. So far as I know, Coleman was a man of temperate habits, and 
I think he was a peaceable man, for I never saw anything to the 
contrary. 

D. S. JONES. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1850. 



Mrs. Almixa Jones called and sworn. 

I live at Hickory Point, in Douglas county, in this Territory. I 
lived there last November. I did not know Charles W. Dow. j 
know there was a man shot there, and I saw him shot. I did not 
know at the time the man who shot him. I was travelling at the 
time I saw him shot. I do not recollect the day of the month upon 
which this was done ; but it was during the latter part of November. 
I was between Mr. Coleman's house and Mr. McKinney's, just past 
Mr. McKinney's, going towards Mr. Coleman's housj'e. 1 did not 
hear the report of the gun, as the ground was frozen, and the buggy 
made so much noise ; but I saw the smoke of the gun, and saw 
the man fall. The one who shot him then went into Mr. Coleman's 
house. I passed by where the man that was shot was lying in the 
road, but I did not know who he was. I did not notice particularly 
those persons until I saw the smoke of the gun and the man fall. 
"When the gun was fired, I should think those persons were^some 20 
or 25 yards apart. When I drove by, the man seemed to be dead ; 
lying perfectly still. I noticed him particularly, to see if I knew 
him. 1 did not see the man who shot after he went into the house. 
I was acquainted with Mr. Coleman before the murder, but when 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1051 

the gun was fired and I saw the man 1all, I was not eh^se enough to 
see wlio it was. 1 have not seen Mr. CokMnan sinee tliat time. 

I know Mr, Bnekley. I have never heard him say anytliinu: ahout 
the murder. I know Mr. Hargous. I have heard him speak aNnit 
the murder several times. At the time of tlie murder I saw Mr. 
Hargous going from his house across to ^Ir. OohMuan's, and lie was 
ia siijht oi' the murder at the time. 

"Wheti I pa«*sed the b^ly it was lying on the hack; his left luiud 
lying on the breast, and the right arm stretched out somewhat, and 
lying on the ground. I saw a little blood on his chin. I live about 
three miles east of where this occurred. I saw no weapon about or 
near the bodv as I passed it. 

ALMINA JONES. 

Lawrence, K. T., Mai/ 10. 1S50. 



Horatio Owens called and sworn. 

To Mr. King : 

I moved into Kansas Territory the 8th of June, 1854, and settled 
at Hickory Point, in the 1st district, and have resided there ever 
since. I know something about the difficulty between Colenuin and 
Dow. There was no political excitement there at that time. There 
were persons of both parties residing there, and their opinions were 
well known. I know the time when the difficulty between Coleman 
and Dow took place. Immediately after the death of Dow there was 
a company of armed men gathered near Coleman's house. They 
wished to hold a meeting to see what course they would ]mrsue. I 
understood the object oi' the meeting was to devise some ]d;in to get 
possession of Coleman, in order that they might be revenged on him. 
Mr. Coleman was advised by some of his friends. Dr. Chapman and 
others, to leave the neighborhood, and give himself up to the 
authorities of the Territory, as his life was in danger if he remained 
there. He did leave, and gave himself up to the sheriff of Douglas 
county. After he left the neighborhood, there was a company of 
armed men, more or less in the body at ditYerent times, from ten to 
forty men. After they held this meeting in the evening, Mr. Cole- 
man's house was set on fire, and then put out by the company. That 
night the house was fired again, and burned down. Bnekley s house, 
in the neighborhood, was burned the same night. I do not know 
who did if. Every thing Buckley had in hi.s house was burned. ]\Irs. 
Coleman did succeed in saving a j^ortion of what was in Mr. Cole- 
man's house. The band wastravfUing around through the country. 
1 have seen them, and I had a conversation with two oi' my neigh- 
bors who were present at the first meeting. I never had any conver- 
sation with Mr. Branson about it. At that time and afterwards the 
two parties separated, and the free-State and pro-slavery men looked 
upon each other as unfriendly. As to Coleman and Dow. they never 
had any arguments about political aflairs ; but the difficulty grew 
out of a claim. The free-State men have come there in the neighbor- 



1052 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

hood and settled there, and said tliat they had the numbers to hold 
their claims ; tliat if they found a piece of land they liked they aimed 
to get it. T!iis was the talk among the free-State men at different 
times. The first time I saw- S. N. Wood, was at Lewis Farley's 
house, near to me. He came there in a two-horse buggy, and his 
wife and child was Avith him. He was a stranger to me. The first 
Word he spuke after he came into the house where Mr. Farley, myself, 
Mr. Boumis, and ilr. Johnson were, was to inquire who owned niggers 
in that neighborhood. Mr. Farley told him of several who owned nig- 
gers, and among, others, said that Mr. Owens, pointing to me^ owned a 
nigger. Wood remarked, that if he was a nigger he would not serve his 
master an hour after he came into the Territory ; that it was a free 
country, and niggers were free the moment they were fetched there. 
I told him if he was a nigger and belonged to me, and attempted to 
cut up any of his shines, I would would whip him like hell, and make 
him behave himself. His wife then spoke, and begged us not to say 
anything more about politics, and have no disturbance. Nothing more 
was said then, and Wood got a bite to eat, and di'ove off with his 
family. The feeling among the pro-slavery men at one time, at the 
time of the difficulty between Coleman and Dow, in that neighbor- 
hood, Avas, that they wanted the actual settlers to vote themselves, 
and settle the question of slavery for themselves. It was the general 
talk among the eastern men, in my neighborhood, that they had the 
numbers. They made their boast and bi-ags about the pro-slavery 
men, and said that they had better send their niggers away ; that 
they had the men, mone}^, and power to make Kansas a free State, 
and they were determined to do it, at all hazards. They spoke in 
this connexion, as I understood them, of the Emigrant Aid Society, 
who were helping men to come here for the purpose of making Kan- 
sas a free State. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

These conversations I speak of, and the first talk I heard of the 
Aid Societies, was in October, 1855. There was no political difficulty 
in the neighborhood before the difficulty between Coleman and Dow; 
but after that it sprung up, and has been getting more bitter ever 
since. 

To Mr. King: 

It was the talk about the Aid Society of the North,- and the making 
Kansas a free State, at all hazards, that served to create this political 
fieeling. 

HORATIO OWENS. 

Westport, Mo., June 6, 1856. 



F. M. Coleman called and sworn. 
To Mr. King : 

I am a native of Virginia, and emigrated to California in 1850, and 
from California to Kansas Territory, stopping in Missouri some three 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1053 

months, in 1854. While in Missouri I was proprietor of tlie Union 
Hotel, in Kanscas City. I came into the Territory in September, 
1854, and settled at Hickory Point, in the first election district. lam 
the individual who had the difficulty with Mr. Dow, which resulted in 
his death. Mr. Dow's claim and ray claim joined — liison the east and 
mine on the west. Our claims formerly were occupied by other per- 
sons. Dow took possession of the claim formerly belonging to a Mr. 
White. I moved my house five hundred yards or more from where it 
stood, in order to be more convenient to the timber, for fear that tiio 
lines, Avhen they came to be run by the government, should be be- 
tween me and the timber, and throw mo entirely on the prairie. 
There was a conditional line between me and Mr. Dow, which waa 
mutually agreed upon ; and it was agreed U[)on by the people of the 
neighborhood that such lines should stand until the government lines 
should be run. I cut timber on this claim of mine fi'om May, 1855, 
until late in the fall, and had no difficulty with Mr. Dow, as regards 
our claims, until after the Shawnee reserve line liad been run. This 
reserve line Avas some two and a half miles east of my claim. Some 
two or Jthree of the neighbors, Dow among the number, run off their 
lines i'rom the half-mile stones placed on the reserve line, supposing 
that the government survey would make those half-mile stones corners 
of sections. A majority of the neighbors protested againsf it. Jacob 
Branson and Mr. Dow, seeing that these new lines would b? advan- 
tageous to them, surveyed their lands off so that they would run over 
on my claim and the claim of Mr. Hargous, which joined me on the 
north. Branson went to Hargous, where he was at work on his claim 
with some five or six men, Dow being one of them. They threatened 
him and prevented him from cutting timber on his claim, so far as 
they churned. I had burned one lime-kiln on my claim, and was pre- 
paring to burn another the week after I had burned the first o?ie. Mr. 
Moody was working with me. Mr. Dow came to me one day about 
ten o'clock, and said he wanted me to stop cutting timber. I told him 
I was insi<le of our conditional lines, and was not interfering with his 
claim. 1 showed him I was one hundred and fifty yards inside of my 
claim, according to the conditional lines. He said he had never made 
any lines hiniself, and that, according to the Shawnee reserve line, he 
would be thrown over on ray claim some two hundred and fiity yards 
further than by the conditional line. I told him that I had been con- 
versing with the surveyor who had run the reserve line, and was well 
satisfied that it woukf have nothing to do with'the government sur- 
vey, and that the laws of my country protected rae in holding that 
portion of m}'^ claim. He swore he did not care a God damn for the 
laws of the country, and that I should quit cutting timber oii that 
part of the claim. He said, " God damn you, you think you will get 
all the timber off the claim and let me pre-empt the bare rocky land." 
I then offered to make a compromise with him. I told him the dis- 
tance he wished to claim cut rae out of the timber entirely, and that I 
could not make a support for my family without timber for iarming 
purposes. He said he did not care a God damn ; that I had made my- 
self very meddlesome at the time he had taken possession of the claim 
he then occupied. I told him I had been appointed as one ot a com- 



1054 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

mittee to iDvestigate the burniDg of White's house, and asked him if 
I had not told him that I wished to live nei^rhbors with him, and that, 
if he was not concerned in the burning of White's hnuse, my door was 
always open, and he would be a welcome guest. He said I should 
stop cutting timber there. I asked him how he would stop me ? He 
said he would stop me in a way I would not like, and that if I was 
not careiul he would break luy hide. Mr. Moody asked Mr. Dow if 
he would let us have that kiln of lime we were at work upon? Dow 
said he would see about it, and then he left. Xo one was with Dow 
at that time, and he had no arms with him. Mr. Branson and Dow 
came up towards us in an hour or so afterwards, with what I supposed 
were Sharpe's rifles, and I left before they got up. Out of this diffi- 
culty abont the claim resulted the first difficulty, which resulted in 
Dows death. 

There was no excitement in the neighborhood at that time, and no 
hard feelings l>etween persons there in relation to political matters, so 
far as I knew. There were no hard feelings between me and Dow as 
regarded politics — so far as I wjis concerned, at all events. I myself 
was indifi'erent in regard to whether Kansas was made a slave State 
or a free State. I was willing for the bona fide settlers of the Terri- 
tory to settle that matter for themselves, and was willing to abide by 
the decision they made. 

The reason 1 left the kiln when I saw Branson and Dow coming up, 
was that I knew Branson was an avowed enemy of mine, and had 
heard he had made a great many threats against me. Dow lived with 
Branson at that time. 

For the alleged charge of killing Dow I came to the Shawnee Mis- 
sion and surrendered myself into the custody of sherifi" Jones, of the 
county in which I resided, the governor directing that I should be 
taken before a magistrate of my county. I was carried by the sheritl 
to Bull creek, and there met an express warning me of the danger of 
going back into the neighborhood to appear before the justice, there 
being a large armed f»)rce there greatly excited. I returned back to 
the governor, and he then ordered the sheriff to take me to Lejomp- 
ton, betore Judge Lecompte. The sheriff toek me to Lecompton, and 
I was tliere in the custody of the sheriff some eight days. Judge Le- 
compte did not arrive there. My witnesses did not appear on account 
of the excitement existing in the country, and I requested to be let 
go to thp ^^ akarusa camp, where Squire Saunders and some of my 
witnesses were. Being unable to get witnesses to appear, to fully in- 
vestigate the matter, 1 gave my recognizance before Squire Saunders to 
appear belore the cinuit court of Dougl<\s county, and so tar as I 
know tha4.recognizauce is in force against me yet, and I stand ready 
to answer the charge. I attended at Lecompton at the last circuit of 
the Douglas county court, and saw Governor Shannon and Judge Le- 
compte, and t^.Id them T wanted the matter investigated. The time 
ajqioiuttd '(or the investigation was about the time" Governor Reeder 
resisted the otKcers. The court had been in session there more than a 
week. I told them I wished to have the matter investigated, and was 
not safe in travelling through the Territory. My reasons for telling 
them so, was that I had been shot at several times, and just before 



kaksjls affairs. 1055 

tiat I had "been shot at more than twenty times by men from Lavr- 
rence. somewhere betwt^n Lawrence and ** Blanton's hrid^." Be- 
fore this, duricg the fall before, I had been attacked by twenty-three 
men. and my mule was shot, but I escaped. I was bound to be there 
when the investigation t.H^k place, and I wanted it over as sov^n as 
possible. The matter has not yet been investigated, because the court 
adjourned on account of the excitement in the county. 

To Mr. Howard : 

The amount of bail fixed in my recognizr.r.ce was five hundred dol- 
lars. It wa.* signed by Mcbillon McGee ard Tl oiras Mcclcaby. I 
was at tie Wakarusa camp several days, going there frim Lecomp- 
ton. I took no pait with the forces there, and merely remained there 
for my own protection. I never had any a'pjx^intmert tendered to 
me in any of the comj^nies, and took no part in it. The time I was 
shot at by twenty- three Lawrence men was while I was: going from 
LeH?ompton to the Wakarusa camp. I was right opposite Lawrence, 
on the California rc»ad, I cannot say what their names were. Mr. 
Miller, who was then holding office under Eobinson and Lane, told 
me afterwards that it was reported in Lawrence that night that I had 
been shot at, but they did not think they had killed me. They shot 
my mule at that time, but I escaped. I know these men were from 
Lawrence : because they told the picket guard of Franklin so about 
ten minu'es be'ore I met them, which was after dark, about 8 o'clock. 
I think Mr. Pow died on or ab» ut the 24th of November. I do not 
recolltt^t the day of the week. The interview I had with Dow at the 
lime-kiln was about ten o'clock in the morning. I am not willing to 
answer any more questions in regard to this matter, only so far a>? its 
political Ixaring is concerned. I saw Mr. Hargous and Mr. Buckley 
and Mr. TVagner that day, after my first interview with ^Ir. Dow. 
I went to ^Ir. Hargous's house, and there was no person at home ; 
and I then started from there over towards Mr. McKinneys. Alx>ut 
three hundred yards from Mr. Hargouss, I met Mr. Hargous, Mr. 
Buckley, and Mr. Wagner. I told them I wanted them to go irith me 
down into the timber, to establish the line between Mr. Hargous and 
myself, as we had never had any line esiablishevl between our ch^ims. I 
told Mr. Hargous that Mr. Branson liud Mr. Dow had run me away 
from where I was at work: and as there was no conditional line be- 
tween Hargous and myself, I wanted it es^tablished that I might not 
intrude uj^on him. He said he had not time to go just then, but told 
me to call at his house in a short time, as he was going down into the 
timber to receive some corn he had bought from Mr. Wagner, and 
Mr. Buckltry was going along to kill a beef. They went on to Mr. 
Hargouss. and I returned home. Some time afterwards, on that day, 
I returned to Mr. Hargous' s hc»use, and these three were there. 
Wagner asked me if I had let Branson and Dow clear me out. I tc»ld 
him that they had. They insisted on my sitting down and eating 
dinner, which I refused. They said they would accomj^ny me 
down to establish the line Wtween Hargous and myself, a,-* it was 
the way they were going. Buckley starteil. saying he would go 
to the whiskey shop and get some liquor, and then meet us at my 



1056 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

house. After he had hoen gone some time, anrl -while the rest -were 
not ready to leave, I told them I woiild go on and meet Buckley, and 
meet them at my house. I did not see anything -more of theiu until 
after the final difficulty with Dow. There was no agreement and un- 
derstanding between me and BIr. Buckley that he should go to the 
blacksmith's shop and pick a difficulty with Dow; for I had no idea he 
knew Dow was thtre. I did not myself know tliat Dow was there. 
I saw Mr. Hargous, Mr. Wagner, and Mr. Moody together after the 
final difficulty between myself and Dow. I heard afterwards that 
Dow had been at the blacksmith's shop, and had had some difficulty 
with Mr. Buckley. The difficulty between Dow and myself was in no 
way a political one. The politics of Hargous, Wagner, and Buckley 
were pro-slavery at that time. BIr. Moody was a free-State man. I 
was at Lecompton a prisoner when Branson was rescued; and I have 
never had any office or acted as an officer in Kanzas Territory. I 
had accepted a commission from Governor Shannon as justice of the 
peace ; but in consequence of the difficulty between myself and Dow, 
I threw up mv commission. 

F. M. COLEMAN. 
Westport, Mo., June 5, 1856. 



, John M. Banks testifies : 

To Mr. King: 

I live in the same neighborhood where Coleman and Dow lived, be- 
tween Avhom there was a difficulty, which resulted in the death of 
Dow. About the time Dow first came to the neighborhood I made a 
claim, Mr. Coleman being there at that time. There was a house 
burned on a claim of Wilham White, who was a free-State man. The 
day after the house was burned this Dow commenced to build another 
house on that claim. Some of the neighbors Avent up to Mr. Dow to 
see who had burned the house of Mr. White, being a committee ap- 
pointed by the neighbors to see who had burned the house. Mr. Cole- 
man and myself were on that committee. We talked to him about it. 
He said he did not burn the house. He was a;-ked if he knew who 
did burn it, and he would not answer. Mr. Colenrin and he then got 
to talking about it, and Mr. Coleman remarked that if he, Dow, did 
not burn it, and had no hand in it, and knew nothing about it, he 
could answer it quietly, and also told him that if a nian wanted to 
live peaceably in the neighborhood he would not engage in such things 
as that. And so they got to talking about it, and at" last they really 
seemed to get into a quarrel about it. Mr. Coleman tokl him this : 
" You deny doing it yourself, but will not say you do not know of its 
being done, and I think such men as those are dangerous in thecountry. 
We have come here to make our homes and settle here, and we do not 
want any houses burned ; we Avant to live peaceably and neighborly 
here in tiie community." Just as we started away, Mr. Culeman turned 
round and said, ''Mr. Doav, we are strangers here to'gether. and we 
wish to live peaceably Avith every person." Doav said that Avas all 



KANSAS AFFAIRS, 1057 

rig>it; that he did not burn the house ; and then Coleman said, Lee us 
live like neighbors and put a stop to all such things as burning of 
houses." Dow said that was the right way to get along. 

There was very little said about the slavery question just about this 
time ; it was not an exciting subject at all. Dow was living at Jacob 
Branson' at that tim-e, and I do not think they were on good terms 
•with Colernan at all after this matter of the burning of White's house. 
Before the house was burned Coleman and Branson were not on good 
terms, having had some difficulty and a neighborhood law-suit about 
a claim. I never heard Dow say anything about it ; but I heard 
Branson say Coleman had better keep out of the window and away 
from abouthim, and that if he did not he would hurt him. I never 
heard Dow say anything about Coleman. Coleman and Dow's claims 
joined^ when they made their claims there first. When Dow first 
came there Coleman was living on a prairie claim, and after Dow had 
made his claim Coleman went over on an adjoining claim to Dow's, 
The one that Coleman went on was marked out before Coleman went 
on it, and btifore Dow settled on his ; and when Dow went on his 
claim he respected the lines of the claim that Coleman afterwards went 
on. I tliink it was in May 1855, that Coleman went on that claim, 
and I heard of no difficulty at all about the lines until in the fall, 
when the Sliawnee reserve lines were run. I helped Coleman to cut^ 
timber on his claim, and no one disputed his right to do so. The re- 
serve line did not interfere with either of their claims, and one or two- 
of the neighbors, who lived right along their lines, who considered 
the ston-es put up by the reserve surveyor would be corners of sections,, 
got a surveyor and had their lines run off so as to correspond with, 
their stones on the reserve line. In this way Mr. Dow's claim was. 
thrown some two hundred and fifty yards on to Mr. Coleman's claim. 
A majority of the neighbors protested against the lines being altered; 
so as to correspond with their corner-stones. Dow claimed in to the- 
new lines on Coleman's claim a strip of some two hundred and fifty 
yards wide of timber land. Coleman insisted upon the line that they 
had fixed upon when they first settled there, but said when the gov- 
ernment survey was made he would agree to whatever line was then 
made. Coleman had a lime-kiln on this disputed strip, and I had 
helped him to cut timber there before they undertook to sectionize the 
country there, and had burned one kiln there and made use of the lime 
without any objection being made by any one to it, and he was pre- 
paring the second one, when I understood the difficulty arose on that 
account ; but I do not know the particulars about the difficulty only 
as I have heard from there. 

Late in the evening that Dow was killed I heard of it. I was sick 
and not able to go up, but I went up to Coleman's the next morning. 
Just as I was starting I stopped in a neighbor's house, and there 
were some fifteen or sixteen men came in from around, and asked me 
if I had heard anything of this murder, and I told them I had. They 
asked if 1 knew where Coleman was ; 1 said I did not^ but had heard 
that he had gone down to the governor to give himself up. They 
then started ofi" and went in the direction of Coleman's house, saying 
they were going to hunt Coleman, though they did not say what they 
H. Rep. 200 67* 



1058 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

•were going to do with him. They did not say anything ahoiit ha-vicg 
any legal authority to arrest Coleman, I went along up after them 
to Coleman's house, and after we got upon the prairie, Mr. Hargous- 
having joined me by that time, we saw they were about a quarter of 
a mile from Coleman's house, where they were joined by a party of 
about as many more, who came up from the timber, in the direction of 
Branson's. All these went on up to Coleman's house, and stopped at 
the fence. Three men went into the yard, and walked up to the door 
and opened it, and one of them went in. I rode on past, them, and 
went over to Hargous's house, where Mrs. Coleman then was. I was 
there some half an hour, and on looking up towards Coleman's, I 
saw these men there yet. They were" all armed, principally with 
Sharpe's rifles, some with common rifles. Mr. Branson was among 
them. Mr. Hargous and I walked over to a grocery, about a quarter 
of a mile off, and were there a little while, and I looked up towards 
Coleman's house again, and saw these men about half-way betweeu 
Coleman's and Hargous's, going towards Hargous's. Some ten or 
fifteen stopped between the two houses, and the rest went on to Har- 
gous's house. Mr. Hargous, a Mr. King, and I went over to Har- 
gous's house. When we got near the house these men left it, and 
came towards us. King and I were walking foremost, and we passed 
those men, but they slopped Hargous. King and I walked on to 
the house, where we were told these men had been in there searching 
for Coleman. Hargous was detained a good while by these men, 
about four or five rods from the house. I heard them talking to him 
as I stood in the door. I heard Branson ask him if he knew where 
Coleman was. Hargous said he did not know where he was then, 
but he knew he had started to the Shawnee Mission to give himself 
up to the governor. Branson said Hargous lied ; that Coleman had 
not gone down there. Hargous said he had started, for he knew it. 
Branson insisted that that was not so ; that Hargous knew where 
Coleman was, and had helped to murder Dow. I could not hear 
what else Branson said, but I heard Hargous say, " Gentlemen, you 
have got me in your power, and you can kill me, but you cannot 
make me tell a lie." I saw no officer of the law there at all. The 
men then went over to the grocery where we had been. I left there 
and went home. After the men had left the house of Hargous, Mrs. 
Coleman requested me to go or send some one down to see Mr. Cole- 
man. She said she knew Mr. Coleman would go down to the gov- 
ernor and give himself up, get bail, and come right back ; and then 
these men would meet him, and kill him. I told her I would go 
down, and I started early the next morning, Saturday, down to see 
Coleman. I met Mr. Coleman about seventeen miles from Hickory 
Point, returning with Mr. Jones, the sheriff, who had him in cus- 
tody, as the governor had told them they had better go back before a 
justice of the peace, and have the matter investigated. I told them I 
thought they had better not go up there then, as there was consider- 
able excitement, and many men were there under arms. Mr. Jones 
said he did know what to do, but he thought he could go up there in 
safety. I told them again, I thought the better plan was not to go 
there at present, as I had seen some thirty or forty armed men hunt- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1059 

ing for Coleman. I had passed Bull creek, coming this way, ahont 
four miles, when I met them, and I tnrned and went back with them 
to Bull creek, and stopped there all night. Jones came to the con- 
clusion that it would be better to go back to the governor, and decide 
upon what course should be taken, and I went back with them to 
Gov. Shannon's. Gov. Shannon advised the sheriff to take Coleman 
to Lecompton. ^Ir. Jones started with him to Lecompton, and I 
went on with them until we got opposite to Lawrence, and then left 
them and went into Lawrence. Mr. Babcock and I were personally 
friendly, and he advised me not to go back home, as there were some 
200 or 300 men in arms, who had had a meeting there that day to 
investigate the killing of Dow. I said I did not suppose there was 
any danger, but he said there might be a good deal.' He said the 
men that had went over there said they were going to kill Coleman 
and all his friends. Mr. Babcock is a free-State man, and the post- 
master at Lawrence. I started and went home. I met several between 
Lawrence and Hickory Point, some twenty or thirty in all, going to- 
wards Lawrence. Some of them I knew to be citizens of Lawrence. 
They were armed, but did not molest me as I passed them. After I 
got home some ten or twelve men came down by my house, and some 
of them told me they had been at the meeting at the Point. They 
were also armed, some with Sharpe's rifles and some with other guns. 
These armed men were free-State men. One pro-slavery man by the 
name of Jones was with this party by my house, but he had no arms. 
I said to these men that I had heard they had had a meeting up on 
the hill by Coleman's claim. They said^they had : and I asked them 
the nature of the meeting. They said they had met for the purpose 
of finding out how the murder was committed, and to hunt Coleman. 
I told them I could tell them where Coleman was, and that I had 
left him near Lawrence that morning, and he had gone on to Lecomp- 
ton in the custody of the sheriff. This was on Monday. Coleman's 
house was burned that night. I saw the remains of it the next morn- 
ing. While I was looking at the remains of Coleman's house, I saw 
smoke rise in the direction of Buckley's house, and found out after- 
wards that Buckley's house was burned. While these men were at 
my house, on the evening before Mr. Jones was with them. I asked 
the men if they were going to commit any depredations, as I had heard 
they were to burn the houses of all the pro-slavery men at t]ie Grove. 
One said he did not know anything about that. I asked Mr. Jones 
if they had committed any depredations on Coleman's property ; Mr. 
Jones said that some of the men had set the house on fire, and others 
had put it out. The men were a little off on one side when Jones 
told me this, and they went away then. These men who were going 
about armed were free-State men, and Branson was the leader of 
them. I saw a Mr. Dexter, Mr. Cantwell, Mr. McAllister, Mr. Chap- 
man, and a number of others. As far as I knew them they were free- 
State men, except this Mr. Jones, who was with them at my house on 
Monday. Mr. Buckley was a warm friend of Mr. Coleman's, and 
had gone with him down to the governors. Coleman's and Buckley's 
houses were burned on the same night. I never heard Mr. Coleman 
say much about his opinion upon the slavery cjuestion. I heard him 



1060 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

say frequently, that he wished Kansas to come in as a State, upon a 
fair vote of the people, and if it was made a free State, and negroes 
were excluded, he would be satisfied. 

When the government came to survey the lands upon which Dow's 
and Coleman's claims were, Coleman's claim was thrown some 250 
yards over on what Dow's claim was when he first took it. The 
squatter lines were only to stand until the government lines were 
run. 

JOHN M. BANKS. 

Westport, Mo., June 4, 1856. 



Jacob Branson called and sworn. 

I came into this Territory in March, 1854, and stopped down in the 
Wyandott nation, and staid there until August, 1854, and then 
moved out to Hickory Point, and have been theie ever since. I came 
to the Territory from Indiana. Mr. Dow came to my house in Feb- 
ruary, 1855, and went on his claim, backwards and forwards, from 
my house, until just before the election in March, 1855, and then came 
to my house, and remained there all the time until he was killed. 
Mr. Coleman lived nearly a mile from my house at the time of the 
murder. There was no previous difficulty between Dow and Coleman, 
before the one that took place the morning Dow was killed. Coleman 
and Dow used to speak together when they met. On the morning of 
the 21st of November last, Dow and I went down on his claim to set 
a log heap on fire, to burn some lime, which we did ; and after re- 
maining a while with him, I returned home, and Dow went off to- 
wards the blacksmith shop to get a wagon-skane mended. The skane 
was a piece of iron about 12 or 14 inches long, for a common lumber- 
wagttn, and was very thin and very much worn. It is hardly an inch 
wide, and not more than an eighth of an inch thick. About half 
an hour after I left him, he came back to my house, and complained 
that Coleman and Moody were on his claim cutting timber. He asked 
me to go down with him, as Coleman refused to leave when he had 
told him to do so. I did so, and took my gun along ; but Dow re- 
fused to take his with him, although I endeavored to get him to do so. 
He went back with me with nothing but this skahe in his hand. We 
went up to where they were at work, and, beibre we got there, we 
saw Coleman leaviag, when he was about a hundred yards from the 
lime-heap, going up a hill. We were from 50 to 100 yards from the 
lime-heap when we saw him. Moody was still there, and after some 
talk with him, I returned home, after trying to persuade Dow to go 
back with me and get his gun, which he refused to do, or even to go 
and get a pistol. 

Dow went off towards the blacksmith shop. This, I should think,, 
was about 11 o'clock 'in the morning, and I never saw Dow alive 
after that. I first heard of his death in the evening about four or five 
o'clock, when the sun was about half an hour high. * 

Mr. Gleason was the first man who told me Dow was killed. I 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1061 

learned from him that Coleman had killed Dow just ahove in the road. 
I understood from Mr. Gleasonthat Coleman had come down towards 
my house, with some persons with him, and I was afraid they would 
attack me, though I have since learned that I misunderstood Grleason. 
I remained in my house, expecting an attack, my wife having left for 
the neighbors', and I stood there, with my gun in my hand, about an 
hour. I had before this time become so uneasy about Dow's long ab- 
sence, that I had come up from my house by the log-heap into the 
road, and went up so that I could see the blacksmith shop, and, as I 
afterwards learned, from 100 yards to 150 from where Dow lay dead. 
I saw Coleman, and five other men I did not recognise perfectly, come 
from towards Mr. Hargous's house across the road, near where Dovv'g 
body was lying. I took those with Coleman to be Har'gous, Buckley, 
Moody, and two other men — I could not tell who they were. They 
went into Mr. Coleman's house. Then, as I stood watching the black- 
smith's shop, I saw two men coming from that direction, and going 
by Dow's body within a few steps, pass into Mr. Coleman's house also. 
I saw no more stirring, and after waiting awhile, I went back home 
some other way; though I was afraid something had happened, or 
would happen, from what I had seen of the actions of these men. I 
did not know, at that time, that Dow was killed ; and though I was 
near enough to have seen something lying in the road, yet, as I did 
not expect it, and my eye-sight was rather bad, I did not see anything. 

Nearly an hour after Gleason had come to my house — and it was 
getting quite dark — Moody came to my house, and told me that Dow 
was killed. I asked him who killed him, and he said Coleman. I 
asked him if he saw Coleman do it, and he said he did. Then I asked 
him how far he, Moody, was from Coleman when Coleman killed Dow, 
and he said he thought he was pretty near a hundred yards off. Then 
I asked him how near Coleman was to Dow when he shot him, and he 
could not tell exactly; but it was not less than 25 nor more than 50 
yards. Coleman was behind Dow, he said, and bursted a cap at him, 
without discharging his gun. Dow turned round, and he saw Dow 
raise his hand and motion with his finger to Coleman, as if he was 
talking earnestly to him ; but he could not hear what was said. He 
said that Coleman put another cap on his gun after Dow turned round, 
and then raised his gun, pointed it towards Dow, and fired, when 
Dow immediately fell backwards, a little sideways, and he did not 
see him move afterwards. 

I asked him what Coleman did then. And he said, nothing but to 
walk to his house. I asked Moody, why he had not let me know 
about it sooner. He said he thought some of the rest of them had 
come down to let me know. I asked him who else was by when Cole- 
man killed Dow, and he told me that Wagner was along with him. 
Moody and Hargous were a little behind. Then I asked young Hop- 
kins, who had come to my house about the same time that Moody had, 
if he would go along with me. He said he would, and then I and 
Hopkins and Moody went up the road where Dow's body was lying. 
After we got there, Mr. Hargous and ayoung man, whol think was also 
named Hargous, came along with part of the running gear of a wagon 



1062 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

•wittiout the body, drawn by a yoke of oxen, and stopped wliere we 
then were. 

The body was lying mainly north and south across the road, the 
head in the road near the centre, and the feet along a Ittle angling 
towards the side of the road. His hands were lying little from his 
body, as he was lying nearly on his back, but a little towards the 
right side ; and the wagon-skane was lying on the fingers of his 
right hand, as it was lying open, with a leather glove on. Without 
examining his body, we put it on the wagon and took it down to my 
house. After we got there, we laid out his body and took off his 
clothes, and saw where he was shot. 

There were nine slug holes, eight in his body and one in his arm. 
One went into his neck — and there might liave been two — and the 
rest in his breast, scattered from the pit of his stomach up above for 
fully twelve inches. We did not notice at the time that any went 
through the body ; but when we took up his clothes, two or three 
slugs, I do not know which, dropped out. They were bloody, and 
had lint from his clothes on them. They were preserved, and my wife 
has them now. They looked as if they were not run, but cut off a 
square piece of lead, and then rounded a little. I should think they 
would have run about 100 or 150 to the pound. 

We buried him the second day after he was killed. A good many 
neighbors gathered in, and were a good deal excited. But nothing 
particular happened before Dow w^as buried. There w^as some search 
made for Coleman, but he w^as not to be found in the neighborhood. 
There was a meeting at Hickory Point, the Monday following the fu- 
neral on Saturday. The neighbors had appointed to meet at my 
house on Monday to take some further steps to bring Coleman to jus- 
tice. They met there, and went up to where Dow's body was found, 
and then examined some witnesses, but not under oath, and passed 
certain resolutions which were published in the papers shortly after. 
After that ^\e separated and went towards our homes. I went home 
myself. It was then getting a little late, and I went to bed soon af- 
ter I got home — I should think shortly after seven o'clock. 

My wife woke me up. I do not know how long I had been asleep, 
but thought it was but a short time. I found that a good many per- 
sons were coming towards my house, and by the time I was fairly 
awake I heard a rap at the door. I asked who was there? and the 
answer was, " Friends." Before I could tell them to come in, the 
door was burst open, and the room was filled with persons. I had 
got out, and was sitting on the §ide of the bed, with nothing on but 
my shirt. One of them asked me if my name was Branson, and I 
said it was. He then drew his pistol, cocked it, and presented it to 
my breast and said, " You are my prisoner, and if you move I will 
blow you through. Don't you move." I went to stoop to get my 
jmnts, and he stopped me two or three times, saying, " Don't you 
move, or I will blow you through." I heard the others cock their 
guns, and I saw them present them to me all around me, except at 
the back of my bed, where they could not get. 

After awhile they let me put on my pants and coat that lay by me, 
and then they marched me out, and took me off with them They 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1063 

were on horselDack, and when we got out to tlie yard fence they told 
me there was a mule Mr. Coleman had heen riding around, and now I 
might get on him and try him, and see how I liked it. They then 
took me, in the first place, up to Mr. Buckley's house. Buckley, and 
I think one or two others, then got oif and went into the house, and 
got a bridle, and caught another horse. There were several trunks 
set outside the house; some of them were open ; Buckley pushed one 
back into the house and said that the damned Yankees, or aboli- 
tionists, I do not recollect which, had been robbing his house, and 
that was the way he had found it when he got home. I saw none of 
his family. I think I should have seen some of them if they had been 
there ; for I was sitting on my mule just before the door, and the 
moon was shining brightly into the door, which was open. After he 
caught his horse we went on to Mr. Freeland's house, 1 think, and 
then all got off but two, who were left to guard me, and went into 
the house. 

They remained in there for some time, I think from half an hour 
to an hour. They brought some liquor out to the other men in a jug, 
and gave me some. I was almost frozen — very much chilled, as it 
was a clear cold night. When they came out they got on their horses, 
and came on to within half a mile of Blanton's bridge, across the 
Wakarusa. I did not count the company. Sheriff Jones, who called 
himself the high sheriff of this county — the one that first presented 
the pistol to me in my house and called me his prisoner — claimed to 
be the leader of the company. He never showed me his warrant, and 
did not tell me for what I was arrested, until a short time before I 
was rescued. He then rode up to where I was, and I asked him what 
great criminal act I had been doing, that he brought so many men to 
take me? He said nothing muvh, only he had a peace-warrant or two 
against me. I then said, it took a great many men to come after an 
old man like me. He said, "these men that came along with me 
we expected would have a little fun ; we heard that there were about 
a hundred men at your house to-day, and we hoped to find them there 
to-night, as we wanted to have some sport with them ;" and said he 
regretted they were not there, and that they were cheated out of their 
sport. I asked him, " how many are there of you?" There were only 
thirteen of them then ; he did not say whether there had been any 
more. I did not count them, but I think there were thirteen there. 
I think there were a good many more at my house when they took 
me, but I did not see Buckley nor Salters after they got to Feelan's. 
Of those who were in my house I knew and recognised Hargous, Buck- 
ley, Berry, McDaniel, Wolf, Wallace, of the town of Franklin, Sal- 
ters, and sheriff Jones. I had never seen Salters and sheriff Jones 
before, but heard their names called in the company by the rest. 

When we were within about half a mile of Blanton's bridge, I 
saw sume men who appeared to come from behind a house ; and as 
we were going on at a pretty smart canter they stretched out across 
the road v^^here we were, I should suppose about fifty yards from the 
house. Those men were on foot. Those men who were with me 
then spurred on, presented their guns, leaving me a little behind, un- 
til they got within twenty or thirty feet of those men, and as they 



1064 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

did not give way, tliey halted. I rode up to tlie party tliat had me 
with them. I heard Jones say, '^ What's up?" I heard some one 
from the other party say, " That's what we want to know ; what's 
up ?" I then spoke, and said : '' They have got me here a prisoner." 
One from the other party said : " Is that you, Branson ?" I said it 
was, and he told me to come over to the other side. Two men were 
by me then, and one said: " Don't you go, or we will shoot you." 
I told them to shoot if they wanted to, as I was going. I then rode 
forward, and got to the other company, and got off my male, and 
asked what I should do with it. Some one said, " let it go to hell ;" 
and I let go of it, aiadsome one gave it a kick, and it went hack to- 
wards Jones's party. Both parties stood there for some short time with 
their guns presented to each other. The pai-ty that I rode up to 
told me to go into the house, and I walked around the corner to the 
door and went into Mr. Abbott's house. I did not count the partj 
who rescued me^, but I thought the parties were about equal in num- 
ber. After Jones's party left I saw six others come up, and I was 
told that three others had come up aft^r I was rescued, before these 
six and while I was in the house. After the six came up I counted 
the men, and there were twenty-one besides myself. 

All of Jones's party that were at my house were armed, as far as I 
saw, either with guns or pistols. The party that rescued me were 
armed — some with rifles, some with shot-guns, and some only had 
stones iu their hands. One or two of them had pistols. Jones's 
party went off after I went into the house, and I saw nothing more of 
them. Abbott's house is about four miles and a half from Lawrence^ 
and I should think it was five and a half or six miles from my house 
in a straiglit line ; but the way we came it was eight or nine miles. 
Of tlie party who rescued me, I knew the names of some, bat not all. 
Of those I knew were Mr. "Wood, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Lock, and Mr. 
Hupp and son, I do not recollect the names of the others. Of those 
I name but one lives in Lawrence, and the others are farmers scattered 
around, living on the Wakarusa and Cole creek. Mr. Lock was at 
my house when Jones and his party arrested me, and started off and 
let the neighbors know of it ; and as Jones and his party were so long 
on the way, the others got in the road ahead of them. 

Coleman's house was burnt the night I was taken, and. as I was 
told, about the same time Buckley's house was, the same night. I do 
not know who burnt their houses, or who were engaged in it. 

They have been frequently around after me since. Sheriff Jones 
has not been there, that I know of, but Mr. Salters has been, and, as 
I understood, to arrest me on the peace warrant. I did not happen to 
be at home when tliey called. I was not in Lawrence during the 
siege, as the people would not let me remain here, and I took no part 
in the affairs here. They never have cliarged me with any offences, 
so far as I know, except making threats about the murder of Dow. 
I never said anything about the matter, more than to agree to the 
resolutions passed at the meeting at Hickory Point. I never threat- 
ened any one, and never expressed any desire except that those en- 
gaged in the murdering of Dow should be brought to justice. Dow 
was a right peaceable man, and a good, quiet citizen ; a man I thought 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1065 

as mneh of as any I ever got acquainted with in my life. He never 
drank any liquor, and so far as 1 know, was never in any controversy 
with any one before the day he was killed. He told me a few days 
before he was killed, that he would be twenty-seven or twenty-eight 
years old in a few days. He was unmarried. He boarded in my 
family, and we were all attached to him. I am a plasterer by trade, 
but follow farming now. I am forty-nine years old. I came from 
Huntington county, Indiana, here, but was born in Highland county, 
Ohio. Dow claimed the land the lime-kiln was on, and it was within 
the stakes of his claim at the time he was killed. I understood that 
Coleman claimed it also, coming after Dow did, having left a claim 
he was on when Dow came there, and moved his house over towards 
Dows claim. 

I do not know that Coleman has ever been arrested or examined for 
this crime, but I have heard that he gave himself up at one time. 
But I have never heard that he has been tried for his crime, and none 
of the others hive been arrested. I have heard of Coleman being there 
backwards and forwards in that neighborhood several times since the 
murder, but I have not seen him. 

Within a- few days, I think last week, while this commission was 
here at Lawrence, Walters, with a detachment of United States troops, 
was at my house, as they said, to get me, but they did not tind me. 
I saw the party coming towards my house. 

JACOB BRANSON. 

Lawrence, K. T., Maij 10, 1856. 



L. A. Prather called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

My residence is just a little west of the Shawnee reserve line, south- 
east of Franklin, perhaps a mile from where the Missourians camped 
last fall. The day before Branson was said to be rescued, Mr. Wal- 
lace, of Franklin, asked me to attend to his store, which I agreed to 
do. After I went to the store the next morning I went to the hotel 
and saw Mr. Jones writing. Mr. Wallace and myself went into the 
room together. Before we went into the room he had told me that 
Mr. Branson had been rescued from Mr. Jones and his posse, of which 
he was one, by thirty or forty men. He then told me that Mr. Jones 
was going to send to Missouri for aid, and it was suggested that we 
should go to Mr. Jones to try to stop it. Mr. Wallace expressed 
himself opposed to sending to Missouri. After we went into the room 
and found Mr. Jones writing, Mr. Wallace remarked to me, "Mr. 
Jones is now writing the despatch to send to Colonel Boone." Before 
going into the room I said, "Why not send to Governor Shaynon ?" 
I should think I was not more than two feet from Mr. Jones when 
he was writing what I was told by Mr. Wallace was the despatch to 
Missouri. The conversation was loud enough for Mr. Jones to hear, 
although the room was nearly as full of persons as it could well hold. 
Mr. Jones walked to the door, and Mr. Wallace and myself walked 



1066 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

out nearly at the same time. He gave the paper lie had written to 
some man, either Coleman, Hargous, or Buckley, as the man was 
called by various persons in the crowd, hut I do not know who he 
was. As the man started off with the despatch Mr. Jones said : 
^ 'That man is taking my despatch to Missouri, and hy God I will 
have revenge 'before I see Missouri." In the course of half an 
hour I saw another despatch start off, and Mr. Wallace told me it 
was a despatch to Governor Shannon to raise the militia for aid. I 
complained publicly of the despatch being first sent to Missouri, in- 
stead of to .Governor Shannon. Afterwards a gentleman, I think 
called Hargous, started off, as Mr. Wallace told me, to take a de- 
spatch to Governor Shannon. 

The next thing I know in connection with the war was a few days 
after this, not exceeding four days. I went up to Franklin, and saw 
a body of armed men from Missouri there ; they told me they were 
under the command of Captain Shaw. I knew several of them per- 
sonally. Amongst them was a Mr. Ralston, living just west of Inde- 
pendence, on the road to Westport ; also a gentleman I had always 
heard called Dr. Henry ; also a Mr. Lucas — I have always heard him 
called Lieutenant Lucas ; and others whose names I do not now 
remember. They encamped there in Franklin, and after they had 
encamped. Mr.^Salters, who was acting as deputy sheriff, came to me 
and observed, "Now I will have revenge upon Lawrence. There 
shall not be left one stone upon another." More and more came 
pouring into Franklin and vicinity for some seven or eight days, and 
perhaps longer, coming from the eastward, towards Missouri ; and I 
saw but fiew com})anies that did not contain men I had known in 
Missouri. Several of them said they had come to serve Governor 
Shannon, if he would let them, and if not they would do their duty 
anyhow. After they had been to Franklin a little while they removed 
their camp to the Wakarusa. I was in their camp off and on a 
great many times. They were armed, I think_, almost without excep- 
tion, with rifles and guns, with pistols and bowie-knives. I saw a 
great many swords and two pieces of artillery, one of which I heard 
belonged to Missouri, as I had seen it there repeatedly. They told 
me they were organized in companies, but I did not see them parade. 
I saw them marked "xi;" "B," &c. They tried to raise a company 
of Territorial militia at Franklin, and did raise it ; Mr. Leak com- 
manded it, and I think Mr. Laley was lieutenant. Mr. Leak was a 
travelling gambler, and he told me so himself. I saw this company 
parade repeatedly, and heard the roll called. I did not see any other 
Territorial militia that I knew to be such, and I heard of none that 
were called such. These were quartered in Franklin. In the first 
place I was informed by Mr. Wallace that Mr. Jones was in command 
of these forces. Afterwards I was told by somebody else, I do not 
know who, that General Strickler was in command. I afterwards 
saw Geheral Richardson, and I was told by himself that he was in 
•command. Mr. Wallace told me that he was aid to Mr. Jones, and 
that was the office he claimed to hold all the time. 

The Mr. Wallace I allude to is Mr. John M. Wallace. I went with 
him several times to the camp, but did not see him exercise any com- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1067 

mand there. After the camp was moved to Wakarnsa he appeared 
to take command in Franklin, or the direction of affairs in i>;encral. 
The officers of tlie Franklin company of militia went to him for direc- 
tions. Tliey got some of their supplies from the store, and also a 
parcel of rifles that were in the store. 

Mr. Wallace told me he aided Mr, Jones in arresting Mr. Branson. 
Mr. Wallace brought me a written note from Governor Shannon, 
requesting me to call upon him immediately at Blue Jacket's. After 
I received tliat note I went forthwith, within live minutes, to Governor 
Shannon at Blue Jacket's, at the Wakarusa crossing. The governor 
wanted to know what had transpired in public meetings here in 
Lawrence^ which he had heard I liad attended ; and whether threats 
had been made against sheriff Jones, or any other ])erson of the 
government. After that conversation nothing important happened 
i before I left. 

I saw persons in that camp who told me they were of the Wyandott 

tribe of Indians, and I knew them to be Indians, as far as I could 

judge. There were two Indians I am acquainted with in the company 

at Franklin, of the Shawnee tribe. When I saw the Wyandotts they 

were in their camps cooking their dinner ; and I saw arms lying 

about their camp, which was separate from the others. I do not 

I know whether they were their arms or not. I saw a man meet at 

J least three Indians of the Delaware tribe, as they said, and pour into 

the hands of one of them some bullets, and tell him he wanted him 

I to save a Yankee scalp for each bullet ; and he promised to do it. 

i The same man — I think his name was Joseph Morris — took the 

I Indians' bottle and got it filled, and brought it back to them. While 

he was gone the Indian told me, " Me no kill Yankee ; me want to 

get whisk." 

Mr. Wallace never brought me any messages from Mr. Jones. I 
do not recollect that he ever brought me any messages from any one 
but Governor Shannon, during those t^fficulties. He expressed a de- 
cided determination to come with the Missouri troops to La\\rence, 
and die with them, if necessary. 

Guards were stationed by some person within eighty or one hundred 
yards from my house, at my ford^ and there was no other ford along 
there but the one I had made for my own use. From about sundown 
to sunrise I was prevented from passing that ford, as were visitors to 
my house. Tliis was not the case in the day-time. I lost a cow and 
calf during that time, and considered that it was because I could not 
attend to my cattle as usual, on account of my being prevented from 
doing so by this guard. Of a night, they prevented my going 
home from Franklin, where I was accustomed to be in the day-time, 
though they did not prevent my going to Franklin from home in the 
day-time. I was doing business in tl^e store, and wanted to go home ' 
after dark, and the officer refused me leave to do so. My mail matter 
came here to Lawrence, and they turned me back twice when I started 
to come after it. Captain Leak refused to grant me a permit to come, 
Baying that the reason was, because I was seen talking to Dr. Robinson 
just after the troubles broke out. I C( mplained to Mr. Bledsoe, who 
claimed to be captain of tlie guard, of the treatment I had received, 



1068 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and threatened to appeal to the law ; and he said, '* By God, I would 
like to see ymi get any benefit from the law against ns." He nsed a 
great deal of rough and abusive language to me. and treated me some- 
what contemptuously when I claimed to be an independent citizen. I 
know of no depredations committed in the neighborhood, except as 
regards myself, though I heard of a great many. 

A gentleman \%ith whom I was acquainted being in this place. Dr. 
Wood fell in with me and Mr. Wallace, as we were riding into camp, 
where G-overnor Shannon had sent a message to me. Dr. Wood told 
us that General Richardson and his retinue had come down trom Le- 
compton ; and that at about three or four miles above Lawrence there 
were two men riding across the prairie, and that Mr. Clark, and 
Burns, of Weston, Missouri, rode out and headed them off. After 
they had }vissed out of sight. General Richardson directed Dr. Wood 
himself to go and call Clark and Burns back, for fear tliey would get 
into a difficulty. The doctor said that as he rode over the hill, he 
saw Mr. Clark and Burns, and one of the two strangers, popping 
away at each other with pistols. After three or four fires each, h« 
saw the two men leave Burns and Clark, and gallop away, and that 
Burns said he had struck one. because he had seen the fur fiy from 
his coat- back as he turned his back upon him. I was introduced to 
Major Clark after supper, and heard him telling the thing over. He 
told it about as Dr. Wood did, and added. '' we gave one Yankee his 
winter quarters, for I saw him reel on his horse."' Dr. Wood dis- 
tinctly disclaimed participating in the tiring at all. I heard auoiher 
man talking the same evening, who confirmed the statement made br 
Mr. Clark. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

The first conversation I had with Mr. Wallace, that I have 
mentioned, was about the latter part of Xovember, and some ten or 
twelve days before the close of the war. It was the morning I waa 
told Branson had been rescued the night lv?fore. The conversation 
began in the store of Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Charles^ of Franklin, and 
"we continued talking until we got to the tavern, which was nearly 
opposite. Mr. Joseph Xorris, Capt. Leak, and perhaps Mr. Crane 
and his son. I am not certain, were in the rcmi when Mr. Wallace 
told me Mr. Jones was writing a despatch to Missouri. The man who 
told me he was Bledsoe. I understood from some one else, was from 
Cass county, Missouri. When I demanded his name, he said it was 
Bledsoe, and said, •• I command the guard." I believe I have heard 
him called Colonel Bledsoe, though I will not be certain. Mr. John 
M. Wallace brought me the message from Gvwernor Shannon. When 
Major Clark was talking about the shooting of Barber, it was at Blue 
Jackets, and there was a crowd there, but I cannot t^ll who were 
there. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

When I heard that General Pomeroy was a prisoner, I asked Mr. 
Ralston, Capt. Shaw, and others, to see him, and they refused to let 
me see him, saying that there was a secret organization, and I might 



KANSAS AFFAIUS, 1069 

bo a ilrtiunod spy. nnd got sonio soorot sii;'n from (umumjiI r>MiuMov, 
mul post ol\ to liawrouoo with it. 

L. A. PKATllKK. 
Lawkknik, Iv. T., Mo// I, 18o(>. 



CnAui,R>^ KoiuNsox, voomHoiI. 

To Mr. "RooJor : 

I hoard tiboiit the hist ot" Novoinhor ot' a mnvdcv or hoinioido about 
ten inih>s tVom horo, near lliokory Point. A tow days al'tor. 1 hoard 
of a nu'otinu to ho hohi thoro to take that atVair into oonsiihMatiou. 
The niii'ht aftor the luootiuj::, a ])arty of about a dozou mon oaUod at 
my houso. porhaps about tour o'ohu'k in tho luorniui;-, and with thoni 
was a man oaUod Branson, wlunn they said had h'tl shorill' e)ono8. 
They statod tho oiroumstanoos of ]\lr. Branson's arrost, as they niuh'r- 
stood thorn, and tho cireumstanoos of his loaviu!; tho shorill". I tohl 
tliem it was a mattor of their own, and thoy conhl not oxpoot mo or 
the peo[do ot l.awrenoo U> have anything; to do witli it. They passed 
on to tlie village, and 1 attorwanhs mot tliom there. They were 
talking' oi having a meeting ot' tho oiti/.ens when 1 saw them again ; 
1 told them I thought sueh a meeting wouhl (\o them nogot>il, aiul 
diseouragoii it. 1 let't the village, perhaps it was six or seven o'lloek 
in the morning, and did not return until nine or ton o'eloek. ^Vheu 
I did return. I tound a gathering in tho hall ; 1 found the mei>ting 
had been in session some time; that they had appointotl a I'ominittee 
of ten, I think, ami I was mio o\' the number. 1 was ni>tilietl by tho 
chairman o\' my appointment on the oommittee, and ininiediately 
])Voceeded to a private eonsultation ot' the oommittee. It was ileeided 
by the committee, that we had nothing to do with tho alfair, and that 
we wtMild, as individuals, say as much to parties coneerned. The 
connnittee reported to the mooting a brief statement of our oomUtiou. 
The following is, 1 think, substantially the report made by l\lr. 
Lowry, as published in the papers : 

•' We, tho citizens of Kansas Territory, tind ouvsielves in a condi- 
tion o\' eon fusion and detencelessness so great, that open outrage and 
midday murders are becoming tho rule, and quiet and security the 
except ion. And whereas tho law, the only authoritative iMigine to 
correct ami regulate the excesses and wrongs of socit^ty. has never 
yet been extended to our Territory — thus leaving us with no (ixod or 
definite rules of action, or source of redress — we are reduced to tho 
necessity of organizing ourselves together on the basis of tirst j)rin- 
ciples, and providing for the common defence and general security. 
And here we pledge ourselves to the resistance of lawlessness and 
outrage at all times, when recpiired by the otlict'rs who may from 
time to time be chosen to superintend the movements of the organiza- 
tion." 

In consequence of the threats said to have been made by Mr. .lonoi^ 
ami his party at the time Branson left him, and other indications 
that had been received from ditlcrent sources, that the people of Mis- 



1070 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

souri "^ould assail and destroy our town and citizens, the committee 
was appointed hj the meeting as a committee of safety. 

Nothing more of importance occurred in the phace for a few days, 
excepting that reports were continually coming in that we were to be 
inyaded and our place destroyed. 

The first action the committee of safety took, was to organize the 
citizens in guards, so far as to haye them enrolled, and their places of 
residence ascertained, that they might he called together upon short 
notice. The people from Missouri began to arriye in our yicinity — 
the first company, I think, at Franklin — and to commit depredations 
on trayellers, and other citizens of the Territory. 

The Leayenworth Herald was receiyed about that time, containing 
a very inflammatory article, and an appeal to Missouri for assist- 
ance ; also a copy of a letter, said to be from Secretary Woodson, 
calling indirectly upon the riflemen of Missouri ; and in a day or 
two after the governor's proclamation accidentally came into the 
place. It appearing evident that an attack was to be made in a short 
time, the committee of safety organized a regiment of citizens. Du- 
ring this time the committee endeavored to ascertain the objects of the 
invading forces ; what the sheriff wanted, and what the governor 
intended to do. No officer communicated with us, or made any 
demands upon us whatever. The sheriff was asked in my presence, 
when threatening the people of Lawrence, what he wanted; he 
replied that he would let us know when he got ready. A letter was 
written to Governor Shannon, of inquiry, a copy of which is, I 
believe, on file here, in what we call the adjutant's office. He in- 
formed the messenger that he would visit us very soon. We received 
word the next day after the messenger returned, tliat he was at 
rranklin_, or at Blue Jacket's, I am not certain which. Before we 
receiyed word from him, I think he set the time at wliich he would 
be at the camp on the Wakarusa. and Mr. Winchell visited him 
there ; and he then informed Mr. Winchell that he would visit us the 
next day, and let us know when he was ready to come into town. 
This I learned by report. We were notified that he was at Franklin, 
and desired an escort into town, which was sent to him under the 
direction of Mr. Lowry. 

The goyernor arrived in town soon after, accompanied by some of 
his friends from Missouri. He was taken into the room of the com- 
mittee of safety, introduced to some of our citizens ; after which we 
held a private interview in an adjoining room — Colonel Lane and 
myself acting for the people of Lawrence. He then stated that he 
was satisfied he had misunderstood the people of Lawrence and the 
Territory, and that we had violated no law as a people. He also 
stated that Mr. Jones, and others, had made certain representations 
to him which he was satisfied were incorrect. He exjiressed regret 
that the people of Missouri were here in such numbers ; said he feared 
he could not control them, and he dared not close negotiations that 
day. He was very desirous that Colonel Sumner, with his forces, 
should arrive to prevent a collision. He said if he should close nego- 
tiations that day on any terms honorable to us, the people in camp 
would raise the black flag and march upon the town. The remainder 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1071 

of the day, until towards evening, was spent in conversation upon 
various topics, and that evening he returned to camp. He was in- 
vited to remain during the night, but said his presence was necessary 
in his own camp to keep the men in suhjection. He promised, how- 
ever, to return the next day at eight o'clock, wlien he confidently 
ex})ected Colonel Sumner would he here. 

That evening a sub-committee drew up a paper as a basis of settle- 
ment with Grovernor Shannon, as he had expressed a desire tliat such 
a paper should be drawn up and signed by the parties. The next 
day the governor arrived here about ten o'clock, and immediately went 
into conference. H,e had a paper that he had drawn up wliich he 
wished to be signed as a settlement of the dilhculties. I showed him 
the paper drawn up by our committee, and preferred he wouhl take 
that as a basis, as it would be more likely to give satisfaction to our 
people, they having discussed it and agreed to it. He expressed no 
particular dissatisfaction with the paper, as far as he was concerned, 
but said he wanted something to satisfy the people in tlie camp. I ' 
asked him if they were not under his control ; and if so, what tliey 
had to do Avith the settlement He said that tlie posse would obey 
orders, and he could control thpm, but they formed but a small 
part of the forces on the Wakarusa and at Lecompton. He thought 
they would demand that we should be disarmed, and we made to 
pledge ourselves to recognise the laws of the Territorial legislature. 
I told him our people would never consent to any such arraagement, 
particularly while an armed force was in our vicinity which he said 
lie could not himself control. He said that for himself he would be 
satisfied without any paper. All he wished was that the laws com- 
mon to all countries_, especially the criminal laws, should be observed; 
and he was satisfied, from what he had seen, that the people of Jjaw- 
rence would respect them ; but he must satisfy the people in the 
camp. After arguing the matter, that we had nothing to do with 
the people in the camp, that we recognised him as our governor, and 
that if we satisfied him they had no right to complain — also assuring 
him that if he would disband the forces on the Wakarusa, and ac- 
cept of us as his command, we would risk the consequences — he con- 
cluded, finally, to agree upon an arrangement between ourselves that 
should not be' reported to the camp on the Wakarusa until they 
had left. He then took the paper drawn up by the committee, re- 
wrote it, made some verbal alterations and added one or two sentences, 
and said he Avould be satisfied with it in that form. The alterations, 
or the wording, was such as to leave a question as to the meaning, 
or the extent of the meaning of certain words ; and to avoid any mis- 
understanding, I requested an additional sentence in regard to the 
Territorial laws. He readily assented to it, saying he did not ask us 
to endorse those laws. 

After the paper had been signed, he requested that the committee 
from the people here should visit Franklin and meet some of the 
captains of the forces there, as he feared he could not pacify them by 
anything he could say. Accordingly, Colonel Lane and myself re- 
turned to Franklin with him. He made quite a lengthy argument or 
speech in favor of their returning without our giving up our arms or 



1072 KANSASAFFAIRS. 

being dispersed, saying he had no right to demand our arms it dis- 
persion under the circumstances. Cohmel Lane and myself alsit stated 
how affairs were as we understood them, and most of the ca; tains 
appeared to be satisfied to return home. This was on Saturday night. 

On Sunday the governor visited us again, dined with some of our 
citizens, and was apparently well pleased with the arrangement and 
with the citizens. In the evening reports came in that the forces that 
bad been disbanded were reorganizing, and determined to make an 
attack upon the town. I informed Governor Shannon of the reports, 
and requested, as we were without authority, that he should give us 
authority to protect ourselves and the town. He readily assented, 
saying if I would write a paper to that effect, he would sign it. I 
did so, and he signed it. I have the paper with me. 

[The witness produced the paper, which is as follows :] 

"To C. Robinson and J. H. Lane, Commanders of the enrolled 

citizens at Lawrence : 

"■ You are hereby authorized and directed to take such measures, 
and use the enrolled force under you command in such manner for the 
preservation of the peace and the protection of the persons and the 
property of the people of Lawrence and the vicinity, as in your judg- 
ment shall best secure that end. 
^' Lawrence, December 9, 1855. 

" WILSON SHANNON. 
" Witness: 

"A.Allen." 

Reports continued to come in during the next day that the dis- 
banded forces were still meditating an attack. Scouts were sent out 
in various directions to ascertain the truth of said reports, and found 
that the Missourians had lelt the Territory. On Monday evening 
there was a peace party, to w^hich persons of all parties and distinctions 
were invited. Next day, Tuesday, the companies were formally dis- 
missed, and went about their business. 

There never was a process in the hands of sheriff Jones against any 
one in Lawrence or vicinity, to my knowledge, previous to this inva- 
sion, and, consequently, no resistance. I know of no such resistance, 
and heard of none ; and believe if there had been an}^ I would have 
heard of it. I stated the same to the committee of captains in the 
presence of Mr. Jones, and some one of the captains, I think it was 
Colonel S. H. Woodson, asked Mr. Jones if such was the tact that no 
arrest had been attempted in Lawrence, and he said it was ; Jones 
said it was the fact. 

There had been no crime or disturbance of any kind, to my know- 
ledge, prior to that, unless it was petty theft, except assaults made by 
pro-slavery men upon free-State men, growing out of political diffi- 
culties and street quarrels, perhaps, of which no notice was taken. I 
know of no constable's warrants under the Territorial laws. 

From the best information I could get, there was something like 
fifty residents of this Territory in the camps. This» information was 
derived from report. A majority of the committee of captains were 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1073 

from Missouri, as I understood ; several I knew were from Missouri. 
Colonel Woodson was one of them. I met Mr. Coleman, the one 
charged with the murder of Dow^ there, and understood he had a 
command. 

To Mr, Howard; » 

It had heen reported ever since I came into the Territory that we 
were to he driven out of the Territory— all tliat came from the North. 
I know of no reason for the hostility to Lawrence. I never knew that 
sheriff Jones had heen badly treated by the ])eople of Lawrence up to 
that time. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Our defences were made here for the purpose of resisting the inva- 
sion which we understood was directed against Lawrence. 

Mr. Dow was not connected here with the people of Lawrence that I 
know of. Hickory Point is a detached settlement, having no connec- 
tion with Lawrence. I do not know that Dow had ever been here, 
Eor, to my knowledge, had he any connection with any company or 
society here. I suppose the people of Hickory Point do their trading 
at Kansas City and here. 

Some two or three days after the rescue of Branson, I saw S. N. 
Wood, who claimed publicly, and everywhere, to be one of the party 
connected with the so-called rescue of Branson, walk up to Mr. Jones 
and siiako hands witli him. Mr. Wood, and others, told mo that he 
invited Mr. Jones to dine with him. Mr. Wood told me that it was 
done for the pur[)ose of allowing himself to be arrested, and testing 
the validity of the Territorial laws. I had had a previous conversa- 
tion with Mr. Wood upon the subject, and we agreed that his was a 
proper case, and he was a proper person to test the validity of the 
Territorial laws in the Supreme Court of the United States. Every- 
thing was perfectly quiet in Lawrence at that time, and Mr. Wood 
could have been arrested without any difficulty, in my opinion. I 
would have been one of a posse to have arrested him had any one in- 
terfered. I am satisfied it was Wood's design to be arrested. 

After the excitement had increased, and a large party had encamped 
in our vicinity, it was not thought safe for any man in Lawrence to 
be arrested, and Mr. Wood had left the town. 

To Mr. Eeeder: 

I am not able to give any accurate estimate of our losses. The 
detriment of this invasion, to the community, was very great. Busi- 
ness was generally suspended in this part of the Territory. No busi- 
ness was transacted of any account. Men were taken from their busi- 
ness and engaged in defending their property from this invasion. The 
detriment was unusually great, in consequence of the lateness of the 
season, it being the time when crops were gathered, and houses pre- 
pared tor the winter. Immediately after the invasion, cold weather set 
in, which continued severe throughout the winter, preventing the use 
of mortar and other materials necessary for finishings and delayed a 
H, Eep. 200 68* 



10T4 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

great deal of work, -which, in consequence of cold weather, conld u.: 
l>e done until spriug. 

The consumption and destruction of corn and hay, and other arti- 
cles, bv the invading forces, was Terr great for a new settlement. 
There has been very much sutfering of individuals and of stov^k in 
consequence. Quite a number of the inhabitants from the neighK^ring 
settlements were in Lawrence during a pcirt of the invasion, and had 
to I e supported by the citizens of the place. Many of them came in 
for the purpose of defending the town, and others came in tor protec- 
tion. 

Many horses were lost ; some were known to be taken by this force. 
Corn and jxnatoes were taken by them for their use. and hay was de- 
stroyed. 1 believe that during part of the invasion all wagons were 
stopjvd on the road, many of them overhauled, and such of their con- 
tents as they desired were taken out and retained. The people were 
arrested in going to and from the place, on their business, and Law- 
rence was, in fact, a besieire^l town to all intents and purposes. 

c. KOBl^'so^. 

Lawrence. K. T., Jlay 3. 1S56. 



G. F. LowRT called and sworn. 

To Mr, Eeeder : 

I returned to Lawrence about the *2oth of November, and the first 
day I returnevl I heard of the great excitement at Hickory Point about 
the murder of Mr. Dow. On the Monday tbllowiug the 25th a meet- 
ing was callevl at Hickory Point to take some measures to investigate 
the circumstances, and to express the opinion of the citizens coucern- 
iui: the matter. I was not present there, but remaineil here in Law- 
rence, and was wakeue\l quite e^vrly on Tuesday morning by a noi?e 
in the streets and by the K\^tiug of a dr\im, and getting up and in- 
quiring I learned that Branson had Iven resoue-i from sheriff Jones 
by a party who were returning from the meeting at Hickory Point. 
I know that Mr. Branson was in town that morning. In cv^nsei^nence 
of the rescue of Branson, and the threats that were understood to have 
been made by sheriff Jones against this town, the citizens called a 
meeting. They met at S o'clock, to consider the affair and see what 
could Iv done towards the protection of the town. There were pres- 
ent persons who were said to have partici^^atevl in the rescue of the 
niirht before. They were called upon to give a statement of what had 
occurred and what had l^een said, which two or three of them did. 
Mr. Branson in jvarticular was callevl out. and he detailed the manner 
of his arrest by Mr. Jones. What was Siud by him and was siaid by 
others who were present at the rescue in reganl to the threats of Mr. 
Jones, was sufficient to satisfy us that there was danger of the destruc- 
tion of the town, and we commenced taking measures for its prv^tec- 
tion. At this meeting some person, I do not recollect who, off"ere«.l 
.a resolution endorsing the action of those who had resumed Mr. Bran- 
don, and, if I recollect right, it was unanimously rejected. It was 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1075 

generally said l>y those who liad adtlrossod the meeting, and tlio ^^cna- 
ral sentiment of tliose tliere was, tliat wo had nothinjjj to (h) with the 
rescnc at all. They ref'nsed to endorse the rescue, and liiuilly npixtiiit- 
ed a eonuuitteo of ten to confer upon what stops should be lakcii, uiid 
details entered into in regard to the defence of the town. The com- 
mittee met and agreed npon a report, and nnide it in the afternoon to 
an adjourned meeting. A part of the report was in writing and a 
part was not. The latter part of the report was, that the citizens 
should complete an organization to act in connection witli one or two 
military companies then in town, for the purpose of defending tlie 
town. A pai»er, which is on record, was [)resented for each one to 
sign who chose to do so. Another })ortion of the report, unwritten, 
was the election of a person to act as the general head, and make it 
his business particularly to superintend the completion of tiiis ])ro- 
posed organization and its o[)eration when comi)leted. This orgiini- 
zation of citizens was recommended by the committee to hold them- 
selves separate from any other organization, so that they might, take 
part in the defence of the town or refuse to take part in any active 
demonstration as they thought proper. The report of the committee 
was received and adopted, and, by another vote, the connnittee waa 
continued under the designation of the committee of safety. I was 
chairman of that committee. The meeting adjoui-ned, and signaturcvs 
were obtained to this paper, and nothing more said or done ])ublicly 
on the subject of the ditliculties for tliree or four days. Notliing was 
said by the committee until three or four days afterwards until we 
heard, from persons coming through from Kansas City, that forces 
were gathering on the Wakarusa and about Franklin, and tliat they 
had been stoi)ped and maltreated, and tlie town threatened by these 
forces. Uj)on tliose reports a meeting of the committee was called, 
this pa})er, with the names attached brought up, and it was deter- 
mined then, I think, for the first time, to divide the porsons whose 
names were thus attached into small squads, who would know each 
other and act in concert in case of attack, under the command of some 
person agreed U[)on. These sc^uads were from ten to twenty i)eraou8 
each Avhen first organized. In consequence of this there was no inter- 
ruption of the ordinary business of the town, though by this arrange- 
ment they were to be ready at any moment to defeml themselves. 

From the time of the first report of the assembling of ])ersons on 
the Wakarusa and at Franklin, travellers were continually coming 
in with like reports, and on Friday night a party of twelve or thir- 
teen persons came into town from Ottawa creek to join us. Tliat was 
the first notification I had that the i)eo})le in the county were aware 
that we were menaced. As iar as I know, they came of their own 
accord. The news and excitement then seemed to spread over the 
country, and from that time our parties were coming in from i)arts of 
the Territory quite distant. On Sunday a party of gentlemen arrived 
from, Leavenworth, for the purpose, as they said, of seeing if they 
could not prevent a collision, and preserve peace in the Territory. 
They met with the committee of safety and some other persons, and 
upon consultation we found they were under a misapprehension as to 
our position. We told them we were organized for the sole purpose 



1076 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of defence against any persons who should assanlt the town under 
anv pretext. They came here to expostnhite with us, hut found that 
they were mistaken as to what we had heen doing. They hrought 
with them a copy of the governor's proclamation calling out the 
militia of the Territory, and that was the first we had seen of it. A 
committee was then appointed, but I do not know whether hy this 
committee of safety or hy a public meeting, to prepare a statement tfo 
the public in answer to the governor's proclamation, which tliey did. 
What we did was upon our understanding that not the Territorial 
militia alone, if at all, were coming to assist the sheriif in making 
arrests, but that he was to be assisted by large numbers of Missouri- 
ans, who made this a pretext to carry out designs that had been 
attributed to them. Before this, persons who were alleged to have 
been engaged in the rescue were notified that the town had nothing 
to do with their quarrels and their matters, and that as it was' not 
our duty to make arrests they were at liberty to go where they chose; 
but, if the)' remained, the town would not engage to defend or pro- 
tect them in any way. I do not tliink any of those persons remained 
in^town more than two or three days after the rescue of Branson.^ To 
the best of recollection they were not here when the organization was 
going on and being completed. On Sunday evening about the largest 
party came in from Topeka that had. come into the toAvn up to that 
time. They consisted of about one hundred men. The number of 
persons here had then got so large that the jdan of the organization 
for defence was changed. The committee of safety concluded to form 
a reiriment of the men, and the command in chief was given to^Dr. 
Charles Kobinson, and Colonel James H. Lane was made colonel of 
the regiment. These little squads were then united, and made into 
companies, each under the command of a captain, I had had the 
command of a squad up to that time v^^but I left it when it became 
incorporated into a company, of which I had command, and became 
aid to General Robinson, 

The regiment was fully officered, and the meetings of the commit- 
tee of salety were thrown open to all officers of the rank of captain, 
and above. General Robinson, by virtue of his office as commander- 
in-chief, presided at the war councils, and I ceased to be chairman ot 
the committee of safety from that time. There had been drills before 
this. I drilled my company on a Sunday, as I "tielieve did the other 
captains of squads ; but the Monday afternoon after the regiment was 
formed we had a regimental drill. This continued until Wednes- 
day ; we had constant drills. Persons were coming in reporting that 
the country all around was occupied, hay-stacks burned, corn and 
cattle taken, and houses searched; and travellers came in saying they 
had been stopped on the road ; and teamsters who had been coming 
with goods came in without them, saying that the boxes had been 
broken open, and the goods retained in a number of instances. 

On Wednesday night, at a meeting of the war council, it was de- 
cided to send to Governor Shannon, and also to send memorials to 
the President of the United States and to Congress. I was sent in 
company with Mr. C. W. Babcock, of this place, to Governor Shan- 
non, with a letter. We were told to state to Governor Shannon what 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1077 

was going on liere, what was our position, and wliat ha J occurred 
upon the other side, presuming that he might be ignorant of it. We 
started ahout 1 o'clock of Thursday morning, and passed outside of 
the two lines of sentinels belonging to our town; and, after passing 
our picket-guards for perhaps half a mile, we met, two miles this 
side of Franklin I should think, six horsemen, who challenged us, 
and said they were the picket-guard of tlie Wakarusa camp. They 
challenged us to advance and give the countersign. "We got the cork 
out of the only countersign we had as soon as possible, and that passed 
us that guard. There seemed to be a very good state of feeling there 
about that time. They questioned us as to where we came from, and 
we refused to answer any such questions, except in the manner I have 
mentioned, as I supposed we had not got to the guard whore it was 
necessary to state where we came from. They told us we would have 
difficulty in getting across the Wakarusa bottom, and that they 
thought we had better go back; that we would have two lines of 
sentinels to pass before we would reach the camp. We passed them 
and went on to Franklin ; and the two men standing gnard tliere 
knew us, and wanted to know where we were going; and Mr. Bab- 
cock said it was getting to be dangerous up here, and he had made 
up his mind that Illinois would be a safer place until this trouble 
would be over. They said they thought the abolitionists were pretty 
badly scared, and our going was another evidence of it ; but notwith- 
standing that, we could not go bv them. We told them we did '^-^t 
care particularly about going by, if Franklin was as safe as Illinois; 
but we did not think that, ami wanted to go by. They said that the 
captain — I think they called liim Captain Leak — was asleep, and 
they would go and find him. They went for him, and came back and 
reported that he was drunk and they could not Avake him up. They 
did not know what to do, but thought they would let us pass on the 
strength of their personal confidence in us. We passed them and 
went down across the Wakarusa bottom ; and just as we got into 
the timber, trotting along our horses, as it was quite dark, the first 
thing I saw was a man on a spotted horse, who met us and ran 
straight into us. Whether he was one of the guard or not, I do not 
know ; but a foot-guard appeared at that time and challenged us. 
We tohl them we were going thrtuigh on business, and did not expect 
to have the countersign, but thought some of our friends in the camp, 
whom I named, would pass us througli. They said they did not 
think we could pass on the word of any one, and took us prisoners 
and conducted us down in the woods about a quarter of a mile, and 
the man who had charge of the guard, who was very polite, said lie 
would go and see if he could tind the person I had named. 

While he was gone I reconnoitred a little, and found one piece of 
artillery, with a guard sitting on it asleep. I went up to him, as I 
thought I would spike his gun, having the tools in my pocket ; but 
thinking it was rather risky, as the guard was just coming back, I 
returned to where we had been taken; and the officer of the guard 
came back and conducted me to where Dr. Henry, of Independence, 
was. Dr. Henry had been in town here before this with one other 
gentleman, and had seen the committee of safety, and had said they 



1078 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

had heen brought here from Missouri hy false reports^ and if they 
had known how things were here they never would have come. I 
think I liad passed him out of our lines once or twice, and he returned 
the compliment by telling the captain of the guard to let us pass. 
He then conducted me back to where Mr. Babcock was, and took me 
down to the ford, where we had to pass one guard. 

In going down with this captain of the guard, we had some conver- 
sation, and he seemed to be a very honest kind of a man, and we dis- 
cussed the difficulties, and he said it was a lamentable state of affairs, 
that American citizens should be fighting each other. They were 
very particular as to the number of guns and men we had here at 
Lawrence, and he asked what flag we had here, and I told him the 
stars and stripes all the time. He said he was glad to hear that, and 
should report it to his friends, but that the people of Lawrence had 
behaved very badly; that he had heard we had a red flag here, and 
had built a hotel with port-holes^ and western people did not like 
that. That seemed to be all the grounds he had for going to war 
with us. I told him the stars and stripes was all the flag we 
had here. We passed that guard with some little difficulty. We 
then had to go down the hill very slowly to the ford, as it was very 
steep, and the guard called out to us several times, and said some- 
thing about firing. After we had passed Little Wakarusa, and per- 
haps Kill creek, while it was so dark that we could just distinguish 
objects, we began to meet men on horseback and mules, whom, in 
most instances, we could see had guns thrown across the saddle. 
There were also some on foot. We told them along at first that they 
had better hurry up, as we had just come from camp, and the Yankees 
were going to attack the camp, and would wipe them out. But they 
soon began to get too thick for that sort of joking, and we then went 
along very politely. Just before dayligt we passed one encampment, 
in which everybody seemed to be astir, and they came out into the 
road a short distance to meet us, and we stopped to talk with them. 
I recognised John H. Brady, who was the public printer of the Shaw- 
nee Mission legislature. He recognised me, and when he heard me 
say that I did not consider it safe for him to come up here, he called 
me by name, and said they could not let me pass. He then recog- 
nised Babcock, and was more certain we could not pass. He said this 
damned Governor Reeder had been the cause of all this trouble, and 
they must have his head, if they had to go to Pennsylvania after it. 
Mr. Babcock expostulated with him, and told him that he thought 
that Westport was altogether wrong in insisting that Pennsylvania 
should give up Governor Reeder. The men who were with them 
began to gather up there, and as they seemed disposed to be more in 
earnest, we came away as soon as possible. At Mill creek we passed 
another encampment while they were eating breakfast; and one man 
was so drunk that he was holding on to the wagon-wheel with one 
hand, with a big piece of corn bread in the other. He said they were 
going to bring " Lairrance," sure. We stopped at Donaldson's for a 
time, and from that place down to Shawnee Mission the road wag 
full of men, who were all armed. There were one or two carriages, 
on one of which was a trunk, on which was the name of some person, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 10 79 

I do not recollect what, and "Lexington, Mo." We got to Shawnee 
Mission a little after sunrise, and presented our letter to Grovernor 
Shannon, and he read it, as it was very short, and then we conversed 
upoa the affairs here. 

I do not know whether that letter is anywhere in existence now. 
I wrote the letter, and it was signed by Governor Robinson, Colonel 
Lane, Mr. Deitzler, myself, and four or five others. The contents 
were, that he might not be aware that there Avas a large mob collected 
on :he Wakarusa, who were stopping travellers and goods, and plun- 
dering the country, and that we took that means of informing him 
that that was the fact, and that they claimed to be there by his requi- 
sition ; that we wished to know if that was the fact, that they were 
Inhere by his authority; and, if so, whether he would remove them, 
and prevent these depredations, or compel us to do it ourselves, by 
resorting to other means or higher authority. 

[The contents of the foregoing letter were given by consent.] 
Governor Shannon said he would answer the letter, and we went 
out while he was doing so. When we returned, we had a long con- 
versation concerning these affairs. He said there had been sixteen 
houses burned here by free-State men, and women and children driven 
out of doors. We told him we were sorry that he had not taken pains 
to in(^uire into the truth of the matter before he had brought this 
large force into the country, which, perhaps, he could not get out 
again; and that his information was wholly and entirely false, as 
nothing of the kind had happened. We told him of what we knew, 
of our personal knowledge, of men from Missouri being there ; and 
he was not inclined to adtnit, at first, that there was anybody from 
Missouri there. He made a general argument against the free-State 
men, and quoted their resolutions, passed at different meetings, in re- 
•^ard to the Territorial laws. We explained to him that the Terri- 
orial laws had nothing to do with this case ; that we were getting 
Ciady at Lawrence to fight for our lives, and the only question was, 
whether he would he jycirticeps criminis to our murder, or the murder 
o somebody else, should we be all slaughtered. We explained to 
hn, that the rescue upon which he based his proclamation took 
pice a number of miles from Lawrence ; that there were but three 
pesons living in Lawrence who were alleged to have had anything 
too with it, and that they had left the town, and were not there at 
all that from what we could judge of the intentions of the force at 
Waarusa, at Lecompton, and in the country about, from their own 
declrations, they intended to destroy the town for a thing in which 
theyiad had no part or parcel. 

W took our individual cases as instances that we had not been 
preset at the rescue ; that we did not undertake to have any sympa- 
thy vi\x it, or talk about it at all ; but that if we were to submit to 
the f(ce which he had called in, all our throats would be cut to- 
gethei-the innocent and guilty, if there were any guilty. He then 
deniedhat these Missourians were here by his authority ; that he 
had anthing to do with them, or was responsible for them. He said 
he hadommunication with Colonel Sumner, of Fort Leavenworth, 
and haisent an express for him to meet him that night at Delaware 



1080 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

ferry, and go with him to the camp on the Wakarnsa. He said he 
shoiihl go to Lawrence and insist npon the people agreeing to obey 
the laws, and delivering np their fc>harpe's rifles. We denied his 
riglit, or the right of anybody else, to make such a condition of a 
community, or make any such demand of them, until it had been 
shown tliat they had resisted the laws, which they had not done ; tbat 
there had been as yet no proceedings in Lawrence under the Territo- 
rial laws, and he had no right to })resume there would be any resist- 
ance to them when they were instituted. He gave up that i)oint after 
some argument. I asked him, then, why he insisted upon tlie giving 
up of Sharj)e's rifles, and if he meant to demand, too, western riflej, 
shot-guns, and other arms. He said he did not intend to demand 
other than Sliarpe's rifles, but should demand them because they weie 
unlawful weapons. After some time, he then said they were danger- 
ous wea}ions ; to which I agreed. I then told him, if he had any such 
idea in liis head as that, he had better stay away and let the fight go 
on, as I thought the thing was not feasible, as he would do no good 
by coming here, if those were his terms. I told him he might as 
well demand of me my pocket-book or my watch, and I would resent 
the one no more than the other. I told him I did not consider my- 
self safe, or that General Robinson or Colonel Lane would be safe, in 
going before our men with any such i)roposition. He then gave us 
the letter he had written, and we started for Kansas City to change 
horses. 

Just as I drove into that town I met a man whom I recognised, 
who came up to me, and, pointing to the road, asked me if I saw any- 
thing. I looked around and saw a man driving a team, hauling a 
wagon which 1 had no doubt contained a cannon. It was going in 
the direction of Wyandott ferry, and we started after it as soon as we 
could change horses. As we passed tlirough Wcstport, going from 
Shawnee Mission to Kansas City, I saw a large crowd, of whom Allen 
McGhee seemed to be the leader. They were drinking, and getting 
ready to go up to the camp at Wakarusa. Several wliom I knev 
came up and talked to us, and said they w^ere " going to wipe th 
damned town of Lawrence clean out this time, and no mistake.' 
None of them said anytl^ing about the laws or the rescue — only ih 
opportunity to wipe out the inhabitants. We knew we would hae 
to pass tliis party going up their road, and they would be likely^o 
stoj) us, and we determined to cross the Kaw river and go up on le 
north side. After we got started we Avere delayed so much, thafby 
the time we got out of the Wyandott timber, on the Leavenworth rad, 
it was dark, and we were obliged to stop and get a guide, wdiic'we 
procured — an Indian ; and on the way up we saw a number of encmp- 
ments on the north side of the river, which we avoided. 

When we crossed the military road from Leavenworth to BelA^are 
ferry, we inquired whether Colonel Sumner or any dragoons ha(gone 
down to the ferry, and we were told they liad not. We got tlpngh 
to the ferry opposite Lawrence about four or five o'clock in the^orn- 
ing. We did not overtake the cannon at all. The town site ;emed 
to be covered with what we called watch-fires ; and we fount when 
we got across the ferry, that the fortifications w^hich had bcedeter- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1081 

mined on Lefore v/e left liad been commenced, and tliat tlie men were 
workinj^ ni,i2;ht and day ii])on tlieni. We reported oiirselve.s at once 
to General lioLinson at headqnartei's^ and gave notice ui'tlie aj)proach 
of this cannon, and our fears that it might fall into the hands of the 
opposite party. A detachment of horse was sent across the river, 
uiider the command of Colonel Blood, to meet it, and they did meet 
it, and brought it in here. During tlie time we had been gone the 
different bodies of the op])osing army had been very much increased. 
The fortifications v/ere pushed on here vigorously, everybody working 
night and day, witli very little sleep and very little eating. About 
this time it was that the man in command of the })iclvet guard in the 
day time came in and reported that a wagon-load of powder was going 

up the road, marked for , and he wanted orders to stop it, as 

he suspected it was going to Lecompton. General Robinson said 
"No," we wanted nothing but our own; and even in this extremity 
we could not consent to adopt the same policy Avitb tlie other side in 
regard to goods in passing. 

At this time, sheriff Jones, officers from the other camp, and any- 
body who chose, were passing into the town and being passed out be- 
yond our guard at all times. It was urged very strongly by some 
that we should put the 'town under martial law. Many of us were 
opposed to going to that extent, but tlie guard were instructed not to 
atop anybody, but to accompany everybody in and report him to the 
captain of the guard. It was about this time that sheriff Jones was 
one day escorted in. I met him that day at Mr. Christian's office, 
and he was very much excited about it, and seemed very much dis- 
pleased at the arrangement Govei'nor Shannon was ready to make. It 
was on the day I returned, I think, tliat Thomas Barber and his 
brother, and his brother-in-law, left town to return honie. The re- 
port came in the evening that Barber had been killed. A company 
of horse was sent out the next morning for the corpse, and they 
brought it in. I saw the body, and examined it. The wound was 
just aliout the hip-bone, on the right side, I think, lie was ])ut in a 
room up-stairs, in tlie house we are now in, and shortly afterwards 
his wife was brought in, and her cries were so loud it was impossible 
to prevent the men from hearing them, and they declared they would 
leave the town and attack the camp ; and the company especially to 
which Barber belonged was almost ready to revolt. My impression 
is, that a conspiracy of 100 men, to leave here without orders and 
attack the camp on the Wakai'usa, was found out shortly after Barber 
was killed, and put down by (General llobinson. 

The morning that Barber was brought in. Governor Shannon sent 
his aid, Mr. Kearney, of Westport, to town, to inform us that he was 
waiting at Franklin for an escort to accompany him into this place. 
Ten gentlemen were selected from the staffs of General Robinson and 
Colonel Lane, and sent to meet him; the command of which was 
given to me. We found him at Franklin, and told him we were 
simply a committee of escort to conduct liim into town. We brought 
him in along with Colonel A. G. Boone, of Westport, and a captain, 
\ whose name, I think, was Stiger, and Mr. Kearney, aid to the gov- 
ernor. We were met outside of the town by General Robinson, 



1082 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Colonel Lane, and other officers, and Governor Shannon was brought 
to this hotel, conducted to the room of the committee of safety, at- 
tiiched to which was the general's headquarters. The committee of 
safety had voted the night before to give to General Robinson, and, I 
think. Colonel Lane, the conducting of the negotiations. I was in 
the room once or twice that day, but of what was said or what took 
place with them I did not hear and see much. That night the coun- 
cil of war a})pointed a committee, at General Robinson's request, to 
draw up articles of agreement. Mr. Winchell was chairman of that 
committee, and drew up the treaty — I think the treaty as now pub- 
lished. I was on that committee. It is as Mr. Winchell drew it up 
and submitted it, with the exception of the last clause, which was 
added by General Robinson. Governor Shannon said he thought it 
was not best to conclude the negotiations that day, as he was afraid he 
would have difficulty with the men. He returned to Franklin that 
night. The next day he came back here, and the treaty was signed. 
He said he desired General Robinson and Colonel Lane to accompany 
him to Franklin, to see the council of captains there. I was afraid 
of General Robinson's going there, with no one but Colonel Lane; 
but lie concluded to do so, seeming to forget concerning his own 
safety, the prudence he had exercised whilS looking out for ours. 
They were gone till after night, when a snow-storm had come up. We 
were very anxious about them, and were about on the point of start- 
ing to look them up. They came in about eight o'clock in the even- 
ing, and that evening a man came in town saying a family below here 
had been driven out of their home into tlie storm by some from the 
other camp. General Deitzler took a party of some live or six and 
started for the place. He brought in three men, who were armed 
with small Colt's revolvers, large holster-pistols, and cutlasses. They 
said they were the picket guard that had been sent out the niglit be- 
fore, but had been told by the captains they lu\d met that they need 
not go on that duty, as the whole matter had been settled. The8« 
men had been found in the house out of Avhich this family had been 
driven. They stated that they did not turn back to camp, but came 
up, as they wanted to see the town, but the storm coming up thej 
lost their way on the prairie, and finding this house they went into it 
and took possession. To other questions which I asked tliem, they 
gave contradictory accounts as to their presence in the house, and 
their reasons for it. They were disarmed when they were brought in, 
and their arms put away together ; when they left we gave them a break- 
fast. One of them said he had lost a revolver. I do not know of any proof 
that he had lost one, but General Robinson took his from the desk be- 
fore him, saying, if they had lost anything it should be replaced. One 
of the men had a horse which had been stolen from here. The hors« 
had been retaken once after he had been stolen, and the man who had 
him was brought into town. When we were setting him at liberty in 
the morning, he gave his word that if we would let" him ride down to 
camp, he would return him immediately. But we saw nothing more 
of the horse until we took him with these men who had been found 
in the house from which tlie family had been driven. ' They seemed to 
be very much displeased that we would not let them take the hors« 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 10 S3 

again. I think Colonel Blood told t'r.em they could not have the horse 
or the saddle until our saddle was brought back. The horse bek^nged 
to Colonel Blood's regiment. There were rumors that parties in the 
camp had rebelled, and were out in guerilla parties, to cut oft' men and 
attack the town, and our men, therefore, remained here until Monday. 
On Sunday, Governor Shannon was here in company with sheritf 
Jones and General Strickler on the other side. On Sunday night, 
■while he was in the hotel here, while some ladies and gentlemen were 
collected here, he gave General Eobinson the commission which is 
talked of so much. The meeting of the ladies was for the purpose of 
making arrangements for what was called a " peace party" on Mon- 
day night. This hotel was then called the ''Free-State house," and 
was untinished and unoccupied, except by soldiers, as the tloors were 
not all laid. Governor Shannon said that he had very much mistaken 
the jioople of Lawrence, and I think he said something about coraing 
here to live. He expressed some fear about the man who had been on 
the Wakarusa, tliat they would use some violence towards him. 
He left the next morning. The " peace party" came oif on Monday 
night, and on Tuesday the soldiers left here Sherift" Jones attended 
the party on Monday night. After the treaty the military organiza- 
tion was made more complete — the ranks of the otficers changed some- 
what, the names enrolled, &c., S:c. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Woodson : 

I was not present at the meeting in this place on the 1-ith of Au- 
gust last, or any time during that month, but I was at Sh.awnee Mis- 
sion. I was at the Big Spiings convention. The object of the meeting 
was to efiect a union of the tree-State men, and nominate a candidate 
for delegate to Congress. I do not know that one of the objects of 
that meeting was to organize for resistance to the Territorial laws. I 
know that one of the subjects to be discussed was, in what liglit we 
were to hold these laws. I thought, myself, that I should have some- 
thing to say upon the subject, and thought that other men would do 
the same thing. I mean to say that, so far as I know, there were no 
arrangements made for a military organization in resistance to the 
laws. I never heard of it, and never expected that to be done. I am 
not aware that the free-State party ever resolved to disobey the laws 
of the Territory. I do not know of any purpose to resist tlie laws by 
the free-State party. I do not think I have ever heard anybody ex- 
press any intention to resist the laws. The expression is tliat m^thing 
could make them respect the laws. I think I have said that myself: 
waiving that, I would take no advantage of those laws myself to re- 
cover any right. I think I have heard individuals say that they 
would never be taken by officers under the Territorial laws ; but only 
in one or two instances, and I do not now recollect their names. I do 
not think I ever heard one of the tree-State party express a determi- 
nation to resist the execution of process in the hands of the sheriff. 
Ot" my own knowledge, I know of no act of resistance to the acts of 
the sheriff". I cannot recollect all I have heard, but to the best of my 
recollection I have never heard any one of the free-State party say 
that the object of the party was to resist the Territorial laws. I have 



1084 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

heard persons say tliat they had resisted the execution of process in 
the hands of the sheriff. I heard one man say he had done so who 
was a memher of the free-State party. Wliat I am about to say can- 
not he considered as giving any correct expression of the sentiment of 
the free-State party. 

A greaty many men of the free-State party, I have heard say, re- 
gretted the resistance to the Territorial laws at this juncture, before 
they had been resisted in the courts and at the ballot-box. There are 
other men who say that the ballot-box is closed against us ; that there 
is no justice in the courts, as is shown by experience ; and that they 
have nothing to say in condemnation of resistance to the Territorial 
laws. I do not know^ a free-State man in the party who does not sub- 
scribe to the resolution passed at Big Springs, in effect that the bur- 
den of these laws must be thrown off somehow and at some time. I 
have heard by report tliat free-State men had resisted the execution 
of process ; that was in relation to the case I have before mentioned, 
where an individual also told me he had resisted — this instance being 
the rescue of Branson. 

[Here Mr. Woodson proposed, under the rule adopted by the ma- 
jority of the committee, (as he understands it,) to prove by the wit- 
ness (G. P. Lowry) what was the understanding and reports in circu- 
lation among the free-State party in Lawrence as to the faqt or facta 
of the resistance of free-State men to the execution of })rocess in the 
hands of the sheriff of Douglas county. 

The majority of the committee have not adopted any rule (as thej 
understand it) under which tliis question would be competent, nor do 
they know of any rule of law or of evidence that would make it com- 
petent, and decline to allow the question to be put to the witness. 

Thereupon Mr. Reeder proposed that the above question be an- 
swered by consent, which was agreed to.] 

With regard to the rescue of Branson, it was generally reported in 
Lawrence that sheriff Jones had gone with a party of 14 or 15 to the 
house of Mr. Branson, and arrested him upon a peace warrant. It 
was further said that Mr. Branson had committed no offence, but was 
only a witness against Coleman in the murder of Dow. It was fur- 
ther said, that a party of free-State men were returning from Hickory 
Point on the same night when the arrest was made, who had been 
there to attend a meeting in reference to the mmxler of Dow ; w^ere 
about 13 or 14 in number ; and that they met in the road sheriff 
Jones's party Avith the prisoner ; that they inquired who was there, 
and that Mr. Branson spoke and said he was there, and they had got 
him prisoner, but he did not know what for, nor where they were 
taking him ; that the party coming from Hickory Point asked him if 
he wanted to go with sheriff Jones, and he said he did not. They told 
him then to get down off the horse he was on and come with them ; 
that he did so ; that after some further talk the two parties separated, 
and each went its own way. The report further said there was no 
violence or force, other than their being there on the spot ; that four 
or five out of the free-State men were armed. 

I believe the resolution referred to by Mr. Jessee as having been 
passed at the Big Springs convention was passed there. I do not know 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1085 

of the organization of any military in the Territory since the Big 
Springs convention, except the companies that were organized dnring 
the war, and which were dissolved Avhen the war ended. As for the 
pTocnrement of arms, I have heard that arms have been hronght into 
the Territory since the Big Springs convention, but whether they were 
procured before that convention_, or whether they were procured under 
that resolution, or by whom they were procured, I have no knowledge. 
The report is, that arms that I have seen here have been brought in 
this spring — some by way of Leavenworth, some by land from St. 
Louis, and some by the river to Kansas City. I cannot state where 
the cannon that was brought up here during the war came from. I 
have heard that it was bought in New York city by Mr. Abbott, with 
his own means, some time last spring or summer, some time before 
the Big Springs convention. It was brought here from Kansas by the 
team of Mr. Buffum, who went down for it, and was accompanied by 
three or four men, who were under the command of Lieutenant Sum- 
ner of this city. I do not know how the expenses in getting it here 
were paid. The money paid for the freight is put in with other bills 
to be presented somewhere for payment. There were one or two in- 
dependent military companies — such as are customary in towns — in 
existence here before I arrived in Lawrence, in August last. I was 
present at meetings of the free-State party prior to the arrest of Mr. 
Branson. I do not recollect of hearing any threats at any of those 
meetings, of resistance to the laws of the Territory. 1 do not know 
any of the proprietors of the Free State hotel, or by whose means it 
was built. At the i^eace-party which was held at this hotel I heard 
no threats of violence against sheriff Jones. I heard one captain say, 
that he and his men would not remain in the room with him. I was 
told that threats had been madt; against him, and I consider a man 
in danger when he is threatened very much. I was close by sheriff 
Jones most of that night. I do not know of any assembling or gather- 
ing of men for the purpose of violence against sheriff Jones. The 
party from Topeka that came here were armed, but I do not recollect 
of ever seeing any banner in that company. I do not recollect of any- 
place where arms were placed in Lawrence, either before or during the 
war, except where they were placed by men at night, and taken again 
in the morning. I have heard of the organization called the Kansas 
League, but have no knowledge of it. The most of my knowledge 
was obtained from a newspaper which pretended to publisli an expo- 
sition of such a society. I was private secretary for Governor Reeder, 
after he returned here from Pennsylvania in June, 1855. I have said 
that -I knew of no other rescue from sheriff Jones before the appoint- 
ment of this Congressional committee. I did know of one other — it 
was the case of Mr. Buffum ; he was taken from the hands of the 
sheriff by his wife. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

There was a report here that in the conversation between the party 
that rescued Mr. Branson and the party with sheriff Jones, at the 
time of the rescue, Mr. Jones said that in less than five days he would 
have ten thousand men at Lawrence, I think, from Missouri. 



1086 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

To Mr. Howard: 

I came into this place to live about the first ol September last. I 
do not think that sheriif Jones ever arrested a person in Lawrence 
before the treaty was signed, which was on Saturday, December 8, 
1855. I never heard of sheriff Jones having a process to serve in 
Lawrence, or of his having anj" official business here, except the col- 
lection of a tax which was refused, as it was all over the Territory, by 
persons of both parties. In that case he asked for the tax of a dollar, 
and being refused said nothing more about it. 

G. P. LOWREY. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 2, 1856. 



J. M. WiNCiiELL called and sworn. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

I first came to the Territory about the first of October, 1854, and 
made a location, but did not then remain here. I returned here in 
the following spring, and settled in Council City, in the seventh dis- 
trict, and have resided tnere ever since. I came to Lawrence on my 
way to Kansas City, on Friday, the last day of November, and then 
first heard of any serious difficulty. I proceeded on Saturday to 
Kansas City, and on my way met numbers of people coming out here. 
That, I think, was on the first day of December. During the two or 
three days following, 1 heard, in Kansas City, threats of the destruc- 
tion of Lawrence, and remarks that, inasmuch as the river was about 
being closed, it was thought to be a favorable opportunity for cutting 
off" the free-State men in the Territory, and that Lawrence was the 
first place to begin with. I saw every day men passing out or through 
the town armed and uttering these threats, yelling and whooping in 
a very disorderly manner. 

It was understood that Governor Shannon had issued a proclama- 
tion calling out the militia of the Territory, and that these men in- 
tended to act as a part of that militia, and be organized as such. 
They offered their services to Governor Shannon as a part of the 
militia of the Territory. I was induced to visit Governor Shannon 
to learn the truth, as far as I could, in regard to these matters. I 
visited him on the 4th of December, I think, at Shawnee Mission, in 
company with Mr. T. B. Eldridge, of Kansas City. I represented to 
Governor Shannon that he was misinformed in regard to the state of 
aftairs in this Territory. He admitted that he feared that he might 
have been misled by the reports that reached him as to the disposition 
of the people of Lawrence and the Territory, and expressed a belief 
that if the people here could understand his views, a collision might 
be avoided. He said that the people of the border counties had been 
excited to a state of feeling that he feared was beyond control, and 
requested me to communicate with the principal men of Lawrence his 
■wish to avoid any outrage committed on them by the force assembling 
in the vicinity here^ and his determination to protect the people of 
Lawrence by all the means in his power, but to require them to de- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1087 

liver up their arms. He admitted that travellers were beiiipj stopped 
In the highway, and offered me a pass to come through without mo- 
oestation. The next morning I saw him again, while on my way out. 
He stated that a deputation from Lawrence had visited him during 
the night ; that he was coniirmed in his belief that he had misunder- 
stood the people of the Territory; that he would jDroceed himself 
immediately to the scene of difficulties ; that he had ordered Colonel 
Sumner from Fort Leavenworth to march with the force under his 
command, and meet him at Delaware crossing ; but that he would 
further order him now to march his force directly to Lawrence, and 
quarter it in the town for its protection ; that he should no longer 
insist on the people of Lawrence delivering up their arms ; that he 
hoped, with the aid of some prominent men who lived in Missouri, to 
restrain the force then assembled near Lawrence, and induce them to 
disband and return to Missouri ; that he had received letters from 
sheriff Jones and General Strickler ; that the letter of General Strick- 
ler was temperate and moderate in its tone, and that of Jones of the 
opposite character He told me to say to the people of Lawrence that 
he would be in their vicinity that night, in company with Colonel 
Boone and Colonel Childs, if he could persuade them to go witli him, 
as they were ])0th residents of Missouri, and had great influence with 
these men and with Jones. He included, in the jjass given me, th8 
name of Mr. Eldridge, who was with me, and we proceeded on our 
way. O'l the road 1 saw numbers of men proceeding in the same 
direction with myself, and we were passed and repassed by them fre- 
quently. These men were armed, and stated that they were residents 
of Missouri, and were going out to assist in the extermination of 
Lawrence. Some said that the people of Lawrence would have a few 
hours giA^en them to send away their women and children before the 
destruction of their place. One team had a large flag. I arrived at 
Wakarusa crossing about dark, and was stopped by sentries who re- 
fused to allow me to pass. I inquired who was in command of their 
force, and they said they believed General Strickler. I requested to 
see him, and was conducted into the camp by a person who was styled 
Lieutenant Lucas. I think, on exhibiting my pass to General Strick- 
ler, he sent us forward with Lieutenant Lucas, who conducted us 
beyond the picket guards. On arriving at Lawrence^ learning that a 
council or committee of safety had been appointed in town_, which was 
then in session, I procured admission into their room, and laid be- 
fore them the errand of Governor Shannon. But little confidence 
seemed to be manifested in his good intentions. There was a variety 
of opinion touching his good faith in the matter. It was determined 
unanimously, however, to act strictly on the defensive as against the 
men surrounding the town, and to endeavor to set the governor right, 
so far as the position and motives of the people of Lawrence were con- 
cerned. 

I was informed at that time that the town was then guarded ; that 
the men within it had been arranged into a body for resistance to 
these parties, who were assembling within the vicinity of the town. 
The next day, by request of General Robinson, Mr. Eldridge and my- 
self sought Governor Shannon, to ascertain when he would visit the 



1088 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

town, that arrangements might be made for his proper reception. We 
proceeded to Franklin, and was there stopped by an advanced guard^ 
(the outmost sentinels,) and was permitted to proceed only on stating 
that we had business with persons in command. There was some 
little difficulty in getting through at that. We were told that Gov- 
ernor Shannon had gone up to Lecompton ; others told us he was 
still at Shawnee Mission. Some said that sheriff Jones was in com- 
mand, and some that General Strickler, and some that General Rich- 
ardson was in command. On arriving at AVakarusa crossing, we 
■were stopped by a number of men who were acting as sentinels, 
who utterly refused to let us pass. The house in which the officers 
in command were said to be was just across the creek in sight. We 
had proceeded alone thus far without an escort. These men who 
stopped us levelled their guns at us, and threatened to fire if we pro- 
ceeded a step farther. This was on the main highway between here 
and Kansas City. I demanded to know who was in command of their 
force. I received several contradictory replies from different men. I 
stated that I wished to see Governor Shannon, and was told that he 
was not there. Finally one man admitted that he was there, and 
stated that I could not be permitted to see him. I demanded to see 
sheriff Jones, and finally a man was induced to go over and tell sheriff 
'^Jones that some one wished to see him. In the meantime I asked 
permission to drive down into the creek to water my horse, and was 
permitted to do so under escort ; one man swearing that the horse 
belonged to the American Hotel in Kansas City, and that the wagon 
and horse was an abolition establishment. While down in the creek 
the messenger returned from sheriff" Jones, and requested me to go to 
the house on the bank opposite where sheriff' Jones stopped. On turn- 
ing my horse's head, however, the giiards levelled their guns at me 
again, and commanded me to stop. The messenger told them he had 
the orders of the sheriff for me to go, and finally one of the guards 
consented to go with us to the house. On arriving at the house I 
stated to sheriff Jones that I wished to see Governor Shannon. Word 
was sent to Governor Shannon, who came out of the house, as the 
guard would not permit me to enter it or go out of his sight. Gov- 
ernor Shannon expressed the same views and feelings that he did the 
day before, and stated that several prominent gentlemen from the 
border counties of Missouri were with him ; that he hoped, through 
their influence, to restrain this force, and to prevail on it to disband 
and return home. He stated that there were then 1,200 men on the 
ground at that place. He said that he would be at Franklin the next 
morning, immediately after breakfast ; that he would send a messen- 
ger to Lawrence announcing his arrival ; that he met a deputation of 
the citizens to meet him at Franklin and escort him into Lawrence. 
He gave me a pass, I think, to return with ; and the same guard who 
had accompanied us there, came back with us and saw us through the 
gentries at the ford, and we returned to Lawrence. In the morning a 
gentleman arrived from Franklin at Lawrence, as a messenger from 
Governor Shannon, according to agreement, stating that Governor 
Shannon was prepared to visit the town. An escort often persons, I 
think, was sent back with this messenger to Franklin^, under the com- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1089 

mand of Gr. P. Lowiy, who found the governor at Franklin, and es- 
corted him, in company with Col. Boone — I tliink his name is A. Gr. 
Boone, and his residence is Westport — and a gentleman whose name, I 
think, was Col. Strickler, from Missouri, and this messenger, whose 
name, I think, was Kearney, into Lawrence. We were met, on enter- 
ing Lawrence, by Gen. Kobinson and Gen. Lane, and other promi- 
nent men, who joined the escort and conducted the governor to the 
room of the committee of safety. Communications between Governor 
Shannon and the gentlemen with him from Missouri, and the men of 
Lawrence who received them, were of an exceedingly friendly char- 
acter. The governor wished a sort of treaty, as it is usually called, to 
be drawn up, in which should be expressed the feeling and intention, 
of the principal men of Lawrence and the Territory, and also his own. 
He made, I think, a memorandum of some points he wished inserted 
in that treaty. 

He expressed a belief that the business could not be concluded that 
day ; that he had better return to Franklin, and return to Lawrence 
the next day and conclude the matter. He stated again that he had 
hopes of being able, with the aid of gentlemen from Missouri, to in- 
duce these men to disperse, who had come up for the purpose of de- 
stroying this town. He expressed himself very freely that these men 
were entirely beyond his control, unaided by these gentlemen. He 
expressed a strong desire for the arrival of Col. Sumner, with a force 
under his command, for the protection of this town, if his efforts should 
not succeed. Col. Boone expressed deep regret at the course matters 
seemed to be taking, and stated, also, that these men were almost un- 
controllable, and desired to destroy the town and everybody in it, and 
compared them to a pack of hyenas. Governor Shannon left here 
with these men. The committee of safety convened during the even- 
ing, and a committee was appointed to draught the document which 
Governor Shannon had desired to be prepared. The treaty was drawn 
subject to such changes as might be thought best by Gen. Eobinson, 
who, I think, was instructed to depart from it in some respects, if he 
thought best, in points that might be required by Governor Shannon. 
The next day Governor Shannon returned, according to promise. 

I was named as chairman of the committee appointed to draw 
up the treaty, and wrote the treaty as it went from the liands of the 
committee, though it was to be modified afterwards at the discretion 
of General Robinson. 

Previous to my return to Kansas City I had an interview with 
Sheriff Jones, who came in that evening with Captain Shaw, of com- 
pany A, who lived in Missouri, as he stated to me. Mr. Jones ap- 
peared to be very much excited, because a patrol, as he entered the 
town, rode with him into it. He swore he would go in and out of 
Lawrence whenever he chose without any escort. lie said he should 
resign his office in case any arrangement was made by Governor 
Shannon to dispense with the service of these men, who had assembled, 
as he said, to aid him in making the arrests contemplated. I also 
heard Governor Shannon say that Jones had promised to resign. I 
stated to sheriff Jones that I was going down to Kansas City, and in- 
quired whether there would be any difficulty in passing the ttiQi sta- 
H. Rep. 200 69* 



1090 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

tioned at Walcanisa. Captain Shaw wrote me a pass, which sheriff 
Jonos coimter^ignod. I tlien let> for Kansas City, about the midale of 
}ie dav, in company with the same ge!>tleman with whom I came. 
At Franklin I was met by two horseinou. who toUi me I couhl not 
pass. I stated that I had a pass from sheriti' Jones. They said that 
sl\eriff Jones had no authority. I said I had a pass from Captain 
Sliaw. of company A. They said they knew nothing of any Captain 
(Shaw, or his authority. Having still in possession the pass that 
Governor Shannon had given me the Thursday previous, to enable me 
to return from Wakarusa to Lawrence, I inquired whether a pass 
from Governor Shannon would be sufficient, and they said it would 
not. They linally rode back with us a few rods, to where the station- 
arv guard stood, and consented to look at the pass of Captain Shaw. 
jNIr. Eldridge ottered them some cigars he had with him. and tinally 
they let us go along. On reaching the woods near Wakarusa. we 
were again stopped. The sentry Avas very obliging, glanced at the 
pass, and said he would not be very strict. He said that some of the 
boys had just been examining a loaded wagon, overhauling some 
boxes in it. and pointed out the wagon and boxes standing at a little 
distance, which proceeding, he thought, was uncalled for. We went 
on to the ford, found one or two sentries who stopped us, whom we 
told we kad a pass, and we were then permitted to go on. I then 
saw some horsemen taking leave of some others, and then they started 
ofi' east. 

I saw some wagon-loads of men also going east, and the camp was 
evidently breakiuix up. On the way to Kansas City we passed several 
horsemen and wagon-loads of men. This I think was on Saturday, 
the 8th of December last. On the Monday following I returned to 
Lawrence, the camp was dispersed, and 1 met with no challenges on 
the road. I met Governor Shannon on the way returning east. He 
said that the ditficulties were over, but said he thought he should re- 
sign his othce : that the difficulties of the office were too great for hira 
to" retain it. He spoke of resigning his office from apprehension of 
difficulties in the future. 

I have been subsequently told by a gentleman, whose name I find 
as adjutant on the pass given by General Strickler, when he retained 
the one given me by Governor Shannon, and which was John Mar- 
tin, that the actual number of men assembled on the Wakarusa was 
over l.llOO. On going from here to the WakarUv^a on the Thursday 
mentioned, I saw a prisoner whom the guards had taken, auvl whom 
they said they were taking to camp, and who was .struggling violently 
against it. The prisoner was placed on horseback, and he would not 
remain on it. He was in the hands of men who, the sentries told 
me. were a part of the forces. He struggled violently, and one of 
them said io him, '' Ood damn your abolition heart." The last I 
saw of him he was being dragged along by two of them, one on each 
side. It" was not alleged, as 1 lieard. that he had committed any of- 
fence. When I was at the camp at Wakarusa, for the purpose of see- 
ing Governor Shannon, on my remonstrating with sherilf Jones on 
the arrests of persons without any offence being alleged against them, 



KANSAS APPATRS. 1001 

he atlmitted tlmt General VonuM-oy liad hccn 'arreatod without, any- 
thing being charged against him at all. 

To Mr. Howard : 

ShoriiF Oones reprosoTitcd to nio that this arrest was made wilhont 
his authority, and he was iu>t resjionsibh^ I'or it ; tliat tlio men (hcri^ 
could arrest whom they chose. I renioustralcMl with him against 
kee])ing General l*omeroy under such circumstances ; to which ho 
made no reply. General Pomeroy was then in the camp. 

Crosa-cxamined ])y Mr. Woodson : 

At the first interview with Governor Shannon, he stated Jthat the 

force assembled liere at Lawreiux' was a jiosse oi" the shei ill". He stated 
. that the iorce had assembled in eonsetjuenco of his proclamation, 
\ based upon tlie statenuMit of sheriff Jones, thjjt a prisoner had been 

rescued from his hands, and he wanted additional force to enable him 

to retake the prisoner and those who rescned him. He said nothing 
' about Lawrence being in a state of'arnu'd defence ami rebellion ; <.his 

was in tlie first interview. In tlie second inteiview (governor Sliannou 
' disclaimed the force as being under his control, or under the command 
j of the sheriff. ]Ie stated his proclamation was not intended to bring 
I those men into the Territory, and tliat he had no control over theiri, 
• I do not think he said anything about his having legal autliority. lie 

disclaimed the power to control them, or wish to use them. In the 
i first interview he claimed that these ])ersons were there as a jtai't of 

the sheriff's posse, and liad a right to be there. In the secoml inter- 
I view 1 remember nothing said touching his authority. There was 
( .scarcely any discussion between us at the second interview, though 
I there was considerable in the first interview. He expressed a regret 
' that the men had ever come into the Territory, an indisposition to 
I use theii" services, and a disbelierin his own j)ower to control them. 
' I did not hear him disclaim any authority over these men. Sherilf 

Jones said to me that he had been resisted in the execution of the 
I laws, in the rescue of Branson ; that he had been rescued by a force 

of about forty men ; that he himself had counted thirty-eight men ; 
j and that ho was determined to discharge the duty of sheriff at every 

hazard. That is the substance of his ex])ressed determination ; that 
j he had summoned the volunteers as his posse, and that th(!y were 
I sucli ; but stated at the same time that he could not control them. 

He said nothing about his having attempted to arrest men in this town, 

and being resisted, as one of the reasons for calling out this force. He 

stated that his life had been threatened, ami that he had several times 
I been in Lawrence to give men a chance to shoot him if they wished, 
I and should continue to come here whenever he chose, ^fhe first that 
I I saw of these men was when I was on my way to Kansas City. That 
I was on Saturday, the 1st of December. It was between Saturday 
I and Wednesday that I heard the threats used in Kansas City. When 
1 I passed through Lawrence, on my way down to Kansas City, 1 saw 

no preparations of defence here. I knew of no preparations of 
I arms and ammunitions of war before that time. When I returned to 
; this place they were preparing for defence, throwing up breastworks, 



1092 KANSAS AFFAIES. 

and drilling. I left here on Saturday the 1st, and returned on the 
follovriuc; Weduei'day. I was told by various persons here that there 
■were from seven hundred to eight hundred men here. Of Sharpe's ri- 
fles I was told, in the same way. that there were about two hundred. 
I knew of one piece of artillery being brought into town during its in- 
vestment. I have no knowledge of any other piece, and was told 
there was not any other. I think there was very little ammunition 
here, from the fact that two ladies went out and brought in some dur- 
ing the siege. I knew of no cannon-balls being here, and of no am- 
munition, except what was brought here Avith the cannon. There were 
fjuards placed about the city. I know nothing of their number, but 
can simply state that there was a sentry placed on the main road lead- 
iuiX to Franklin, about a quarter of a mile from this building, and 
there were guards placed along on the river — so I was told. I do not 
know of any guards being placed out a mile or so ; I saw none of them. 
I never received a challenge on coming into Lawrence from any men 
here, though I was told by guards in the other camp that I would be 
challenged here. I know that there was intended to be a guard or 
scouting party out in the night-time ; but I do not know about their 
being out in the day-time. I understood that there were passwords 
and countersigns in the night-time, though I do not know about the 
day-time. I think these countersigns were not required during the 
day and night, before persons were permitted to enter Lawrence, 
thouijh I think it was intended to be done in the night. I heard here 
that Wo or three of the enemy's picket or patrol guards were taken on 
one occasion, and brought into town here by our patrol — one of them 
because he had a horse that was stolen from town here. They were 
relieved in the mornmg. 

• To ^Jr. Eeeder : 

As I was passing down to Kansas City, the tirst time. I met a can- 
non, drawn by two horses, coming this way. I did not recognize any 
of the parties with the cannon, but they appeared to be of the same 
parties as others I met coming up. I remember meeting two gentle- 
men coming up, one of whom was said to be Colonel Woodson, of 
Independence. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I went down on Saturday, and met these men and the cannon, and 
had an interview with Lrovernor Shannon, the first time, on the Tues- 
day following. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

The threats to which I alluded in thefiret part of my testimony, in- 
cluded threats against the American Hotel in Kansas City, as being 
obnoxious in the same way as was the city of Lawrence. Threats 
were made that it would be destroyed, and much anxiety was felt by 
its inmates, of wliich I was one, and the citizens generally. I tmder- 
stood the ground of hostility to the hotel to be that it was kept for the 
convenience of northern emigration to Kansas Territory. That, so 
far as I know, was the exclusive ground of hostility to the hot<il. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 109S 

Dm-ing: the latter part of that week a meetino: of the citizens of Kansas 
City was called, and a depntation sent to the camp at Wakarnsa with 
a statement, wliich I have since seen in print, relating to the threats 
which had been made, and the political opinions of the proprietors of 
the American Hotel, for the pnrpose ot secnring the property from de- 
struction, on the return of the forces here encamped to Missouri. 

This statement was printed, and distributed, in the form of a circti- 
lar, I know the hotel to have beeu bought by the present proprietors 
from the Emigrant Aid Company. During the time 1 was in Jvansas 
City, I tVequently saw parties crossing the Missouri river on their 
way to join the torces investing Lawrence. 1 counted at one time 
6eveut<.Hni armed horsemen in one of these parties, who uttered the 
most hideous yells and shrieks, and threats against the abolitionists. 
I saw similar parties returning across the ferry at Kansas City. 

To m-. Woodson : 

The town of Kansas is on the extreme edge of the State'of Missouri. 

^ J. M. WINCHELL. 
Lawrence. K. T., Mai/ 1, 1S50. 



Homme Heyes called and sworn. 

To Mr. Jleeder : 

I was taken by the troops on the Wakarnsa last December. I 
bad been asked by Dr. Hall, of Franklin, to go with two men on 
horseback and show them the ford of the Kansas river. He told me 
these two men were chiefs of the Wyandot tribe. I refused, as 1 did 
not know the ford. He was rather displeased at that. I told him I 
would conduct them to one of the neighbors, who would probably know- 
better than I did. I then started Avith them towards Garvin's, where 
I met Rill Straub, a neighbor of mine, and he took them to the ford, 
and I returned to Franklin. 1 saw some young men there sitting on 
a pile of logs, with their knives out, tlourishing them. There were 
companies gathered in the street that afternoon. One man called me 
to him in the street, and I went up to him. He called me a God 
damned spy, and said he was going to take me down. He wanted to 
drive me aliead of the horses, and I refused. They furnished a horse 
that was not saddled to ride on, and we started. They had tumbled 
Tue round from one side to the other, and one man had hold of the 
halter, and I thought it was not necessary for me to take the reins. 
He came up scolding me, and said, '' You God damned Dutch aboli- 
tionist to hell ! take" the reins." 1 told him I never heard the word 
abolitionist in my country, and did not know what it meant. They 
took me down to "the camp to a tent there. The guard was round the 
tent, and, when they pushed me in, I found more prisoners there. 
They kept me there three days ; we were released on Saturday. Tiiey 
threatened around the tent to hang us. There was a brass piece of 
cannon before the tent the n\orning we were released. The sherift', or 
the one they called sheriH', and one of the officers — I believe his name 



1094 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

■was General Strickler — came up with revolrers in their hands, and took 
us up to headquarters. The general then released us. and gave us a 
pass, and then started towards the guard. One let me pass, and the 
other stopped me because the pass was not dated. I went hack to the 
headquarters ; the general gave me another pass, which enahled me 
to get by the guard and on home. I live 3^ miles below here, on the 
Kaw river — between Franklin and the river. 

eom:\ie heyes. 

LawkejsCEj K. T., Jlay 3, 1856. 



Alyin B. Bronso:n^ called and sworn. 

I was the driver of the mail-coach during the troubles last fall and 
winter, and was the sub-contractor to carry the mails between Kansas 
City and Topeka. When I was coming from Kansas City, while the 
forces were encamped on the TVakarusa, I was stopped by some of 
them about five o'clock in the afternoon. They said at first they in- 
tended to keep me tliere all night. After keeping me about an hour and 
a half, they let me go. The next morning, as I was going back, the 
picket-guard made me go into camp and get a pass before I was al- 
lowed to go on. I went and got the pass, and was then allowed to go 
on. After that, I made my regular trips without being detained any 
more by them. I knew of their stopping other teams ; there was one 
in camp while I was there the first time. 

A. B. BI10]S^S0X. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 12, 1856. 



James S. Legate called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory the last of July, 1855, from Mississippi. 
I was born in Massachusetts. I know Samuel J. Jones, sherifi". I 
have seen him quite frequently. I made his acquaintance among 
some of his earliest visits to Lawrence as sherifi'. 1 have had several 
conversations with him concerning the dilticulties here at Lawrence 
last fall. At one time we had quite an extended conversation upon 
that subject. I wanted to obtain from him his object in arraying the 
force from Missouri against us. This conversation took place in Laws 
rence, after the dithculties were over, about the last of December. I 
asked him, if he thought those men whom he wished to arrest Mr. 
Bronson, who was rescued from him, were in Lawrence, why he did 
not come for them in person. He said that he had been looking at 
affairs about Lawrence for some time, and had come to the conclusion 
that so nearly equal were the forces of the Territory divided, the one 
part free-State and the other pro-shivery, the only alternative was to 
fight it out. I then asked him, if they were so nearly equal, why he 
went to Missouri for his friends tliere ; why not let the citizens of the 
Territory fight it out if they wanted to figlit. His reply was^ that we 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1095 

were too well prepared, and that he went to Westport and noised tlie 
condition of affairs about, and started his friends to the Territory. 
He said that he was so fixed at that time with the hoys about Wost- 
port, that he could readily obtain a thousand men, armed and equip- 
ped for service, and that it was his object at that time to bring the 
matter to a fight, and he did all he could do to have it come to a fight. 
At that stage of our conversation I told him it was bad policy for one 
of the officers of the Territory to have written to the State for a cer- 
tain number of riflemen to come up here, as it looked like bad taitli 
in that othcer. He said that was a private matter, never inteacUnl 
to be made public. We were then conversing about a letter purport- 
ing to be from Daniel ^Yoodson, the secretary of the Territory, 
inviting, I think, the Platte county rifles to come over here. I 
asked him, in so many words, ''if Colonel \Yoodson," as we caUed 
the secretary of State, "wrote that letter.'' Jones said he thought 
"likely enough." I asked him how many men came up from jMissouri. 
He said he did not know exactly. I asked him then how nuiuy luen 
he had, that made it their home in the Territory. He said there were 
but few of them, because they could not leave their work at that time, 
and he thought there were not more than 150 or 200 of them out. 
At another point of the conversation I asked him how many men lie 
had in all with him. He said he had about eighteen Ini tidied men. 
I then told him he must have had fourteen or fifteen hundred men 
from Missouri. He said he did have that number, and could liave 
obtained more. I then asked him what he intended to do with tliat 
number of men as a posse. He said he intended to ''take this damned 
town," Lawrence, "and blot it out." I reminded him of the im- 
probability of the force he had being able to do that. He said the 
town had been looked at by many different individuals from the camp, 
and they were confident they could have taken it in twelve hours. 
Our conversation then turned upon his trying to make an arrest in 
town since the war, and in which he had failed. He said he had tried 
to make an arrest here, and he had been resisted, and that he had 
called upon Robinson and Lane for a posse, and they would not give 
him one. I told him it was probable they thought he was trying to 
get up another siege here, and that was the reason they did not give 
him some direct answer, or do something for him. He replied that 
he thought that Robinson and Lane thought somebody was at tho 
bottom of it besides himself. I said they probably did, and would 
continue to be neutral in the matter, acting only as citizens. He said 
the articles of peace that Shannon, and Robinson, and Lane had en- 
tered into, be thought pledged them to give him a posse, and if they 
did not do it, or do something for him, he would get up another 
scrape, and they would have Woodson to deal with this time, as Shan- 
non was gone, and they would find Woodson to be a damned sight 
different man from old Shannon. I told him that if we got into a 
war here at that time, it would ]>robably involve tho whole Union. 
He replied that he did not care Avhat it might involve, but that the 
laws passed by the Territorial legislature should be enforced. Our 
conversation then ceased at that time. 

At another time, in conversation with him in regard to enforcing 



1096 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

the Territorial laws, I told liira a strong objection to the laws was, that 
the oflenders, who were pro-slavery, and had offended against free- 
State men, had nothing done to thena. He asked me for an instance 
of the kind, and I referred him to Major Clark, who had, hut a day 
or two before that, passed up tlirough here with a body guard. _ I 
said that his killing Barber, and not being brought to account for it, 
made a great many feel very strongly against those laws ; and I told 
him that lie (Jones) knew very well that Clark killed Barber. He 
said he did not know anything of it, only what Clark said, for he 
was not present. He said that when Clark came down to Franklin, 
the evening that Barber was shot, Clark and Burns, from Missouri, 
both claimed that they had killed one of the damned abolitionists. 
He then told me the circumstances as Clark and Burns related them. 
I asked Jones why Clark was not arrested. He said if I would swear 
out a warrant against Clark, before a justice of the peace, he would 
see that Clark was arrested. He said he did not deem it his duty to 
arrest a man for an offence committed, except on himself, unless some 
one else would swear out a warrant against him. He said that it was 
just as well as it was, for Clark would not leave the country, but 
would wait and come before the grand jury. That was about the 
substance and important facts of our conversation. 

[This portion of the depositioa. relating to events transpiring since 
the appointment of the commission, is struck out according to ruling 
of committee on the case of Mr, Harris, at Westport, Mo.] 

JAMES F. LEGATE. 

Lawrence, K. T., Mmj 12, 185f>. 



LECOMPTOisr, K. T., 

Secretary's Office, May 8, 1856. 

At the request of the Kansas investigating committee, I hereby 
state that the following publication, purporting^ to be a letter from 
me to General Eastin, is, so far as it relates to me, a forgeiy. I 
never wrote any such letter to General Eastin or any one else. 

I saw the ])ublication for the first time at the Wakarusa camp, 
about the fith of December, 1855, published in the ''Herald of Free- 
dom," a weekly paper printed in the town of Lawrence, bearing date 
December 1, 1855. I immediately called General Eastin's attention 
to it, who at once pronounced it a forgery, he having received no such 
letter from me. 

DANIEL WOODSON. 

" Dear General: The governor having called out the militia, this 
is to inform you to order out your division and proceed forthwith to 
Lccompton. The governor not having the power, you ca7i call on the 
Flatte county rifle company^ as our neighbors are always ready to help 
us. Do not hnpUcale the governor, tvhatever you do. 

"DANIEL WOODSON." 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 8th day of Mav, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN SHERMAN, 

Of the committee. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1097 



George F. Warren testifies: 

I was at Leavenworth City when the difficulties commenced here at 
Lawrence last fall. The first report in regard to forces gathering in 
relation to Lawrence was, that they were gathering in Lecompton. 
There was a proclamation posted up, purporting to be from Governor ^ 
Shannon, and signed by Woodson, secretary. After that, there was 
a company organized at Leavenworth City, of persons who came over — 
from Missouri, of whom I recognized some twenty or more. Some of 
them were armed with guns, some were not. They met in the streets, 
and, with some fifteen citizens of Leavenworth City, organized a com- 
pany. The company consisted of thirty-five or forty in all, I think. 
I was requested by different individuals to raise a company to come 
to Lawrence to the assistance of Governor Shannon, to put down the 
people of Lawrence. I declined to do so, unless we were to be allowed- 
to act as an independent company, and act as we pleased when we got 
here. The next day was Sunday, the 2d of December. I was re-7 
quested to take Dr. Cutler to Doniphan. Dr. Cutler was sick at the) 
time, and had been confined to his bed. He lived in Doniphan, and^ 
was desirous to return home. I started with him for that purpose in ) 
a buggy. I took my gun with me. I arrived at Doniphan that Sun- 
day evening. The next morning I started back alone to Leavenworth 
City. I had not gone more than two and a half miles, when I saw 
men on horseback riding about in different directions. One of them 
came up to me and followed me without saying anything to me. I 
drove down to Atchison, and when I got there, [ saw a crowd of 
about thirty persons step out into the road front of me, and drawing 
across the road. One man held up his hand and stopped the horse, 
and another man caught the bridle. The one who caught the ^ 
horse by the bridle was Mr. Thomason, and he demanded my 
letters and papers. I asked him if he was an officer, or had a 
writ. He said "no." I asked his authority for stopping me in the 
street. He said, as captain of the Atchison guard. I told him I^ 
should not give him my letters and papers unless he got a writ or 
came with an officer. A man by the name of Abell, a law partner of >- 
General Stringfellow, called out, "clinch the abolitionist." Thoma- 
son again demanded my letters and papers, but I refused to give them 
up. Some of the party then caught hold of me by the leg, and some 
by the arms, and asked me if I would give up the papers. I refused 
again, unless they demanded them legally. Then Tliomason caught 
me by the throat. I then commenced to tear up the papers I had, 
and put one of them in my mouth. These papers I destroyed were 
my own private papers, letters from my brother, and papers sent to 
me by some persons unknown to me. 

They continued to choke me, and I continued to tear up the papers. 
I tore up the papers as long as I had breath to enable me to do so. 
Abell sung out, " Kill the abolitionist, kill him ; he is eating the pa- 
pers up." They then stood me up on my feet, and stripped ofi" all 
my clothes but my shirt. This was about 9 o'clock in the morning of 
the 3d of December. They searched me for papers, and could find 



1098 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

none but what I had torn up, or they had taken before. They broke 
open my shirt, breaking open the collar and bosom. They then put 
on my clothes. They took my gun, powder-flask and shot-pouch, 
jack-knife, and $3 75 in money. They then carried me up to one of 
the stores and put me under guard. They said they were going to 
hang me. I objected to it, because I was opposed to capital punish- 
ment in any manner. They dispatched thirteen men to Doniphan 
for Dr. Cutler, and brought him to Atchison about dark that night. 
"We were together but a short time, and then separated for the night. 
That night they sent a despatch to Weston for help. About 2 o'clock, 
some thirty men made their appearance where I was stopping, and 
inquired for Abell. It frightened the keeper, as he thought they were 
free-State men, and he shut the door in their faces, and locked it. 

The man that had arrested us, said to me it would go hard with 
Dr. Cutler, and that it would be likely to go hard with me, because I 
was so stubborn with them in not giving up my papers. In the morn- 
ing they took Cutler before the justice and dismissed him. The crowd 
that came from Weston came up to see me in the morning, to see who 
I was. They came in, and one man (Joseph Murphy) spoke, and 
asked what they were going to do with me. The crowd told him 
they were going to hang me. He said if they hung me, they would 
have two men to hang. They said they were determined to do it ; 
and he then told them they would do it over his dead body. He pro- 
posed to them that I should be sent to Lecompton, to Major Eichard- 
son and Gov. Shannon. He said he knew me well, and knew I would 
do nothing that w^as not right. This Murphy was a pro-slavery man, 
and a citizen of Weston. After further conversation, they agreed to 
take me to Lecompton. They put Cutler and myself in the buggy 
they took me from the day before, and had seven horsemen, with a 
double-barreled shot-gun and two revolvers each, to accompany us. 

W^e got as far as Hickory Point that night, and stopped at the 
house of Charles J. Hart. We were guarded until morning, and 
then I refused to go further unless they would show their writ. I 
told them that I should consider them as highway robbers, if they 
forced me to go with them then. Thereupon, four of the seven re- 
fused to have anything more to do with the matter, if I considered it 
in that light. The other three then took me and put me by force in 
the buggy. All seven, however, went on with us to Lecompton, 
where we arrived about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Dr. Cutler and 
myself were then taken into the building then occupied by Gov. Shan- 
non. Sheriff Jones then came and put his hands on our shoulders, 
and said we were his prisoners. I asked him if he had any writ, but 
he showed none. I said I wanted to know what I was brought there 
for, and wanted to see the writ ; and he said it would be in presently. 
I saw no writ that day. 

I was taken, that night, to a small building kept as a liquor-shop. 
The building was open, and it was very cold, from which I suffered 
very much. That night Jones came in with some four or five others, 
and sent for a table and a deck of cards, and went to playing poker 
at twenty-five cents ante. We were obliged to sit up all night, as 
the building was not large enough for us to lie down while they were 



KANSAS AFFAIKS. 1099 

in there. I tliink Jones lost $41 that night. He then told me he 
had a proposition to make to me. He said if I would tell him all 
ahout Lawrence, Sharpe's rifles, and secret societies, and turn State's 
evidence against the people here, he would set me free. But if I did 
not do that, I should swing. I told him he lived at Lawrence and I 
at Leavenworth, and therefore he had a better opportunity to know 
those matters than I did. He told me he would give me mv choice, 
and asked me which I would do, ''tell, or swing?" 1 told him I 
should choose to swing. The guard objected to his insulting the 
prisoners any more. He had been drinking, at times, all night. 

It had become morning then, and we were marched to Shannon's 
office, or, as they called it, "the headquarters." The building is 
now used as a post-office. Shannon was not there. They then carried 
us down to their camp. Kelley, of the Squatter Sovereign, who lives 
in Atchison, came round and said he thirsted for blood, and said he 
should like to hang us on the first tree. Cutler was very weak, and 
that excited him so that he became delirious. They sent for three 
doctors, who came. Dr. Stringfellow was one of them. They re- 
mained there with Cutler until after midnight, and then took him up 
to the office, as it was very cold in camp. I was kept in camp until 
the following Saturday night. As it was very cold, they took me up 
to take care of Dr. Cutler. On Sunday the soldiers became dissatis- 
fied, as it was so cold and stormy, and wanted to march on Lawrence 
or go home. The weather was very inclement — the tent in which we 
were being blown down — and it snowed very hard. 

To pacify the soldiers, they agreed to and did move the camp to- 
wards Lawrence. Thev took me with them, in the carriaare with Dr. 
Cutler, and we started towards Douglass. We a;ot to Douglass, and 
there they consented to let the Dr. go to Dr. Brooks's, as he was ac- 
quainted with him. Benicia and Douglass are on adjoining claims. 
I drove Dr. Cutler to Dr. Brooks's, under guards and left him there, 
and while driving back we were told peace was declared. 

I saw a large crowd gathering, and drove up and heard some men 
making speeches. Dr. Stringfellow was called upon for a speech. 
He got up and made a very few remarks. Says he, ''Gentlemen, we 
have been sold. Shannon has turned traitor, and disgraced himself, 
and not only himself, but the whole pro-slavery party." The whole 
crowd then cried out, " Lawrence," " Lawrence." Stringfellow said, 
"Xo, Shannon had ordered them out, and they had obeyed ; and he 
had ordered them to go back home, and they must obey him." 

The prisoners were then taken into a house near by. General Eich- 
ardson, as he was called, came in there soon after, and passed through 
the room we were in, and went into another room, where he remained 
with a number of other persons about fifteen minutes. Captain Dun- 
ham^ the captain of the company that had charge of us, came out and 
said, ■' Colonel Warren, stand up." I stood up, and he told me that 
I was free to go where I pleased. I then went out of the house, and 
all began to shake hands with me, and called for a speech. I declined 
to make one then, but promised them all they wanted if they would 
come to Leavenworth City. I asked General Richardson for a pass. 
He refused to give me one ; said I would not need any, and could get 



1100 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

througli witliont. He gave one to Dr. Cutler. I then went back -with 
my buggy to Dr. Brooks's, and got Dr. Cutler, and started for Law- 
rence, and arrived about sun-down on Sunday, December 9. For 
three months after that, I felt the effects of the treatment and exposure 
I was subjected to, and have not been able to work any since that 
time. 

I never recovered one thing that was taken from me. It was in the 
possession of the mob at Atchison, The gun was worth $70, and I 
heard three or four men disputing as to who should have it. 

Some ef the papers that were taken came into my possession in this 
way, while I was clerking in the Leavenworth hotel. I went down 
town to purchase something for the house, contracting on one of the 
boats for some flour from St. Louis. When I got back, two letters 
were given me by Mr. Keller, the proprietor of the hotel, which he 
said had been left for me. They had no postmark on them, and were 
anonymous. As I found no signature, I inquired who left them; but 
could not find out, and have never found out. I have no idea who 
left them. Euclosed in the letters were two small printed pamphlets, 
j)urporting to be the ritual of a secret society called the Kansas Legion. 
One letter contained what purported to be a commission to me, to act 
as deputy and organize lodges. The other letter contained what pur- 
ported to be the pass- words. Neither letter was signed, I never acted 
upon the suggestions there contained, and never was in a lodge of the 
kind. Some days before the difficulties in Lawrence^ Mr. Kedpath, a 
correspondent of the St. Louis Democrat, inquired of me where he 
could get a ritual of this secret society for publication. I gave him 
those pamphlets, one of which he afterwards returned. I understood 
that it was published in the St. Louis Democrat, but I have never seen 
it. These papers I have just described, and a letter from my brother, 
were all the papers in my possession when the mob searched me at 
Atchison. Upon finding these papers, a despatch was published, 
which I saw, headed "Two abolitionists taken — G-eneral Pomeroy and 
Colonel Warren." It then went on to state that papers were found in 
my possession showing a plot to burn Atchison, murder Pat Laugh- 
lin, and hang Stringfellow, and that I had come to Atchison to raise 
a company for that purpose. On the strength of that, the company 
was sent for, and came from Weston. They told me that, and also 
that they sent for 60 men, but only 30 came. 

When the company came over from Weston and called to see me, 
they asked if I was the man who was trying to burn down Atchison. 
When the door was shut in their faces, one of them cried out, " if 
this is the way you treat us when we come over, your damned town 
may be burned down for all I will do." My only business in going 
up at that time to Doniphan and Atchison was to take up Dr. Cutler, 
and to distribute more free-State constitutions, poll-books and ballots. 
I had no intention of stopping in i^tchison. I did not know Pat. 
Laughlin until some man came to the buggy I was in, and asked if I 
knew him, and told me his name was Pat. Laughlin. He helped pull 
me out of the buggy. Upon reflection, I am not certain but that some 
of the papers accompanying the letters I have merltioned as being 
given to me at Leavenworth Hotel were signed. I paid no attention 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1101 

to tliose papers, and I do not know liow they got into my pockets at 
tlie time I was taken. I think I had left them in a vest pocket, which 
I laid in my trunk, and put on without examining it the morning I 
left with Dr. Cutler for Doniphan. 

G. F. WARREN. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 12, 1856. 



7 



Thomas Connelly called and sworn. 

To Mr. King: 

I came into the Territory and settled in Lawrence ahout the 5tb of 
November, 1855, and have resided there until last April am ac- 
quainted with Colonel Lane and Dr. Robinson. I was there during 
the war last winter. I could not define what their intentions were. 
I did not hear Mr. Robinson at that time say much, if anything. I 
have heard Colonel Lane say he was colonel of the organized compa- " 
nies there during the war. I knew those companies were there, and 
knew they had sentinels placed there. I have had several conversa- 
tions with Lane about that matter. I have heard him say they would ) 
not submit to the laws of the Territory, and that they had means 
and men to resist their execution. I cannot say that I heard him say 
that was what he got up those companies for. I have heard him and 
the crowds of armed men there say they would not obey the laws, and 
if they were arrested by sheriff Jones^ or the officers of the Territory, 
it should not be alive. They asserted that they would not submit to 
those laws. I was there the night Branson was rescued from sheriff 
Jones, and heard the party who did that when they came into Law- 
rence that morning. I heard the drums beating and the company ( 
marched in, but I did not know until the next morning what they /^ 
had done. There was no armed assemblage at Lawrence at that i 
time. 

Question. Do you know, from what you heard the men say who res- 
cued Branson from the sheriff, that they knew he was arrested under 
the laws of the Territory? 

Anstver. I cannot say about what was said at the time. I believe 
Mr. Cameron was a justice of the peace, acting under the Territorial 
laws ; at least he told me so. I cannot say that any of those persons 
who rescued Branson ever told me anything about the matter. I 
think in March last they said they intended to give a passive submis- 
sion to the Territorial laws. I never heard Colonel Lane acquiesce at i 
all in the submission of the laws, or Dr. Robinson say so either. As ' 
regards Colonel Lane, at the time this passive submission was agreed 
upon, he was not there. 

Question. Did you hear anything said among those men who had 
been organized in armed resistance to the laws in Lawrence, at any 
period^ that they then had things arranged in Washington, so that 
Congress would sustain them, and they intended now to take a bolder 
stand ? and if so, state at what time these declarations were made, 
and what was said. 

Answer. I have heard Mr. Lyman, Mr. Searle, and several others 



1102 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

wlio were engaged in that organized company in Lawrence, say, at 
the time the report first arrived there of the majority in Congress, 
that they now had a majority in Congress, and woukl succeed in an- 
nulling the laws of the Territory. I do not recollect exactly the date 
when this was said. I know it was at the time the account of the ap- 
jDointment of this committee arrived there, and I think it was some 
time in March. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Sherman : 

The declarations made by Colonel Lane were during the difficulties 
at Lawrence. I do not know whether he denied either the existence 
or the validity of the Territorial laws ; but he declared he would not 
submit to them. 

To Mr. King : 

I moved from Illinois to Lawrence. 

THOS. CONNELLY, j 
Westport, Mo., June 9, 1856. 



Wilson Shannon was called and sworn. 

I' 

This deponent states that as to the origin, progress, and concluston 
of the difficulties at Lawrence last fall, he begs leave to refer to his 
two despa,tches to the President of the United States with the accom- 
panying documents — the first dated on the 28th of November, and the 
second on the 11th day of December last — as containing what this 
deponent believes to be a correct history and account of these trans- 
actions. 

This deponent states that he was not in the camp at Lecompton, 
and consequently cannot say whether there were any Missourians in 
that camp or not. He was in the camp on the Wakarusa, and 
knows that there came a number of citizens of Missouri in that camp, 
but how many he has no means now, and never had, of forming any 
idea of the number of citizens from that State who were in the Wa- 
karusa camp. This deponent met a number of prominent men from 
Missouri at the Wakarusa camp, and conversed and counselled with 
them fully in relation to the pending difficulties ; and those with 
whom I conversed, without a single exception, stated that they had 
come over into the Territory to aid the law and order party in execu- 
ting the laws. That they would take no steps that did not meet 
with the approval of the public authorities of the Territory ; that 
they had learned that those who were resisting the laws were armed 
with Sharpe's rifles — -had artillery and munitions of war — and that the 
law and order party were in a great measure unarmed, and required 
aid to put down an armed resistance to the laws of the Territory. 

It seemed to be a very general opinion, not only of the citizens of 
Missouri present on that occasion, but of those of the, Territory, that no 
arrangement could be made which would bring permanent security to 
tte country unless the people assembled at Lawrence were required to 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1103 

give up to the public authorities their Sharpe's rifles and arHllerj, and 
I was repeatedly advised to exact this of those in Lawrence ; but this 
was nothing more than opinion and advice, and when the matter was 
finally settled all acquiesced in what was done, although many 
thought the terms agreed upon were too liberal to the party ; but 
stated that if the executive was satisfied^ they had nothing to say. 
The men collected in the Wakarusa camp, after being dismissed, 
retired in good order. This deponent states that he was greatly aided 
in settling the difficulties last fall by the active exertions of prominent 
men from Missouri, who did everything in their power to prevent the 
effusion of blood. He would name General Atchison and Colonel 
Boone as having exercised a great deal of influence in preventing a 
conflict of arms between the two parties on that occasion. 

This deponent understood, from leading men in the camp, that a 
great many of the men assembled on that occasion would not be satis- 
fied unless the Lawrence party were required to give up their imple- 
ments of war ; and, in case they did not do so, they would attack the 
town. Expressions of this kind were not used to this deponent, but 
he has no doubt, from information received by him at the time, that 
.this sentiment was entertained by a good many. Yet, through the 
'■nfluence I have named, all were induced to acquiesce in what had 
been done, and to retire quietly to their respective homes. 

As to the paper dated on the 9th of December, and purporting to 
be addressed to C. Robinson and J. H. Lane, and which has been very 
erroneously called a commission, this deponent desires to make an ex- 
planation, as alike due to himself and truth. To a fair understanding 
of this matter, it is necessary that I should make some preliminary 
statements. On Monday, the 9th, about sunrise, this deponent issued 
his orders for disbanding the forces around Lawrence, and he remained 
at the Wakarusa until the forces at that place had all retired ; he went 
then, by special invitation, in company with several other gentlemen, 
to the town of Lawrence, and in the evening was invited to attend a 
social party or gathering of ladies and gentlemen at the Emigrant 
Aid Society's hotel, which he accepted. There were but two rooms 
finished in the hotel ; they were in the third story, and quite small 
and crowded by the company assembled. The time was spent in the 
most friendly and social way, and it seemed to be a matter of con- 
gratulation on both sides that the difficulties so lately threatening the 
peace of the country had at length been brought to a happy termi- 
nation. 

In the midst of this convivial party, and about 10 o'clock at night, 
Dr. C. Robinson came to me, and in a state of apparent excitement 
declared that the picket-guard had just come in, and reported that 
there was a large irregular force near the town of Lawrence, who were 
threatening an attack on the place, adding that the citizens of the 
place claimed the protection of the executive, and to this end desired 
this deponent to give himself and Colonel Lane permission to repel 
the threatened assault. I replied to Dr. Robinson that they did not 
require any authority from me, as they would be entirely justified, 
after the difficulties had been satisfactorily arranged, in repelling by 
force any attack on their town. He replied, that they had been rep- 



1104 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

resented as having arrayed themselves against the laws and officers of 
the Territory, and that therefore he wished me to give him written 
authority to repel the threatened assault ; so that it might appear 
that, if a rencounter did take place, they were acting not against but 
with the executive of the Territory. With this view, and in the 
midst of the excitement of the occasion, I signed said ^japer ; but it 
was distinctly understood, by both parties, that it had no application 
to anything except the alleged threatened attack on Lawrence that 
night. I subsequently discovered that no attack had been threatened 
on Lawrence on the night in question. 

This deponent never said to Mr. Winchell that the people of Law- 
rence must give up their arms. I stated to Mr. Winchell, that the 
people of Lawrence and the free-State party had secretly introduced 
into the counzry arms of a deadly kind; and taken in connection with 
some resolutions they had passed in relation to resisting the laws by 
force, together with the actual rescue of Branson by an armed body 
of men, justified the people in believing that there was a fixed de- 
termination on the part of a portion of the people to resist by force 
the execution of the laws ; that this belief had produced a great deal 
of excitement in the Territory, as well as in the border counties of 
Missouri, and that I thought the best thing the free-State men could 
do to restore harmony and confidence, would be to voluntarily place 
their Sharpe's rifles and artillery in the hands of some public officer, 
to be receipted for and returned, when the situation of the country 
would permit it. That if they would do this, I would undertake to 
guaranty to them united security. 

I stated to Mr. Winchel, that if what he stated in relation to the 
citizens of Lawrence was correct, I had been greatly deceived as to 
their true position. That I would be the first to do them justice, if 
satisfied I had done them wrong. 

I did not say to Mr. Winchell that I wished a deputation from 
Lawrence to meet me in Franklin, and escort me into Lawrence. He 
called on me at Wakarusa, and informed me that he had been re- 
quested by a number of the citizens of Lawrence to call on me, and 
invite me to visit that jilace, with the view of having an interview in 
relation to a settlement of the pending difficulties. He informed me 
that if I would agree to go to Lawrence, the people would send out 
a deputation to escort me into the city. I informed Mr. Winchell 
that I would be glad to visit the town of Lawrence on the next day, 
and he proposed that the committee meet me at Franklin at ten o'clock 
and escort me into town ; to which I assented, and on the next day I 
entered Lawrence under the arrangement thus made. 

I have carefully examined the deposition of Mr. Lowry, taken be- 
fore the committee, and I have to state that I never said to Mr. 
Lowry that I had called on the Missourians to aid sherifi" Jones in 
executing the laws or process in his hands. But, on the contrary, I 
stated to Mr. Lowry on the day he called on me with Mr. Babcock, 
as a committee from Lawrence, that the only steps I had taken to 
furnish sherifi" Jones with a posse was the orders I had issued to 
Major Genral Richardson and to G-eneral Strickler, which had refer- 
ence to the militia of this Territory, and to none other. I had no right 
to call on citizens of Missouri, and never did so, and I so informed 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1105 

Mr. Lowry. His reply was, tliat it had been so reported, but tbat 
he knew it could not be true, and that the report had done me injus- 
tice ; and he had on seyeral occasions stated his disbelief in the re- 
port, and sought to do me justice in this respect, as far us he could. 

When Mr. Lowry called on me as a committee from Lawrence, to 
make known the compliments of the people of that place, I informed 
him that the rescue of Branson by a body of armed men seemed to 
show a fixed and determined purpose on the part of the so-called free- 
State party to carry out their preyious motiyes and determination, as 
made known at yarious meetings, and as declared repeatedly in va- 
rious public papers professing to speak the will of the party ; that the 
fact that S. X. Wood, who headed the party that rescued Branson, 
together with his whole command, amounting to between 30 and -40 
armed men, had marched into Lawrence immediately after the res- 
cue had taken place, and paraded the streers, and had been received 
Sits o'clock on the morning after the event, by a public meeting of 
the citizens, who seemed to manifest a high degree of satisfaction at 
the means with which this first resistance to the execution of the laws 
had met with, together with the resolution passed at the adjourned 
meeting on the same day declaring there was no law, and determin- 
ing to take steps themselves to bring all offenders to justice, had 
produced a settled conviction throughout the country that the town 
of Lawrencf , or the citizens thereof, were determined to resist the 
execution of the laws by an armed force, and that this conviction, to- 
gether with some other matters, had produced a great deal of excite- 
ment with what was termed the law and order party in the Territory, 
and with their friends in the border counties in the State of Missouri; 
that it might be difficult to allay this excitement, unless the citizens 
of Lawrence would do something themselves to remove these impres- 
sions. Mr. Lowry denied and excused all the charges against the 
citizens of Lawrence ; denied that they had in any way countenanced 
the rescue of Branson, or that they had resisted or intended to resist 
the execution of the laws ; and he stated that sherifi' Jones could at 
any time come into Lawrence and arrest any one against whom he 
had a writ, with(jut molestation. 

In reply, I informed Mr. Lowry that I had been assured by per- 
sons in whom I had entire confidence, that the citizens of Lawrence, 
from the day of the rescue of Branson, had commenced a military or- 
ganization and active preparations to defend the place even before any 
forces had collected as a posse under sherifi" Jones, and that I had 
been further informed that there were a large number of those who 
had been engaged in the Branson rescue who had fled to Lawrence 
for protection, and that they were still in that place, and the citizens 
and those assembled there were protecting them, and that they were 
preparing to protect them against arrest by the sheriff, by arming 
themselves and fortifying the town ; and that it was the belief in 
the public mind that this was the real cause of so many persons rally- 
ing to the support of the sheriff, to aid him in making the arrests 
notwithstanding this armed resistance. I was assured by Mr. Lowry 
that I had been entirely misinformed, and that the only preparations 
that were being made in Lawrence were for self-defence ; that there 
H. Eep. 200 70* 



1106 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

were but three individuals engaged in tlie rescue that resided in 
Lawrence ; that the others resided in the country, and many of them 
in the neighborhood of Hickory Point, Avhere Dow had been killed ; 
that no one engaged in the rescue was then in Lawrence ; tliat they 
had all left that place in a few days after the transaction took place, 
and that he was entirely ignorant of the places to which they had 
fled ; but that at any time any of these persons should come to Law- 
rence, sheriif Jones could arrest them without the slightest molesta- 
tion from the citizens of that place. I replied to Mr, Lowry, that if 
the facts stated by him were true, I had certainly been very much 
misinformed ; that sheriif Jones was only justifiable in collecting a 
large posse of armed men on the ground that the persons against 
whom he had writs were in the town, and defended from arrest by an 
armed body of men ; that I had directed Jones to make no attempt to 
enter Lawrence at the head of his posse until he received orders from 
me ; that I would visit the Wakarusa camp immediately and investi- 
gate the whole matter, and if I found the facts as he had stated them, 
the sheriff's posse, as such, should not enter the town of Lawrence ; 
that it was only on the ground that the defendants w;ere in Lawrence, 
and the people assembled there were defending them from arrest, 
by armed resistance, that would justify the sheriif in entering the 
town with an armed force sufdcient to overcome the oflered resist- 
ance. I had previous to this expressed the same views to sheriff 
Jones. 

I stated, at the same time, to Mr. Lowry that the introduction 
into the Territory, by the free-State men, of Sharpe's rifles, a weapon 
used only for Avar purposes, artillery, and munitions of war, in con- 
nexion with the fortifying of the town, the known existence of a 
secret oath-bound military organization, together with the armed 
resistance of the sheriff and the expulsion from the Territory of a 
number of pro-slavery families by the other party, have produced a 
conviction, very geneifal, that there was no security to laws, as those 
rifles, artillery, and munitions of war were in the hands of the free- 
State men. That the introduction of these warlike implements was 
received by the other party in the light of a declaration of war, and 
that if the citizens assembled in Lawrence would consent to give 
up their rifles and artillery, either to Colonel Sumner or myself, 
to be receipted for, and returned when confidence should be restored, 
I had no doubt such an act on their part .would enable me at 
once to prevent any disturbance at Lawrence ; but without such an 
act on their part 1 could not say whether I could control the sheriff's 
posse or not. That having assembled together with settled convic- 
tions that there was no security while those implements of death re- 
mained in the hands of the other party, they might insist on this way 
of giving up their arms without regard to orders from the officers of 
the government ; but that if these arms were voluntarily given up, 
I would guaranty that no harm would befall Lawrence. In reply to 
this, Mr. Lowry did not say that they would not give up their arms 
to myself or Colonel Sumner, but he stated that he did not know how 
that proposition would be received by the citizens of" Lawrence, as he 
had never heard the subject spoken of or discussed ; but that he was 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1107 

confident they wonld not give up their ann.s to the Missoiirians — meaa- 
ing, as I understood him, tiie .sherili"s ])osse. I said at no time to 
Mr. Lowry tliat I wouhl refuse the citizens of Lawrence to give up 
tlieir arms ; l)ut the supposition was witli me that they shouhl phxae 
them rather in the hands of Colonel Sumner or myself voluntarily, 
as tlie most certain way to put an end to the threatened difficulties. 
This sai^ie proposition was made hy me to Dr. Rohinson and Colonel 
Lane in the town of Lawrence, and for the same purpose and witJi 
the same view, on the first day I visited Lawrence. The proposition 
was taken under advisement hy Dr. Rohinson, to he suhmitted to the 
people of Lawrence for their consideration. Dr. Rohinson informed 
me, on mj return to Lawrence next day, that it had heen rejected by 
the people at a public meeting the night before, by an almost unani- 
mous vote. I never stated to Mr. Lowry that there had been sixteen 
houses burnt at Hickorj^ Point at the time of the interview with 
him and Mr. Babcock. I had never seen either before. I liad accu- 
rate information, in the shape of affidavits, as to the number of houses 
that had been burnt at Hickory Point ; tbat number was three — the ' 
houses of Mr. Buckley, Mr, Coleman, and Mr. Hargous. Mr. Lowry, 
in his interview witli me, complained much of the Missourians taking 
part in tlie affairs of the Territory. In seeking to ex})lain this matter 
truly, as I tliought, to Mr. Lowry, I stated tliat a number of pro- 
slavery families had been driven out of the Territory by force and 
by threats ; that I believed that some sixteen families had so left 
the Territory, and at one time the report had been current that six- 
teen houses had been burnt down ; that most of these ffimilies had fled 
to their friends in Missouri, and some were at the Mission where we 
then were^ with their children ; that these actual outrages, greatly ex- 
aggerated by rumor, had become known to the citizens of Missouri, who 
had become apprehensive that their friends in the Territory were about 
to be driven out of the country by force and violence, and that many of 
them were in actual danger of their lives; that, under these impressions, 
it w\as natural that the people of Missouri Avould cross over the line to 
defend their friends from actual expulsion and threatened danger to 
their lives. I alluded to some resolutions that had been passed in Law- 
rence, establishing a kind of self-constituted court to try, convict, 
and execute men without any of the forms of law ; and I stated to Mr. 
Lowry that either he or I, placed under similar circumstances, would, 
in all probability, cross the line too; that I thought great allowance 
was to be made for those people, and that so long as they did no act 
violating the laws of the Territory, but only acted in co-operation 
with the public authorities in maintaining and enforcing the laws, 
no censure should be visited upon them. Mr. Lowry seemed to 
acquiesce in these views, but claimed that the excitement in Missouri 
and in the Territory was based, in a great measure, on false rumors. 
This was true to some extent, but not to the extent claimed by Mr. -' 
Lowry. 

I made no argument against the free-State party in the presence of 
Mr. Lowry, except to state that I thought they had taken a position 
in regard to the validity and execution of the laws that was entirely 
wrong ; and that their determination to maintain that position by 



1108 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

force of arras must, if persisted in, lead to the most painful conse- 
quences. Mr. Lowry did not claim that tlie Territorial la"\vs had 
nothing to do with the then difficulties. On the contrary, it was 
well understood hy hoth of us, that no other laws were invoWed in 
those dithculties. Ko declarations or resolutions had heen made or 
passed against any of the otlier laws of the Territory. It vras for 
violating the Territorial laws that warrants had heen issued and 
placed in the hands of slioritf Jones, and it was under the Territorial 
laws that Branson had been arrested, and it was the Territorial laws 
that sheriff Jones was seeking to enforce hy means of the posse then 
surrounding Lawrence. 

What Mr. Lowry calls " the treaty " was drawn up in this way. 
On the first day I went into the toAvn of Lawrence, after (juite a 
lengthy interview with Dr. Eohinson, I drew up a rough drauglitof a 
memorandum ot the terms on which I thought the dithculties could 
be arranged, and if agreed to by the people in Lawrence, there 
would be no difficulty in getting the forces to retire. I left that 
draught with Dr. Robinson, who proposed that he would submit the 
matter to a meeting of the people. Kextday he gave me a memoran- 
dum ot the terhis on whicli the citizens of Lawrence were willing to 
arrange the matter : at the same time, informing me that he and 
Colonel Lane were authorized to agree to such alterations as they 
might think proper, except as to giving up their arms. I took this 
memorandum and re-wrote it, making various alterations, which 
was signed by both parties. I never said to Mr. L(twry, or to any 
other person, that I liad any fears of the men on the ^Yakarusa doing 
me any personal violence ; I never entertained the slightest fears of 
the kind from either party. I had no cause to entertain any such 
fears, as I had been treated with the utmost respect and kindness by 
both parties pending the ditliculties. 

I never had but one consultation with Mr. Lowry in my life, 
and that was tlie one at the iShawnee ^Mission. I may have stated to 
some person in Lawrence that I knew there were a good many people 
in the Wakarusa camp who were not satisfied with the arrangement 
I hade made, principally on the ground, that the rifles were not given 
up ; and I am certain I never made even this statement to Mr, Lowry, 
as 1 never had but the one conversation with him. as above stated. 

I have read the evidence uf Dr. Robinson in this case. It is true, 
I complained of the people of Lawrence, that they had kept entirely 
aloof from me. and that, of course, 1 had heard only one side ; and I 
stated to him that I was satisfied that many of the rumors that had 
ibeen in circulation were untrue, or greatly exaggerated. But I stated 
at the same time to Dr. Rubinson, that there were certain facts that 
could not be denied : the rescue of Branson by an armed force ; the 
repudiation of the laws, as having no force, and the resolution to 
resist their execution to a bloody issue ; the iutrodaction into Law- 
ri^nce, and the distribution in the Territory, of Sharpe's rifles ; forti- 
fications of the town, and the thaeats made in the public papers of 
Lawrence to lynch some of our citizens. -I stated to Dr. Robinson, 
that while in many things they had been greatly misrepresented, yet 
there were well-established tacts that could not be denied. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1109 

I never stated to Dr. Tlohinson tliat I was Hatisfiod that tlio citizens 
of Lawrence liad violated n(» law, lor I had every reason to believe 
that isome of them had violated law, and had been engaj;ed in the 
rescue of Branson. Indeed, it was admitted that N. S. Wood, a citi- 
zen of Lawrence, was the leader of the armed band that rescued 
Branson. 

I did not state to Dr. llohinson that if I closed negotiations the 
iirst day, on terms honorable to the people of Lawience, the 
people in the camp would raise the black flag. What 1 did say was 
this : After stating the excitement, and its cause, that existed in 
camp, that there was danger, if the ])eo[)le were not satisfied, that 
the black flag would be run U|) ; tliat if this should be done, it would 
foe against the express orders of all the ofhcers in the camp ; that in 
dealing with these difficulties niore regard had to be paid to the state 
of public opinion ; that it would be useless for me to make an arrange- 
ment which would not be acfiuiesced in by the people after they 
should be dismissed from the sheriff's posse. And these remarks 
were made to Dr. Robinson with a view of getting him and the 
people of Lawrence to agree to as i'avorable terms as possible, so that 
there would be no difficulty in getting the forces to leave in good 
order. 

I did not say to Dr. Robinson that the posse formed but a small 
part of the forces of Wakarusa. Sucb would not have been true. 
The posse was over 1,400, as reported to me by Gen. Strickler ; and 
I suppose there were about 500 that had never organized themselves, 
or been placed under the sheriff. 

The fears that I expressed to Dr. Robinson were, that after the 
posse should be dismissed^ they might take redress in their own 
hands if the arrangements were not satisfactory. 

I positively deny that I agreed to any arrangement that should not 
be reported to the camp until they had left. Ho far from this ])eing 
the case, 1 inibrmed Dr. Rol)in8on tliat I had procured a committee 
of thirteen of the most influential captains to meet at Franklin that 
night a committee from Lawrence, at which meeting the arrange- 
ments were to be made known and explained. We agreed to leave 
out of the arrangement everything witli regard to the arms, and that 
that matter should be discussed and settled by the two committees in 
Franklin that niglit. We all met at Franklin, according to 
arrangements. I had not the agreement with me,_ having left 
it in Lawrence to obtain the signatures of some tliirty or forty 
of the leading men of that place. Biit I stated all the material 
parts of the treaty in the presence of the two committees, and that 
the arrangements were satisfactory to me ; that I was satisfied there 
would be no further resistance to the execution of the laws; and that 
as to giving up the arms, that question I had adjourned to that place 
to be settled by the two committees, and it was so disposed. ^ Dr. 
Robinson, in his speech before the committee, stated, substantially, 
what had been agreed on and reduced to writing, and claimed that 
that was all that could in honor be demanded or agreed to. 

I have already explained the objects of the paper of the 9th of De- 
cember last, authorizing Col. Lane and Dr. Robmson to repel any 



1110 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

attack that might he made on the town of Lawrence that night, and 
the manner in which it was obtained , 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Up to the time of the rescue of Branson I tnew of no process in the 
hands of sheriff Jones against any citizen of Lawrence. The process 
against Branson, according to my information^ was the first one that 
sheriff Jones had undertaken to serve in Douglas county, unless it 
may have been some civil process. Branson was not a citizen of Law- 
rence, hut resided some ten or fifteen miles south, at a place called 
JEickory Point. 

WILSON SHANNON. 

Kansas City, Mo., Jime 9, 1856, 



Dr. G. A. CuTLEE recalled. 

To Mr. Eeeder : 

I had heen lying sick at Topeka for some time with the t}^hoid 
iever, and when I had got well enough to sit in the carriage I started 
home. This was about two weeks previous to the war or invasion. 
I got as far as Leavenworth city, and was taken again. I remained 
there sick about a week, and then hired Mr. Warren to take me home, 
and also hired a horse and buggy. He took me to Doniphan, and on 
his way back was captured at Atchison. They immediately sent up 
a body of men for me^ with a writ for high treason, issued by a jus- 
tice of the peace by the name of Heedly, I think. They took me 
down to Atchison and sent an express up to Weston for assistance to 
prevent a rescue. I was very sick, indeed, when they took me, and 
could not stand on my feet over five minutes at a time. Some 30 or 
40 men came from Weston that night, and tried to break into the 
hotel, where I was, but could not succeed. Previous to that I had 
sent for this justice of the peace, and he would not come. I again sent 
him word in the morning that I was in extreme danger, and that he 
knew he had no riglit to detain me there, and begged him to come and 
release me. I sent for him two or three times, and, during the inter- 
mediate time, there were threats of shooting, hanging, killing, &-c., 
and several demonstrations made. Finally the justice came, and I 
told him he must be very ignorant of the law if he thought he had any 
jurisdiction over a case of that kind. I argued some time, and finally 
he took me aside and told me he would acquit me. As soon as I got 
free from there I thought of going home, but they had the horse and 
buggy captured, and I waited to get that. They kept putting me 
off. I told them my life was in danger there, and I wanted to get 
home. Seeing I could not get the horse and buggy, I set about 
trying to get off some other way, as I could not walk, when a fel- 
loAv by the name of Thomason, a two-hundred-pounder, stepped up 
to me, tapped me on the shoulder, and told me I was his prisoner. 
I asked him what he arrested me for, and he said because he 
could. I told him that was not good enough authority ; that I 
had been sick a long time, and wanted to get home. He said that 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1111 

did not make a damned bit of difference ; that lie liad arrested me. 



and was going to send me out to Lecompton under a guard of thirty 
men. I told him I would not go, as such a trip would kill me then. 
After arguing, he told me I could take my choice, either to be hung 
or go to Lecompton. I told him I preferred the hanging, as I thought 
the trip would kill me anyhow, and the other would be the shorter 
way of doing it. I appealed to P. T. Abell, a lawyer from Weston, 
Missouri, who was standing by, and told him he knew such a course 
was unlawful, and he could get me out of it. Finally, after some 
consultation, they concluded not to hang me, but to send me to Le- 
compton. They forced me into a buggy and started off, with a guard 
of some thirty men, though but eight or ten, who were on horseback, 
kej)t up with us ; the rest were in Avagons. When I arrived at Le- 
compton, I sent for General Eichardson, who was in command of a 
large number of troops there. He came, and I told him how I had 
been used, and a number of my friends, pro-slavery men, did the 
same. He told me he would release me, which he did. Mr. Jones 
soon after stepped up and arrested me again ; this was sheriff Jones. 
I asked him what for, and he said he guessed it was to be a witness 
against somebody ; or if Lawrence was taken, to be against Lawrence, 
or something of that kind, hesitating very much as he said so. He 
showed me no warrant, but took me down to the camp. I was 
exposed to the most inclement weather, insulted some ten or fifteen 
times grossly, and came very near losing my life by being taken worse 
with the disease I was suffering from, and was delirious for some time. 
I was salivated so that all my teeth became loose. I was then taken 
to Benicia, and lay sick at Dr. Brooks', and when peace was declared 
was discharged from custody. I had no trial. I had a kind of trial 
at Atchison ; the justice said he acquitted me, but I had no trial after 
I was brought down to Lecompton. I gave no bail, nor was I taken 
j before a magistrate. No explanation was given me before I was dis- 
charged, of the reasons for my arrests ; and though I asked several 
times, no one could tell me about it. While I was lying in the camp 
at Lecompton, K. S. Kelly, a partner of Dr. Stringfellow in the 
*' Squatter Sovereign " paper, rode up before the tent I was lying in 
and said, "I want blood; lam blood-thirsty; I want to take this 
God damned abolitionist out and hang him." I was insulted a num- 
ber of times, but do not now recollect all the specific cases. 

To Mr. Eees : 

I know only from hearsay what were the grounds of Warren's 
arrest. I saw no papers found upon Warren, no documents or printed 
books, and know nothing about them, only that I heard something 
had been found on him. I do not know of the existence of any secret 
organization for the purpose of resisting the lavrs of the Territory. I 
have never seen any printed pamphlet, purporting to be an expose of 
such a society. I have seen an article in a newspaper to that effect. 
I have not seen a printed pamphlet purporting to be a ritual of such 
an order. I do not know anything of the existence of such an order 
from any one purporting to be connected with the society. 

GEO. A. CUTLER. 

Tecumseh, K. T., May 6, 1856. 



1112 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



William Phtllips called and sworn. 

I came into the Territory about the middle of last October. I went 
np to Topeka first, and got to Lawrence the day before the rescue of 
Branson. I attended the meeting called in regard to the rescue, and 
heard the resolutions passed, and the position taken by the people of 
Lawrence. I went down to the Wakarusa camp several times. 
The first time I found a company of some seyenty or eighty men at 
Franklin, shooting at a mark. I spoke to one or two. and asked them 
where they came from. Two said they came from Missouri, and ac- 
cused the people of Lawrence as abolitionists, and of burning the 
houses of pro-slavery men. I heard several that day make threats of 
coming up to destroy the town of Lawrence. This was the first or 
second day of December. The day afterwards I went down again, 
and went beyond the Wakarusa. They were camping on the bot- 
tom accross the creek from Blue Jacket's. I crossed the creek, and 
met a good many parties of men coming up, and stopped and spoke 
with many of them. I spoke to some men in two ox-teams, and they 
told me they came from beyond Lexington, Missouri, and that they 
■were going up to the camp, and they intended to take Lawrence. One 
of them said they were going to burn it, and drive out the aboli- 
tionists. I was on horseback, and one advanced to me and asked me 
if I was a Yankee. I told him I was an lUinoisan. Another said he 
thought I was all right. One of them told me most of their neigh- 
bors were coming up, and that two thousand men were coming up 
from that part of Missouri. I spoke to another party who were in 
two-horse wagons and on horseback, and they told me they were from 
Clay county, Missouri. They tried to stop me, and asked me where I 
was going. One of them said he thought I was a spy. I asked them 
lor authority for asking where I was from, and where I was going. 
They said they had been at the Shawnee Mission as they came up, 
and Grovernor Shannon had enrolled them. As I returned, I saw one 
party drive in camp with a large flag with a dark-colored star on it, 
which flag they hoisted in camp while I was there. The men I saw 
in camp were engaged mostly in drinking and shooting. I sav,' but 
one piece of artillery in camp — I think a brass 6-pounder. 

On Monday, the 3d of December, I went down and passed the lines 
at Franklin ; overtook marshal Jones about a mile from the camp, 
and rode with him. He told me he was going into camp, and that I 
could not go ; that they would not allow me to cross at the ford, but 
would take me. In argument with him he said he was with this 
party, and that they wanted and meant to fight. I urged that a 
war might involve the whole Union. He said, ^' Damn the L'nion." 
I went with him to the camp, and was going to pass with him into 
the camp, and he told me I could not go in, and asked where I was 
going. I told him I was going down below. He said, after a little 
hesitation, that he would see me through the guards. I went to the 
ford at Wakarusa, and found several armed men guarding the cross- 
ing, who had stopped a wagon in the bed of the creek. It was loaded 
•with boxes like dry- goods boxes^ and the guard was breaking them up. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1113 

I asked Jones if they did that, and he said " Oh, yes \" We rode up 
into the narrow crossing of the ford by them. He said to the guard: 
*' This gentleman is going down on business, and yon will please pass 
him." The caiptain of the guards told him he had strict ordeis from 
General Strickler to let nobody pass witliout examination. He asked 
me if I had any arms. I told him I had no more than I considered 
necessary for my personal protection. He said I must give them 
up. I told him I was afraid to lose them, and did not care to give 
them up. Two of the guard came forward as if to seize me. I 
gave my horse a kick as they approached, and rode on to go 
through. Four of the guard had rifles, and the others had revolvers. 
All levelled th^ir pieces at me. I did not think they would shoot, but 
Jones cried, " for God's sake stop ; don't make the men do anything 
rash." I had ridden about eight paces and stopped, and asked them 
by what authority they stopped me. They told me they had been 
enrolled as a military force by Governor Shannon. Tliey insisted 
upon taking my arms. I took one small pistol that I had and gave 
it to Jones, and told the captain of the guard I did not know him, 
and could not give it to him, and told Jones I would hold him re- 
sponsible for it. Jones said if I would go back to the camp he would 
try to get authority to see me through. I went back to the camp, 
and they kept me there about an hour and a half. An officer came 
whom I did not know, and have never seen since. He and Jones 
talked together for a while, and then they took me to th-e ford and let 
me pass. I demanded my pistol of Jones, and he gave it to me. 

I rode that day down "^ to the Shawnee Mission, intending to com- 
plain to the governor. The road Avas full of armed men coming up. 
I met them all the way. Many of the companies tried to stop me and 
question me, but I got down without any molestation. The governor 
was in Westport, as I was told, getting despatches from the govern- 
ment. I then rode into Westport after night. All round Westport 
there were camps of armed men. The goveirnor had gone back to 
the Mission before I got back to Westport— so I was told. I then 
started down to Kansas City very late at night, and was stopped about 
a mile from Kansas City by a party of men who told me they came 
from Westport. They told me I was their prisoner. I asked them if 
they had a warrant, and they said " Ko." I told them if they had a 
warrant I would go with them ; but if they had not, I would not go. 
I asked their authority, and they told me the governor. I asked 
which governor, and they told me Governor Shannon. I told them 
we were in Missouri. One of them swore pretty hard, and said it 
made no difference ; Governor Shannon had given them orders to let 
no suspicious persons pass out of the Territorv. They told nie I had 
come from the Territory, and they asked me if I had not ? I said I 
had. They asked m.e if I knew General Pomeroy? I told them I 
did by reputation, but I had never seen him. They told me they 
thought I was carrying despatches to him, and they would take me 
back to Westport. When they told me they would take me, 
I told them "Very well." I asked their names, and only one 
would tell me, and he said his name was Jones, but no connexion of 
sheriff Jones. He was captain of the party. He told me that he 



1114 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

wanted no blood shed and no trouble, and asked me to go witli him 
to a house about a quarter of a mile ahead, and said, if I went there, 
they would not molest me until I got to Kansas City, where he said 
they were going; and if I was all right, then they would let me go. 
I went to the house of Mr. Milton McGee, I think. When there I 
thought, from appearances, they were going to seize me, and I ap- 
pealed to Mr. McGee as a brother Odd Fellow, as I saw he was one, 
and he interested himself in my behalf. He and Jones were out con- 
versing a long time. Mr. McGee came in and told me these men 
were going to seize me and search me, and the only way to save me 
was for me to submit to a private search from his hands. I at first 
refused, but, as the men were getting very drunk, I consented^ and 
he took me with him to a room up stairs, with another man he called 
"Doctor," and there the two searched me. McGee declared I was 
all right, and told me I was under his roof, and he would protect me, 
if necessary ; but told me, when I was very indignant at the search, 
that he could not have prevented it. They kept me till the next 
morning — till nine o'clock. McGee apologized the next morning for 
the treatment I had received, and said that he had done all he could, 
but that he was a member of another secret organization, and acting 
under their orders. Said he : "I am a border ruffian, and I am not 
ashamed of it." I reasoned with him. He said that by the pas- 
sage of the Kansas-lSTebraska bill, there was a fair trade — that the 
South would get Kansas, and the North, Nebraska ; and the damned 
Emigrant Aid Society meant to swindle them out of it. He said that 
the men of Missouri would wade knee-deep in blood before Kansas 
should be a free State. I heard the party talk of going up the next 
day to the siege at Lawrence. They said the battle was to be the day 
after the next, and they wanted to be uj^ in time. Some of them said 
they could not leave their business, and would rather pay. I also 
heard them plot to lynch General Pomeroy, who, they said, was at 
the American hotel, in Kansas City. The only point of difficulty was, 
whether they would have time to do that and go up to Lawrence. 

WILLIAM PHILLIPS. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



A. Allen called and sworn. 

Examined by the committee : 

I came into the Territory, from Missouri, .in November, 1854 
left Topeka early in the morning of the 30th of March, 1855 ; came 
down to Tecumseh, and stopped there a part of the day, and then 
came down to Lawrence, arriving here in the afternoon, about three 
o'clock. I had lived in Missouri nearly two years before I came into 
the Territory, and was acquainted with a number of persons I saw 
that day in Tecumseh, who were Missourians, and still live in Mis- 
souri. I saw them vote there. I saw a man by the name of Hollo- 
way, from Jackson county, Missouri, and others ; they said they came 
there to vote. 



■' 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1115 

On my road from Tecnmseli here I saw the road lined with people 
on horseback, as many as 200 men, most of them armed, and some of 
them I knew to have lived in Missouri. I met most of them just after 
I left Tecumseh. Those that I knew would stop and speak to me. I 
talked with one at Big Springs for a while, and then came on to 
Lawrence, flere was where I was living al the time, and the crowd 
about the polls was so dense that I could not get a chance to vote till 
near sundown. I saw several here I had known in Missouri, but I 
do not remember their names, except that of Colonel Young. 

I was doing mercantile business at Topeka last fall, and the Thurs- 
day before the peace I left Topeka in the morning to go to Kansas 
City to purchase goods. 1 came down in company with a pro-slavery 
man who lived in Kansas City. I stopped in Franklin over night. 
The next morning a company from the camp on the Wakarusa waited 
upon me, and took me into camp, saying that the general had sent 
for me, and wished to see me, as they did not consider me a safe man 
to go through the country. Captain Wallace, of Franklin, com- 
,'manded the company, and took me to General Strickler, who asked 
me what my politics were. I told him I was a free-State man. He 
said they would have to keep me for a time. I was then conducted to 
the prisoner's tent, or "Yankee tent," as it was called. I saw 
General Pomeroy there, and also a company of United States survey- 
ors, who w^ere kept there as prisoners. They were drilling all 
the time I was there. They had three cannon there, and the 
companies appeared to be armed with United States arms. They 
kept me there until the following Saturday at 3 o'clock in the af- 
ternoon. They made no charges against me, and I had no trial. There 
were three of the United States surveyors detained there. The gen- 
tleman who came down from Topeka with me, and who was named 
Chick, joined the forces, there. One of the surveyors was named Con- 
oly, or Conway, I think, and was detained because he was a free-State 
man. The officers treated us very well, though there were generally 
from fifty to one hundred of the soldiers standing around our tent and 
passing jokes ujion us. I do not know who were the captains of the 
guard over us, as they were changed frequently. General Strickler 
stood guard over us once for about half an hour. Food was furnished 
us, but we were allowed no writing material, except once when I re- 
quested to be allowed to send an order to Kansas City for goods, as I 
could not go myself. After I had written it. General Strickler re- 
quired me to strike out everything that would give any information 
as to where I was, and to write it over again, and it never reached 
Kansas City.'s 1 There w^ere no other prisoners at Wakarusa, I think, 
except in one tent. 

On Friday night, about 11 or 12 o'clock, it was reported in the 
camp that one of the damned Yankees had shot one of the picket 
guard belonging to the camp, and quite a company gathered around 
the tent, and I heard from various quarters, " hang the damned Yan- 
kees that are in the tent." I saw them have ropes, and they acted as 
though they desired to hang us. A number of the officers gathered 
around the tent, and after a time succeeded in quieting them. About 
half an hour afterwards, David E. Atchison and Colonel Boone, of 



1116 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Westport, very quietly came into the tent and requested General 
Ponieroy to get ready as quietly as possible and follow them, as they 
weie afraid of his life from the soldiers, Avho they were afraid •would 
collect there and hang him. He did not know them, and declined to 
go. General Strickler then came in, and they told him who they 
were, and wanted to take him over to the house of Blue Jacket's 
across the creek, where the headquarters were. He then went with 
them there, and I saw no more of him. I passed the guard once with 
the word " Stringfellow." I was standing in front of the tent after 
dark and was taken for one of the guard, and one of them asked me 
for the password. I pretended I had forgotten it, but I heard him 
give it to some one else. I should have lett that night, but General 
Strickler had promised me that I should be at liberty in the morning, 
and I wanted to leave with full honors. 

The next day, in the afternoon, one of the guards told us that they 
were afraid to release us then for fear the crowd would mob us_, as 
Gen. Strickler could not control them. They sent the cannon out on 
the prairie to practice, and most of the crowd went out to see them. 
The cannon they had were United States tield-pieces, and I think 
were ten or twelve-pounders. I do not know where they came from ; 
but I saw them afterwards going to Missouri. I knew a great many 
of the men then in the companies, some from Platte and Jackson 
counties, and from the city of Liberty, Missouri. I should judge that 
but few of those persons there were citizens of the Territory ; but all 
spoke as if they came from Missouri. I do not know sheritf Jones or 
Coleman. After the cannon were sent out, they marched us over to 
Blue Jacket's and gave me a written discharge, signed by Brigadier 
General Strickler, as commander of the Wakarusa forces, for the 
guards to allow me to pass unmolested. They kept about seventy-live 
dollars' worth of things they took from me, consisting of two pairs of 
blankets, saddle, bridle, and martingale, and revolver. I gave them 
over to Gen. Strickler to keep. 1 asked him in Lawrence for them, 
and he said he knew nothing about them, but supposed they had been 
returned to me. I never saw them afterwards, or heard what became 
of them. The horse I rode belonged to the pro-slavery man Chick, 
who came down from Topeka. I afterwards went down to Missouri, 
and saw some of these companies there stringing along as though they 
were returning from some frolic. I saw the cannon going down at 
that time. After they let me go, on Saturday tit'ternoon, I went back 
to the camp again, and went round awhile. There were some persons 
there from Kansas City who appeared to be drunk, and who got a 
rope and followed me about and threatened to hang me. I saw these 
forces stop the mail and detain the mail-driver for an hour or two 
while I Avas prisoner. I did not see what was done with the mail. 
The wagon was driven on past the tent out of sight. The driver got 
out and stood bv the tent. 

ASAPH ALLEX. 

Lawrence. K. T., Mii/ 9, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1117 

William Jessek testifies: 

To Mr. Woodson : 

I know of no secret military orj^anij^ation in tliis Territory. T know 
of no military organizations here contrary to the laws of the IVjirito- 
rial legislature. I know of some companies, but do not know as they 
can be called military organizations. In our troubles that we havo 
had lately there have been some companies ])artly organized, but 
wbether under the Territorial laws or not I do not know. I have 
been to none of their organized meetings. I have seen no companies 
on parade except at tliis place, last lall. In the latter part of No- 
vember, or the first December, 1855, we considered we were justified 
in gathering here. Tlie report was that companies were coming IVom 
Missouri to destroy this ])lace and vicinity, and run all tin' free-Stato 
men out of the Territoiy. I do not know of any organization except 
at that time. We wei'c here defending the place and our projxirty. 
We were drilled more or less every day, under the connnand of (ien. 
Robinson and Col. Lane, 

That is all I know of the organization until after Mr. Shannon came 
here and the treaty was made, when there were officers a))i)ointed 
and the organizati(,n was more comj)lete. I do not know how many 
men there were henj, but there may have been five hundred to six 
liundrcd, perhai)s seven hundred. We were more or less armed. 
Some of us had rifles, some shot-guns, some Sharpe's rifles, and some 
revolvers. Most of tbe time we went through regular daily drills. 
One piece of artillery Gime in during the time. I saw but few sal)res 
and swords; probahly hut two or three were all I saw. I brought my 
rifle i'rom Illinois, and 1 bought my shot-gun at St. Joseph's. I do 
not know hovr any oi' the rest got theii'arms, except by rej)()rt. Some 
who Avere in this organization at that time told me they got their 
arms from Mr. Abbott, by paying him so much for them. It was 
said that Mr. Abbott was sent east and got these arms. I un- 
derstood that two dollars a])iece were paid for them l>y ])erson8 
here; they were Sharpe's rifles. I think that Captain Walker re- 
ceived from 2U to oU from Mi. Ab1)ott to he given to his conij)any. I 
do not know anything of where the other arms came from. I heard 
that this cannon was sent for to, and received from, Kansas City at 
that time. I do not know when Mr. Abbott was sent east. I fiave 
understood that lie lives some five miles from here,' on the Wakarusa. 
I do not knWw where he got hii f;;uns. We were here for sell-defence, 
so far as I understood, against invaders who came here and threatened 
our property and our lives. If my memory serves me right, this was 
probably in October or November. It was the latter part of October 
that this organization commenced here. 1 do not know that there 
was any drilling here before that time, or any preparations made in 
the way of receiving arms. I heard from men organized here, that 
there were reports some time before that we were to be destroyed, and 
some preparations were made ; but I do not think anything was done 
go early as the spring before, though there was some talk aljout it. 
The most I knew — and that was only by report — was, that Governor 



1118 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Shannon was at the head of these men we were against. I knew G-en- 
eral Richardson ; lie held the office of general or colonel, I don't know 
which. He resides in St. Joseph. I saw Col. Boone, and he was 
said to be one of the commanding officers of that army, but I do not 
know particularlv who said so. I know nothing from my own knowl- 
edo;e of the sheriff of Dou2:lass trying to serve writs at that time. I 
know of no meetings at that time, or passage of resolutions to resist 
the laws of the Territory. I know ®f no combination to resist the 
laws of the Territory. I do not know where Mr. Abbott was sent. I 
do not know of anybody else being sent for arms, or of any other 
arms being received. I do not know when these arms were received 
by Mr. Abbott. The company that got their arms, got them after the 
Missourians began camping there. 

We did not imdertake to resist Grovernor Shannon, but the mob of 
Missourians he fetched with him, and which we were going to resist 
in self-defence. I could not say who this mob was under command 
of, except by report. They were encamped on the Wakarusa and at 
Franklin. A part were said to be at Lecompton, and a part across 
the river here. The purpose of this organization was not to resist the 
execution of the Territorial laws, but in defence of our lives and 
property against this mob of Missourians who were said to be coming 
against us. 

I was at the Big Springs convention. There was something passed 
we called the repudiation of the hiws of the Territory, but I do not 
know as that was in the form of a resolution. We said there were no 
laws in the Territory, and we repudiated those that were said to exist. 
I do not recollect of any resolution passed ttere, and not printed, 
recommending the organization of military companies to resist the 
laws. To the best of my recollection and knowledge, no resolution 
was passed, and nothing done, by that meeting, except what was 
printed, as ordered by the meeting, and circulated. 

The action of the meeting here in Lawrence, in August or Septem- 
ber last, was i^rinted. To the best of my recollection, the conclusions 
of the meeting were reduced to writing, and printed. I have been to 
no meeting where this was not done. I do not know where these 
resolutions can be had, or in what papers they were published, except 
the "Herald of Freedom" and the "Kansas Free State," published 
here, though I could find them at home. I do not know who was 
the secretary of the meeting. 

By Mr. Sherman : 

We have had several meetings here through the season. The one 
I refer to was, I think, in August last. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Eeeder : 

The inducement for making the organiz,ation at this place, was for 
the defence of our lives and property. We apprehended some de- 
struction of life and property here at that time. This neighborhood 
was invaded by a body of Missourians soon after that. The report 
was that there was a good deal of property taken and destroyed by 
these Missourians. This I heard from persons in this organization who 



KANSAS AFFAIES. 1119 

had their own property destroyed. There was one of our citizens 
murdered at that time. I saw him myself after he was dead. His 
name was Thomas Barber, one of my nearest neighbors. I learned 
from the persons that I have before referred to, that one of our eitizens 
was murdered — Mr. Thomas Barber. I heard also from the same 
persons that Dow had been murdered. This military organization 
" commenced here about the same time that this body of Missourians 
marched into the Territory, and camped on the Wakarusa. Property 
was said to be destroyed in various ways — killed, eaten up, and burned. 
A great many teams were stopped on their way here. I understood 
that travellers were stopped on the highway and made prisoners when 
going about their lawful business, and that boxes and trunks of trav- 
ellers and others were broken open and searched by the Missourians 
camped at \Vakarusa, some five or six miles from here. I heard of 
wagons loaded with goods being stopped and searched, and such as 
they wanted taken, and corn and potatoes, and things of that kind 
taken, and orders given for them on Governor Shannon, I believe, 
but I do not know whether it was with his consent. I do not remem- 
ber as I heard of the mail being stopped. 

This military organization I have spoken of was not got up, as I 
know of, for the purpose of resisting the execution of any law. Sheriff 
Jones, at that time, came in and out of the town as he pleased most 
of the time, except at the latter part of that period, when he was 
"brought in by an escort, at one time, but not as a prisoner. I heard 
of prominent Missourians being in the camp. General Atchison was 
reported to be at the Wakarusa ; also across the river here. I do 
not remember about General Stringfellow. I don't know what resi- 
dents of the Territory were in this camp. I wintered in St. Joseph 
a year ago last winter, and General Eichardson resided there then. 
He had a claim in the Territory, but did not reside on it at that time. 
My first knowledge of this was nearly twelve months before this in- 
vasion. The conversation I heard in the spring about a military or- 
ganization for defence against invasion, was directly after the SOth of 
March invasion, and was intended for self-defence, and our right of 
sufirage. 

To Mr. Woodson : 

Question. Was this resolution passed at the convention at Big 
Springs ? viz : 

" Be-solved, That we will endure and submit to these laws no longer 
than the best interests of the Territory require, as the least of two 
evils, and will resist them to a bloody issue as soon as we shall ascer- 
tain that peaceable remedies shall fail, and tbrcible resistance shall 
furnish any reasonable prospect of success ; and that, in the mean- 
time, we recommend to our friends throughout the Territory the or- 
ganization and discipline of volunteer companies, and the procurement 
and preparation of arms." 

A. I think it was, though it is not exactly as I thought it was 
passed at the time, for I thought the words ' • bloody issue" were struck 
out. 



1120 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Q. From your own knowledge, and from information derived from 
others in the organization to which you belonged, was the organiza- 
tion gotten up to meet the contingency contemplated in that resolu- 
tion? 

A. I think not, in this last organization. We have never had any 
other organization. I do not know as any organization has ever been 
gotten up in regard to any portion of that resolution. 

Continued by Mr. Woodson : 

I do not know of any arms being procured upon the recommenda- 
tion of this resolution. Before the passage of this resolution, which 
was on September 5th and 6th, 1855, there was no organization and 
procurement of arms in this Territory. I think the commencement 
of the organization of military companies was at the commencement 
of our difficulties here last fall. There was no organization until 
that time, November and December ; and I do not think there was 
any complete organization until it was given by Governor Shannon, 
by giving commissions to G-eneral Robinson and Colonel Lane. The 
first arms that I know of being procured was in the first of that or- 
ganization. 

The chairman of the Big Springs convention was Judge Smith_, as 
he is called. I do not know who draughted the resolutions. I forget 
who was the vice-president or secretary. I do not know all who had 
a part in drawing the resolution that has been read here. I believe 
Judge Schuyler and John Wright were on the^ committee, but I can- 
not recollect the names of them all. I believe I was on that commit- 
tee. The proceedings will show, as we made no secret about it. 

To Mr. Reeder : 

As I understood, Governor Shannon repudiated these Missourians 
at the last as part of his forces, though report was that at the first he 
., commanded them. I did not hear Governor Shannon say so myself. 
It was against these Missourians that he repudiated that our organi- 
zation was made. I did not hear Governor Shannon say that lie re- 
cognised any of them, as I never heard him say anything at any 
time. 

To Mr. Woodson: 

I do not know that I can speak as to the full e;stent of the intention 
expressed here by our organization, but I understood that we were 
here to defend ourselves and our property against any body o!' men 
who came here to destroy us and our property. I do not recollect of 
hearing anybody say we were to resist Governor Shannon and the 
men he was in command of. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

To my understanding, it was not the purpose of this body of men 
• in this i)lace to resist the laws of the Territory, to be carried out by 
the sheriff^ assisted by Governor Shannon and his forces. Our organ- 
ization here had nothing to do with or against any laws, so tar as I 
understood it, but for self-defence and the defence of our property. 



KANSAS AITAIBS. 1121 

To Mr, Woodson : 

When Governor Shannon was approaching the city with his posse, 
in aid of the sheritf. I heard no expression as a body of men in regard 
to it. I believe I can say, upon report, that it was not the intentioa 
of the people of Lawrence to resist the writs in the hands of the 
sheriff. 

To Mr. Howard: 

As an organized expression of the people here, I know of no ex- 
pression of opinion as to the obeying of the Territorial laws or not. 
I frequently heard individuals of this organization express themselves 
upon this subject. I do not know as I can name any of them, but I 
think, probably, a quarter of them, or more, spoke of it, but never 
except as an individual matter. I heard no man who undertook to 
speak for any but himself. The general tenor of the sentiment thus 
expressed was to resist, except the United States officers, and I don't 
know that any one expressed himself as being willing to resist those 
officers. What I meant by Territorial laws, was the laws of the Ter- 
ritorial legislature, and not the organic act. I never heard any man 
in the Territory express any disposition to resist the organic act that 
I know of. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

These expressions of opinion I have referred to were made at the 
time we were organized here, and when it was understood that G-overnor 
Shannon was coming here with his forces. 

To Mr. Eeeder : 

These expressions of opinion were not in favor of a resistance to the 
Territorial laws, by the means of this body of men then assembled here, 
but by individuals ; each man to act for himself, resistor not, as he choae. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

Q. Was it the purpose of the company of men assembled at Law • 
rence to resist G-overnor Shannon, aided by the citizens of the Terri- 
tory, or to resist the Missourians, who they understood had come to 
invade them ? 

A. My understanding, from all that I heard said, was that if G-over- 
nor Shannon had come with the militia of the Territory alone, no man 
would have resisted him. But the body of men we assembled here 
to resist, was the Missourians who came here with the threats to 
destroy us and our property. 

WILLIAM JESSEE. 

Lawkexce, K. T., April 30, 1856. 



Egbert F. Barber called and sworn. 

I live six miles west from Lawrence, about three-fourths of a mile 
iBouth of Judge Wakefield's. Thomas Barber was my brother. Ho 

H. Rep. 200 71* 



1122 KANSAS AFFAIRS. ' 

was shot on the 6th of December, 1855, on Thursday, ahoiit two 
o'clock in the afternoon, I was in company with him at the time. 
He was shot about three and a half miles from here, going Avest. I 
was by his side when he was shot. My brother, and brother-in-law, 
Thomas M. Pearson, and myself, had started from Lawrence after 
dinner. We were on horseback. I told my brother, Thomas Barber, 
that I had better come back to Lawrence and borrow a pistol. At 
that time we had got but about 200 yards out of town. He said he 
did not think it was necessary to have one ; but if I wanted to go back 
and borrow one, he would wait for me. I then came back and got 
one of Colt's naval revolver pistols, and then rode back after him. 
After we had got, I should judge, between 2^ and 3 miles from Law- 
rence, we saw a party of men. We remarked, when we saw them, 
that they were Missourians, and supposed, a,t the time, there were 12 
or 15 of them. 

They came round a corn-field, directly up towards the California 
road that we were then on, but close to where we intended to turn off 
towards home. We rode on some distance, not very far, and thig 
party came right towards us, and two of them rode out from the rest, 
and rode on and headed us. The cornfield that they came round 
when we first saw them, was on the north side of the California road. 
The road we intended to turn off" in to go home, led off south from the 
California road. 

We had turned off on our road home, and had gone some little dis- 
tance on it, when those two men left the others and rode along to 
head us off. They rode right up to us, and when they came off 
against us, one of them ordered us to halt. The rest of the party to 
which these two belonged had crossed the California road, and got 
into our road behind us. When we were ordered to stop, the two 
men were not more than five yards from us. We halted immediately, 
and one of the two rode directly before us in the road, and turned 
round facing us. The other was on our right side, a very little be- 
hind, if anything. My brother and myself were side and side — my 
brother on my right. My brother-in-law was about the length of his 
horse behind me, a little to my left. 

The one that was ahead of us did all the talking. He asked us 
where we were from. My brother told him we were from Lawrence. 
The next question was, where we were going. One of us, if not both, 
told him we were going home. He asked then what was going on in 
Lawrence. My brother told him there was nothing very particular 
going on; but the citizens were preparing for defence, or I think 
something near that. This man then said they had orders from 
Governor Shannon to have the laws of the Territory enforced. My 
brother asked him what laws the citizens of Lawrence, or the citizens, 
of the Territory in general, had disobeyed. The man used some 
expression after that — I do not recollect what — and said, "^ what in hell 
was the reason the citizens of the Territory could not obey the laws?" 
When he had made that remark, he ordered us to turn our horses' 
heads and turn back, pointing to the main body of men behind us. 
My brother said we could not do so, as we wanted to go home. He 
then remarked, and said, " you won't, hey?" and then rode around 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1123 

to tlie right of my brother, drawing his pistol as he started. My 
brother turned his horse a little towards him as he rode around to our 
right. Having seen this man drawing liis pistols, I endeavored to 
draw mine. My pistol was behind me, and tlie flap of the holster 
was buttoned. As I was getting my pistol out, I saw this man ride up 
and pointliis pistol directly towards m}" brotlier, and fire, and then ride 
back behind us. By that time I had got my pistol ready, and turned 
my horse slightly in the same direction my brother had done, and 
fired at the man that shot at my brother. About the same time I shot, 
the other man, who had ridden up and headed us, sliotalso. I am not 
certain whether either of these men shot more than once each. When 
the second shot was fired, the one who fired rode back to where the 
first man had gone. About the time the two men had got together, 
I shot again, having turned round still farther. They two came 
together, said something, I did not hear what, and then rode oif as 
fast as they could go to the main party, which was between 300 and 
400 yards oif. After they starte<:l off for the main party, I fired at 
them the third time. After I shot the third time, my brother said, 
"Boys, let us be ofi", too" We then started off in a gallop to- 
wards home. My brother had no arms with him of any kind, but 
my brother-in-law had a pistol; but he did not fire it at all. After 
we had ridden onabouta hundred yards, mybrothersaid, "That felloM'^ 
has shot me." This was the first intimation I had that he was shot. 
I asked liim where he was shot. He pointed to his side, a little in front, 
just above the hip, and I said, "Not possible, Thomas." He nodded 
his head, and I could just hear him say "Yes," and he then immediately 
sunk down on his horse. I saw he was going to fall, and I rode up 
to him and caught him tightly by the left shoulder, and held him on 
his horse ; in which manner we rode filty, perhaps one hundred yards. 
I could hold him no longer, and I called out, " Wlioe," and both our 
horses stopped. Just as we stopped, my brother fell between our two 
horses. I immediately jumped off and went to him. After I got off", 
I found he was dead, and I think he was dead when he fell. Tasked 
my brother-in-law then what we should do. My brother-in-law was 
then sitting on his horse, having stopped as I did. He asked me if 
my brother was dead. I told him I was pretty sure he was dead. 
After I said this to my brother-in-law, I saw this party coming to- 
wards us again. I thought at the time that the whole party was 
coming towards us, but I may have been mistaken. We had not got 
out of sight of the party after the shots had been fired. I asked 
my brother-in-law what we should do; and he said, " Let us stay 
here, and let them take us prisoners." I told him my brother was 
dead, and we could do him no good by staying there, and they would 
have to kill me before they took me prisoner. He said, " Then let us 
be off." I jumped on my horse, and we started off in the road to- 
wards home. My brother's horse came right on after us. After we 
had rode perhaps 200 yards or more, as I was a little ahead of my 
brotlier-in-law, he asked me if I saw them coming after us. I looked 
back, and I told him I saw two men coming, and they were about 
where my brother lay. He then asked me again to stop and let them 
take us prisoners. I said they should not take me prisoner then at all. 
He said then, " Let us ride like the devil, and get out of their road." 



1124 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

We rode on as hard as we could go, and I do not think we saw them 
any more after that. 

We were then going right towards my brother-in-law's house, and 
we made directly towards that. His house was just across a ravine, 
about 400 yards from it. Both of us rode into the ravine, my brother- 
in-law in one direction and I in another. When I got into the ravine 
I jumped off my horse, and found it was shot. I then left my horse 
standing there. Supposing these men were following us, and would 
try to find us, I went on about a mile in a northwest direction on 
foot. I did not see my brother-in-law again until about 10 oclock 
that night. 

My horse was shot just behind the fore shoulder, and I knew noth- 
ing about it until I jumped off him when I was in the ravine. The 
horse died that night. The first place I stopped at after I got off my 
horse in the ravine, was at the house of Mr. Hazelton. I told him 
what had happened, and he started right olf to get some persons to 
go back with us to get my brother's body, as we wanted to be pre- 
pared to meet any of this party that we thought might be watching 
us, expecting us to come back after his body. 

I did not know either of the two men who shot at us. The one that 
was in front of us rode a grey horse. The other one rode a sorrel 
horse. None in this party of men had military clothes on, that I 
recollect of. None of our party had any military clothes on, but were 
dressed in citizen's clothes. I have never seen any of those persons 
since, to know them. 

R. F. BAEBER. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



Thomas M. Peirson called and sworn. 

I reside between six and seven miles from this place, west. I was 
in company with Thomas Barber on the Gth of December, 1855, when 
he was shot. We had started from Lawrence that afternoon, myself 
and Thomas and Robert Barber, my brothers-in-law, for home, and 
had got about 3^ miles on the California road, when I saw a body of 
ten or twelve men. A few minutes after we saw this party, we turned 
oft' to our left from the California road towards our home. Just after 
we turned oft', or about that time, two men of this party we had seen 
crossed the California road, and we slackened up when we saw them. 
We went on that road something short of a mile, and then two men 
headed us, and came in before us and stopped us. They inquired 
where we were going, and we told them we were going home ; and 
inquired where we had been, and we said at Lawrence. Thomas 
Barber did the talking for our party. They asked us what was going 
on in Lawrence, and Thomas Barber said there was not much. After 
some other conversation, they ordered us to wheel round and go back. 
Thomas Barber told them we could not do that, as we wished to go 
home to our families. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1125 

As ?oon as lie made that reply, one of the two immediately drew 
his pistol, and took deliberate aim at Thomas Barber and tired. The 
other one tired immediately afterwards. As soon as they drew their 
pistols. Robert Barber drew his pistol ; and as soon as they tired, he 
fired some shots at them. Those two men then turned and rode back 
towards the main ]mrty who were behind us. Thomas Barber then 
said : -'Let's be otf, "" and we rode some 80 or 100 yards as fast as our 
horses could ijo. Robert Barber then caught hold of Thomas, and 
held him on his horse some 100 or 150 yards further, when he fell. 
As my horse was a little slower than the otliers, I had fallen in the 
rear a little. As soon as he fell otf, Robert Barber jumped otf his 
horse. We stopped there a minute or two, to ascertain what we 
should do. I was for stopping and giving ourselves up. Robert said 
he would not give up, and he was pretty sure they would kill us ; 
and as lie thought his brother was dead, we could do no good by stay- 
ing with him. We looked around and saw, as we thought, the main 
body of this party riding towards us ; and Robert got on his horse 
again, and we started ofi" towards home. I did not know any of these 
horsemen, and have never seen any of them since, that I know of. One 
of the two who stopped us rode a grey horse, and the other a sorrel 
horse. The one who rode the grey horse, and the one, I think, who 
shot Thomas Barber, was, I think, a short, heavy-set man. I do not 
recollect his dress, except that I think his clothes were light-colored. 

THOMAS M. PEIRSON. 
Laavren'ce, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



Mrs. Jane W. Colburn called and sworn. 

I live about four and a half miles west of Lawrence. I lived there the 
early part of December last. I recollect the time when Thomas Barber 
was killed. I saw the three horsemen coming from towards Lawrence, 
on the California road. I saw the party of horsemen ride across the 
Oalifornia road, after the other three had turned otf from it, and 
then I saw two turn off from the others, and ride otf towards the three, 
and come up with them, and then they all stopped. They were together 
but a short time before I heard three reports of a pistol, and saw the 
smoke round the three who rode away from the other two after this 
firing, and passed down by our house a few yards from it. The two 
stopped where the firing was. The body fell olf the horse about forty 
yards from our house. In two or three minutes my husband and I 
had got out to where the body was. We did not know who the man 
was. I think he lived about forty minutes after we got to him, but he 
could not speak, and made no motion at all. He groaned and seemed 
to sutler very much. I tried to ^ei him to drink some water, but he 
could'nt do it. When these shots were fired, I was about an eighth 
of a mile from there, and I judge the five horsemen were about half a 
mile from the California road. I was in the yard when I saw the 
three horsemen riding up, and also the other horsemen coming across 
the California road. I stood there and watched them. Our house 
is about half a mile from the California road. The man who was 



1126 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

shot fell a little past our house, which is on the left of the road as v,-c 
wme towards it. The man died hefore he was hroiight into our houf^o, 
which was that. This firing was somewhere between one and three 
o'clock. I never saw any of the parties before. The man on the grey 
horse had on a cap and a light- colored overcoat I think. He appear- 
ed to be a short stout man. One of the two that rode across to the 
three others was the one on the grev horse. 

JANE W. COLBURN. 
Lawrence, K. T., 3Iay 10. 1856. 



Harrison Nichols called and sworn. 

I live at Topeka. On the 6th of December I lived on the TVaka- 
rusa creek, about five miles from here. I know something about the 
death of Thomas Barber. I was in a corn-field, near the California 
road, and saw a party of men pass there, on horseback. I knew some of 
them. Dr. John P. Wood was one of them. He lived in this phue 
at that time. I knew him by sight, and learned his name next day. 
I knew Major Clark ; he was with them. I saw them ride by, then 
two of the party left the main road, and intercepted some two or three 
that were coming this way. Mr. Barber was with the party inter- 
cepted. When they met, they stopped a*few moments together. The 
party that Barber was with, turned their horses, as if to get away 
from the others, and went down towards a ravine, and at the same 
time towards their home. They got out of sight of me, so that, at 
the time of the firing, I could not see them. They soon came in sight 
again. Clark's party came towards California road to join the main 
body, consisting of about seven. At the same time. Barber's party 
came in sight, going towards Barber's house, one holding another on 
a horse. The same evening I was taken prisoner. I was conveyed to 
Lecompton camp. In taking me there, they took me to a piece of 
woods, and took a halter oft' of one of their horses, and said they were 
going to hang me. They finally said they guessed that when I got 
to cam]> I Avould tell the truth, and they would take me there. I 
was taken to headquarters. Major Perkins commanding. They ex- 
amined me, and took my papers, rifie, and bowie-knife away ; and, 
while doing so, one of their party came in and told Major Perkins 
that it was General Richardson's party that killed that damned abo- 
litionist that night. This was the same man who examined me in 
the road for my papers. Major Perkins told the man to keep still. 
Tliey kept my rijde, and agreed to send it back to me. I have written 
to them once on the subject, and have sent twice, but have never got 
the rifle. The Monday following my arrest, I think, S. J. Jones 
came to Lecompton, where I was stopping, and said Major Clark and 
Burns both claimed the credit of killing that damned abolitionist, 
and he didn't know which ought to have it. Jones said, if Shannon 
hadn't been a damned old fool, that peace would never have been 
declared. He (Jones) would have wiped Lawrence out. He had men 
and means enough to do it. He said they (Robinson and Lane) had 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1127 

agreed, in tlieir articles of peace, to help liirn serve a process here at 
any time, but he didn't expect they would do it. He said if Sam 
Wood ever came back to the Territory, he would take hiin, or die in 
the attempt. He said he would issue his own proclamation, and not 
call upon Shannon, and he would raise boys enough in Missouri to 
blow Lawrence and every other damned abolition town to hell. He 
wouldn't have any old grannies to stop him. 

HAKRISON NICHOLS. 
Laweence, K. T., May 12, 1856. 



William Phillips called and sworn. 

I reside about a half a mile the other side of G. W. Clark, an In- 
dian agent. I did not know Thomas Barber. I got acquainted with 
Mr. Chirk about a year ago. The first I heard of the death of Mr. 
Barber was the day after he was shot. Some two or three days after, 
I had business up to Mr. Clark's house and went up there. Clark 
said to me, '' Well, Phillips, we have one less free-soiler in the Ter- 
ritory," I told him I had heard nothing about it. Said he, '' 1 was 
coming up the road the other evening," stating the evening Barber 
was shot, " in company with several other men, and we saw a com- 
pany of men on horseback, and going toward the Yankee town, and we 
hailed them to stop, and in place of stopping they rode on faster. I 
told them they had better stop." Then he said he and another man, 
I think it was Burns, fired about the same time at those men, and he 
thought one of them had shotoneof those men ; and he said, " I tried 
to kill him, and if it was not me I wish it had been." I asked him 
what he shot at him for. He said they were out to stop men from 
coming to this place ; and as they did not, it was their rule to make 
men stop. This is as near as I can recollect what Clark told me at 
that time. I do not recollect as I ever heard him speak of this mat- 
ter at any other time. 

WILLIAM PHILLIPS. 

Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



S. N. Simpson called and sworn. 

I was in Lawrence in December last, when Barber was killed. I 
first heard of it about a mile from where he was killed, while I was 
on my way to my brother's, about twenty niinutes after he was killed 
I should think. I was told by a young man named Pease. I was 
unwell at the time, and my brother took the horse I was on, and rode 
to the spot. I met a company of horsemen, some 10 or 12, of whom 
I knew two, just a mile before I got to my brother's, and before I had 
heard of the murder. One of them was Dr. J. P. Wood, now of Le- 



1128 KANSAS AITAIRS. 

compton, and a Mr. Clark, an Indian agent, and generally called 
Major Clark. They stopped in front of Mr. Crockett's, and were 
wliispering among themselves as I passed. Mr. Clark said, "How 
do yon do, major?" to me. I made no answer. Dr. Wood said to 
Mr. Clark, "It is Mr. Simpson." I then rode on to mv brother's. 

S. N. iSIMPSON. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 9, 1856. 



Dr. S. B. Prentiss called and sworn. 

I am a physician, and have been practising as such for some 14 
years. I saw the body of Barber after he was killed. He was shot 
in the abdomen, in front of the right hip. It was apparently a ball 
hole. I did not probe it. It was the only wound, and I think caused 
his death. There was a slight examination, but not a full examina- 
tion, as there was a great deal of excitement. The ball did not pass 
out, but, going in, in the direction it did, I should think it would pro- 
duce immediate death. The body I saw was said to be that of Thomas 
Barber, though I was not acquainted with him. 

S. B. PRENTISS. 

Lawrence, K. T., Maij 9, 1856, 



Henry M. Simpson called and sworn. 

I live west of Lawrence, on the California road, about four miles 
from here. I was at home on the day Thomas Barber was killed, and 
went over and saw the body after he was dead. A short time before, 
I saw a company of three men turning off from the California road to 
the northwest. A few minutes afterwards I saw a company of nine 
men whom I took to beMissourians, and they were immediately joined 
by another, who came up in a canter, and after speaking to the only 
one of the nine I saw with a sword, a halt was called. They then 
went off after the three men who had turned off. Shortly after that, 
I heard some reports of fire-arms. After the reports I saw two men 
ride up from where I afterwards saw Barber's body, and join the 
others, and the twelve that rode up past my house towards Lawrence. 
On tlieir return, as they passed my house, they seemed quite merry, 
prancing their horses, &c. My brother rode up shortly after they 
passed, and a person came up about the same time, and told me a man 
was shot, and desired me to go over and see the body. Before my 
brother heard of the murder, he spoke of meeting a company of twelve 
men, among whom were Clark^ the Indian agent, and Doctor Wood. 
I took my brother's horse, and went over and saw the body, and 
learned that it was that of Thomas Barber. He was dead when I got 
there. 

During the war, some 100 corn-sacks which I had sent for from 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1129 

Kansas City, were stopped by the Wakarusa forces, wlio took ten of 
them, and I have never received any pay for them. The other ninety 
I received here in Lawrence afterwards. During the war, while the 
camp was on the Wakarusa, provisions and other property were stop- 
ped on the way, and we, at my house, were reduced at last to live on 
corn bread alone. 

H. M. SIMPSON. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 10, 1856. 



James Brewster called and sworn. 

I have lived in Lexington, Missouri, nearly four years. I recollect 
the time of the troubles last fall at Lawrence, K. T., when the mil- 
itia were called out by Gov. Shannon. Public meetings were held 
here for the purpose of raising men to send to Lawrence, Kansas Ter- 
ritory. There was not a general attendance at those meetings of the 
citizens here, but about as much as usual at ])ublic meetings here. I 
do not know whether or not money was raised here to defray the ex- 
penses of men who went to the Territory, but I know that numbers of 
armed men did go. I am not certain as to the number. I know that for 
several days I saw armed men in the streets preparing to go, and my 
impression at the time was, that a hundred or more went from here 
and through here. At first the call was made in tliis form : that all 
citizens ofKansas who were at Lexington or in its vicinity should return 
to their homes immediately. After that, it was commonly said that 
all law-and-order men should go and assist in executing the laws of 
Kansas, whether citizens of Kansas or not. I do not remember of 
seeing many of them when they returned. Those that I was person- 
ally acquainted with, who went from here, never have been citizens of 
Kansas Territory. It was said by those who were urging men to go 
to Lawrence, that Lawrence should be destroyed, and it was general- 
ly understood that was their object. It was said that the citizens of 
Lawrence had resisted the execution of the laws, and they were going 
to assist in enforcing those laws, and Lawrence, it was said, must be 
destroyed. • 

JAMES BEEWSTER. 
Lexington, Mo., June 10, 1856. 



Captain Luther Leonard called and sworn. 
To Mr. Sherman: 

I am military storekeeper at the Missouri depot. Liberty, Missouri. 
I have been stationed there ten years last March, having charge of 
the arsenal, which contains arms and ammunition of all descriptions. 
On the 4th of December, 1855, my clerk, Mr. Grant, came from town 
and said there was some talk of their coming down to the arsenal to 
get arms, but he did not think they would do so. I took no meas- 
ures of defence, as I never thought they would come, and my clerk 
told me he did not believe they would come. 



1130 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

A little after noon, 1 saw Judge James T. Y. Thompson in the 
arsenal yard, and I walked up to him and greeted him civilly, and 
asked hiim to walk to my quarters. He declined going to my quarters, 
and said he would like to look ahout a little. I took him into the 
armorer's shop first, and intended going all about with him. i"We 
had been there but a short time before I saw through the windows a 
number of people outside. I wished to go out and see what was 
going on. In the meantime, a number of men had slipped into the 
armory where we were. When I wished to go out, there were men 
at the door who told me very ciyilly I could not go. One of them 
was Mr. Bouton, my clerk's (Mr. G-rant) father-in-law. I took hold 
of him and gave him a little push ; but he said, good naturedly enough, 
it was of no use, as I could not go out. I told them I was an old 
man, with a dislocated shoulder and but one eye, and I should not 
undertake to fight with them. I told Judge Thompson I thought it 
was poor business for the United States to build arsenals for a mob to 
break open. 

The judge and the others told me there were troubles in Kansas, 
and they wanted arms, but would do nothing wrong with them. I 
told the judge this was aggressive on the part of Missouri, and every 
community was competent to take care of its own aff'airs, and that the 
Missourians ought not to interfere. A good deal more was said on 
both sides, and I felt indignant at the aggression. The judge himself 
did not say an uncivil word to me. I had not expected any such 
thing as this when I first saw the judge, or I could have had the gates 
locked. 

The mob proceeded to take arms, forcing the doors, and took three 
6-pounders, some swords, pistols, rifles and ammunition, powder, 
balls, &c., as much as they wanted. They broke some doors open. 
I do not know how they got the keys to get into the powder maga- 
zine, which is composed of brick, and had double doors. Captain 
Price was the leading man in the crowd, as I understood. Mr. Rout 
was there. I was kept in the room until the men had got all the 
arms and ammunition they wanted and had gone away. Judge 
Thompson being the last one when he let me go out, and then he left 
himself. 

Some six or eight days afterwards the guns were returned to the 
arsenal. They were left, I was told, at Colonel Allen's place, some 
three-quarters of a mile from the arsenal. In the meantime I had 
reported the facts to Colonel Sumner, and he had sent down a com- 
pany of dragoons. The men sent to me to know if I would receive 
the arms, and I told them I was not in command, and referred them 
to Captain Beall, and he told them to bring them along ; and they 
did so, and they were received. Among the property taken was some 
artillery harness. I cannot recollect how many sets. There were 
some deficiencies in the number of rifles, swords, and pistols, and 
some harness returned, but I cannot state the precise particulars. 
These deficiencies have never been made up by the citizens of Missouri, 
but I have been instructed by Colonel Craig, the head of the ordnance 
department at Washington, to purchase sufficient of such articles as 
I could obtain in the neighborhood to make up the deficiency, and we 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1131 

did so : but tlie swords, pistols, and rifles we have not been able to 
make up. I do not know how much has been expended in making 
up this deficiency. Immediately after this robbery I reported the cir- 
cumstances to Colonel Craig, at "Washington, specifying the number 
and amount of each of the different articles taken. In the course of 
the winter he sent me orders to ship the public property to Fort Lea- 
venworth and St. Louis arsenal, giving me a schedule of the amount 
to be taken to each place ; which I did as soon as navigation opened. 

L. LEONARD, JI.S. K. 
Steamboat Polar Stab, Missouri river, June 10, 1856. 



jAiiES W. LoGAX called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I resided the 29th of November, 1854, in what is now called Atch- 
ison county, about two and a half miles from Kickapoo, in this Ter- 
ritory. I have never been at any election in the Territory, except 
one. for locating our county seat. 

[The remainder of this deposition, excluded under the rule stated 
in the deposition of James Harris.] 

JAMES W. LOGAN. 

Leavkn-worih Citt, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



W. J. OsBOR^" testifies : 

To G-ov. King : 

When Governor Reeder first came to the Territory, I met him in 
St. Louis. I was at that time introduced to Mr. Flenniken by Gov- 
ernor Reeder. We remained in St. Louis for several days. A day or 
two before we started, I was informed by Mr. Flenniken that he was 
coming to the Territory to be a candidate for delegate to Congress. 
We had frequent conversations on the way up the river. He wished 
to secure my aid and the influence of the •'•Kansas Herald.'' with 
which I was "connected. He told me that in the event of his election 
he should bring his sons into the Territory, and remain a citizen of 
the Territory. In the event of his defeat, he should return to Penn- 
aylvania. and remove to Pittsburg, as he could do much better there 
than in the Territory. Governor Reeder was doing what he could for 
Sir. Flenniken, and seemed anxio'ds to promote his interests. The 
agents sent by Governor Reeder to distribute the proclamation of the 
first election for delegate, in November, 1854, were also furnished by 
Governor Reeder and Flenniken with Flenniken's circulars. Flenni- 
ken was Governor Reeder' s candidate. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Mr. Flenniken said that he was in favor of the repeal of the Mis- 
souri compromise. He said also he was in favor of the present ad- 



1132 KANSAS AFFilRS. 

ministration. Mr. Flenniken said Id me, after he had been to La-n-- 
rence, that it was inexpedient to say anything ahout the Kansas-Ne- 
braska bill or the present administration, as it might endanger his 
election. Judge AVakelield was regarded as the abolition candidate, 
opposed to the Kansas-Xebraska bill and the present administration. 
Mr. Whittield was regarded as the democratic pro-slavery candidate. 

To Gov. King : 

Mr. Flenniken said that Governor Eeeder had made arrangements 
for him to have the vote of Lawrence and south of the Kansas river, 
which would amount to a thousand votes. 

^Y. J. OSBORN. 

Leavexworth City, K. T., May 2S, 1856. 



Joseph Potter testifies : 

I was at the election at Pensenau's on the 29th of November, 1854. 
I saw some non-residents there, but I cannot say that I know they 
voted. I do not recollect that I saw any one vote but myself. I saw 
there some of those who did not live in the district — John Galbraith, 
Samuel Singleton, and, I think, Benj. Yocum. They were my old 
neighbors in Buchanan county, and I have never known of their 
living in the district. Singleton has told me since, he did not vot« 
then. I do not suppose there were more than forty or tifty strangers. 
There was quite a crowd there. Our district was quite thinly settled. 
There was, I reckon, from 100 to 200 legal voters in the district ; 
there might not have been so many, and there might have been more. 
I had some conversation with a man from Buchanan county. (Mr. 
Kirk,) who has been a citizen of the Territory, and a representative. 
I do not know whether he lives in the district now or not. I have 
seen him at Atchison, but he did not tell me where his residence was. 
Ira Korris, I think, is now the clerk of the Atchison county court. 
Jesse Morin, I think, lived at that time near Platte City. I have seen 
him there. I believe the election was orderly and quiet. I voted for 
General Whitfield that day. A man by the name of Chapman was a 
candidate, Imt I think was reported off the track that morning. Of 
the 306 votes shown by the poll-books, judging from what I knew of 
the district, and from what I saw at the polls, I should not suppose 
more than 200 of them were citizens. I do not think all the citizens 
voted that day. I think some of them did not vote, but I only know 
that from hearsay. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

I do not know as I know the size of that election district at that 
time. I think quite likely it included Kiokapoo. It included Stranger, 
and I think ran to the Kickapoo reservation. It was a tolerably large 
district, but the western portion of the district was not then settled. 
I was not acquainted all over the district, and a part of these 
strangers might have lived in the district, and I not have known it. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1133 

I do not know where Judge Flauigan resided, and never did know of 
his having any residence in the Territory. I do not know when he 
came into the Territory, but understood he came with Gov. Reeder. 
I do not recollect of hearing any one say anything about his being 
brought out as a candidate by Orovernor Reeder. I never saw Judge 
Flauigan in my life, to know him. I think I have heard that he 
left the Territory immediately after the election. I cannot say that I 
know who received a majority of the votes of the residents I knew. 
I do not know that Jesse Morin had a claim in the Territory at that 
time. 

JOSEPH POTTER 
Leavexwokth Ctty, K. T.. Jlay 20, 1S56. 



M. P. RmiLY testities : 

To Mr. Matthias : 

I came into the Territory, some five years ago, from Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. I was not present at the election of 29th of Novem- 
ber, 1854. General Whitfield was the pro-slavery candidate, and 
Mr. Flannigan was the free-soil candidate, for Congress at that elec- 
tion. I was introduced to Judge Flannigan shortly alter he arrived 
at Fort Leavenworth. He came to Fort Leavenworth with Governor 
Reeder. Shortly after he arrived. Judge Flannigan came out to Salt 
Creek valley, where I then lived, and went to the house of Isaac 
Cody, and announced himself as the free-soil candidate for delegate 
to Congress, and he made a free-soil speech to a number of free-soilere 
at Mr. Cody's. This was probably ten days after his arrival in the 
Territory. He made the race, and was defeated by General Whit- 
field. Some three or four days after the election was over, Mr. Flan- 
nigan returned to Pennsylvania. I do not know where he resides 
in Pennsylvania. I have heard he had a family in Pennsylvania. He 
had none with him in the Territorv. 

M. P. RIVELY. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., 3Iay 31, 1856. 



Reuben Hackett testifies: 

I have examined the poll-books of the fourth district for the elec- 
tion of the 30th of March, 1855. I reside in the district, and hare 
done so since June, 1854. I find twenty-seven names on the list I 
know to have been residents of that district at that time, as follows: 

B. T. Keeser, R. Hackett, John H. Lockridge, William Case, C. 

Martin. J. Wilson, Reese B. Younoj, J. T. Keever, Pool, 

Poage, J. Bradbury. J. D. Bary. D. J. Keeser. D. Putty, T. 

Mockabv, J. B. Davis, J. M. Bernard, H. Lowrv, Thomas J. Lvnch, 
E. Hill,' John Eddy, T. Essex, R. B. Harris, C' J. Hartly, Wm. Es- 
aex, C. Horning, and J. Chapman. 



1134 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

^ These are persons of my acquaintance, but I have not made out the 
given names correctly, as the names on the poll-hooks differed some- 
what from those I supposed them to represent. A portion of them I 
have left out, and a portion of the names I have given. I have made 
out the list to the best of my knowledge. 

To Mr. Woodson : 

I do not have a thorough acquaintance in the district, and onlv 
speak of those I know. "^ 

EEUBEN HACKETT. 
Lawrence, K. T., Mmj 3, 1856. 



Thomas Thorp called and sworn. 

I reside within half a. mile of Parkville, Platte county, Missouri 
and have resided there since 1837, and in Missouri since the fall of 
1818. I know of companies being got up in Missouri to come over 
here and vote, and I heard many of them afterwards say they had 
voted here That was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, and 
also when Whitfield was elected. They swarmed over here at all the 
elections. My understanding was, that money was contributed to pay 
the expenses of the Parkville company to come here and vote I was 
asked to contribute to that, but I did not do so. Those persons who 
said they were coming here to vote, said that if they were here but a 
day, they had a right to vote in the Territory, and that they intended 
to outvote those who were coming here from the east and north I 
thmk all who were engaged in destroying the press of Geo. S. Park, 
at l^arkville, with two or three exceptions, were over here and voted 
i know tlie names of many of them who said they came here to vote— 
Dr. Walker, John Winston, Mat. Winston, and thirty or forty others. 
1 think the whole who were engaged in the destruction of that press, 
with the exception of two, came over here and voted. They said they 
destroyed that press because they believed it belonged to the Emigrant 
Aid Society, or it was interested in it. I think that the most of those 
persons were over here also during the war last fall. I think there 
were ahout thirty who were engaged in destroying Park's press. 

vv. w M. iebbs, who was said to have been elected to the legisla- 
ture in the Territory, was a citizen of the State of Missouri. H? had 
a claim in the lerritory, and had some negroes on it, but his wife 
lived in Missouri, on his farm, which he owned there in Missouri. 

THOMAS + THORP. 
Lawrence, K. T., May 12, 1856. '^'^^' 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1135 

Dandridge Hollidat called and sworn. 

I reside thirteen miles from here, in the 15th district. Was at the 
election in that district on the oOth of March. I came from Platte 
county, Missouri. Lived in Missouri, partly in Howard, Clinton, 
and Platte counties, twenty-two years — sixteen of it in Platte county. 
I was at the election at Hayes, and voted, I saw a great many strangers 
there. I saw 500 or 600 there, of whom a very great majority were 
non-residents. I knew many of them. Some were from Platte county, 
Missouri ; some from Clinton and Ray counties. I knew several from 
each county — twenty or more that I knew from Platte county, ten or 
more from Clinton ; and I knew Major Oliver and George Carson, 
from Ray county. I did not see any one vote. Some of these strangers 
were arrned — some with guns and some with pistols. I did not no- 
tice particularly. I saw Judge James Lighton, the two Mr. Risks, 
brothers, Mr. Calvert, Mr. J. Pepper, and many others from Platte 
county, who were formerly my neighbors. I am a bad hand to recol- 
lect names. I saw Mr. Steele, Mr. Essig, the two Mr. Birches, Mr. 
Payne, Mr. Stettiwerger, and others from Clinton county. I do not 
recollect any names from Clay county, though I knew several of them. 
I did not stand by the polls, and did not see any of them vote. I 
heard several contend that they had a right to vote, as every man on 
the ground had a right to vote, because they were then present. A 
great majority of tlie persons on that day had badges of hemp. I 
voted that day the pro-slavery ticket. There was no other ticket that 
day. I should have voted the pro- slavery ticket if there had been 
others. I am not very well acquainted in the district, as I stay about 
home very much. I had conversation with many men I knew, but 
none of them told me how many were over there. I lived a mile 
east of the place of voting, and the road was full all the time, coming 
and going, A few of the residents of the district had the hemp 
badges — a few from about Kickapoo — but the most who had them were 
non-residents. There must have been some hundreds from Missouri — 
certainly 200 ; but I could not tell certainly how many were there. 
I do not know how many residents were there. These men seemed 
to think that they had as good a right to vote as eastern emigrants, 
and they would vote, to counteract the emigrant vote. The most 
prominent men seemed to justify their voting on that ground. I do 
not think there were residents there to the number of one-half. There 
was a general rumor, and believed, that the Emigrant Aid Society 
had landed emigrants in the Territory ; but I never knew whether it 
was so or not, though I believed it myself. 

To H. Miles Moore : 

I know George W. Cabbot, deputy sheriff of Platte county ; Lewis 
Calvert, of Platte county ; Nelson J, Alexander, Jeiferson Dyer, 
(now in the Territory, but I think not at that time ;) Thomas L. 
Douglass, N. R. Green, H. B. Herndon, (who had a claim in the 
Territory,) a deputy sheriff; — these were from Platte county, and I 
saw them on the ground. These names are on the poll-books. 



1136 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Grover : 

I saw several persons that day from Clinton county, Missouri. I 
think they were, and are yet, residents of that county — so I under- 
stand. I know they did live there, but I do not kuovv as they live 
there now. I know they did live in Clinton ; and Stettiwerger said he 
had come all the way from home to vote. I cannot state that they 
were, from my own knowledge, citizens of Clinton county at that time, 
but I believe they were. I saw Mr. Essig, Mr. Stull, two Birclies, 
Stettiwerger, Mr. Payne, whose names I recollect ; but there were 
others I cannot recollect the names of. They remarked to me that they 
had a long way to go home, and had to start early ; but they did not 
tell me where their homes were. They did not tell me their home 
was not in the 9th district; for I did not ask them any more questions. 
I saw two persons I had seen before from Ray county. One was Major 
Oliver, and the other George Carson. There were others from that 
county, but 1 do not recollect their names. I think Carson was living 
in Ray county at that time. I cannot state that the others, whose 
names I do not recollect, did live in Ray county, except that they 
told me they lived in that county. I do not remember the names of 
any more there from Clay county. I cannot state the name of 
any one from Clay county, that I knew, from my own knowledge, 
lived there at that time. I live about a mile from the place of 
election, on the military road towards Kickapoo. I saw some wagons 
camped about the polls the evening before the election. They returned 
the next day. There were from five to ten wagans there. I could 
see them from my door. I should say there were at least five wagons 
there. I think they were generally two-horse wagons. There might 
have been four horses to some wagons, but I do not recollect particu- 
larly about that. I think the same wagons camped there the night 
before the election returned the next day. Some of those wagons were 
from Ray county, as some of the men told me so. They were from Ray, 
as they said. I would not state positively the other wagons were not 
from Kickapoo. I think very likely there Avere some wagons from Kick- 
apoo. My acquaintance in the district was limited, and is yet. There 
were undoubtedly many resident voters in the district at that time I did 
not know. I could not say a large number of those who had badges 
were resident voters. Some of the residents I know did wear badges. 

Question. Might there not have been many persons there with hemp 
badges, who were resident voters of the district, whom you did not 
know ? 

[The question in that form was overruled by the committee. Mr. 
Grover insisted upon the question in that form.] 

I do not think t was acquainted with one-half of the legal voters in 
that district at that time. I know that many who wore hemp badges 
were resident voters, and some were not. I could not tell how many 
men with badges were not residents. I think a large majority of 
the men there that day were from Missouri. I judged so by the way 
they came — like men got up for a hunting spree, or somethmg of the 
kind. A great many I knew ; a great many came in wagons, with 
their provisions. They told me that they came into, the Territory, 
some on the day of election^ and some the evening before. George 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1137 

Carson, a particular friend of mine, staid all night witli me, and told 
me a good deal about it. He said they were at very considerable ex- 
pense in fitting out. The ground they took was, that the extraordi- 
nary efibrts made by the Emigrant Aid Societies to abolitionize the 
Territory, justified the part the Missourians took in that election. 

[Mr. Grover objected to the declaration of Mr. Carson, as being 
only hearsay evidence. The objection was overruled ; Mr. Oliver 
dissenting.] 

I believe it was the all-absorbing topic here at that time that the 
cause of the excitement here was the extraordinary efforts of the 
Emigrant Aid Society of Massachusetts to send emigrants here. I 
do not think Mr. Cabbot was a citizen of the Territory at that time ; 
if he was, I had no knowledge of it. He might have been a citizen of 
the 9th council district and I not know it. I think that Lewis 
Cahent was a citizen of Missouri at that time. He might have been 
a citizen of the 9th council district and I not have known it ; but I do 
not believe it. Wilson J. Alexander, I believe_, was living at latan, 
Platte county, Missouri, at that time, as he had a store and was 
selling goods there. 

Question. Do you know that Alexander was living in latan on the 
day of the election of the 30th of March, 1855 ? 

Answer. He was a citizen of latan at that time. 

Mr. Green was like the others, he lived in Platte county before the 
election. I believe he was a resident there at that time. According 
to my last information, he was a citizen at that time of Platte county; 
and so it was with all the rest of the names I have given as from 
Platte county. I do not know of any free-State candidates in the 
field on that day. I know nothing about the majority of the pro- 
slavery party in that district. I went home from the polls to dinner ; 
went back again, and remained there till about sundown. I saw no 
one prevented from voting, for there was only one side. 

To Mr. Moore : 

From this information I got from the parties themselves, and from 
what I knew of them before, I believed the persons I have mentioned 
to be from Clay, Ray, Clinton, and Platte counties, Missouri. They 
were my old acquaintances, and I would ask them how the folks were 
in Clinton county, and so with regard to the others. I do not know 
that I saw any persons at that election sent out by the Emigrant Aid 
Society ; if they were, I did not know them. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., May 20, 1856. 



D. HOLLADAY. 



Francis M. Potter testifies : 
I was at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, at Hayes's, but 
did not vote there. I was from Missouri ; James Ellison, from Buch- 
anan county ; Benjamin Werner, who lives near the line between 
Buchanan and Platte counties, and Major Oliver, of Ray county 
I was just tolerably well acquainted in the district at that time. 
H. Rep. 200^ 72* 



1138 KANSAS AFFAISS. 

do not suppose I knew a majority ; I may hare known one-tliird of 
those in the district, but I couhi not he certain. I was mostly 
acquainted at Mount Pleasant, in the western part of the district. 
Hayes's is on the Fort Laramie road, above Kickapoo. I think there 
was a larger crowd then than at the election of the fall before. I 
left early in the afternoon. There were some speeches made then. 
I do not recollect that I heard much said about voting. They formed 
lines ten or tifteeu paces long, and went up to vote. I was among 
the crowd considerably while I was there. I would not suppose that 
more tlian two-thii'ds of the persons there were residents, from their 
appearance and my knowledge of the district. I left early in the 
atternoon. 

Cross-examined by ]\Ir. Grover: 

I believe that James Ellison and Benjamin Tocum had homes in 
Missouri at that time, and have yet. I did not see either of them 
Tote that day. I do not know a great many men in the neighborhood 
©f Kickapoo, though I have been there. I do not know that I know 
the names of six men I know to live in Kickapoo. I know a gentle- 
man of the name of Hayes, who lives in Kickapoo. I do not recollect 
the names of any others, unless it is some of the Isaacs, who live 
near there. Enoch Isaac is one of them. Those are all I can recol- 
lect of, that I know. I am not well acquainted in that portion of the 
district, and know very few persons about and above Kickapoo. I do 
not know tiiat I know any men who live in Salt Creek valley. It is 
tolerably thickly settled. No person was prohibited from voting on 
the day of election at Hayes's. It was not that I was afraid, that I 
did not vote; I was dissatished that Kellogg withdrew, and think I 
should have voted for him if he had rim. I had known him some 
time, and knew him to be a good man, and thought we ought to have 
had some one from the western part of the district to represent us. 
Kellogg stated, when he withdrew, that he was a Cass man. I sup- 
pose he was a pro-slaverv man. 

F. M. POTTER. 

LEAVE^•woRTII, K. T.. Jloi/ 20, 1S56. 



[See 0. H. Brewster, page 382.] 

A^davit. 

RicKMOXD, Mo., Jvne 13, 1856. 

As an act of justice to Major Oliver, the representative in Congress 
from this district, we state that we were at Lexington at the pro- 
slavery convention, in July last — the same at which Samuel A. Young, 
L^' Boone, and President Shannon, of the State University, made 
speeches. "\Ye heard the reply of Major Oliver to the speech of Mr. 
Young. The s})eech of Samuel A. Yoimg was of a very jabid pro- 
slavery cast, and perfectly revolutionary in its character ; ^o much 
so. that we were well satisfied that it met with but little sympathy 
from the couventiou. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1139 

The speech of Major Oliver was. in no measured terms, condemna- 
tory of the speech and sentiments uttered liy Samuel A. Young. He 
spoke of the course of the Emigrant Aid Society as having given rise 
to the excitement in Missouri, and deprecated, in strong terms, the 
course and conduct of the society. Major Oliver did not say, in his 
speech, that he had been to Kansas and had voted, nor anything to 
that effect. In fact, to have said so, would have been to assert what 
hundreiis in Missouri knew to be false. We were not in Kansas at 
any of the elections, but have always understood, from Major Oliver 
and other gentlemen of undoubted veracity, that he not only did not 
vote at the election in Kansas at which he was. but that in a speech 
he advised Missourians who were there not to vote: in fact, it is well 
understood that, by the temj>erate tone and moderation inculcated by 
his speech, he offended some of his Iriends who were present. 

AFSTIX A. KINO. 

JOSEPH CHEW. 

GEOBG-E J. WASSOX. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the undersigned, clerk of the 
county court of Bay county, in the State of Missouri, on this the nine- 
teenth day of June, A. D. 1S56. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
p - seal of said court, at office in Eiehmoudj the day and year 
*- ■ ^■- aforesaid. 

JA:MES B. TURXER, Clerk. 



[See 0. H. Brewstex. page 3S2.] 

Affidavit. 

I was in Kansas Territory, and at Kickapoo precinct, on the day of 
the election of members for the legislature of that Territory, in A. D. 
1S55. I heard Major Oliver make one or two speeches there that day. 
In those speeches he invited every citizen of Kansas, of whatever po- 
litical party, to exercise his privilege as such citizen, and vote. He 
pledged his honor that they should not be molested in any way, or 
insulted. His speech was union and equality of rights. And Major 
Oliver endeavored to dissuade Missourians trom voting, for he came 
to me and told me not to cast my vote, and to dissuade all others that 
I could see. He did not vote, to mv knowledge, in the Territorv. 

JOHX W. SHOTWELL. 

RICHM0^^), June 19, 1S56. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me. the undersigned, clerk of the 
county court of Ray coimty. in the State of 3iissouri, on this nine- 
teenth day of June, A. D. 18.56. 

In testimony whereot, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
P -i seal of said court, at office in Richmond, this 19th dav of June 
»-^- ^--i A. D. 1S56. 

JA:^1ES B. TURXER, Clerk 



1140 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

F. A. Hart testifies : 

To Mr. Sherman : 

I was present at an election held on the 22d of May, 1855. Mr. 
Matthias, Mr. Payne, and Mr, McMakin, were candidates for the 
House of Representatives on the pro-slavery ticket, hut I forget those 
on the other side. That election was held at the house of George 
Loyaddu. We voted on the north side of the buildings at the win- 
dow. Mr. Lyle was in the room of the judges, and I think took my 
ticket when I voted ; hut I am not positive in regard to the judges. 
I came in on the day of the election, about nine or ten o'clock in the 
morning. When I came up I did not see many persons around the 
polls. I noticed that the election seemed to be going on quietly and 
peaceably. I voted myself, and after voting was around town, and 
eventually was at the west end of the building, and saw four or five 
young men there, who, from their conversation, I understood to have 
come from Weston that morning. Something was also said by them 
about voting, and one of them said he had voted twice. I did not 
know any of the men, and cannot give their names. Something was 
said about going back to Weston, and one intimated that he would 
stop and take dinner at the tavern, but, after consulting, they con- 
cluded not to go to the tavern for dinner. I left them then, and I do 
not know what became of them. I think I saw Judge Almond here 
that day, and he had a conversation with a man in town named How- 
ell, about voting. I saw many here I did not know, but I cannot tell 
anything about them. I saw no camps here, except such as were 
usual here at that time — surveying parties, &c. I do not recollect 
about any other parties of strangers here on that day. 

To H. Miles Moore: 

I do not remember at this time of recognising any other persons here 
but Judge Almond, that I saw here on the election of 30th of March, 
1855. There did not seem to be as many, not one-fourth, on the 22d 
of May as were on the 30th March. I voted that day. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

I saw no breach of the peace on that occasion as I now recollect. I 
saw some men with large sticks and walking-canes_, but I saw no dis- 
turbance. I cannot say that I saw any Missourian vote that day. I 
think there was a free-soil majority on the 22d of May here, but that 
is my notion only. I do not think more than one-half of the free-soil- 
ers in the district voted that day. I voted that day myself, because I 
thought there was a chance for my voting without being insulted, as 
I did not see so many here with hemp on them and with arms as I 
saw on the 30th of March. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

My means of information touching the relative strength of parties 
here, is from the acquaintance I have through the district, and I am 
acquainted with more free-State men than pro-slavery men ; and my 
opinion is, that there was a majority of free-State men here ; but I do 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1141 

not pretend to say that such was the case, I am not acquainted with 
all the pro-slavery men or all the free-State men in the district. There 
are many men I am not acquainted with ; hut as tar as my acquaint- 
ance in the district extends, I know more free-State than pro-slavery 
men. 

To Mr. Sherman: 

I helieve the reason all the free-State men did not vote, was that 
they anticipated the same thing as on the 30th of March before. I 
myself should not have come in to vote, if I had not lived close to 
town, and saw that there was no general movement like that of the 
30th of March. I saw no great stir and rush here, and therefore con- 
cluded to vote. I do not know that anything was given out in the 
prints, or by handbills, or from persons from Missouri, that there would 
be any persons from Missouri over here at that election. 

To Mr. E. E. Eees: 

I have no acquaintance in the district nearer to Wyandot than in 
the vicinity of Delaware. I had some acquaintance out on the Stranger 
creek. Braden, who was a free-State candidate on the oOth of March 
and vithdrew. lived out there.- I knew a man by the name of Sparks 
there, and had some slight acquaintance with other men there, but I 
do not recollect their names. I have been in the Stranger Creek 
settlement in the fall of 1854, but do not know how much the settle- 
ment had filled up in May, 1855. I was not acquainted on the 
Stranger, below the mouth of Walnut creek — the one that comes in on 
the other side — though I have seen persons who were said to live out 
there. I understand Sparks to be a free-State man. I cannot say that 
I know him to be the most ultra free-State man in that part of the 
district. My acquaintance besides that was around generally in town. 
I was not very well acquainted all round the district. I do not recol- 
lect about the free-State ticket, though I voted a free-State ticket : and 
I am of the impression that there was a full free-State ticket, though 

I do not recollect about it. 

♦ 

To H. Miles Moore: 

I never lived in Platte county, Missouri, though I have been there 
from a week to ten days at a time. I did not know many of the set- 
tlers here in Missouri, when I lived there. 

To Mr. Eees : 

I could make no accurate estimate of the number of free-State men 
in the district at that time. But according to the way that the county 
with which I was acquainted was settled up. and presuming the rest 
was settled similarly, I was of the impression there were about 400 or 
500 legal voters in the district at the time of the election ; and from the 
acquaintance I had. I judged that there was a majority of free-State 
men in the district. I considered the point here on the river the 
strongest pro-slavery point in the district. I cannot form any accurate 
estimate of how many free-State men I knew, I found a good num- 
ber more free-State men than pro-slavery men, but I cannot tell how 



1142 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

many I knew who were free-State men. I cannot fix any probable 
number, but I have no doubt there was a great many more than 10. 
I have not much doubt but I could commence and count 100, 200, per- 
haps 300 or 400, many of whom I do not know the names, as is the 
case on the pro-slavery side. 



F. A. HART. 



Leavenworth City, K. T., Mmj 19, 1856. 



D. HoLLADAT testifies : 

I was at Mount Pleasant at the election of the 1st of October, 1855. 
The election was orderly and quiet, and there were no non-residents 
there as far as I know. 

D. HOLLADAY. 

Leavenwokth City, K. T., May 20, 1856. 



Harmon G. Weibling called and sworn. 

I was present here in Leavenworth City at the congressional dele- 
gate election of October 1, 1855. There were persons here who told 
me they were residents of Missouri, some of whom I saw vote. I can 
recollect but two of their names ; one was James Carr, of Clay county, 
the other was Richard Garthen or Grattan. I took a memorandum 
at the time, but have lost it. I was taking the census at the time, and 
thought they were residents of Leavenworth City, and requested 
their names as residents, and they told me they were residents of 
Missouri. I should suppose I had the names of ten or a dozen who 
voted, who told me they were not residents, but I cannot recollect 
their names. I was taking the census of the city for the purpose of 
assessing the property here. Besides those, I do not know, of my 
own knowledge, that any of tli€se non-residents voted. I saw that 
there were many strangers here. I did not ask the names of all, as 
I was authorized only to take the census of the citizens of the town. 
I have seen but few of these strangers here since. I reside in town 
here, and am in business here. Our city limits extend south one and 
a half mile from the lower military reserve boundary, and three- 
fourths of a mile west from the river. I do not know how far back 
the township extends. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Whitfield : 

I have resided in this city since July last. I came from Indiana to 
this place, and from Louisiana to Indiana. I was born and raised in 
Maryland, going to Louisiana when I was quite young. I do not 
know of any candidate or any opposition on that day except General 
Whitfield. I know of no particular interest or excitement at that 
election until the afternoon of that day. I saw two strangers go to 
the window with slips of paper in their hands, which they gave in, 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1143 

but I do not know whether they were tickets or not. They told me 
they lived in Missouri. I presumed they knew my business. I do 
not know of any about town who played off on me to get rid of the 
tax. I do not know the limits of the voting precinct here. I am 
pretty generally acquainted all over the county. I do not know 
where these strangers lived, except as they told me. I asked the 
gentlemen for their names, and they gave them to me ; then their ages, 
and they gave them to me ; and when I asked their occupation, they 
asked my object; and when I told them, they said they lived in Mis- 
souri. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

There was a number of men in the street boasting they were from 
Missouri and had voted. I hardly know what the excitement was 
about, but they seemed to take a great deal of pleasure in saying that 
they were from Missouri, had voted, and would continue to do so. I 
recognised James Carr as one of this crowd. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

Question. Do you know anything of a murder reported by letter to 
a Cleveland, Ohio, paper — a reported murder of two men and a baby 
on that day ? 

Answer. I do not know that any such thing occurred, or that there 
was any foundation for it, so far as I know. 

H. G. WEIBLING. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 20, 1856. 



[Letter referred to in Nathan Adams's deposition, on page 840.] 

Boston, August 14, 1854. 
Dear, Sir : By the pamphlet mailed you, much of the information 
which you desire can be obtained. 

The next party will leave here on the 29th instant, at a quarter past 
two p. m.; they will go via Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, Alton, and St. 
Louis, and will disembark at Kansas City, near the mouth of Kansas 
river. The fare through will be about |25 for first-class accommoda- 
tions; meals extra, which need not cost on an average more than twenty 
cents. Each person is allowed 100 lbs. of baggage, and for all excess 
will be liable to pay about |3 per 100 lbs. Children under three years 
will be taken free ; between three and twelve, pay half price. No 
pledges are required from those who go ; but, as our principles are 
known, we trust those who differ from us will be honest enough to 
take some other route. 

The agent who located our pioneer party will accompany the next 
one, and furnish all requisite information. 

Yours, respectfully, 

THOMAS H. WEBB, 
Secretary Emigrant Aid Company. 
A. Jennings, 

Frovincetoivn, Mass. 



1144 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

B. F. Nicholson called and sworn. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

I reside in Missouri, in Parkville, Platte county. I went down the 
river on a steamboat last year, between the 1st and 10th of April. 
This boat was named **Sam Cloon." There was about twenty per- 
sons got on at Kansas City, Missouri. They said they had been up 
in the Territory of Kansas for the purpose of voting, and were brought 
there by the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society, and that they were 
paid to come out here by that society, and promised two dollars a day 
after they got to the city of Lawrence. There was a certain Mr. Lin- 
coln who was their leader, so they told me. Tliey cursed him for 
making the speeches he did, and telling lies, and causing them to 
come out here and robbing them of their means. They said they had 
joined the society, and had come out here and voted, and could get no 
employment, and were destitute of all means. They said the main 
object of the Emigrant Aid Society was to bring persons out here who, 
by their votes, would make this a free State. Mr. Lincoln told me 
this himself, as we were in the barber's shop. He also told me he 
was going down to St. Louis to get up some more for the election in 
May, The elections in some districts were ordered for the 22d of May. 
When we had got just below Booneville we took some passengers — 
some 30 or 40 more of these men — from the El Paso, which had 
sunk. They found Mr. Lincoln was aboard, and they came up and 
cursed and abused him for the speech he had made in Bedford, Massa- 
chusetts, and causing them to come out here, where they had been so dis- 
appointed. These men from the El Paso stated that they had come 
to vote, and had voted. They said they did not care a damn whether 
Kansas was a free or a slave State now. They did not like to be 
chouzelled out of their means. They said their expenses had been paid 
out here by the company, and that they had got a through ticket to 
Kansas City, Missouri. I understood from them that the Aid Society 
had dropped them after they got them out here. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

They had some women with them. One woman in particular at- 
tracted the attention of those on board, because her husband had died 
near Lawrence, and left her with five children and no bread, and 
nothing to buy it with. Colonel Oliver Anderson and myself, and 
others, made her up $25 to take her back to Massachusetts. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

She and her husband came out with that party, and none of her 
acquaintances had any means to assist her. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

Col. Oliver Anderson, of Lexington, Wm. Milton, of Parkville, 
myself, a lieutenant, and others I did not know, made up some $25 or 
for her. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

These men told me they had been in Kansas, and had voted the free- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1145 

State ticket, and were returning home. One of them, particularly, 
wanted to sell me his revolver, as that was all he had. He said his 
fare had heen paid to Kansas, and he had come out here to vote the 
free-State ticket, and had done so, but he would not come back here 
again. 

To Mr. Oliver : 

There were about fifty of these men in all after they had got oiT 
the El Paso. I tliink there were about three families of women — two 
women besides this widow woman, ^"'he rest were generally single 
and young men. Their baggage I tliink was limited — l)ut few trunks, 
generally carj)et-sacks. The baggage was marked "Kansas emigra- 
tion." I do not recollect about seeing any names on tlie baggage as 
agent. I did not notice particularly. I resided at Parkville that 
spring. My attention was called to the character of the emigration in 
the early part of that spring. My business was near the river, and 
I generally went on the boats as they came along. The emigration 
on the boats were mostly men, and, as far as I understood, they were 
from Massachusetts and tlie northern States. Along the first, 
nearly every boat was crowded. Sometimes I would ask some of 
those persons where they were bound for, and they said Kansas. I 
did not ask what they came for. Almost all the trunks and baggage 
I noticed, especially those who got off at our ])lace, were maiked 
" Kansas emigration." I cannot say as I noticed any names on the 
baggage as ag(Mit, as I did not take particular notice. The river was 
unusually low at that time, and boats ran aground and had to i)ut off 
their freight on the banks. The rumor in Missouri, in my section, so far 
as my information extended, was general, that the river was crowded 
with eastern emigrants, coming here to vote, to make Kansas a free 
State at the March election. The people of Missouri were much e.xcited 
in conso([uence. The rumor was generally understood that there 
was an organization at the north to send out emigrants here to vote, 
and make Kansas a free State. I have seen persons who said they 
came out here to vote ; they said so not six months ago ; that they 
came out under the auspices of the Aid Society. I do not recollect 
that they told me they had voted, but that that was their object — to 
vote to make this a free State. The boats were unusually crowded 
witli emigrants that spring ; more so than I had ever seen belore since 
1850, when the emigration went to California. The JMissourians who 
came over here to vote, gave as one of their reasons for doing so, 
that they desired to counteract the votes of those they had imderstood 
that the Emigrant Aid Society had sent out here that season. So far 
as I understood, that was the reason given by our people, who were 
considerably excited, and came over here to vote to counteract that 
eflbrt. 

Cross-examined by Mr. Howard : 

I do not recollect the names of any of those fifty persons going 
down on the Sam Cloon but Mr. Lincoln. I only know from what 
they told me, and the marks on their baggage, tliat they had been 
sent out here by the Emigrant Aid Society, or had ever been to 



1146 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Kansas. I do not know that any of them voted in Kansas, except 
what they told me. Some four or five or half a dozen of them I 
talked with, and I suppose I heard a third, at least, say they had 
been out here to vote, and had voted. They said they came out under 
the flattering prospect of receiving big wages at Lawrence City, and 
they were mistaken. They were to get big wages for working, and 
the way I understood, the pay for voting was giving them a through- 
ticket. I do not know as that was said by any one ; but the general 
understanding of the crowd was, that they had had a through-ticket 
given them. I do not know that I understood that this ticket was a 
donation or a purchase ; but I did not understand that they had paid 
their own money for it. I got the impression that all had come oiit that 
spring. I could not tell how many boats came up before the 30th of 
March ; but there was quite a rush of boats that spring. I should 
suppose over a dozen arrived by the 30th of March, 1855. The boats 
got along Avith considerable difficulty, as the water was low. 

To Mr. Whitfield : 

I had a conversation with Lincoln, and he seemed to be the only 
leader then. Persons standing around seemed to concur in what 
others said about the matter. There was a man on the boat who was 
represented to be an old sea-captain, but 1 do not recollect his name. 
I had some conversation with him. He said he had come out here 
with a good deal of money, and expended it all upon those who had 
been left destitute, after coming out here under the auspices of the 
Emigrant Aid Society. I tliiuk he said he had expended in tliat way 
over $600. He seemed to be quite a feeling old fellow. My under- 
standing was, that they got a free ticket furnished by the Emigrant 
Aid Society from Massachusetts to Kansas Citv. 

B. F. NICHOLSON. 

Leavenworth City, K. T., May 20, 1856. 



James Harris called and sworn. 

To Mr. Scott : 

I reside upon Pottawatomie creek, in the Territory, when I am at 
home, and have been there, with Henry Sherman, for three months. 
I was hired there as a hand on his farm, to plough, build fences, &c. 

[Mr. Scott proposes to give testimony in regard to outrages com- 
mitted in the Territory during the month of May. 

After discussion, the committee unanimously resolved that no testi- 
mony with regard to acts of violence committed since the passage of 
the resolutions organizing this commission will be received, and that 
all testimony heretofore admitted, inadvertently or otherwise, incon- 
sistent with this rule, shall be excluded.] 

JAMES HAERIS. 

Westport, Mo., June 6, 1856. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1147 

William G. Matthias testifies : 
To Mr. Howard : 

I think there are four or five organized townships in onr connty, 
Kiclva])oo, Leavenworth, Dehiware or Wyandot, prohably both, and, 
I think, one in the back part of the county. They have se])arate 
voting phices. I cannot say what are the sentiments of those who 
live in Delaware township. I think in the whole township there are 
probably two hundred votes. The township runs back a good way, 
and I think the claims are pretty generally taken up. 

WM. G. MATTHIAS. 

Westpokt, Mo., June 6, 1856. 



JosiAH Elliott called and sworn. 

I was starting out across Stranger creek, and met a company of 
ten or twelve men in Salt Creek valley, the day that Brown was ar- 
rested, near Easton. I inquired of some I knew where they were go- 
ing. They said they were going to Easton to see about the shooting 
of a man by the name of Cook, who had been shot the night before by 
a party holding an election. We Avent on a mile or so, and stopped 
as if to wait for others to come up. Shortly afterwards I heard Capt. 
Martin lecture his men that he wanted them to keep peaceable ; that 
he did not want them to have any fuss. Soon after they were making 
ready to start — some in wagons, some walking. I recollect seeing 
some four or five men starting ahead afoot. They were gone a little 
while, and about the time the balance was nearly ready to start, we 
saw a wagon coming from the direction of Easton. One or two from 
that wagon were walking ahead, and the balance seemed to be walk- 
ing behind. Those who went off came up, and told the crowd that 
these men in the wagon had been at Easton. The company I was 
with then stopped those in the wagon, and inquired of them what 
was going on at Easton. They denied knowing anything at all about 
what had been going on at Easton. Some one recognised Brown, who 
was rather a noted or influential man among them. I think it was 
Dr. Molton who recognised Brown. Tlie question then got up, what 
should be done with them? Captain Martin said we would arrest 
them, and take them back and see what had been done about the shoot- 
ing of Cook. The prevailing rumor was that Brown was an accessary 
to the shooting of Cook. Captain Martin demanded their arms — 
probably they offered them without a demand. They went back. Two 
of our men got into the wagon with them to protect them. When we 
got to Easton, as soon as we got there we found some ten or twelve 
men of the citizens around Easton. They appeared much enraged 
about the shooting of Cook, and charged it on Brown ; and it was 
with difficulty that they could be prevented by Captain Martin, Mr. 
Grover, and several others from shooting him. We took Brown and 
the others into the house, and locked the door for the purpose of keep- 
ing these others from hurting or shooting him. They were put in a 
stone house. Some were then put out to hunt up a man by the name 



114S KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

of Sparks, and also Menard, who were said to be leaders. Tliey fjiiled 
to get them. They ionnd Menard, but could not catch him. Then 
Capt. Martin and some other gentlemen asked my opinion as to whether 
we had not better take Bro.vn into a separate room to examine him as 
to his part in the events of the day before. They did so, and I and 
two otliers, called on by Captain Martin, went into a room, and Brown 
came also. We interrogated him a good deal about the legality of 
the election, and what they had done. He acknowledged that he 
headed the company when Cook was shot. We then went out 
and held several consultations, as to what should be done with 
Brown — with Captain Martin, Mr. Grover, Mr. Elliott, and Mr. 
Einby, and myself. We conchided that the proi^er way was to 
bring him to Leavenworth, and deliver him to the sheriff to be 
dealt with according to law. Captain Martin then frequently ad- 
dressed the crowd, telling them that was tlie proper course to pursue 
towards Brown. At this time the crowd had largely increased. Mr. 
Dunn, from Leavenworth, and others from various places, had come 
up. Captain Martin made exertions and got the balance of Brown's 
company away without the knowledge ot the crowd, who were watch- 
ing Brown, and he made every exertion to prevent violence beiug done 
to Brown. He prayed and begged them to stop, and then cursed them 
awhile for damned fools, and said that he could do nothing with them, 
and could not control them. Not more than one-fourth of the then 
crowd had come from Kickapoo, and I know but one man from there 
who seemed to be unmanageable. It went on towards evening, and 
Captain Martin's object seemed to be to get the excited crowd away 
from Easton. They had got some liquor, and towards evening got 
more infuriated. At this time. Captain Martin, Mr. Grover, my son, 
and myself, and perhaps one or two others, were in the room with 
Brown, and remained there to protect him from the fury of the crowd. 
They frequently came to the window to shoot him, and some of us 
would stand there to prevent it. During the time Captain Martin 
would see some of the sober ones, and try and get them to get wagons 
and get the drunken men in the crowd off. Late in the evening they 
broke into the house, while Captain Martin, my son. and myself, and 
some others were tliere with Brown. The others who were with me 
in the house got the crowd out by pushing them back and closing the 
door. I then got out, but before leaving advised Captain Martin to 
leave the house, or we would be shot by the drunkt^n fools. We again 
told them that we would tie Brown and take him to Leavenworth, 
and said so to convince the crowd that Brown could not escape. Cap- 
tain Martin came out shortly afterwards, and told the crowd that they 
must desist ; that it would not do to kill Brown ; and when they spoke 
of doing it, he condemned it in strong language, and said it would be 
a cowardly act. About sundown Captain Martin said to my son that 
he would not stay there longer ; that he could not protect Brown fur- 
ther, as the crowd would kill him or Brown, and maybe both, and he 
would not remain there to see it. He said he could do no more, and 
had done all he could to control them, and he would never go with a 
party again which he could not control, and then he l«,^ft. Before this 
time Grover had lett. When Martin left, my son and I got on our 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1149 

horses, and were about leaving. I spoke to Mr. Burgess, and urged 
him to take Brown to Leavenworth to take his trial, and he said he 
would try and make the erowd do it. and the matter was left in his 
eare. At this time, nearly all of those from Kickapoo had left ; per- 
ha]is soTue two or three drunken men remained ; some titteen or twenty 
still remained. They were mostly those whom we met at Easton. 
Just ahtnit the time I was riding oft', they broke in the door again, or 
tore it down, and 1 saw tliem bring Brown out. I heard some one 
say if Brown would light him they would set him at liberty. Another 
said tliat Brown said he would do it. Tliey went out about thirty or 
forty stei)S across the road ; some six or eight or ten followed them, 
and surrounded them, and partially hid them from me. I saw them 
striking at eaeh other with their lists. Directly they said Brown had 
enough, and I saw him walk out of the erowd, and his face seemed 
bloody, but I saw no serious wound. I heard Burgess say " for Gods 
sake, boys, let us put him in a wagon and take him to lieavenworth." 
Others said let him run ; and others said, if he did he would be shot. 
He did break and run, and some one followed him and caught him 
and brought him back. Then he was put into the wagon with some 
five or six, and started in the wagon towards Leavenworth. I saw 
Brown no more. I knew Gibson at'terwards ; he was the man who, 
as I understood, fought Brown a list-tight. I don't remember whether 
he went with the wagon or not. Captain Martin and the Kickapoo 
Rangers were not there as an organized body. 

JOSIAH ELLIOTT. 
Leavenworth City, Afay 21, 185 6. 



]150 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

APPENDIX TO MIXOEiTY EEPORT. 

DA2fiEL Mace called and sworn. 

To :^^r. Oliver: 

Immediately after the passage of the Kansas-Xehraska act, I. together 
with a number of others, who were members of Congress and senators, 
believing tliat the tendency of that act would be to make Kansas a slave 
Stat<?, in order to prevent it, formed an association here in Washing- 
ton, called, if I recollect aright, '• The Kansas Aid Society." I do 
not remember all who became members of that society, but quite a 
number of members who were opposed to slavery in Kansas, of the 
lower House, and also of the Senate, became members of it. and sub- 
scribed various sums of money. I think I subscribed either 850 or 
$100 ; I am not now prepared to say which. 

We issued a circular to the people ot the country, of the northern 
States particularly, in which we set forth what we believed were the 
dangers of making Kansas a slave State, and nrged that steps be 
taken to induce persons from the north, wlio were opposed to slavery, 
to go there and prevent its introduction, if possible. We sent a great 
many circulars to various parts of the United States, with that object, 
and also communications of various kinds. I do not now remember 
what they were. The object was to have persons induced to go to 
Kansas who would make that their home, and who would, at all 
elections, vote against the institution of slavery. 

I think Mr. Goodrich, of ^lassachusetts. was the president of the 
society. I am not certain about the vice-presidents ; probably Mr. 
Fenton, of New York, and myself, were vice-presidents. The names 
of the president and vice-presidents were attached to our circulars 
which we sent throughout the country. 

My recollection is, that generally, those members of the Honse and 
Senate who were opposed to the Kansas-Xebraska act became mem- 
bers of this society, and contributed to it. 

Tl e leading primary object of the association was, to prevent the 
introduction of slavery into Kansas, as I stated during the short ses- 
sion of Congress, in answer to a question propounded to me by your- 
self, I belie \'e. We believed that unless vigorous steps of that kind 
were taken, Kansas would become a slave State. I do not remember 
the caption of the subscription paper. I think no other object was 
mentioned or specitied, except the prevention of slavery in Kansas. 
1 think that was the sole object of the movement. 

I do not recollect whether Mr. Speaker Banks was a member of that 
society or not, or whether Senator Seward was or not. Mr. Grood- 
rich ke[>t the books. My impression is. that a majority of those who 
voted against the bill were members of that organization. I do not 
remember the total amount of money raised by means of that organi- 
zation. We had a room here, and employed a secretary, and conse- 
quently had expenses to pay. I do not know the amount raised. 1 
think there were persons, members of that association, who were not 
members of either house of Congress. Mr. Latham' was appointed 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1151 

treasurer. Init deolineil : and my impression is that Mr. Blair became 
the troiisurer ; hut I mav l>e mistaken ahont that. 



Washixgtox City, July 1, ISoC. 



DANL MACE. 



Pip/f;?f o/GcnemI Tn<ifjidd. 

The counsel for J AT. Whitfiehi having, at Leavenworth city, 
offere^i in evidence before the committee two knters written by 
A. H. Eeeder — the one dated Washington. January 20, lSo6 ; the 
other dated Washington, February 12, ISoG — l>efore offering the said 
letters, their authenticity, both as to the signature and hand-vrriting 
in the body of said letters, was proveil to be the proper hand- writing 
and signature of A. H. Reeder. and of which tacts the committ<?e 
were satisfied ; but a majority of the committee. Messrs. Howard 
and Sherman, not being satisfied, at the time, of the propriety of the 
admission of such evidence, took the matter under consideration; and 
now. at this day. at the sitting of the committee at Westport, the 
question of the admission of said letters as evidence came up for con- 
sideration and decision, and a majority of the committee, Messrs. 
HoAvard and Sherman. i^Mr. Oliver dissenting), decline to receive said 
letters in evidence, and to be engraft<?d into and to constitute a por- 
tion of the evidence taken by the committee in their investigations, 
upon the ground that they, the committee, have not the rightful 
possession of them, they having been found in the street, and being 
clearly private letters, or so declared to be by the majority of said 
committee. The said majority of the committee take no objection to 
the relevancy or competency of said letters as evidence, but place their 
objections solely upon the grounds above stated, not denying that said 
letters might be evidence against said A. H. Reeder in a criminal 
prosecution. The committee admit that the copies of said letters, 
furnished to the committee for the purpose of having them transcribed 
into the evidence, are true and genuine copies of the originals ofiered 
in evidence, and which said copies are hereto appended, marked (A) 
and (B), and made part of this protest. 

The counsel for J. W. Whitfield, and on behalf of the law and order 
party in Kansas Territory, ofi'er said letters in evidence for the double 
purpose of showing the opinions and admissions of A. H. Reeder in 
reference to the matters and subjects connected with the elections of 
the oOth of March. 1S55, in the Territory, and the contest now pend- 
ing between Whitfield and Reeder in the House of Representatives, 
as well as to show the complicity of A. H. Reeder in all the troubles 
which have led to bhxxished and civil war in the Territory. 

To the refusal of the majority of said committee to receive said 
letters in evidence, ]\Ir. Oliver enters his protest ; and also the said 
John W. Whitfield, by his attorney, protests against the action of a 
majority of the committee in refusing the admission of said letters in 
evidence, as depriving him of his just rights in the investigation 



1152 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

before tlie committee, and in showing to the country the true ground 
and source of all the difficulties in Kansas Territory. 

J. W. WHITFIELD. 

By his Attorneys. 

AUSTIX A. KIXGr. 
JOKN' SCOTT. 
"Westport, Missouri, June 7, 1856. 

The above protest was this day presented, and the accompanying 
copies of letters marked by me " Exhibit A accompanying protest," 
and ''Exhibit B with protest." 

WM. A. HOWARD, 
Chairman Kansas Committee. 
Westport, June 7, 1856. 



Exhibit (A) accompanying protest. — JTm. A. Howard, Chairman. 

Washington, January 20, 1856. 

Mr Dear Sir : Since writing you a week ago, (January 14:.) I have 
received your letter of December 23, which you say you sent by 
Schuyler. That of December 29 I had received before, and acknow- 
ledged. I keep sending you papers, which I suppose you receive. 
This morning I saw Johnson and Parrot, who arrived last night just 
in time, as we had, through the night, a deep snow, which will again 
block up the roads, I have no doubt. Phillips, of Leavenworth, also 
arrived here on Friday evening. The House is still at the old dead- 
lock for Speaker. Cobb, of Georgia, declared in the House, that the 
Democrats will not vote for the plurality rule until Banks is with- 
drawn. The Republicans had a caucus on that same evening, and re- 
nominated Banks, and declared that they will not withdraw him. A 
resolution is now adopted that all debate and personal explanation 
shall be out of order, and that the balloting shall be the only busi- 
ness done. We will see what that will bring forth. My own opinion 
is, that it has come to the alternative of a plurality rule or no organi- 
zation, and the Democrats must come to the plurality rule at last. I 
am still much vexed and worried that returns of our election and the 
certitied copies from Woodson are not here. I cannot imagine why 
the returns, which are the most important of all, were not sent, as it 
was so distinctly understood ; and Coates says that Lane and Gooden 
told him they were in the bundle. I have written Pomeroy to send, 
if possible, a special messenger to Kansas for them at my expense. 
It is unpardonable that they were neglected ; and if they do not come 
in time, we shall present a bright spectacle before the bunion. Some 
one sent me a copy of the Herald of Freedom, of December 22, from 
which I see that Brown (probably because there are no external 
enemies to fight) is assailing the projectors and former citizens of 
Pawnee. This is very opportune at this time, when I am charging 
the administration and Gen. Davis with destroying and crushing out a 
free-State town and settlement, and with persecution of Col. Mout- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1153 

jjomery by court-martial and dismissal. Gren. Davis and Pierce will 
l»e very mucli obliged to him if they should see the article, anvl will 
probably have it republishevl in the "Union ; " whilst the most we can 
hojv tor our despondent free-State settlers in the neighborhood who 
have had their si.viety and neighbors driven off. most of them l^aek to 
the States, by the atrocious destruction of the town at the instance of 
Atchison, is. that they may never see the article. You speak of my 
coming to Kansas when the legislature meets. It is impossible. I 
cannot leave my post here without being faithless to my trust. If the 
people of Kansas cannot appreciate my ndelity to them without being 
Constantly reminded of it. I cannot help it. I refused to leave here, 
although importuned to come to Philadelphia at supreme court and 
earn $oOO or $G00 ; my business sut'^ering at home, depriveil of the 
society of my iamily, whom I could not bring here, except at a ruin- 
ous rate. Had I refused their nomination, and gone to Pennsylvania 
in September, or had I sold the free-State party out to the Missourians, or 
to Pierce, I might have promotevl my interest at least. If they do not 
want my services and sacrifices, Pennsylvania has; still room enough 
for me. I shall only be sincerely sorry for the good men and true 
among them who shall be overjx^wered by the selfish and the corrupt. 
But I have faith in them still, and that they will not allow an absence, 
caused only by devotion to their interests, to oj^rate to my prejudice. 
You speak of your probably coming on here in February, as the legis- 
lature meets in March. I do not see how you cdu do this, in case you 
are elected : nor da I now see how you are to get your case into the 
Supreme Court of the United States, except by writ of error, and that 
can only be after judgment and at a great expense ; nor do I see how 
yon can raise, in the Supreme Court, any point as to the validity of 
the laws, except the one of their removal to the Mission. I have, 
however, not examined the case ; still, I should think that a few free- 
State men on the jury would be a surer reliance than the Supreme 
Court. I should hesitate long before spending much money on the 
latter. I note what you say about Lane. It is all very well ; but it 
is a good rule never to make an enemy unnecessarily, or to aggravate 
one without cause. Why not continue to correspond for the "Post" 
or some other p\j>er ? 

Remember me kindly to Eobinson and C^nwaT, and other friends. 
Latta is also here. 

Yours, trulv, 

A. H. EEEDEE. 



Exhibit {B) tciih protest. 

WASHDsGToy, February 12, lSo6. 

Dear Grove : Since my last, dated the 27th January, I have yours 
of January 14th, 22d, and 30th. The last I received this morning 
from Jo. Laubach. It came very opportunely to enable me to state 
Woodson's refusal in the memorial I am about to present to the 
HoQse. contesting the seat. I am only waiting for Banks to appoint 
the committees, and he is waiting for the dletnion of « printer. I 
H. Eev. 200 73* 



1154 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

have not been away from here since the day I came on, although I 
have suffered severely by staying. I dare not leave until I can make 
an ap})lication to the committee to have the case delayed until I can 
send for persons and pa[)ers to the Territory. I will also endeavor to 
have the Committee on Territories send for -persons and papers, and 
report a history of the whole Kansas difficulties, ah iniiio. This will 
probably bring you along, as I shall have the selection of the men to 
be sent for, in a great measure. Whitfield claims, I am told, to have 
received 2,900 votes ; and I have no doubt, when we come to see his 
hand, he will show the papers for more than ours. I should not at 
all wonder if he has a return from Arapohoe county, (Tibbat's place;) 
and if so, they can make that as large as they please. 1 have had 
men to talk to him, but all I can learn is that he claims the 2,900. 
He gives no particulars, but talks in a very confident, bluffing, brag- 
gart style of getting his seat. Our cause will be lost unless we can 
reduce his vote, so as to show more votes for me. I wrote General 
Robinson on this subject, and hope he has the letter. I have written 
him three times since I am here, but I have no letter from him. I ex- 
pect to have a man sent out to the Territory for witnesses, at least for the 
Election Committee, soon. I cannot tell what will be result as to our 
admission. If I get my seat, I shall press it hard, and we will get 
some vqtes in the Senate which we do not expect. If I lose my seat, 
there is no chance for admission. Let my name go before the legis- 
lature, and if the party will then say they do not need my services, 
well and good. I shall be honorably relieved of labor, responsibility, 
and danger. If they elect me, I shall feel bound to stand by them 
and fight their battles pertinaciously, zealously, and faithfully. As 
to putting a set of laws in operation in opposition to the Territorial 
government, ray opinion is confirmed instead of being shaken ; my 
predictions have all been verified so far, and will be in the future. 
We will be, so far as legality is concerned, in the wrong ; and that is 
no trifle, in so critical a state of things, and in view of such bloody 
consequences. It will be an invitation to the " powers that be" to 
bring down the Missourians upon us in the assumed character of vin- 
dicators of the law. What consummate folly is there not in such a 
move? You will have seen Pierce's message. Suppose we had occu- 
pied the ground I wished, of the mere adoption of a constitution and 
election of officers, only for the purpose of applying for admission ; 
what ground would Pierce have had to stand on, or how much of his 
message would have been left? He is not the only man who is back- 
ward and lukewarm towards us for this reason. They say they can- 
not sustain us in the position of resistance to the Territorial govern- 
ment ; and you will find, I think, that Douglas will also take that 
ground. But I want you to understand, most distinctly, that I do 
not talk thus to the public or to our enemies. I may speak my plain 
and private opinion in letters to our friends in Kansas, for it is my 
duty ; but to the public, as you will see by my public letter, I show 
no divided front. I am sorry that you and Robinson are not upon 
your former terms. Are you sure it is not your fault? Have you 
always treated him with sufficient respect? I mean in small things, 
and in manner. I regret that you cannot use the cannon order. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1155 

You did not speak of it in yours of the 22d. I supposed he was doing 
well. I am ver}' short of moneys — have difficulty an<l annoyance in 
meeting my engagements — but of course will do all in my ]>()wer 
to assist you. Enclosed I send you $60, which I hope will he suffi- 
cient, as you do not name any sum. You will have seen that Gov. 
Chase, of Ohio, and Gov. Clark, of New York, have sent in special 
messages, and the legislatures show some disposition to act. I liave 
seen the draught of a hill (confidential) to he offered in the Ohio leg- 
islature to appropriate $200,000 to send out men to Kansas. These 
movements waked up Mr. Pierce, and he to-day issues a proclamation, 
on which he faces north, south, east, and west, and says that every- 
body has done wrong, and nobody has the advantage of anybody in 
that respect, and that all must observe the laws ; and that he will 
whip you free State men into orderly citizens, and when you obey the 
laws he will protect you. I learn, also, that a general of some con- 
sequence in Ohio is raising 150 able bodied 3^oung men, on his own 
hook, whom he intends to take out at once, each armed with rifle and 
revolver. 

You have not, in your last four letters, said one word about the 
Wyandott floats. I am anxious for some details ; whether that 
squatter has left, and how you arranged the report of it to the sur- 
veyor general, and in whose name. If Sam Paul will not come d(nvn 
and will not stand by the free State men in a fight, you can get from 
him my gun and bulfalo-skin , if you need them. I wrdte Mallory in 
regard to his bills, j suppose he received the letter. Shannon came 
on to Ohio, and Pierce was unwilling to let him come here, and sent 
special orders for him and Calhoun to go back to the Territory. Since 
that some new idea has turned up, and I learn from good authority 
that Pierce has telegraphed him to come on here. His nomination 
is a little in danger. You will have in Kansas next spring and sum- 
mer a heavy emigration, and will also have a lot of arms, if they are 
not intercepted on the way. Write freely about your money matters. 

Your letter of the 22d, stating that you were in danger of another 
invasion, excited me considerably, and I at once set to work, and en- 
deavored to set every one here to work, to reach the President by every 
indirect influence I could command, in order to provide for throwing 
a military force between the invaders and the people. Among the 
number that I saw were Cass and Douglas, and it is very ])robable the 
proclamation is, in part, due to my efforts. Our people have my 
warmest sympathies. I had no communication on the subject except 
yours. If Col. Lane sent any it did not come to liand. Kead Robin- 
son what you think advisable of this letter and the proclamation, and 
say it is at my request. I would write him, but my time is much occu- 
pied, and this will answer as well. Have you the President's special 
message on Kansas ? I am thankful to G. W. Brown for a copy of 
the Herald with the Easton affair — have made good use of it. 
Yours, truly, 

A. H. REEDER. 



1156 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



TESTIMONY APPENDED TO THE MINORITY REPORT 

Deposition of Samuel F. 31. Scdters. 

The undersigned, Samuel F. M. Salters, states, on oath, that — 
" I emigrated into the Territory of Kansas in June, 1854, and set- 
tled in the neighborhood of Lawi'ence, and have lived there ever since. 
I came from Missouri to the Territory. I was present at the election 
held in the town of Lawrence on the 30th day of March, 1855. I was 
appointed by Gov. Reeder as a sort of marshal or sheriif ; his com- 
mission stated, marshal for three election districts — I think the 1st, 
4th, and 17th ; and, on the day of the election, I remained pretty 
much all day in tlie room where the judges held the election, for the 
purpose of preserving order, if any disturbance should arise. There 
was no disturbance, and consequently nothing for me to do in that 
capacity ; and I was not called on by anybody, as the election passed 
off as peaceably and quietly as elections usually do. There were a 
good many people there ;'raany of them I knew, and many of them I 
did not know. My acquaintance was reasonably extensive in that 
district. I knew about 400 voters who resided in the district, but I 
did not know near all of the resident voters of that district. So far 
as I know, all the resident voters of that district were present and 
voted. The free State men had a tent near the polls, in which were 
some eighty men — some thirty, or so, I conversed with myself. They 
voted the free State ticket, and the next day struck their tent and 
left. They told me that they had voted ; they had come to vote, and 
would leave, and not come back to the damned Territory until the 
next election. The pro-slavery candidates for council were Thomas 
Johnson and Edward Chapman; for the house of representatives, 
James Whitlock, A. B. Wade, and John M. Banks. The free State 
candidates for council were S. iST. Wood and J. R. Goodwin ; for the 
house of representatives, E. D. Ladd, Mr. Fowler, and John Hutch- 
inson. The pro-slavery candidates received a large majority of the 
votes polled there that day. There was a split in the free' State party, 
and some of the free State men voted tho pro-slavery ticket at that 
election. The above named free State ticket was regarded by some of 
the free State men as an abolition ticket, and some of the free-State 
men swore to me that they would not support an abolition ticket ; and 
whe« the election came on, they did not support the above named ticket, 
but voted for the pro-slavery men. I gave some of them pro-slavery 
tickets, which J saw tliem vote ; and others told me they had kept their 
word, and had voted for the pro-slavery ticket. Two of the judges of 
that election, which Gov. Reeder appointed, came, but the other did 
not, and those two appointed another, whose name, I think, was Theo- 
dore Benjamin ; the names of the other two were Hugh Cameron and 
a Mr. Abbott. Mr. Abbott resigned just as the election commenced, 
and tlie other two judges elected Mr. Crane in his place. The election 
then went on without any difiiculty. I was in the room all the time 
these changes in the board oi' judges were going on. Nobody inside 
or outside ol)jected to these appointments ; but some objections were 
made to Mr. Abbott's resignation, but of no particular character. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1157 

''At tlie time of the election of the 30th March, 1855, there was 
a majority of pro-sLavery residents in the Lawrence district. I was 
well acquainted in the district. There were about 200 free State resi- 
dent voters in that district, and there were from 300 to 400 pro-slavery 
voters at the polls that day whom I knew to be residents of that dis- 
trict, and a great many of them voted in my presence, and the others 
told me they had voted. 

"I have had many conversations with free State men, at various 
times, and they told me that they came out to Kansas under the aus- 
pices of the Emigrant Aid Company to make Kansas a free State ; 
and they told me that the paramount object of the Aid Company was 
to make Kansas a free State, and that they would make it a free State 
at all hazards ; that the east had men and money enough^ and nothing 
would be spared. All those free State people, principally, had come 
out to the Territory under the direction and under the control of the 
Aid Company. At the time of the election there were but few women 
and children in Lawrence. A majority of those men who were about 
Lawrence at the time of the election have left, and most of those that 
are there now have come since tlie election. 

"About the 1st of June, 1855, a boat, I think the 'Emma Har- 
man,' landed at Lawrence, and three or four large boxes were put 
off, and a Mr. Sim])son, I think, took charge of them. They were 
marked 'Books.' I saw them opened, and found them to be Sharpe's 
rifles. After the legislature had met, I was still among the citizens 
of Lawrence, and mixed with them, more or less, every day. And 
as soon as the legislative assembly had adjourned, they declared 
openly that they would resist the laws ; that they would have men 
and means to resist the laws, and would do so to a bloody issue. 
They then began to form military companies, armed with Sharpe's 
rifles, pistols, swords, and knives, and kept up regular drills. They 
told me that these guns were sent to them as a present. I asked them 
to give me one; they told me that unless I would take an oath to re- 
sist the law, even to the .bloody issue, I should not have one. I would 
not do so, as I told them, so I did not get the gun. I have heard Dr. 
Robinson, the leader of the free State party, speak several times ; I 
have also heard A. H. Reeder, J. H. Lane, Conway, and other men 
belonging to the free State party, speak. They all advised the people 
to resist the laws, and told them there was no law in the Territory, 
and pledged themselves, one to the other, that they would sacrifice 
their lives, rather than submit to the laws of the Territory. And 
these speakers told the people not to obey the writs of the courts, nor 
suffer an officer to take them ; that they would assist them, and one 
another, in resisting the officers. I was at a meeting, in Lawrence, 
where they passed resolutions setting forth tlieir determination to re- 
sist the laws; that they would sacrifice their lives, their honoi', their 
salvation, and everything, rather than submit to the Territorial gov- 
ernment, and from that time to the present have been resisting the 
laws. Before these men made these inflammatory speeches, the coun- 
try was quiet, but since then intense excitement has pervaded the 
whole country ; men have been murdered and robberies have been 
committed, and men^ women, and children driven from their once 



1158 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

peaceM and qniet liomes. Tlie primary cause of all the difficulties 
in Kansas may jnstly be attributed to Eeeder, Robinson, Lane, and 
others : for if it had not been for their advice, but few of the men 
whom they succeeded in getting to follow them Avould have been dis- 
posed to resist the laws, and the difficulties now upon the people 
would not have come upon them. These men — Eeeder, Robinson, 
Lane, and otlier prominent free State itien — excited the people to open 
resistance to the laws, and "[niblicly, and on all occasions, advised 
open resistance, telling tliem that tlie United States government would 
sustain tliem, and that Congress would sustain them. 

'' SAMUEL F. M. SALTEES." 

State of Mis.-=ouki, ) 

/ ss 
JacJcson count y, ) 

On the 11th day of June. A. P. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for tlie county and 
State aforesaid, Samuel F. M. Salters, who makes oath that the 
above and foregoing statement is true as therein set forth. The said 
Samuel F. M. Salters is the same who subscribed to the above and 
foregoing statement, and whose name a])pears thereto. 

Given under niy hand this 11 th day of June. A. D. 1856. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [seal.] 
Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missofri, I 
Count II of JacJcson, ^ "^ 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
"whose genuine signature appears to the above and foregoing affidavit, 
now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the ]ieace 
within and (or the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualilied, 
and that full laith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his 
official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 
|- , 1 the seal of said court, at office in the citv of Lidependence, 
i-^- ^^-J this 14th dav of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



Deposition of A. J. Bush. 

The undersigned, A. J. Bush, states, on oath : I came from Ken- 
tucky, and settled in Kansas Territory, near the town of Lawrence, 
on the 20th day of March, 1855. I was present at the election of the 
30th of ]\Iarch, 1855, held in the town of Lawrence. I was pretty 
much a stranger, and did not know at that time many people. I saw 
a good many people at that election, but did not know. but few of them. 
I voted. ]\ly political sentiments were not much known ; but very 
few persons knew which side I was on. I had no difficulty in voting. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1159 

There was a line fixed alongside of the cabin where the voting was 
done, so that there was a free passage for voters up to the polls with- 
out hindrance. Since the election, I have become well acquainted witii 
my squatter neighbors, and have had frequent conversations with 
them. I reside about three miles from Lavrreuce. In these conver- 
sations, some of my said neighbors told me that they were paid to re- 
main out here. That if they would stay in the country until after the 
March election, they would get two lots apiece for staying. 

John W. Taylor, a free State man, and a pretty smart man. is a 
leading counsellor in his neighborhood. In a conversation I had with 
him, he told me that the eastern people had sent out to the free State 
party in Kansas Territory a large number of Sharpes rifles, and would 
send our a large number more. 

I attended some three or four of their political meetiuLrs. I did 
not like the course of these free State men, so I did not take any part 
with them. I heard the speeches that were made by these men at the 
meeting which I attended, and the speakers pledged themselves, one 
to the other, that they would spill the last drop of their blood in re- 
sisting the laws. These sentiments were commonly sanctioned by 
shouts of Yes I yes! and great applause from those who were in at- 
tendance, by the crowd standing or sitting around; and that they 
would die, or come in as a State under the Topeka constitution. This 
sentiment was ako sanctioned by the people. At the uttering of this 
sentiment, the people would shout aloud and applaud. 

It is my opinion that the operations of the Emigrant Aid Society is 
the first and grand cause of all the troubles in Kansas ; and all the 
difficulties which have arisen in Kansas I fully believe have arisen 
from the sending of men, by the Emigrant Aid Society, to this Terri- 
tory, with the avowed purpose of making Kansas a free State. From 
all the facts and circumstances that have come to my knowledge, I 
am satisfied that if the Aid Company had not interfered in the settling 
of Kansas Territory, none of these troubles or difficulties would now 
be upon the people of Kansas. 

A. J. BUSH. 

State of ^Missonu, I 
Jackson County, ^ ' 

On the r2th day of June, A. D. 1856. personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace of the county and State afore- 
said, A. J, Bush, whose name appears to the above and foregoing 
statement, and makes oath that the above and aforegoing statement 
is true, as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal, this l'2th day of June, A. D. 1856. 
Sworn to and acknowledged before me. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 



ss. 



State of Missonn, I 
County of JacJ:6on, ^ 

I, Jolm Pi. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the 
county aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Thomas J. Ooforth, esq., 



1160 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of tlie peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and qualified, 
and that free faith and credit is due, and ought to he given to all his 
official acts, as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r -1 seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this 
L^- ^-J 13th day of June, A. D. ISoCd. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEX, Cler^-k. 



Deposition of T. Lahay. 

The undersigned, T. Lahay, states, on oath: I came to the Ter- 
ritory in August, 1854, from Missouri, and settled on the Wakarusa, 
about five miles from Lawrence, and have resided there ever since, I 
am a widower ; I have six children. I was not at the election of the 
30th of IMarch, 1855, When I first went to the Territory, in August, 

1854, I took with me two of my oldest hoys. In November, 1854, I 
Avent down to where I had lived for two of my daughters. In March, 

1855, I went after my two remaining children ; and about the 7th or 
8th of April, 1855, just after the March election, I went down to the 
State of Missouri with a two-horse wagon, for the purpose of bringing 
to my home in the Territory the remainder of my household goods. 
This trip I took eight men, who told *me that they were free State 
men. I took them down to Kansas City, Missouri, They told me 
that they had voted, and were going home to the east, where'they 
came from, and would never come back any more. They said they 
had come out to help to make Kansas a free State. As I went back 
to my home in Kansas Territory, which was in a few days after I 
arrived in Kansas City, I met on my road to Lawrence a great many 
eastern and northern emigrants — some in wagons, some on foot. I was 
stopped by a number of them, and talked to them, and they talked to me. 
They told me that they were from the east, and that they had come out to 
the Territory to help to make it a free State; that they had voted and 
were going home. After I got home I still had some things to bring 
from Missouri, and I went down in a day or two afterwards. This 
trip I took down to Kansas City six or seven free State men. They 
told me that they were from the east, and that they were free State 
men ; that they had come to Kansas Territory to help to make it a 
free State; that they had voted, and were going home, and were not 
coming back any more. I took to Kansas City in these two trips 
fourteen or fifteen. As I went back in a few days, on my road to 
Lawrence, I met a great many more men going towards Kansas City, 
I stopped and talked to some of them, and some of them talked to me, 
as on the trip before. They told me they were from the east; that 
they had come to Kansas to help to make it a free State ; that they 
had voted, and were going hence, and would not come back. I met 
in the two trips at least one hundred or more going towards Kansas 
City; and there were no women or children among them. My po- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1161 

litical sentiments were not known at that time, as I liad never made 
an open avowal ; and, inasmuch as I was silent -in politics, but a few 
persons l^new what side I was on. 

T. LAHAY. 



ss. 



State of MrssouRr, 
Jackson County, 

On the 12th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, T. Lahay, whose name appears to the above and afore- 
going statement, and makes oath that the above and aforegoing state- 
ment is true jis therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal, this 12th day of June, A. D. 1856. 
Sworn to and acknowledged before me. 

THOS. J. GOFOKTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missouri, ) 

/ ss 
County of Jackson, \ 

I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid^ do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and (jmilified, and that 
full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official 
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, 



[L. S.] 



this 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 



JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



' Deposition of Lucas Corleiu. 

The undersigned, Lucas Corlew, states, upon oath : I emigrated 
to the Territory in the month of August, 1854, fi'om Missouri, and 
have lived there ever since. I was present at the election of the 29th 
of November, 1854, held in the town of Lawrence. There was no 
difficulty, except that the judges of the election refused to take some 
pro-slavery votes which were offered, but afterwards took them. They 
refused some pro- slavery votes offered by men who resided in Bloom- 
ington, about eight miles from Lawrence, because, as thej^, the judges, 
said, they lived out of the district ; but I saw them receive the vote 
of an old man who goes by the name of " old man White," and who 
resided above Bloomington, further off tlmn where these pro-slavery 
men lived whose votes they had rejected. White lived about two miles 
above where these men were from. I then told them that it was 
wrong for them to refuse the Bloomington votes, on the ground that 
they wore out of the district, and then to receive votes that were fur- 
ther out. according to their 02union. They then took them Th 



1162 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

next difficulty occurred when Davis came to vote ; his name was 
Henry Davis. One of the judges offered to swear Davis, but Davis 
said to him, " I think you ought to know me Letter than that, for it 
has not been more than two weeks since I cauglit you stealing my 
timber^ and I drove you oif." This created a fuss, and a man by the 
name of Lewis Kibby took it up, and others joined Kibby in the 
quarrel. Davis and myself started home together. After we got out 
some mile and a half the roads forked — I went one way, and Kibby 
the other. When we got about three hundred yards apart, I saw a 
two-horse wagon going slow, and Davis overtake it. Davis was afoot. 
There were several in the wagon, and Kibby was one. As Davis ap- 
proached the wagon I heard the report of a gun or pistol. I saw 
Davis set down, and I thought he had been shot. I went to him as 
soon as I could, and when I got to him I found he had been shot with 
seven buck-shot; he died in a few minutes afterwards. I saw him 
die, and helped to bury him. Kibby was never punished. Kibby 
told me he had shot Davis, but it was in self-defence. The candidates 
were J. W. Whitfield, pro-slavery ; Judge Flenniken was the anti- 
slavery man, and Judge was the anti-slavery or free State 

candidate. 

I was at the election held in Lawrence on the 30tli day of March, 
1855 ; but I was not about the polls much. I was not much ac- 
quainted, except in my own immediate neighborhood. In my neigh- 
borhood the pro-slavery party had a majority. My neighbors voted 
at that election, and so did I. 

A free State man by the name of Benjamin Franklin Peas, from 
Massachusetts, boarded with me for some two months. He told me 
that the free State party had a secret organization, and that he be- 
longed to it. The object of it was to make Kansas a free State, and 
that they were sworn to obey the mandates of the officers of the or- 
ganization, or words to that effect. I heard many men of the free 
State party say that the laws of the Territory they would not obey, 
and they would resist the laws to the death, if needs be, rather than 
submit; that they had plenty of Sharpe's rifles to do it with. I acted 
as constable under the Territoriallaws, and there were but one or two 
men among them that ever obeyed a summons or writ, and these one 
or two only obeyed when I summoned them as jurymen before a jus- 
tice once ; but even then did not serve. 

If it had not been for the operation of the Emigrant Aid Societies, and 
sending men to Kansas in conjunction with the secret organizations in 
the Territory for the purpose of making Kansas a free State, there 
would never have been any difficulty or fuss in settling the-Territoi'y. 
The foundation, as I verily believe, of all our troubles now in Kansas, 
is owing to the aid and secret societies, and their operations. 

LUCAS CORLEW. 
State of Missouri, } 

Jackson count y, ) 

On the 11th day of June, A. D. 185G,* personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice ef the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, Lucas Corlew, whose name ap])ears to the above and 
aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above statement is true 
as therein set forth. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 116B 

Given under my hand and seal this eleventh day of June, A. D. 
eighteen hundred and fifty-six. 

Acknowledged and sworn to before me, 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [seal.] 

Jusiice of the Peace. 

State of Missoupj, ) 
County of JacJcson, ) 

1, John B. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Cloforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to tlie foregoing affidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned and qualified, 
and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his 
official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 

P -, seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence, this 

L^- ^--1 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Cleric. 



Deposition of Delana Corletu. 

The undersigned, Delana Corlew, states, on oath : I Avas present 
at the election lield on the 29th day of November, 1854, at the town 
of Lawrence, in the Territory of Kansas. I emigrated, with my fam- 
ily, to the Territory of Kansas, on the 15th or 20th of June, 1854, or 
thereabouts, and settled on the Wakarusa, about five or six miles 
from the town of Lawrence, and have resided there ever since. 1 was 
at the said election, and voted for General J. W. Whitfield. There 
were a good many people at that election ; they were residents of the 
district, so far as I know. I was at that time generally acquainted 
with the residents of the district. The election went off about as elec- 
tions that I attended in Missouri, before I went to Kansas. No one 
was prevented from voting, by threats or violence, but one man ; his 
name was Henry Davis. His vote was challenged by one of the judges 
of the election, a free State man ; whereupon a difficulty and quarrel 
took place, which created some exci cement in the crowd. The candi- 
dates were J. W. Whitfield, pro-slavery, R. P. Fleneken, free State, 
and Judge Wakefield, free State also. As I was going home in the 
evening, about two or three miles from Lawrence, I saw Henry Davis, 
or at least I thought it was him, some three or four hundred yards 
ahead of me ; he was going on his way home. I was on horseback, 
and he was afoot. About the time I hove in sight of him, I saw a 
two-horse wagon pass him, in which were several men. I heard the 
report of a gun, and I rode as fast as I could; and when I came up, 
I found that it was Henry Davis; he had fallen to the ground. Pie 
was taken home. He died in about fifteen minutes after he Avas shot, 
I saw him die. 

I was present at the election held in the town of Lawrence, on the 



1164 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

oOtli day of March^ 1855. I saw a great many people there. At that 
time Tj'iwrcJice district was thickly settled; almost all the claims in 
the surrounding country were taken up. I knew at least one hundred 
pro-slavery men. I saw no unusual difficulty ; the election went oif 
as elections generally go off. I saw none prevented from voting; no 
violence or threats were used to prevent men from voting. The pro- 
slavery ticket got a large majority. Thomas Johnson and Edward Chap- 
man were the pro-slavery candidates for the council, and J. K, Grood- 
win and S. N. Wood were the free State candidates for council. 
James Whitlock, John M. Banks, and A. B. Wade, were the pro- 
slavery candidates for the house of representatives. Hutchinson, Ladd 
and Fowjer were the free State candidates. 

DELANA + CORLEW. 

mark 

Witness : Thomas J. Gofortii. 

State of Missouri, } 
Jackson county, ) * ' ' 

On the 9th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before me, 
the subscriher, a justice of the peace, in and for the county and State 
aibresaid, Delana Corlew, whose name appears to the above and fore- 
going statement, and makes oath that the above and foregoing state- 
ment is true, as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal, this 9th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Fcace. ■ 



ss. 



State of Missouri; 
County at Jackson, 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomes J. Goforth, whose 
genuine signature api)ears to the within and foregoing atHdavit, now 
is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace 
within and for the countj^ aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, 
and that full iaith and credit is due, and ought to be given to all his 
ofiicial acts, as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r -| seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this 
■- ' ■-' loth day of June, 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1165 



Deposition of Paris Ellison. 

The undersigned, Paris Ellison, states on oath: That I emigrated 
from Missouri to Kansas, and settled at Douglas, the second district, 
in October, 1854, and have resided there ever since. I was present at 
the election held at Mr. Burson's, in the second, district, on the 30th 
day of March, 1855. I was appointed by Governor Reeder as one of 
the judges, and Mr. Burson and Mr. Ramsey, I think, were the other 
two. We met at Mr. Burson's house in the morning, before the hour 
to open the polls. Mr. Burson was a magistrate, appointed by Gov- 
ernor Reeder, and he qualified me and qualified Ramsey ; Ramsey 
qualified Burson. We appointed the clerks and qualified them; 
George W. Taylor was one of the clerks. My son Paris was very 
sick at the time, and I wanted to resign. I proposed to resign if the 
other judges would permit me to name a man to serve in my place. 
Judge Wakefield, one of the candidates on the free State ticket, was 
in the room, and interfered, telling the judges they had the power to 
giame the man. They refused to let me appoint a man in my place, and 
I determined to serve, and did serve. I remarked to the other judges 
that we were sworn to act impartially during the whole day. They 
said, yes, we are sworn to act impartially. We agreed that inasmuch, 
as they knew a great many voters that I did not know, and I knew a 
great many that they did not know, that those whom I knew should 
vote without swearing, and those whom they knew I would not -re- 
quire of them to be sworn. Under this agreement we commenced 
the election ; after some twenty-nine or thirty votes were taken, the 
pro-slavery party had some two to one against the free State party, 
the other two judges began to grumble. Dr. Brooks came up to vote ; 
I knew Dr. Brooks had a claim in that district, and had been on it, 
and had put a house on it. Dr. Brooks was a single man, and after- 
wards brought his mother there, and had resided there ever since. At 
the time of the election. Dr. Brooks claimed to be a citizen of the dis- 
trict. I knew him to be a resident, and under our agreement, I 
wanted to take his vote without swearing, but the other two judges 
refused to take his vote unless he would swear. This he refused to 
do, because he said that he had understood that under the agreement_, 
if Mr. Ellison took his vote without requiring him to swear, that 
was all that was necessary. The other two judges still refused to take 
his vote. The doctor stood at the window a long time, and said that 
unless they would let him vote, as he was a citizen of the district, and 
had been for some time previous, no other man should vote there that 
day. I told them that if they refused his vote it would create a fuss and 
confusion, and that it would be violating the agreement made before the 
election began, but still refused. Sherman Wofful then came up to vote, 
but they refused to take his vote without swearing. Sherman said that 
lie could prove by me that he was a citizen of the district, and had been 
a citizen of the district from the fall before. I knew that Mr. Woiful 
was a resident of the district^ for he was living there when I went to the 
district to live. I bought hay of Mr. Woiful before the election, which 
lie bad made and cured the summer before. They still refused to let 



1166 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

him vote unless he would swear. He refused to swear because the 
judges would not let liim prove his residence. He said he would not 
swear. I had not, up to this time, objected to any of the persons that 
came up to vote which the other two judges said they knew. I had 
kept the agreement made between us to the word and letter. On ac- 
count of this conduct, on the part of the other two judges, a fuss and 
confusion arose in the crowd outside of the house. While the fuss 
was going on I proposed to adjourn, as I told them I thought it would 
be over in a half hour or so. Mr. Burson thereupon adjourned for 
half an hour. He proclaimed the adjournment aloud. I told each one 
of the judges to pick up a poll-book. I took the ballot-box, which 
one of the other judges tried to take from me. I think it was Ramsay, 
but I am not certain. Sharp words were passed between us, but I 
kept the ballot-box ; they took the poll-books and went off. A man 
by the name of Jones asked me where the poll-books were. I told 
him that Burson and Ramsay had taken them off; he followed them 
and brought the poll-books back. I waited until the half hour had 
expired, and the other two judges did not come back. I waited ten 
minutes longer; I called them, but they did not come; I called them 
again, and they did not appear. I told the people that I would wait 
five or ten minutes longer, and if the other two judges did not come, 
they would have a right to select two men to act in their places. I 
waited ten minutes and they did not come, and the people elected two 
men to act in their places; namel}^, Sherman Woiful and Frank La- 
hay ; they were qiuilified. I asked Mr. Taylor to repeat the oath to 
them, which he did ; but, by mistake, Mr. Taylor signed the oath 
instead of myself. Mr. Taylor had been sworn in as clerk by Mr. Bur- 
son and Mr. Ramsay. Messrs. Wofful, and Lahay, and I, then opened 
the polls, and the election went off quietly during the remainder of 
the day. We kept the polls opened until 6 o'clock in the evening. 
Andrew McDonald was the pro-slavery candidate for the council, and 
Judge Wakefield was the free State candidate for council; 0. H. 
Brown and Mr. Ward were the pro-slavery candidates for the house 
of representatives ; Jesse was one of the free State candidates for the 
house and the other I do not remember. All the votes received, after 
we began the second time, were for the pro-slavery candidates. 

The ballot-box which I took possession of at the time of the adjourn- 
ment I carefully preserved, and did not open it until (3 o'clock in the 
evening. It was then opened in presence of the other two judges who 
had been selected by the people, and the clerks; the ballots were 
opened and counted ; and there were twenty-one votes for the pro- 
slavery ticket, and twelve votes for the free State ticket. When we 
commenced the election the second time we got another ballot-box. 

When I got there in the morning, there were some thirty or forty 
men present about the house, and when I went into the house I saw 
some fifteen or twenty guns standing in one corner of the house, which 
had been brought there by the free State men. AVhen the adjourn- 
ment took place, the guns were taken away by the free State men. 
These were all the guns that I saw on the ground. I did not see a 
gun in the hands of a pro-slavery man that day. There was no charge 
made with either guns or pistols or other weapons at the window, nor 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1167 

were there any threats of violence made by the pro-slavery men. 
There was no violence committed by the pro-slavery men there that 
day to the judges, nor were there any threats of violence offered as I 
saw. I did not see Mr. Samuel Jones pull out his watch and say to 
the judges, Kamsey and Burson, that he would give them live minutes 
to resign, nor did I hear him afterwards say to them that he would 
give them one minute to resign. If this had have occurred I would 
have seen and heard it, for I was in the house all the time and was 
at the door when these two judges came out. I did not see Samuel 
Jones in the house at any time while Ramsey and Burson were there. 
In my neighborhood I was well acquainted with the settlers there, and 
at the time of the election, and before, the residents were almost all 
pro-slavery. From what I knew myself, and the information received 
from the census taker and others, I am satisfied that the pro-slavery 
party had a decided majority in the second district. Governor Reeder 
attached the residents of the half-breed Kaw lands, opposite the second 
district, on the other side of Kaw river, to the Douglas or second dis- 
trict ; there were about sixteen or eighteen votes, and all of them pro- 
slavery men, and they voted that day. 

I have had many conversations with free State men, and they told 
me that there was no law in the Territory, and that they would resist 
the laws at all hazards. This conversation occured since the election. 
John Simmons, who is a free State man, told me that the Emigrant 
Aid Society had furnished him with money to come to Kansas to aid 
and help to make Kansas a free State. There was no fuss or confu- 
sion in the settling of the Territory until after the organization of the 
Emigrant Aid Societies, and the arrival of men sent out by these 
societies came amongst us. Before these men came amongst us, we 
had several meetings in regard to matters in which we squatters were 
interested, and we never had any fuss ; but as soon as they came the 
fuss commenced, and has continued ever since. From all that I heard 
and saw of these men, and what I know myself, I am satisfied that all 
the troubles in Kansas is traceable to and superinduced by the opera- 
tions and conduct of the Emigrant Aid Societies. There was no 
trouble or confusion until the men of the east began to come in and 
mingle with us. I mean by "'men of the east" men who have been 
sent out here by the Emigrant Aid Society. 

PARIS ELLISON. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
Jackson county, 

On this llth day of June, 1856, personally appeared beTore me, the 
subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and State afore- 
said, Paris Ellison, whose name appears to the above and foregoing 
statement, and makes oath that the above statement is true as therein 
set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal this llth day of Juno, A. D. 1856. 
Sworn to and subscribed before me, 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [seal.] 

Justice of the Peace. 



1168 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

State of ^IissorRi, } 
Counti/ cf Jackson, ^ 

I, John K. Swearingen. clerk of tlie coiintjconrt within and for tlie 
county atoresaid, do hereby certify that Thomr\s J. Goforth. esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the above atfidavit. now is. and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that 
full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official acts 
as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
P 1 seal of said court at office, in the citv of Independence, the 13th 
L^' ^•J dav of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN K. SWEARIXGEX, Clerk. 



Deposition of John M. Smith. 

The undersigned, John M. Smith, states, on oath: That I emigrated 
with my family to the Territory of Kansas, in January, lSo5, from 
the State of Missouri, and settled near the town of Douglas, in the 
second district. I w;is present at the election held in the second dis- 
trict on the 30th day of March, 1S.55. It was held at Mr. Squire 
Burson's house I saw a great many persons there, some two hundred 
in all. There were, at the least, that number of men who had claims 
in that district, and claimed the second district as their residence. 
Nearly all of those whom I saw there were men who had claims in 
the second district. Doctor Brooks and Sherman Wofful were resi- 
dents of the district, and had each of them a claim, and each of them 
had a house on their claim: they were both unmarried men, but wer: 
there on their claims most of their time. I was near the window 
when they came up to vote ; Doctor Brooks offered to vote first, and 
then Sherman Wofful offered to vote : both were objected to by Eam- 
.sey and Burson, two of the judges of the election, and would not take 
their votes unless they would swear to their residence; they. Dixnor 
Brooks and Wofful. said it was unfair to make them swear to their 
votes, when they, the judges, knew that they, Wofful and Brooks, 
were older residents than some of them, the judges. This produced 
a difficulty and confusion. Amid the confusion, Mr. Burson, oneo: 
the judges, came to the door, and in a loud voice proclaimed that the 
election was adjourned for half an hour. Burson, Eamsey' and other 
free State men went away. Burson nor Eamsey did not come back 
any more that day. Some of those men who went away with Burson 
and Eamsey carried away with them a number of guns, which they 
took out of the house. These were all the guns I saw on the ground 
that day. I did not see a gun in the hands of any pro-slavery man 
there, nor did I see pro-slavery men have arms of any sort there that 
day. There were no threats of violence offereil to any one as I sa^ 
that day, and no acts of violence were committed on the person oi 
any one. Upon the contrary, these men were asked to stay and vote, 
and were told that if they did stav that thev should not be hurt; but 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1169 

thev did not stay. After the hour of adjournment expired, the people 
present selected, two men to act in the places of Bursou and Ramsev ; 
the names of those two who were selected were Sherman Wofful and 
Mr. Lahay; ther called him Frank. The election then went on with- 
out difficultr. I saw some free State men there in the afternoon, and 
asked them to vote, and to vote their own sentiments, hut they re- 
fused, but did not give any reason. I was present when the ballot- 
box which was used in the beginning of the voting, was openeil. It 
was about six o'clock in the evening. I saw the votes counted : the 
pro-slavery candidates received, I think about twenty-three votes, 
and the free State candidates received twelve votes. These were the 
votes polled before Mr. Burson adjourned the election. I voted after 
the election commenced the second time, and I saw a great many 
others vote. All that I saw vote were residents of the district. I 
was personally acquainteil with many of them. From my knowletlge 
of the resident voters of the second district. I am satisfied that the 
pro-slavery party had the majority. Before the emigration fairly 
opened that spring, the whole surrounding country was taken up 
principally by pro-slavery men, and there were a number of men from 
free States worked for pro-slavery men, and at the election voted the 
pro-slavery ticket ; there were there three men from the free States 
working for me, and they voted the pro-slavery ticket. 

Mr. John Shimmons, a free State man, told me that he was sent to 
the Territory of Kansas by the Aid Society, and that the Aid Society 
were sending out sharp-shooters for the purpose of making Kansas a 
free State. He also told me that a hogshead, marked crockery ware, 
was re<?eived at Lawrence, but when it was opened it was full of 
Sharp's rifles. I asked him to sell me one; he told me that I could 
not buy one, for they were sent out here to make Kansas a free State. 

I am fully satisfied all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas is 
traceable to, and have been superinduced by, the operations and acts 
of the Emigrant Aid societies. If these societies had not sent men 
out here for the open and avowed purpose, as they stated themselves, 
to make Kansas a free State, I don't think any of these troubles and 
difficulties would have occurred. 

JOHN M. SMITH. 



State of 3Iissouri, ) 
Jackson county, ) ' 

On this 11th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me. the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, John M. Smith, whose nime appears to the above and 
aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above and aforegoing 
statement is true, as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of June, A. P. 18o6. 
Acknoledged and sworn to before me. 

THOMAS J. GOFOETH, [l. s.] 
Justice of the Peace. 
H. Eep. 200 71* 



1170 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson, 

I, Jolm E, Swearengen^ clerk of tlie county court, do hereby certify 
that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., whose genuine signature appears to 
the above affidavit^ now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting 
justice of the peace within and for the county 'aforesaid, duly elected, 
commissioned, and qualified, and that full faith and credit is due and 
ought to be given to all his official acts as such, as well in courts of 
justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r -| seal of said court at office, in the city of Independence, this 
L^- ^--J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARENGEN, Cleric. 



Deposition of 0. H. Browne. 

The undersigned, 0. H. Browne, on oath, says: I emigrated to the 
Territory of Kansas from Maryland, in August, 1854, and settled 6n 
the Kansas river in the second district, at Lecompton. I was a 
member of the legislature of that district. I was present at the 
election of the 30tli of March, 1854, in the second district, after the 
voting had commenced, and some votes taken. The crowd had left 
the window when I went up to vote ; there was no one in the room 
who would take my vote ; and it was said by somebody, that ho more 
votes would be taken there that day. The two free State judges, 
Ramsey and Burson, had gone off, and Samuel S. Jones went after 
them, and he brought back the poll books which had been carried 
6ff. Two other judges were selected, and the voting commenced 
again, and the election went off quietly. There was no violence used 
or threatened that day, from first to last, as I saw or heard. The 
first ballot box was carefully preserved unopened as it was left by 
the absconding judges; and another box was procured, in which the 
ballots that were received afterwards were deposited. When the 
polls were closed in the evening, tlie first ballot box was opened and 
the votes counted in my presence. There were thirty-three in all — 
twenty-one for 0. H. Browne, and the same nuua,ber for G. W. Ward; 
McDonald's A'^ote I do not recollect. The free State ticket received 
twelve votes. 

I w^as appointed to take the census by Governor Reeder, and did 
take the census; and was instructed, by Governor Reeder, to ascer- 
tain from every man from what State he emigrated. There were one 
hundred and twenty-seven from slave States, and seventy-two from 
free States — one hundred and ninety-nine (199) in all ; so that I am 
fully satisfied that the pro-slavery party had a majority of actual resi- 
dent voters at the time of the election. From the result of the census 
which I took, and the political sentiments of the people, which I as- 
certained in taking the census, there is no doubt on ,my mind that the 
pro-slavery party had a majority of actual resident voters. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1171 

I fully believe that the troubles and difficulties in Kansas Territory 
have been produced by the operation of the Emigrant Aid Societies 
from the north and east. 

0. H. BROWNE. 

State of Missouri, ? 
Jackson county, ) ' 

On the 13th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
rae, the subscriber, a justiee of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, 0. H. Browne, whose name a] pears to the above and 
aforegoing statement, and made oath that the above and aforegoing 
statement is true as therein set forth . 

Given under my hand and seal, this 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 
Sworn to and acknowledged before me. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 
Justice of the Peace. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson, 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the 
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Gofbrth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that 
full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, as well in 
courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this 
13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



[L. s.] 



Deposition of Rufus P. Doak. 

The undersigned, Rufus P. Doak, states, on oath, that I emigrated 
from Arkansas to the Territory of Kansas in September, 1854, and 
settled near Lecompton, in the second district, and still reside there. 
I was present at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, held at Mr, 
Burson's house, in the second district. As I went up to the house I 
saw two persons taking the poll books away ; Judge Wakefield was 
with them. After a while the voting commenced again and I voted. 
The voting went on without difficulty. I saw Mr. Burson and Mr. 
Ramsey go away just as I got to the election, and they did not come 
back any more. There was no voting going on when I got there. 
There was no violence done or threatened towards any one, as I saw, 
there that day. I was not much acquainted with the people of my 
district ; but I saw a good many persons at the election that day that 
I know now to be residents of the second district. Sometime early in 
December, 1854, as I was going home to my claim, near Lecompton, 



1172 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

from "Westport, where I liad been on business, I met a large number 
of persons travelling a foot, carrying carpet sacks. I talked to some 
of tliem. They told me that they had come out to the Territory of 
Kansas to vote ; had voted, and were then returning home to the 
east. They said that they had been sent out and had done what they 
came for. I often came down to Westport then as it was our nearest 
market ; and shortly after the election of the 30th of March, I was 
going home, travelling on the Lawrence road, I met a number of men 
who said they were in favor of a free State. These men which I met 
in December before said that they were from the east, and those whom 
I met shortly after the March election, also told me that they were 
from the east. These last named said that they were brought out by 
the Emigrant Aid society, for the purpose of making Kansas a free 
State. They said that they had voted, and that was all they promised 
to do, and were going home and would not come back any more ; but 
that the Emigrant Aid society had not fulfilled their promises, .and 
they cursed the Aid society, and Avere dissatisfied with the treatment 
of the Aid society. Captain Leanard, of Boston, who resides in Doug- 
las county, between Lawrence and Lecompton, told me, last winter, 
that ho had been sent out to the Territory by the aid society, and 
others had been sent with him, and that Sharp's rifles had been 
placed in tlieir hands to aid them in making Kansas a free State : 
that they intended to make it a free State, and would fight, if it was 
necessary to do so. And he said he believed it would be necessary, 
and that he had a large company of men that vrere ready at any 
minute. They were in the habit of drilling, and I have seen them go 
out to drill frequently. A Mr. Conner told me that Captain AYalker, 
who resides about half way between Lawrence and Lecompton, had a 
large company, armed with Sharp's rifles. Colt's revolvers, and sabres; 
that it was intended by them to make Kansas a free State or die in 
the attempt. I understood from Conner that this company, at first, 
was a secret organized company. Lieutenant Herd, who belonged to 
Captain Walker's company, told me that he was lieutenant, and that 
they drilled regularly, and after drill would deposit their arms at 
Walker's. I think all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas have 
been produced by the operation of the Emigrant Aid societies. I have 
frequently, during the tall and Avinter last past, seen numbers of free 
State men have Sharp's rifles. It was common for them to carry 
Sharp s rifles along with them. Last winter I l\eard Captain Leonard 
threaten the pro-slavery people. He said he would drive the pro- 
slavery party from the Territory, men, women, and children and all. 
From my knowledge of the resident voters in the second district, I am 
satisfied. tliat the pro-slaver v partv had a decided raajoritv. 

EUFUS P. DOAK. 



6fS. 



State of Missouri, 
Jackso7i count I/, 

On the 12th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and lor the county and 
State aforesaid, Eufus P. Doak, whose name appears to the above and 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1173 

foregoing statement, and made oath that the above and aforegoing 
statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given imder niy hand and seal tliis 12th day of June, A. D. 1S56. 
Sworn to and acknowledged before me, 

THOMAS J. aOFORTH, [seal.] 
Justice of the Peace. 

State of MiisouRi, ) 
County of Jacl-.^on. )"" 

I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the within and foregoing aflida- 
vit, now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the 
peace within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and 
qualitied, and that full laith and credit is due and ought to be given 
to all his official acts as such as Avell in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r -| seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this 
L^- ^-^ 13th dav of June, A. D. 185B. 

JOHX E. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



Deposition of Beverh/ Gentry. 

The undersigned, Beverly Gentry, states on oath that I emigrated 
from the State of 3Iissouri to the Territory of Kansas in October, 
1S51, and settled near Kansas river about six miles from Lawrence, 
in the second district. I was present at the election of March 30, 
1855. I voted. I was not about the polls much. I saw nothing 
more than what I had been accustomed to see at elections. When I 
went up to vote I was crowded a good deal, but was not hurt. I saw 
no violence there, nor did I hear of any threats of violence. I saw 
no guns in the hands of pro-slavery men that day, but I did see some 
free State men have guns, but they seemed to be peaceable enough. 
I am tolerably well acquainted in the second election district, and am 
tolerably well acquainted with the political sentiments of that dis- 
trict, and was before and at the election of the 30th of March, and I 
am satisfied in my precinct, the second district, the pro-slavery party 
had a decided majority previous to and at the election of the 30th of 
March. I mean a decided majority of the resident voters, men who 
had actually settled in the district. 

From all that I know, and have learned from others whom I be- 
lieve, I am fully satisfied tliat all the troubles and difficulties which 
are now upon the people of Kansas, and all the troubles and difficul- 
ties from the beginning, have been the result of the operation of the 
emigrant aid societies. Had not this society sent out to our Territory 
men for the purpose of making Kansas a free State, and had this aid 
society left the emigration free from the bonds of organization, no 
difficulty or trouble would have arisen in the settlement of Kansas — 
bloodshed and civil war would have been avoided. 

BEYEKLY GENTEY. 



1174 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
Jacl'son county, 

On the 12tli day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, tlie subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, Beverly Gentry, whose name appears to the above 
and aforegoing statement, and made oath that the above and afore- 
going statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal this r2th day of June, A. D. 1856. 
Sworn to and acknowledged before me, 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [seal.] 
Justice of the Peace. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson, 

1, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J, Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and 
that full iaith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official 
acts, as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this 
13th dav of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



[L. S.] 



Deposition of S. J. JVaful. 

The undersigned, S. J. Waful, states on oath, that I emigrated 
from New York to the Territory of Kansas, in June, 1854, and settled 
in the second district, near Douglas, and have resided there ever 
since. I was present at the election of the oOtli day of March, 1855, 
held at the house of Mr. Harrison Burson. I was one of the first at 
the election that day. Burson, Ramsay and Ellison were the judges. 
George W. Tavlor was one of the clerks. The voting had commenced 
(I think there were some thirty votes polled) before I went up to vote. 
"When I went up to vote, the two free State judges wanted to swear 
me. Ellison told them that the}^ knew me to be a legal voter ; but 
they still refused my vote. One of the free State judges has told me — 
it was Mr. Burson — that he has known me ever since he, Burson, was 
in the Territory ; yet he would not let me vote unless I would swear. 
While I was standing there, insisting to vote, two free State men, one 
from New York, and the other from Massachusetts, who had just ar- 
rived in the district the day before, came up to vote, and their votes 
were received and put in the ballot-box. One of the two just named — 
the one from New York — I saw the day before at Mr. Lewis' house, 
and he said he had just come to the country, and the other said he had 
just arrived. This affair produced a difficulty, and there was no more 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. ' 1175 

voting for a wliile. The people outside became indignant at tliis par- 
tiality. The free State men outside holloed to the judges, '' stick to 
it, and swear all the pro-slavery men." These two strangers were 
jiermitted to vote without swearing. Burson then come to the door and 
adjourned the election for half an hour, on account of the row outside, 
and he and Kamsay went away with the poll-books. The poll-books 
were brought back by Samuel J. Jones. Eamsay and Burson did not 
come back any more that day ; and wdien the time of adjournment had 
expired, I was elected by the people to act as one judge, and Frank 
Lahay was elected as the other. Mr. Ellison, Lahay and I then got 
another ballot-box and proceeded with the election. There was no 
more difficulty or confusion that day. The ballot-box first used by 
the first board of judges was carefully preserved unopened until we 
closed the polls in the evening. The polls were closed at six o'clock. 
We first opened the first ballot-box that was used that day, and 
counted the tickets. The free State party had twelve votes, and the 
pro-slavery party had twenty-one or twenty-two. The candidates for 
council Avere Andrew McDonald, pro-slavery, and J. A. Wakefield, 
the free State candidate. 0. H. Brown and Gr. W. Ward were the 
pro-slavery candidates for the house of representatives, and Jesse and 
one other man, whose name I do not remember_, were the free State 
candidates for the house. We then proceeded to count the ballots in 
the other box. I saw some of the free State men armed with guns 
that day; and there were some guns stacked in the house. I was well 
acquainted in the second district. I knew the political sentiments of 
nearl}^ all the resident voters ; and the pro- slavery party had a decided 
majority in the second district. 

I am fully satisfied that the action and operation of the Emigrant 
Aid Society has produced all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas, 
except the troubles and difficulties growing out of private quarrels. 
If the Emigrant Aid Society had not interfered with the settlement of 
Kansas, I believe peace and quiet would have been preserved. 

S. J. WAFUL. 

State of Missouri, } 
Jackson County, ^ 

On the 12th day of June, A. D. 185fi, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, S. J. AVaful, whose name appears to the above and a 
foregoing statement, and made oath that tlie above and a foregoing 
statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of June, A. D. 1856, 
Sworn and acknowledged before me, 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missouri, } 

' \ eg 

County of Jackson, ^ 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 



1176 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

whose genuine signature aj)pears to the within affidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that 
full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his official 
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence, this 
13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN K. SWEAEINGEN, Clerh. 



[L.S.] 



Deposition of C. N. MicMe. 

The undersigned, C. N. Michie, states on oath, that I emigrated to 
the Territory of Kansas in January, 1855, and settled about four 
miles below Lecompton, and have resided there ever since. I came 
from Virginia. Was present at the election of March 30, 1855, in 
the second district; went with about thirty or forty of my neighbors 
to the polls, all pro-slavery men. The polls were held at Burson's 
house. Burson, Ellison, and Ramsay were the judges appointed by 
the governor, and they opened the polls, and voting commenced. I 
was present at the polls when Dr. Brooke came up to vote. Burson 
and Ramsay refused to let him vote unless he would swear, which Dr. 
Brooke refused to do, because he was well known by Mr. Ellison, one 
of the Judges, to be a resident of the district. This produced a diffi- 
culty and confusion among the crown outside. After this I saw Bur- 
son and Ramsay come out of the house and Avalk oif, and neither of 
them came back any more that day, as I saw. Some time after they 
went away two others were appointed to act in their places ; Sherman 
Waful was one, and I do not recollect the other, but I think it was 
Frank Lalia. After these men were appointed the polls were reopened 
and voting commenced again. I saw no more difficulty or confusion 
after that. There were some thirty or forty resident pro-slavery voters 
in my immediate neigliborhood^ who went with me and voted. I did 
not know a freesoil voter in my neighborhood at that time. It is my 
opinion that all the difficulties in Kansas Territory resulted from the 
action of the Emigrant Aid Society in sending out men to make Kansas 
a free State. From the acquaintance I had in the second district, I 
am satisfied that the pro-slavery party had a large majority of resi- 
dent voters in that district. 

C. N. MICHIE. 

State of Missouri, ) 
Jackson county, \ 

On the 11th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, C. N. Michie, whose name appears to .the above and 
foregoing statement, and makes oath that the above and aforegoing 
statement is true as therein set forth. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1177 

Given under my liand and seal tliis lltli day of June, A. D. 1856. 
Acknowledged and sworn to before me, 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missouri, I 
County of Jackson, ^ 

1, Jolm R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned^, and qualified, 
and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his 
official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r -| seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this 
L^- ^-J thirteenth day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN E. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



Deposilion and statement of L. B. Stateler. 

At an election held for the third district, at the town of Tecumseh, 
K. T., 30th of iM arch, 1855. Judges appointed by Governor Reader, 
Messrs. L. B. Stateler, Burgess, and H. N, Watts. 

1st. A consultation held by the three judges in reference to the 
form of oath, two proposing to take the organic act as their guide, 
the other (Burgess) determining to take the form prescribed by the 
governor; 2d. two wishing to have clerks, the other (Burgess) refu- 
sing to have any ; whereupon Mr. Watts resigned; the other two not 
agreeing as to the manner of conducting the election^ Stateler pro- 
posed to Burgess that w^e all mutually consent to resign, to which he 
(Burgess) consented, and it was proclaimed from the window to the 
assembled voters without ; whereupon they proceeded according to the 
governor's instructions in an orderly manner to elect other judges to 
till the vacancy, and proceeded to business. 

The pro-slavery voters generally present, and voted. The free- 
soilers did not generally attend, though not prevented from either 
attending or voting, as those who were present did vote. 

There was some excitement existing at the time in the Territory, 
which was attributed by all sober, reflecting men to the Emigrant 
Aid Society's movements in bringing into the Territory a great num- 
ber of men at the time of the election in March, most of whom were 
men without families, many of Avhom returned soon after the election 
w^as past to their former homes. At our fall election for delegate to 
Congress the first time, I was appointed by the governor as one of the 
judges, and a more quiet election I never witnessed ; all parties came 
together as neighbors and voted and went their way ; and so I think 
it would have remained but for the foreign interference referred to 
above. 

L. B. STATELER. 



1178 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

State of Missouri, 



Jackson county, '' 

On the lotli day of June, A. D. 1850^ personally appeared before me, 
the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and State 
aforesaid, L. B. Stateler, whose name appears to the above and lore- 
going statement, made oath' that the above and foregoing statement 
is true and correct as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal, this 13th day of June, 1856. 
[l. s.] Sworn and subscribed to before me^ 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, 

Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missouri, ) 
County of Jackson, \ 

I, John R. Swearengen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the within and foregoing affidavit, 
now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the j^eace 
within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, 
and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his 
official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the 
r -| seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this 
L^- ^*J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARENGEN, Clcrh. 



Deposition of Isaac M. Edwards. 

The undersigned, Isaac M. Edwards, states on oath: 

I emigrated to the Territory of Kansas in September, 1854, and 
settled in the third district, near Tecumseh, and have resided there 
ever since I came from Illinois. I was present at the election of the 
30th of March, 1855. I was about the polls pretty much all the day. 
I saw no violence used or threatened toward any one, nor did I hear 
of any in regard to voting at all. Free State men were invited to 
come to the polls and vote. I heard of a difficulty that day, but it 
was not in relation to the election or voting, but was a private diffi- 
culty between Mr. Stinson and Mr. Burgess. I am pretty well ac- 
quainted throughout the third district, and know pretty generally the 
political sentiments of the people, and I know that there was a large 
majority in favor of the pro-slavery party. I saw them all at the 
election, with a few exceptions, and saw a great many of them vote. 
It is my opinion that all the difficulties and troubles have been pro- 
duced by the operation of the Emigrant Aid Society. I am satisfied 
that if the Emigrant Aid Society had not sent men out to the Terri- 
tory of Kansas for the purpose of making it a free State, there would 
be no trouble or difficulties in the Territorv. 

ISAAC M. 'EDWARDS. 



ss. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1179 

State of Missouri, 
Jackson county, 

On the 11th day of June^. A. D. 1856, personally appeared hefore 
me the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, Isaac M. Edwards, whose name appears to the above 
and a foregoing statement, and makes oath that the above and fore- 
going statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal, this 11th day of June, A. D. 1856. 
Acknowledged and sworn to before me, 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson, 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the above and foregoing affidavit, 
now is, and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace 
within and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, 
and that full faith and credit is due to all his oflicial acts as such, as 
well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r ^ I seal of said court, at office in the citv of Independence, this 

JOHN R. SWEARIXGEX, Clerk. 



Deposition of Robert A. Edioards. 

The undersigned, Robert A. Edwards, states on oath that I 
emigrated to the Territory of Kansas in the summer of 1854, and 
settled in the third district near Tecumseh. I came from Illinois. I 
have resided on my claim near Tecumseh ever since the summer of 
1854. I was, and am yet, pretty well acquainted in Tecumseh and 
vicinity. I was present at the election for members of the legislature, 
held in Tecumseh on the 30th of March, 1855. I was about the polls 
all day. I saw no violence used or threatened towards any one, nor 
did I hear of any in regard to voting at all. But, on the contrary, I 
saw and heard the free State men invited to come to the polls and 
vote. None accepted the invitation. I heard of a difficulty on that 
day, but it was not in relation to the election or voting in any way ; 
that difficulty was between Thomas N. Stinson and Mr. Burgess. It 
was a private afiair. Mr. Burgess had said to me, in a conversation 
in regard to the reserves of Mr. Stinson and Mr. E. Boshman — the 
latter an Indian — "that he did not look upon any man who would 
marry an Indian as any better than a man who would marry a negro ; 
that he thought a negro was better than an Indian, and, for his part, 
that he would rather marry a negro than an Indian." The above, as 
quoted, to my recollection and belief, is the exact language of Mr. 
Burgess. I told Mr. Stinson of the conversation I had had with Mr. 



1180 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



Burgess. Mr. Stinson said that he would go immediately in the 
house and attack Mr. Burgess. This is all took place in the morning 
before the polls had been opened. Mr. Stinson left immediately upon 
saying that he would do so, and walked into the house. I did not 
see or hear what passed between Mr. Stinson and Mr, Burgess in the 
house. I am pretty well acquainted in the neighborhood of Tecumseli, 
and I examined the poll list when tlie committee was at Tecumseh. 
I mean the poll lists of the third district, upon which are recorded 
the names of those who voted on the 30th March, 1855, and I find on 
the said j)oll-list the names of the following men, whom I knew to be 
actual residents of the Territory and district at the time of the elec- 
tion of the 30th March, 1855 : 



John W Kavanaugh 

Owen C Stewart 

F A Wentworth 

W A Sublett 

G M Holloway 

J R Warren 

Jesse Michiner 

Wafer Satterwhite 

T N Stinson 

D W Hunter 

J C Riggs 

R H Matthews 

Thomas West 

B Wilks 

A D M Hand 

Jerry Nicham 

W A Owen 

Jerome Bowles 

Isaac Strother 

Jacob Piles 

P Wood 

Joseph McConnald 



E G Vaughan 
John Piles 
L W Swearingen 
James Henin 
H N Natty 
J H Weaver 
Copeland 
John Horner 
Samuel P McCutchin 
James M Small 
T W Hays 
Horatio Cocks 
J R Waysman 
a W Berry 
P C Boggs 
Robert A. Edwards 
Peter Croco 
A G Brown 
A J Kelly 
Edward Uptegrapli 
W R Boggs 
Edmund Byerly 



H. AV. Brady, M. H. Christian, L. B. Stateler, Charles Alexander, 
Francis Grassmuck, John Sailing, A. F. Byler, J. M. Edwards, L. P. 
Chilson, J. R. Agee, H. Z. Quishenbery, H. J. Strickler, D. L. Croys- 
dale, William Pickerel, W. A. M. Vaughan. I am satisfied that, at 
the time of the election of the 30th March, 1855, that there was a 
large majority of the resident voters in favor of the pro-slavery party ; 
quite all, if not all, of the pro-slavery residents of the third district 
voted at that election. It is my opinion, and the opinion of the 
neighbors generally, that all the difficulties and troubles in Kansas 
were produced by the operations of the Emigrant Aid Society. I am 
satisfied that, if the Emigrant Aid Society had not sent men out to the 
Territory of Kansas for the purpose of making it a free State, the 
troubles and difficulties that are now upon us would have never oc- 
curred. 

R. A. :EDWARDS. 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1181 

State of Missouri, ) 
Jackson county, ) 

On tlie 11th day of June,, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, tlie subscriber^ a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, Kobert A. Edwards, whose name appears to the above 
and aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above and afore- 
going statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal, this 11th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

Acknowledged and sworn before me. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missouri, 
County of Jachson. 

I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is, 
dnd was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and quali- 
fied, and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all 
his official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the 
r -, seal of said court at office, in the city of IndeDcndcnce, this 
L^- ^'J 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



ss. 



Deposition of TV. A. M. Vaughan. 

The undersigned, W. A. M. Vaughan, states on oath that I emi- 
grated from Nebraska Territory to Kansas Territory, in November, 
1854, and settled at the town of Tecumseh, in the third district. I 
opened a store, and have been keeping store in Tecumseh ever since. 
On one Sunday morning, a short time before the election of March 
30, 1855, a party of men, some six or seven, came to our store and 
waked us up. A young man, Sublett, was doing business for me, 
and was in bed with me. After the door was opened they came in ; 
Mr. Sublett asked them where they were from, and remarked, from 
the east, I suppose. One of them replied that they were from Penn- 
sylvania. They said they were free State men, and had been brought 
out by Governor Reeder. They also said there was a company of 
eighty, made up in Easton, Pennsylvania, who were coming in time 
for the election, and that they Avere furnished money by Governor 
Reeder's secretary, at Easton, to come out on. They said tliey were 
determined to make Kansas a free State, and that they had been 
directed by Governor Reeder to go to Pawnee, and there they would 
find some one who would give them further directions. I saw three 
of them returning, and they told me they were very much dissatisfied, 
and that Reeder had told them a pack of damned lies. As they were 



1182 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

going up, they remarked that they presumed they knew of the elec- 
tion in Pennsylvania before the people did here in Kansas. This was 
drawn out by Mr. Sublett passing himself off to them as a free State 
man. 

It is my opinion that all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas are 
traceable to and were superinduced by the operations and acts of the 
Emigrant Aid Societies, and I am satisfied, that if the Emigrant Aid 
Societies had not sent men out to the Territory of Kansas, for the 
purpose of making Kansas a free State, these troubles and difficulties 
would never have occurred, and have heard free State men utter the 
same opinion. I Avrote several letters to citizens of Missouri, inform- 
ing them that I had seen and conversed with free State men, who told 
me that they had been ^ent out to Kansas by the Emigrant Aid So- 
cieties to make Kansas a free State, and that they, these free State 
men, also told me that large numbers more were coming. 

I am one of the oldest settlers in the third district, and have kept 
store in Tecumseh ever since I went to the Territory, and have had a 
good opportunity to know the political opinions of the people of the 
third district, and I am satisfied that there was a decided majority of 
the pro-slavery party in the third district at the time of the election 
of March 30, 1855. I mean of the actual settlers of the district, and 
that Hiram J. Strickler and David L. Croysdale were elected by the 
actual residents of the district. 

Some of the men who signed and swore to the protest against the 
election at the third district, on the 30th of March, are now indicted 
for perjury. Mr. Burgess is one of the men who is indicted for per- 
jury. He was indicted by the grand jury of Shawnee countv. 

WM. A. M. VAUaHAN. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
Jackson county, 

On the 11th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, W. A. M. Vaughan, whose name appears to the above 
and aforegoing statement, and makes oath tliat the above and fore- 
going statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of Jn^c, A. D. 1856. 
Acknowledged and sworn to before me, 

THOMAS J. GOFOBTH, [seal.] 

Justice of the Peace. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson^ 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Groforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears ^ the above affidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that 
full faith and credit is due to all hip official acts as such, as well in 
courts of justice as thereout 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1183 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set ni}' hand and affixed the 
r ^ -, seal of said court at office, in the city of Independence, this 
l-^- •"•J 14th day of June, A. D. 185G. 

JOHN R. SWEAEINGEN, Clerk. 



Deposition of Samuel Scoff, 

The undersigned, Samuel Scott, states on oath that "I emigrated to 
the Territory of Kansas, from the State of Missouri, in the month of 
December, 1851, and reside there still; I settled in the fifth council 
district. I was present at the election of the 30th of March, held in 
that district on Little Sugar creek, at Stockton's house, at a place 
called " The Sugar Mound." Mr. Stockton was one of the judges ap- 
pointed by Reeder, he acted; the names of the other two I do not now 
recollect, but I know them. David Lykins and A. M. Coifee were the 
pro-slavery candidates for the council, and Wm. A. Heiskell, Henry 
Younger, Allen Wilkinson, and myself were the pro-slavery candi- 
dates. All resided in the district at the time of the election, and all 
reside there still except Mr. Younger. I think he sold out and left. 
Mr. Fox and Mr. Morris were the free State candidates for the council, 
and Messrs. Houser, Jennings, Poor, and a Mr. Surple were the free 
State candidates. Mr. Surple was an Englishman. The election 
went on quietly and there was no disturbance or difficulty. At a 
grocery there was some little confusion and noise, but nothing in re- 
gard to the election. I was and am still well acquainted with the 
resident voters in my precinct. All the persons that attended at that 
precinct were actual residents of the district except one, and he said 
he had a claim. From my knowledge of the actual resident voters 
who reside in that district, the fifth council district, the pro-slavery 
party had a majority. There were some ten or fifteen free State men 
came from Fort Scott district and voted in our district. 

Mr. Surple, one of the free State candidates, came to me in Febru- 
ary, 1855, and told me that the free State party had chosen him as 
one of the standard bearers of the free State party, that he was op- 
posed to the extension of slavery, and in favor of making Kansas a 
free State. He told me that there was a society in the east formed 
for the purpose of making Kansas a free State, and abolishing slavery 
in the United States. He said that this society had money, men, 
and means, and would not cease their operations until they would 
abolish slavery in the whole country. He also said a similar society 
had been formed in London (in Europe) for the same purpose. He 
said that he was an Englishman. He said that he had been in Eng- 
land three or four times since he had first come to the United States, 
which was about eight years ago, as he said. This induced me to 
become a candidate. I have not seen Mr. Jennings, one of the free 
State candidates for the house in our district since the election, he left 
directly after the election. At that time I knew a large majority of 
all the settlers of the fifth council district, and at the time of the elec- 
tion the pro-slavery party had a decided majority of the actual residents. 

I am fully satisfied that the foundation of all the troubles in Kansas 



1184 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

have sprung from the operation of tlie Emigrant Aid Society. I have 
heard free State men saj that they were satisfied that the Emigrant 
Aid Society has been the whole cause of the troubles and difficulties 
in Kansas. And they said that they would never have any thing 
more to do with the aid societies. As they believed the unlawful deeds 
done in the Territory were done on account of the aid societies. ^Yhen 
these ten or fifteen men came from Fort Scott district the friends of 
our side told me to try and stop them. I said let them vote, we will 
beat them any how. 

SAMUEL SCOTT. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
Jackson county, 

On the 13th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace, in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, Samuel Scott, whose name appears to the above and 
aforegoing statement, made oath that the above and aforegoing state- 
ment is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal, this loth day of June, A. D. 1856. 
Sworn to and acknowledged before me, 

THOS. J. GOFOKTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 



ss. 



State of Missouni, 
Count 1/ of Jackson, 

I, John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the 
county aforesaid, do hereby certify, that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the within affidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned and qualified, and 
that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official 
acts as such, as wel^ in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
P -] seal of sa d court, at office in the citv of Independence, this 
L^- ^--i 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN K. SWEAKINGEN, Clerk. 



Deposition of William A. HeiskeU. 

The undersigned, \Yilliam A. Heiskell, states on oath that I emi- 
grated to the Territory of Kansas in 1849, and located at the Sac and 
Fox agency, and have resided in the Territory ever since. I was ju-e- 
sent at the election of the 30th of March, 1855, held in the fifth coun- 
cil district, at the Old Catholic Mission, on Big Sugar creek. The 
candidates were David Lykins and A. M. Coffee, pro-slavery, and Mr. 
Fox and Mr. Morris, free State; the above were the candidates for 
council. For the house of representatives the pro-slavery candidates 
were Samuel Scott, Henry Younger, Allen Wilkinson, and myself. 
The free States candidates Houser, Poor, Jennings, and the name of 



KANSAS AFFAIKS. 11S5 

the other I do not now recollect. The names of the judges were 
Smith. Tucker, and Brown. The polls were opened about the time 
mentioned in the governor's pr<x?lamation, I think S o clock was the 
hour. At this precinct there were no rotes oftered or received that day 
but actual resident voters. I was well acquainted in this precinct and 
knew almost every voter that was there that day on both sides. All 
voted escept two or three of the free State party ; one of them. ^Mr. 
Dyer, told me that the reason he did not vote was that he was dissat- 
isfied with the free State ticket. They voted by secret ballot. There 
was no fuss or confusion at the polls that day. except that Mr. Arthur, 
one of the judges, refused to record a vote which was believed to be 
good by the other two judges. 3Ir. Arthur persisting in his objec- 
tions, and the other two judges insisting that the voter waslegally 
entitled to vote, made the only fuss or confusion. Mr. Arthur with- 
drew and refused to act. and 3Ir. Smith was appointed in his place ; 
the election then went on quietly. The pro-slavery ticket, I think, got 
fifty-six votes, and the iree State ticket about eighteen. The actual 
settlers of that precinct were pretty generally out at the election. • I 
am well acquainted with the actual residents of that precinct and I 
know that the pro-slavery party had a large majority in that precinct 
of actual residents at the time of the election. I was at that time and 
am still pretty w«ll acquainted with the actual settlers of the whole 
council district ^o. 5. and I am satisfied that the prc-slavery party at 
the time of the election had a majority of the actual residents of that 
council district. Many of the free State party were dissatisfied with 
their ticket. The tree State emigration into our district about the 
time of the election was greater than at any time, before or since, for 
the same length of time. I fully believe that the operation and or- 
ganization of the Emigrant Aid Society, and other kindred societies, 
have been the foundation of all the troubles and difficulties in Kansas 
Territory. 

Some of the free State men before the election told me that they 
would vote the pro-slavery ticket, and a good many of the free State 
men told me alter the election that they had voted the pro-slavery 
ticket. 

A. M. Cofiee, one of the pro-slavery candidates lor the council, 
came to the Territory to reside before the 30th of March election, and 
has resided in the fifth council district ever since. David Lykins has 
resided in the fifth council district for eight or ten years. Samuel 
Scott and Allen Wilkinson bith resided in the district betore the elec- 
tion, and reside there still.^ WilkiRSon is dead. Henry Younger 
lived in the Territory before the election. The three last were candi- 
dates for the house. 

WM. A. HEISKELL. 

State of Missouri; I 
Jackson county, ^ " 

On the 13th day of June, A. D. 1356. persc>nally appeared before 
me the subscrib»er, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid. Wm. A. Heiskell. whose name appears to the aobre 
H. Rep. 200 75* 



ss. 



1186 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

and foregoing statement, and made oath that tlie ahove and aforego- 
ing statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal this 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 
[l. s.] Sworn to and acknowledged before me. 

THOMAS J. GOFOETH, 

Justice of the Peace, i 

State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson, 

I, Jolm R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for 
the. county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and 
that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official 
acts, as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r 1 seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this 
L^- ^-J 13th dav of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN E. SWEAEINGEN, Clerk. 



Affidavit of Thomas Johnson. 

I liereby certify that a short time before the meeting of the Kansas 
legislature at Pawnee, that I had an interview with Governor Eeeder, 
and endeavored to persuade him to change his proclamation, and call 
the legislature together at some other place, as we understood that 
suitable arrangements could not be made in time, and a large portion 
of the members elect had petitioned to have the place of meeting 
changed, He told me that, if he could get definite information, that 
suitable preparations, such as he bad ordered, were not made or could 
not be made in time, that he would change his proclamation. But he 
supposed that if we did convene at Pawnee and found that we had not 
suitable accommodations, that we would adjourn to some other place ; 
and said if that should be the case he would acquiesce and go with us. 
He said that if the wording of the Kansas bill had been the same as 
that of Nebraska, there Avould be some doubt as to our right to 
adjourn to another place. But the language of the Kansas bilfbeing 
entirely different, no question could be raised on that subject. And 
on the same evening after tbis interview, reliable information was 
received that the expected preparations had not been made, and could 
not be made in time for the session of tbe legislature. But Governor 
Eeeder did not change his proclamation as "he had promised to do, 
and never assigned any reason why he did not. 

I further testify that, after we got to Pawnee, nearly all of the 
members of tbe legislature had to camp out in the open sun, and do 
their own cooking, without even a shade tree to protect them ; for 
there were no boarding houses in the neighborhood, excepting two 



KANSRS AFFAIRS. 1187 

unfinished shanties, which Avere not sufiicient to accommodate one- 
fifth part of the people who had business with the legishiture ; and, 
in addition to this, I will add that the cholera broke out while we 
were there, and one man died with it, and several members and clerks 
of the legislature had strong cholera symptoms before we adjourned. 

THOMAS JOHNSON. 
June 5, 1856. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, an acting justice of the peace 
in and for Jackson county, State of Missouri. 

THOMAS J. GOFOETH, J. P. 
June 5, A. D. 1856. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson, 

I, John K. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Groforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and quali- 
fied, and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all 
his official acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r -, seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this 
f-^- ^--1 13th day of June, 1856. 

JOHN K. SWEAKINGEN, Clerk. 



Affidavit of Samuel A. Williams. 

I am a resident of the Territory of Kansas, and have been since 
the 1st of March, 1855 ; was a candidate for the legislature in the 
sixth representative district, and was elected as one of the represent- 
atives of that district. A. H. Keeder issued his proclamation calling 
us together at the town of Pawnee, to meet on the first Monday of 
July, 1855. Pawnee is about one hundred and fifty miles up the 
Kansas river, is on the out edge of the settlements, or was, at that 
time, if there was any settlers west of Pawnee. At that time I did 
not know it was so remote from my district that I could not corre- 
spond with my family or constituents, as there was no mail facilities; 
the accommodations there were very bad; so bad, in fact, that a great 
portion of the members were compelled to camp out, and sleep on the 
ground, and cook for themselves ; there was but one house for board- 
ers, and that was mean and small. I and two others got boarding at 
the fort, about one and a half miles from the warehouse we met in, 
which I had to walk to my meals under a July sun. I begged hard 
before I could get it; it was a mess house some of the officers of the 
post had. There was considerable sickness, reported to be cholera, 
before we left Pawnee, and some of the members were very much 



11<^8 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

alarmed. The house we met in had hut two rooms, and was not com- 
pleted ; they worked on it all day the Sunday hefore the meetino- to 
get the roof on ; the floors were loose, and it had no doors or windows 
As long as we staid there, we had no room for a committee to meet 
and, in consequence, we could not remain in session more than one or 
two hours at a time. 

SAMUEL A. WILLIAMS. 

Subscribed and sworn to, before me, this 9th day of June A. D, 
1856. 5 • ' 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, 
Justice of the Peace, Jackson county, Missouri. ' 

State of Missouri, ) 
County of Jackson, ) ^^' 

I, John R. Swearengen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq 
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
?n i^^.i^^'^^^ aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that 
lull faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his official 
acts as such, as well m courts of justice as thereout 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 

[l. s.l f,^ ^ ^^'i f "^'*^ ft office, in the city of Independence, this 
^ -■ 14th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



Deposition of William JBarbee. 

State of Missouri, ) . 
Jackson county, \ ' 

. On the sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and fifty-six, personally appeared before me, the under- 

^'^■f .{r,/'' ''^''^ *^"^" P^'^^^ "^ ^^^^ f<^^' tl^e county and State afore- 
said William Barbee who deposeth and saith : That the members 
elect of the first legislative assembly of the Territory of Kansas met 
at the Shawnee Mission sometime in the early, part of April, 1855, 
and while there memorialized Governor Reeder to call them together 
at an early day, as many of us believed at the time there were no s 
laws in force in the Territory by which crimes could be punished and 5 
civil wrongs redressed ; and he was also asked, in the same memorial, 
to assemble the legislature at some other place than Pawnee. The 
requests thus made were refused, and the legislature, by proclamation 
of the governor, assembled at Pawnee on the second day of July, 1855 
When we (I being a member of the council) got to Pawnee we-found 
but three or four inhabitable buildings, and but one house at which 
any of us could be accommodated, and at that house but a small por- 
tion of the members and officers of the legislature could be accommo- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1189 

dated, so that tlie greater portion of the members and officers of both 
branches of the assembly were obliged to camp out beneath a scorch- 
ing July sun — there being no trees or other shelter from the burning 
sun — and procure provisions, cook, and wash for themselves. In the 
meantime, during the sitting of the legislature, the cholera broke 
out, and many died from attacks of the cholera. Provisions at last 
became scarce^ and the weather was so dry and hot that the beef on 
hand spoiled, and no beef could be had, and scarcely any other kind 
of meat, and no vegetables. There was no provender, except the burnt 
grass of the prairie, for our horses, and no shelter or place to keep 
them, but were obliged to picket them out, at a risk of losing them. 
The house in which we were to meet, on Sunday morning before the 
Monday on which the legislature was to assemble, had no floors up 
stairs nor down stairs, neither were there any doors or windows to it, 
so that the exposure to the sun was nearly as great in that house as 
out of it. On Sunday the floors were laid loosely down, but neither 
windows or doors were put to the building during the time we re- 
mained there. Believing that Governor Reeder would have sufficient 
accommodations prepared for us we took little or nothing of material 
for camp life, so that we were wholly unprepared to protect ourselves 
against the weather, as well as to protect ourselves against hunger. 
Many of us were obliged to lie on the ground. The house in which 
Governor Reeder was quartered was comfortable, and nearly as large 
as the hotel, (as it was termed,) and occupied half of it himself. 
Although we were within a mile or a mile and a half of Fort Riley, 
a United States government post, yet if we would not have taken some 
provision with us we would have ^been without anything to eat, for 
we could get nothing of the sort at the fort. Pawnee is situated on 
the Kansas river, about one hiindred and forty or fifty miles from its 
mouth. While there we could have no communication with our fami- 
lies or constituents, except by private messengers. There were but 
two rooms in the house where we were assembled, one for the council, 
and one for the house, and no room in the town could be procured for 
a committee to deliberate. It was impossible, almost, for legislation 
to be done. Unless the two houses would adjourn from time to time, 
no business coiild be prepared by the committees for the action of the 
respective houses. If we had remained there, but little legislation 
could have been done> as the committees would have been of necessity 
forced to meet in daylight, on the open prairie, beneath the power of 
a hot sun in the months of July and August. The foregoing I should 
state before the " Kanzas investigating committee" if permitted, but 
not being allowed to do so before them, I make the statement and 
swear to it before a justice of the peace. 

WM. BARBEE. 

Acknowledged before me, June 6, 1855. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, 

Justice of the Peace. 



1100 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 



ss. 



State of Missourt, 
County of Jackson, 

Be it remcmborod, that on tliis sixth day of June, A. D. 185G, per- 
sonally came hc'fore nie, the luulersijiued, justice of the peace in and 
for the county ami State aforesaid, William Barhee, whose name is 
suhserihed to the loregoing statement, and, upon his oath, states that 
the above and foregoing statements are true as set forth. 

Given under my hand, tliis sixth day of June, A. D. 1850, 

THOMAS J. GOFOKTPI, 

Justice of the Peace. 

Statk of IMrssouRi, ) 
Countij of Jackson, ) 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court Avitliin and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. (xolorth, esq., 
vt^hose genuine signature appears to the foregoing attidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and qualified, 
and tliat full faith and credit is due to all his olHcial acts as such, as 
well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ray hand and affixed the 
r, 1 seal of said court at oitice in the city of Independence, this 
L'" ^--1 thirteenth day of xipril, A. D'. 1S5G. 

JOHN K. SWEARINGEN, Clcvh. 



Deposition of Alexander S. Johnson. 

I am a citizen of Kansas Territory ; was horn and raised ^in that 
Territory. 1 was a resident of the seventeenth representative district 
on the 30th of March, 1855. I was a candidate for the legislature 
from the fourth and seventeenth representative districts, was legally 
elected, and received my certificate of election from the governor. 

A few days after the election I, with a majority of the members 
elect, respectfully petitioned Governor A. H. Reeder to call the legis- 
lature together, as soon as possible^ at the Shawnee mission, or some 
other convenient place. We did this from the ii\ct that Governor A. 
H. Reeder had said that he intended calling the legislature together 
at Pawnee. To this petition Governor A. H. Reeder retulmed no 
answer, although at the time he }>romised to answer it. 

The legislature Avas called together by the governor on the first 
Monday in July, at the town of Pawnee. I arrived at Pawnee on the 
Sunday before the meeting of the legislature, and tbund some three 
habitable houses, only one of which was prepared for the public, and 
it was a small temporary house, not sutKcient to keep one-fifth of the 
members and officers of the legislature. 

I, Avith a majority of the members of the legislature, were com- 
judled to camp out and sleep on the ground, and do o,ur own cooking. 
We either had to do this or go home. We had to camp on the bank 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1191 

of tlie Kansas river, under a hot July sun, there being no shade tree 
in less than half a rnile of the place. 

The house in which the legislature assembled had neither doors no'" 
windows, and only two rooms, with plank laid down temporarily for 
floors, and was not ready for us until late Monday evening. 

Many of the members and officers became quite unwell, not being 
accustomed to the hardship and exposures of which they had to en- 
dure. One man died with the cholera, in less than one hundred yards 
of my tent. Some of the members had strong cholera symptoms. 
We had no chance to correspond with our constituents or families, 
except by private messengers, there being no mail facilities. The 
proprietor in the only hotel in the place told me on the day we ad- 
journed that he could not have kept those that were boarding with 
him a day longer, as he was about out of provisions, and that he and 
his servants were broken down. We had no place for our committee 
to meet, and were compelled to adjourn early every day, that the 
members might prepare their meals and attend to their horses. 

Pawnee is situated about 140 or 150 miles above the mouth of the 
Kansas river, and inconvenient to all the members of the legislature, 
with the exception of one or two. I had to camp out from the time I 
left home until I came back. 

I know that Grovernor A. H. Keeder was a large proprietor in the 
town of Pawnee ; have heard him say so ; have seen him sell pro- 
perty in that town. 

The Kansas committee do not permit me to give in this testimony ; 
hence I make this statement before a magistrate and swear to it. 

ALEXANDER S. JOHNSON. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, a justice of the peace, this 9th 
day of June, 1856. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, 

Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missouri, ) 

? ss 
County of Jackson, ) 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and that 
full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his official 
acts as such, in well as courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r -, seal of said court at office in the city of Independence, this 
L^- ^--1 13th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



Marcus J. Parrott called and sworn. 

By Governor King : 

I am a resident of the Territory of Kansas. On the 30th of August 
I was at Kansas city, in Missouri, at the American hotel. Governor 



1192 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Eeeder Tvas then stopping; there at that time. We sat up and con- 
versed together ahout what was to be done there ; at tlie same time I 
was on my way to another convention to be held at Tecumseh on the 
31st day of August ; the object of that convention was to meet with 
persons who were desirous to organize the democratic party in the 
Territory. While we were together, Governor Reeder spoke about 
making some arrangements about going up himself to attend the con- 
vention at Big Springs. His trunks, at that time, were in the office 
at the hotel, which comprised, so far as I know, all the personal 
property he had in the Territory ; he wanted to get a valise to take 
some clothes up into the Territory ; he borrowed a valise of Major 
Eldridge of the hotel, which was brought out in my presence, put into 
the* buggy, and he left before I did. I overtook him, in company 
with Judge Johnson, at the Shawnee mission. We both started out 
on the road at night, and we separated at Donaldson, where Governor 
Reeder tarried all night, but Judge Johnson and myself drove on all 
night for Tecumseh. I did not see Reeder again until two or three 
days afterwards at Lawrence, and then had some conversation with 
him concerning his being a candidate of the Big Spring convention, 
for delegate to Congress. The impression left upon my mind was, 
that, unless he became a candidate, he was going to leave the Terri- 
tory. Afterwards, on the first day of the convention, I think, there was 
a good deal said about his not being a resident of the Territory. I was 
myself of that opinion ; and, in order to determine exactly about that 
matter, I agreed with Colonel Lane, and some others, to call him 
out and ask him the question. I did call him out, and ask him if he 
was a resident of the Territory. He stated, in reply to that, some- 
thing about the reason he did not bring his family here, as that was 
the ground of complaint generally here. He did not answer the ques- 
tion directly at all, but answered it argumentatively, by stating some 
things in connexion with his position in the Territory. I do not 
recollect that he satisfied the persons who had been called there to 
hear his answer to the question. I know that some of them were not 
satisfied that he was a resident of the Territory. Colonel Lane and 
myself afterwards spoke of it, and neither of us were satisfied Avith the 
answer he gave to the question. Since that time I have never known 
him to have any visible domicile or residence in the Territory. In the 
conversation at Lawrence he spoke of a claim tliat he thought he 
would buy if his wife liked it, but his wife and family were not and 
never have been in the Territory, and were understood to be in Penn- 
sylvania. 

To Mr. Sherman : 

Colonel Lane was spoken of as a candidate. I was in favor of 
Judge Johnson. I never heard any one speak of Colonel Lane being 
Si candidate but himself. Reeder was nominated without a vote, and 
hy acclamation. 

To Governor King : 

My objection to Governor Reeder was on account of some resolutions 
which he had with him at Kansas City, and written by him, and 
adopted at the Big Spring convention, which provided for the election 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1193 

of delegate to Congress being held on a different day from that pro- 
vided by tlie territorial law, and also to other resolutions written by 
him, which looked to a repudiation of the laws by force. I objected to 
this latter part in public in the convention. I saw resolutions, called 
miscellaneous resolutions, which were in Governor Eeeder's hand- 
writing. 

MAECUS PAREOTT. 
Leavenworth City, K. T., May 28, 1856. 



Mahala Doyle's affidavit. 

The undersigned, Mahala Doyle, states upon oath : I am the widow 
of the late James P. Doyle ; that we moved into the Territory, that 
is, my husband, myself, and children moved into the Territory of 
Kansas some time in November, A. D. 1855, and settled on Mosquito 
creek, about one mile from its mouth, and where it empties into Pot- 
tawatomie creek, in Franklin county; that on Saturday, the 24th day 
of May, A. D.^1856, about 11 o'clock at night, after we liad all retired, 
my husband, James P. Doyle, myself, and five children, four boys and 
one girl — the eldest boy is about twenty-two years of age, his name 
is William ; the next was about twenty years of age, his Drury ; the 
next is about sixteen years of age, his name is John ; the next is about 
thirteen years of age, her name is Polly Ann ; the next is about ten 
years of age, his name is James ; the next is about eight years of age, 
his name is Charles ; the next is about five years of age, his name is 
Henry — we were all in bed, when we heard some persons come into 
the yard and rap at the door and call for Mr. Doyle, my husband. 
This was about 11 o'clock on Saturday night of the 24th of May last. 
My husband got up and went to the door. Those outside inquired 
for Mi-. Wilkson, and where he lived. My husband told them that he 
would tell them. Mr. Doyle, my husband, opened the door, and sev- 
eral came into the house, and said that they were from the army. 
My husband was a pro-slavery man. They told my husband that he 
and the boys must surrender, they were their prisoners. These men 
were armed with pistols and large knives. They first took my hus- 
band out of the house, then they took two of my sons — the two oldest 
ones, William and Drury — out^ and then took my husband and these 
two boys, William and Drury, away. My son John was spared, be- 
cause I asked them in tears to spare him. In a short time afterwards 
I heard the report of pistols. I heard two reports, after which I heard 
moaning, as if a person was dying ; then I heard a wild whoop. They 
had asked before they went aAvay for our horses. We told them that 
the horses^were out on the prairie. My husband and two boys, my 
sons, did not come back any more. 1 went out next morning in search 
of them, and found my husband and William, my son, lying dead in 
the road near together, about two hundred yards from the house. My 
other son I did not see any more until the day he was buried. I was 
so much overcome that I went t3 the house. They were buried the 
next day. On the day of the burying I saw the dead body of Drury. 



1194 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

Fear of mrself ami the remaining- children inducai me to leave the 
home where vre had been living. We had improved our claim a little. 
I left all and went to the State of Missouri. 

her 

MAHAL A X DOYLE. 

mark. 

Witness : Thom.\s J. Goforth. 

State of Missouri, } 
Ja<:l'son count i/, ^"" 

On the Tth day of June, A. D. 1S56, personally appeared l>efore 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State atoresaid. ]\Iahala Doyle, vrhose name appears to the above and 
foregoing statement, and makes oath, according to law, that the above 
and foregoing statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal the day and year above written. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Feace. 

State of Mrssonur^ I 
Count i/ of Jacl-son, ^ ^' 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the 
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signatiuv appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and 
that full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his offi- 
cial acts as such, a« well in coiuts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r , 1 seal of said court at office, in the citv of Independence, this 
l-^- ''•-' 13th day of Jime. A. D. 1S50. 

JOHX R. SWEARIXGEX, Clcrl: 



A^davit of John Doyle. 

The undersigned, John Doyle, states, upon oath, that he is the son 
of James P. and ^Mahala Doyle : that we came to- the Territory in 
Kovember. ISoo, and settled on Mosquita creek, about one mile from 
its mouth, in Franklin county. That, on Saturday night, about 11 
o'clock, on the 'lAth day of ]May last, a party of men came to our 
house ; we had all retired : they roused us up. and told us that if we 
would surrender they would not hurt us. They said they were from 
the army ; they were armed with pistols and knives ; they took off my 
tather and two of my brothers. William and Drury. We were all 
alarmed. They made inquiries about Mr. Wilkson. and about our 
horses. The next morning was Sunday, the *2oth of 3Lay. 1S5G. I 
went in search of my father and two brothers. I found my father and 
one brother, William, Iviug dead in the road, about two hundred vards 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1105 

from the house : T saw my othoi' In-other Ivinp: dead on the ii'round. 
about one hnndrovi and titty yards tVom the house, in tlie 5;rass, near 
a ravine ; his lingers wore out otV. and his arms were out otV; his head 
was cut open : there was a l\oU^ in his breast. WiUian\'s head was 
out open, and a hoU"* was in his jaw. as though it was nuide by a 
knife, and a hoU"' wa^ also in his side, ^ly father was sl\ot in tl\e 
tbreluwd and stabbed in tlie breast. 1 liavo talked often witli northern 
men and eastern men in the Territory, and these men talked exactly 
like eastern men and northern men talk, that is, their language and 
pronunciation were similar to those eastern and northern men with 
whom I had talked. An old man commanded the party *, he was a 
dark compUvted, ami his t^aco was slim. We had lighted a candle, 
and alxuu eight of them entered the house : there were some more out- 
side. The complexion of most of those eight whom 1 saAv in the 
house were of sandy c<.unplexion. My father and brothers were pro- 
slarcry i>umk and belonged to the law and order party. 

JOHN X DOYLK. 

mark. 

Witness : Thomas J. Gofortu. 

State of Missoi^rt. ^ 
Jacl'son CouiUi/. \ '^ ' 

On this Tth day of June. A. D. ISoO. personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county 
and State aforesaid, John Doyle, whose name appears to the above 
statement, and makes oath according to law that the above and fore- 
going statement is true as therein sot fortli. 

Given under mv hand and seal, the dav and vear above written. 

THOMAS J. GOFORfH. [l. s.] 

Justice of tJic Peace. 

State of ^Mrs^somi, ^ 
County of Jocl'son, ^ 

I, JohuR. Swearinger. clerk of the county court witliiu and for the 
wunty aforesaid, do hereby certiiy that Thomas J. Goforth. esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing allidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace, within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualitied, and 
that full taitli and credit is due to all his otiicial acts as such, as well 
in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, 1 have hereunto set my hand aud afhxed the 
r ^ 1 seal of said court, at otttce, in the City of Independence, this 
•- ' "'J 13th dav of June, lSo6. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGER, CkrJ:. 



James HarnV A^fidacit. 

I reside on Pottowatomie creek, near Henry Shermans, in Kansas 
Territory. I went there to reside on the last day of March, 1856, and 



1196 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

have resided there ever since. On last Sunday morning, about two 
o'clock, (the 25th of May last,) whilst my wife and child and myself 
were in bed in the house where we lived, we were aroused by a com- 
pany of men who said they belonged to the northern army, and who 
were each armed with a sabre and two revolvers, two of whom I recog- 
nized, namely, a Mr. Brown, whose given name I do not remember, 
commonly known by the appellation of "old man Brown,'' and his 
son, Owen Brown. They came in the house and approached the bed 
side where we were lying, and ordered us, together with three other 
men who were in the same house with me, to surrentler ; tliat the 
northern army was upon us, and it would be no use for us to resist. 
The names of these other three men who were then in my house with 
me are, William Sherman, John S. Whiteman, the other man I did 
not know. They were stopping with me that night. They had 
bought a cow from Henry Sherman, and intended to go home the 
next morning. When they came up to the bed, some had drawn 
sabres in their hands, and some revolvers. They then took into their 
possession two rifles and a Bowie knile, which I had thei'e in the 
room — there was but one room in my house — and afterwards ransacked 
the Avhole establishment in search of ammunition. They then took 
one of these three men, who were staying in my house, out. (This 
was the man whose name I did not know.) He came back. They 
then took me out, and asked me if there were any more men about 
the place. I told them there were not. They searched the place 
but found none others but we four. They asked me Avhere Henry 
Sherman was. Henry Sherman was a brother to William Sherman. 
I told them that he Avas out on the plains in search of some cattle 
which he had lost. They asked if I had ever taken any hand in 
aiding pro-slavery men in coming to the Territory of Kansas, or 
had ever taken any hand in the last troubles at Lawrence, and asked 
me whether I had ever done the free State party any harm or ever in- 
tended to do that party any harm ; they asked me what made me live 
at such a place. I then answered that I could get higher wages there 
than anywhere else. The}'' asked me if there Avere any bridles or 
saddles about tlie premises. I told them there was one saddle, which 
they took, and they also took possession of Henry Sherman's horse, 
which 1 had at my place, and made me saddle him. They then said 
if I would answer no to all the questions which they had asked me, 
they would let loose. Old Mr. Brown and his son then Avent into the 
house with me. The other three men, Mr. W^illiam Sherman, Mr. 
Whiteman, and the stranger Avere in the house all this time. After 
old man BroAvn and his son went into the house with me. old man 
Brown asked Mr. Sherman to go out AA'ith him, and Mr. Sherman then 
went out with old Mr. BroAvn, and another man came into the house 
in BroAvn's place. I heard nothing more for about fifteen minutes. 
Taa'o of the northern army, as they styled themselves, stayed in with 
us until Ave heard a cap burst, and then these two men left. That 
morning about ten o'clock I found William Sherman dead in the 
creek near my house. I Avas looking for Mr. Sherman, as he had not 
come back, 1 thought he had been murdered. I took Mr. AVilliam 
Sherman out of the creek and examined him. Mr. Whiteman Avas 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1197 

with me. Sherman's sknll was split open in two places and some of 
his brains was washed ont hv the water. A large hole was cnt in his 
breast, and his left hand was cnt oif except a little piece of skin on one 
side. We bnried him. 

JAMES HARRIS. 



ss. 



State op Missoimi, 
County of Jackson, 

This day personally appeared before me, Thomas J. Goforth,'an 
acting jnstice of the peace in and for Jackson county, State of Mis- 
souri, James Harris, who on oath says that the above and foregoing 
statement is true as therein set forth. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this the Gth day of June, eigh- 
teen hundred and iifty-six. Witness mv hand and seal. 

THOMAiS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 
Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missouri, ) 
County of Jackson, \ 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J, Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn, and tliat full 
faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, as well in courts 
of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
r -| seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this 
L^- ^'-l nth day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Clerh. 



Affidavit of Mrs. Louisa Jane Wilkinson . 

On the 13|h day of June, A. D. 1856, Louisa Jane Wilkinson, on 
oath, being duly sworn, says : I am the widow of the late Allen Wil- 
kinson. We came to Kansas, from Tennessee, in October, 1854; 
went to our claim, on Pottowatomie creek, about the 12th day of No- 
vember following. Said claim, where my husband lived at the time 
of his death, lies in Franklin county, Kansas Territory, about eight 
miles from Ossawatomie, and the same distance from the moutli of 
Pottowatomie crqck. On the 25tli of May last, somewhere between 
the hours of midnight and daybreak, cannot say exactly atjwhat hour, 
after all had retired to bed, we were disturbed by barking of the dog. 
I was sick with the measles, and woke up Mr. Wilkinson, and asked 
if he "heard the noise, and what it meant?" He said it was only 
some one passing about, and soon after was again asleep. It was not 
long before the dog raged and barked furiously, awakening me once 
more ; pretty soon I heard footsteps as of men approaching ; saw one 
pass by the window, and some one knocked at the door. I asked, 



1198 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

who is that? No one answered. I awoke my husband, who asked, 
who is that? Some one replied, I want you to tell me the way to 
Dutch Henry's. He commenced to tell them, and they said to him, 
''Come out and show us." He wanted to go, but I would not let 
him; he then told them it was difficult to find his clothes, and could 
tell them as well without going out of doors. The men out of doors, 
after that, stepped back, and I thought I could hear them whispering ; 
but they immediately returned, and, as they approached, one of them 
asked of my husband, "Are you a northern armist?" He said, "I 
am." I understood the answer to mean that my husband was op- 
posed to the northern or freesoil party. I cannot say that I under- 
stood the question. My husband was a pro-slavery man, and was a 
member of the territorial legislature held at Shawnee Mission. 

When my husband said "I am," one of them said^ "You are our 
ju'isoner. Do you surrender?" He said, "Gentlemen, I do." They 
said, open the door. Mr. Wilkinson told them to wait till he made 
a light; and they replied, if you don't open it, we will open it for 
you. He opened the door against my wishes, and four men came in, 
and my husband was told to put on his clothes, and they asked him 
if there were not more men about; they searched for arms, and took 
a gun and powder flask, all the weapon that was about the house. 

I begged them to let Mr. Wilkinson stay with me, saying that I 
was sick and helpless, and could not stay by myself. My husband 
also asked them to let him stay with me until he could get some one 
to wait on me ; told them that he would not run off, but would be 
there the next day, or whenever called for. The old man, who 
seemed to be in command, looked at me and then around at the 
children, and replied, "you have neighbors." I said, "so I have, 
but they are not here, and I cannot go for them " The old man re- 
plied, "it matters not," I told him to get ready. My husband 
wanted to put on his boots and get ready, so as to be protected from 
the damp and night air, but they wouldn't let him. They then took 
my husband away. One of them came back and took two saddles ; I 
asked him what they were going to do with him, and he said, "take 
him a prisoner to the camp." I wanted one of them to stay with 
me. He said he would, but "they would not let him.^ After they 
were gone, I thought I heard my husband's voice, in complaint, but 
do not know; went to the door, and all was still. Kext morning 
Mr. Wilkinson was found about one hundred and fifty yards from the 
house, in some dead brush. A lady who saw my husband's body, 
said that there was a gash in his head and in his side ; others said 
that he was cut in the throat twice. 

On the Wednesday following I left for fear of my life. I believe 
that they would have taken my life to prevent me from testifying 
against tliem for killing my husband. I believe tliat one of Captain 
Brown's sons was in the party, who murdered my husband ; I heard 
a voice like his. I do not know Captain Brown himself. I have two 
small children, one about eight and the other about five years old. 
The body of my husband was laid in a new house ; I did not see it. 
My friends would not let me see him for fear of making me worse. I 
was very ill. The old man, who seemed to be compiander, wore 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1199 

soiled clotlies and a straw liat, pulled down over his face. He spoke 
quick, is a tall, narrow-faced, elderly man. I would recognize him if 
I could see him. 

My husband was a poor man. I am now on my way to Tennessee 
to see my lather, William Ball, who lives in Haywood county. I am 
enabled to go by the kindness of friends in this part of Missouri. 

Some of the men who took my husband away that night were armed 
with pistols and kniyes. I do not recollect whether all I saw were 
armed. They asked Mr, W. if Mr. McMihn did not liye near. My 
husband was a quiet man, and was not engaged in arresting or dis- 
turbing any body. Pie took no active part in the pro-slavery cause, 
so as to aggravate the abolitionists ; but he was a pro-slavery man. 
Mr. McMiun, mentioned above, is a pro-slavery man ; so, also, is the 
said Dutch Henry. 

LOUISA JANE WILKINSON. 

State of Missouri, I 
County ofJaclson, ) 

On this, the 13th day of June, A. D. 1856, personally came before 
me, Thomas J. Goforth, a justice of the peace in and for the above 
State and county, Louisa Jane Wilkinson, who, being duly sworn, 
says the facts contained in the above statement are true, to the best oi 
her knowledge. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this the 13th day of June, A. 
D. 1856. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 
Justice of the Peace. 

State of Missomii, } 
County of Jackson J ) 

I John E. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the 
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing athdavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 
and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and 
that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official 
acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the 
(- -, seal of said court, at office in the city of Independence, this 
LL. S.J ^0^1^ ^^^ of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN E. SWEAEINGEN, Clerh. 



Affidavit of Morton Bourn. 

On the eleventh day of June, A. D. 1856, Morton Bourn, under 
oath, says : I am about sixty-two years of age ; went to Kansas early 
in April, 1855 ; settled on my claim in Douglas county, on Wash- 
ington creek, about two miles from the mouth of said creek, in May 
following. I own slaves, and have a crop of corn and wheat grow- 



1200 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

ing ; have never taken any active part witli the pro-shwery party- 
only voted and sustained the law. On Wednesday, the 28th of Ma , 
somewhere between the hours of 10 and 12 at night, perhaps earlier, 
perhaps later, a party of men, ahout 20 or 30 I think, surrounded m y 
house, and called to me to open the door and raise a light. I asked 
them wliat they wanted? they said they wanted to search my house, 
and if they had to burst open the door, they would kill me. Through 
the persuasion of my wife I opened the door, though my son and I 
were armed. I wished to defend my house and property, but my wife 
persuaded me from shooting. Alter I opened the door a guard was 
placed at it, and two or three men entered, one of whom seemed to 
have command. They first took my guns, of which there were three, 
and then demanded my money, which they said they needed to carry 
on this war. Tliey took from me about fifty dollars — it miglit have 
been more, and might have been less. They took next five or six 
saddles and a blanket, and demanded of me the key to my grocery 
store ; from which they took various things, including sugar, coffee, 
and whiskey — I do not know how much or what exactly. They took 
nearly every tin and wooden vessel about the place. Also they car- 
ried away one horse of mine ; on the night before one horse of mine, 
and one of Mr. Barnet's, of Lecompton, were stolen. 

These men said that I must leave in a day or two, or they would 
kill me, or hinted as much ; said I would not fare well, or words to 
that etiect. I lelt for fear of my life aud that of my iamily. They 
said that the war was commenced ; they were going to fight it out, and 
drive the pro-slavery people out of the Territory ; they used words to 
that amount. These men that robbed my house and drove me away 
from my property were abolitionists or free-soilers ; that is, I believe 
them to he so. I have been charged with raising a company to go into 
Lawrence and drive off free-soilers ;' that is not true. I believe they 
treated me so because I was a pro-slavery man, was in tiivor of the 
Territorial laws, aud because I served ou the last grand jury at 
Lecompton. 

MORTON BOURN 

State of Missouri, ^ ^ . 

Jackson county, ^ '''" 

On this 11th day of June, A. D., 185'3, personally came before me, 
Thomas J. Goforth, a justice of the peace, duly sworn and commis- 
sioned to take acknowledgments in and for the iibove county and 
State, Morton Bourn, who says on oath that the facts stated in the 
above affidavit are true to the best of his knowledge. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

JiisticG of the Feace. 



ss. 



State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson, 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the 
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, now is, 
and was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. 1201 

and for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and 
that full faith and credit is due, and ought to be given, to all his offi- 
cial acts as such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 
the seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence, 
[l. s.] this loth day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN Pt. SWEARINGEN, Clerk. 



Affidavit of John Miller. 

The undersigned, John Miller, states upon oath, that I am a resi- 
dent of the Territory of Kansas, and have been ever since last August, 
and settled at '' Saint Bernard," a town situated on the road common- 
ly known as the " Fort 8cott and California road," about thirty miles 
from Lecompton, in Douglas county. It is called fifty-two miles from 
Westport, Missouri. I had been a clerk in the store which Mr. 
Joab IVI. Bernard had kept there, for about two years last past, and 
was still keeping it on the 2Gth day of May, 1856. I was at Saint 
Bernard on Tuesday, the 27th day of May, 1856. Mr. James Davis 
was tlien Mr. Bernard's clerk, who had charge of the store ; Mr. Ber- 
nard had gone to AVestport, Missouri, or had started for Westport, 
and was not there at the time. I was in the store with Mr. Davis. 
Whilst there, a i^arty of thirteen men came to the store on horseback, 
armed with Sharpe's rifles, revolvers, and bowie-knives. They in- 
quired I'or Mr. Bernard. I told them he had gone to Westport. One 
of them said to me, " you are telling a God damn lie," and drew up 
his gun at me. Some of them came into the store, and the rest re- 
mained outside ; they called for such goods as they wanted, and made 
Mr. Davis and myself hand them out, and said if we " didn't hurry " 
they would shoot us — they had their guns ready. After they had got 
the goods they wanted — principally blankets and clothing — theypacked 
them upon their horses and went away. Mr. Joab M. Bernard is a pro- 
slavery man. I remained in the store with Mr. Davis, and on the next 
evening, the 28th of May, 1856, a party of 14 men came to the store on 
horseback, armed with Sharpe's rifles, revolvers, and bowie-knives ; 
thirteen of this party I recognized as the same that came to the store 
tlie day before ; and the other man I knew — William S. Ewitt is his 
name — and who I know is a free-State man, and a prominent man in 
the free-State party. They had a wagon along with them ; they came 
up to the store, dismounted, and came into the store, each having his 
gun ready. Some carried goods out, some put the goods in the wagon, 
and others stood ready with their guns to prevent Mr. Davis and my- 
self from interfering. They took away all the goods in the store ex- 
cept about one hundred and fifty dollars worth, and carried them ofl". 
They also took away with them Mr. Bernard's two large horses, and 
three saddles, and two bridles, and took away nearly all the provisions 
which were there — bacon and flour, and other provisions. They said 
to us that they intended to take Mr. Henry Hartley and myself pris- 
oners, but before they took me 1 gotoif. After they had gotall the things 
H. Rep. 200 76* 



1202 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

tliey wanted, tliev asked Mr. Davis for all the monej he had in the 
store. There were hut four dollars in the drawer, which Mr. Davis 
handed to them, and then they went off. Mr. Joah M. Bernard is a 
pro-slavery man. When they first came, they looked up at the sign;, 
and said they would like to shoot at the name. 

JOHN MILLER. 



ss 



State of Missouri, 

Jackson county, 

On the 9th day of June, A. D. 1856. personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, John Miller, whose name appears to the above and 
foregoing statement^ and makes oath that the above and foregoing 
statement is true, as therein set forth. 

Given under mv hand and seal, this ninth dav of June, A. D. 1856; 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 
Justice of the Fea^e. 

State or Missouri, > 
County of Jackson, ^ 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county eourt within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the above afiidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly elected, commissioned, and qualified ; 
and that full taith and credit is due to all his official acts as such, as 
well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 
P -1 the seal of said court, at office, in the citv of Independence, 
L^' ^-J this 14th dav of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, Gerk. 



Affidavit of Joah M. Bernard. 

The undersigned. Joah M. Bernard, states, on oath, that I am a 
resident of the Territory of Kansas, and that I have- kept a store at 
Saint Bernard, in the Territory of Kansas, for about two years last 
past. My store-house is situated at a place called Saint' Bernard, 
about thirty miles south of Lecompton, and about fifty-two miles from 
Westport, on the road leading from Fort Scott to California, com- 
monly called the '' Fort Scott'and California road." I left my store 
about the 26th day of May last. I had a sum of money on hand — 
about $2,000. There was a good deal of excitement in the country on 
account of the political difficul'^ies. Some of my neighbors, free-State 
men, informed me that my life was in danger,' andthat I had better 
keep a sharp look-out or else I might be killed ; that they (my neigh- 
bors) heard some other men of the free-State party say that they would 
kill me. In consequence of these things, combined, I left, as I thought 
I would he robbed and then murdered. Accordiuirlv I left. When 



KANSAS AFFAIBS. 1203 

left there was stock in mv store which Mr. Thomas S. Hamilton and 
I estimated at $4:. 000. consisting of dry-goods, groceries, hardware, 
qneensware. provisions, and many other articles usually kept in a 
country stor: — many of them Indian goods, which were costly. I 
had. when I left, on the premises, two large horses and two ponies. 
I had also seven yoke of work cattle, and other cattle not hroken, and 
some cows and calves — about twenty-five head in all — and some hogs. 
I had some readv-made clothing in mv store. 

JOAB M. BERXAED. 

State of ^Missomi, } 

Jackson County, ) '' 

On the 9th day of June, A. D. 1S56, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, Joab ll. Bernard, whose name appears to the above 
and aforegoing statement, and makes oath that the above and afore- 
going statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under mv hand and seal this 9th davof June. A. D, 1856. 

THOMAS J. 'GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 



ss: 



State of Missofri, 

County of Jack-son, 

1, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court within and for the 
county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq. , whose 
genuine signature appears to the foregoing atSdavit. now is, and was 
at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and for 
the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified ; and that full 
feith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official acts as 
such, as well in courts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereimto set my hand and affixed the 
^ seal of said court, at office, in the city cf Independence, this 
loth dav of June, A. D. 1S56. 

JOHN E. SWEARIXGEX, aerk. 



[L. S.] 



Affidavit of Thomas S. Hamilton. 

The undersigned, Thomas S. Hamilton, states, upon oath, that 
Joab M. Bernard has been keeping store in the Territory of Kansas 
for about two years last past. The store-house is situated on the Fort 
Scott and California road, about thirty miles south of Lecompton. 
I think it is in Douglas county.- I was at Mr. Joab M. Bernard's 
store-house, above mentioned, on Monday, the 26th day of May last, 
for the purpose of taking an invoice of the stock on hand. I was 
going in partnership with him, the said Bernard. We examined the 
stock pretty thoroughly, but, instead of taking regularly an invoice or 
inventory, we agreed upon an estimate — that estimate agreed upon 
was, at first cost, four thousand dollars, including all the stock. I 
had agreed to pay the said Bernard two thousand dollars for half, and 



1204 KANSAS AFFAIRS. 

then we were to do business in partnership, and divide the profits 
equally between us. The stock consisted in dry goods — such as cloths, 
blankets, calico prints, lawns, Irish linens, muslin, and ready-made 
clothing;, and other domestic dry goods : Groceries — coffee, sugar, 
tea, and other articles. Provisions — flour, bacon, lard, and other 
articles. Hardware — queensware, tinware, and numerous other 
articles. Besides the stock in the store, Mr. Bernard had there on 
the premises two very fine horses, for which I offered him two hun- 
dred and seventy-five dollars. He had, also, two ])onies which were 
worth fifty or sixty dollars apiece , and seven yoke of work cattle, and 
some others which were not broken, and some cows and calves. There 
was monev in the drawer, but how much I do not know. 

THOS. S. HAMILTON. 

State of Missouri, ) 
Jaclson county, ) 

On the ninth day of June, A. D. 1856, personally appeared before 
me, the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county and 
State aforesaid, Thomas S. Hamilton, whose name appears to the 
above and foregoing statement, and makes oath that the above and 
aforegoing statement is true as therein set forth. 

Given under my hand and seal this ninth dav of June, A. D. 1856. 

THOMAS J. GOFORTH, [l. s.] 

Justice of the Peace. 



ss . 



State of Missouri, 
County of Jackson, 

I, John R. Swearingen, clerk of the county court, within and for 
the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Thomas J. Goforth, esq., 
whose genuine signature appears to the above affidavit, now is, and 
was at the time of so doing, an acting justice of the peace within and 
for the county aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified; and that 
full faith and credit i« due and ought to be given to all his official 
acts as such, as well in a)urts of justice as thereout. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed 
P -. the seal of said court, at office, in the city of Independence, 
L^- ^'-1 this 14th day of June, A. D. 1856. 

JOHN R. SWEARINGEN, 

ClerJc. 



Affidavit of George T. W'dUams. 

I, the undersigned, G. T. ^Villiams, resident of Douglas county, 
K. T., do solemnly state, that I moved from the State of Missouri 
into the above county and Territory on the 14th day of April, 1856. 
About five days ago — say the 6th inst. — I was informed by Silas M. 
Moore that two companies of free-State men intended attacking my- 
self and the two Messrs. Keizer, Dr. Chapman, and Mr. R, Young, 
that night, and hanging us. Our informant apj>eared to be, and pro- 



KANSAS AFFAIRS. ^^^^ 



r A f '^r.A^h\-n for IT? and wislied some one to attend him to seetjie 

^''''^i?l'cuLlL them no^ consummate their designs Dr. 
company, and mcluce tnem n ^ ^.^ ^^.^^^^^^ 

nhaimian accompanied him, ana oegj^tu tne hk- r S+^+i^ 

^^S^ri! i^^ as they had always desired peace wita the tree-btate 
^ V nm also stSe would inform some United States troops near 
P^^ ^^V^o VlJi 'ns if thcTrefused to desist. They did not come that 
'4hVa d/tlL'^l^^^^^ concluded next morning to Jeaye and 

S?e^h»^Lde^hem ^^^--^^t^^^, 
: f':^i:^^r%fmtiTi\':iZi^ untU after they had dishamV. 

nroceeLd o?to Capt- Wood's camp, and informed him of the tak ng 
of Thomprn who replied he had not men enough to send and hunt 
? r ThoTrJ^son' and als'o to guard us and the P^^--^' --^. ^^^i Z 
•1+ ^T. hie, pharo-e We next morning started lor Missouri in 
coCany w h he U^nited States troops and'two teamsters who were 
^oTn's STosawatomie, and travelled -- - -]f ^^-»^ *^TaMS. 

C:urttViseUntlUayofJu„^e,eig.2|enta^^^^^ 

Justice of the Peace. 



1206 

KANSAS AFFA,IRS. 



State of Missouri, ) 
Jackson county, y^ - 

I, John R, Swearinffen olprl- nf +1. 
couaty aforesaid, do hereW ctrtfft *w T^ '°"* "'""" »d for the 

the county a&rerdf'da^tS'f -^ •"'■"'^ Peace w t'h nV^? for 

that full faith and credit ;.!i' fo^m'ssioned, and aualifi»^ 

oial acts as suclr^lr^e S ou'rtrof i"^?* '° ''^ «-»> tot? Ms ^ffi' 

In testimony whereof, I W wi */"' *' tV<=r^<.ui. "'' "*- 

. ^ the seal of said' courtat oC •" T '^^ '>'"^d ''nd affixed 

^ s.] th s thirteenth d^; of V^'W^-'ll "' ^^^'^P^ntnS] 

fifty-mx. •' ""''' A. D. eighteen hundred and 

JOHN E. SWEARINGEN, ««•*. 



.4 







.^^ 



^0 ^ 



< V ^ * O « u 



A' -.- V. '••'^ .^o• 'O, 'o.-.o A 

v'J*' ,. « o ^ ■<$> 



.-J^" . 
















> 







<i-*^ , N O 



-^0 





o V 




V • o^ \;>- 







^^ 















